***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[ceocka]

Welcome! Love your name and know the meaning behind it too!
I make sure they have a constant supply of water and lots of shade. I am also hooking up a misting system to help keep them cool since chickens can't sweat. Mine free range with my ducks and I have a kiddy pool in the shade for cool water. I add water too it several times during the day. I have lots of big trees and bushes for them to rest and keep cool under. Everyone is so helpful on here.

This meant to go to keepitathome. Lol

 

[Jeansrie]

I ordered two sets of hatching eggs thinkings they would get to me a day or two apart. I started the first set in the incubator on Thursday afternoon. Was supposed to get the other set yesterday but they didn't show, so it will be Monday. They are only coming from OKC so maybe they don't need much of a settling period, would it still be okay to put them all in the same incubator or am I out of luck? The lady who sent them has been very helpful and said it should be fine, but I wanted to ask you all as well.

 

[our 5acre farm]

Are worried bc of upping the humidity for the last 3 days? It shouldn't hurt them to have a few extra days of higher humidity. And there's no way I would throw them away over a "what if" lol

 

[NanaKat]

Quote: A needle about 22 gauge x 1 inch is small enough. Haven't bought small syringes at Atwoods but I do know they carry bigger ones for goats. Most feed stores will carry the needles. I like the thigh muscle for shots but the left breast meat is good too. You don't have to go very far...just into the muscle. If the Tetroxy-HCA brand has tetracycline it should do the trick.

 

[NanaKat]

Quote: I set my banty eggs in the regular turner in with the large fowl eggs and have not had any trouble with them hatching.

Are Plymouth White Rock hens good layers?

Do they have a good temperment?

There is a great thread on Plymouth Rocks in the Breeds section with a lot of happy enthusiastic breeders.
.

Hi ya'll!! New to BYC and homesteading in general. Actually we're still in the process of procuring the land and getting started. I love to research though and can't help myself from digging through everything and learning all that I can before we even get started!!

My main concern with chickens is the heat. I've read the heat can slow down egg production. Are there breeds specifically breed for heat tolerance? Is heat as much of a concern as I'm thinking it is? (9yrs here and I'm still not use to the heat) We're looking for dual purpose birds, they'll be free ranged in the pastures after the cows, and they have to have a decent temperament as we're a family with lots of kids and my kids come first Can we incubate in November or is it too cold come January to put them in the coop?

Lots of good suggestions on keeping the birds cool...shade, plenty of water. I cover my pens with fabric since I don't have enough trees near the pens. I wet it down several times during the heat of the day. a mister system is helpful...those like you use on the deck work great in a pinch or for a small flock.
I have an old swamp cooler in the window of the brooder room in the barn that runs 24-7 during the hot summer since I have a tin roofed barn section. It circulates into the hen/layer room.

As for birds that tolerate the heat... my Australorps continue to lay well in the really hot part of the summer longer than the Cochins and Wyandotte. They have a great temperament and make great mothers too.

 

[Jeansrie]

Are worried bc of upping the humidity for the last 3 days? It shouldn't hurt them to have a few extra days of higher humidity. And there's no way I would throw them away over a "what if" lol

I guess I didn't know if there would be a negative effect if one set hatched a few days earlier than the other? The lady said she has hatched eggs on different schedules before and has had luck stopping turning one set up to 7 days earlier than the other. Suely 4 days isn't a big enough difference? I know you're not supposed to open the incubator while they're on 'lockdown' and that chicks can go up to 3 days without food/water. It's my first time hatching eggs and I don't want it to be a huge disappointment!

 

[NanaKat]

Okay, I've stopped collecting eggs for hatching and every bird gets out to free range now.
Charlie is still missing Ninya, but is adjusting to being the only goose on the place. He is less aggressive now too.
The calf Sunshine is healing nicely...still gets her daily blue lotion on the foot, but penicillin every other day. She sure is getting big and when she figures out she is stronger than we are we will have to stop giving her the shots.
I have chicks that hatched yesterday (23) and will be moving two week olds to the brooder room and 5 week olds out to a juvenile pen today so the babies can move to the brooder box in the hot tub room. May try to slip some under the three broody Cochins this evening.

Someone asked about putting two hatches in the same incubator. I do it all the time. When you put the first hatch in lockdown, you could put the second hatch in an egg carton and hand turn the carton until those are ready for lockdown....just keep a close eye on the humidity since opening the incubator each time you turn the egg carton will affect that. OR, you could order another incubator without a turner to use as your hatcher....enable..enable..enable.
I have two tabletop Hovabators for incubating and use a Little Giant as the hatcher.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Thanks NanaKat for your very helpful answers about Tylan and infections! I didn't make it to Atwoods before they closed Saturday, so I ran first thing this morning. Hope it helps my hens!

 

[kimberlischicks]

Thanks for the great advice y'all...We kept them separate but visible last night and integrated them this morning. Beside a couple pecking order tousles, it seems to be good so far. I'm so glad to have a couple rhode island reds now.

 

[Ginger Assassin]

I set my banty eggs in the regular turner in with the large fowl eggs and have not had any trouble with them hatching.

There is a great thread on Plymouth Rocks in the Breeds section with a lot of happy enthusiastic breeders.
. 
Lots of good suggestions on keeping the birds cool...shade, plenty of water.   I cover my pens with fabric since I don't have enough trees near the pens.  I wet it down several times during the heat of the day.  a mister system is helpful...those like you use on the deck work great in a pinch or for a small flock.
I have an old swamp cooler in the window of the brooder room in the barn that runs 24-7 during the hot summer since I have a tin roofed barn section.  It circulates into the hen/layer room. 

As for birds that tolerate the heat... my Australorps continue to lay well in the really hot part of the summer longer than the Cochins and Wyandotte.  They have a great temperament and make great mothers too.

thank you could i put cotton in the egg cups so they don't fall out or would I have ventilation problems ?