Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Bens-Hens]

Lol, that's what I meant, evening lock up when he starts to make noise and we will see how that goes.

Lucky could end up on the plate as we don't have any real attachment to him, plus I think he is going to be a much bigger bird being a LS.

 

[Bens-Hens]

It's Easter weekend, and I have taken some time off the hang with the family and get a couple of little jobs done around the place.

This weekend was planned to get the chicks some more yard time, and move forward with the 'kill everything in the coop' plan.

The chicks seem to love the mobile coop, they dive in and are hard to chase back out. In a week they will be 5 weeks old, and pretty much feathered out (RIR are lagging a bit) So this week the aim is to get them in there all day, and then next weekend they should move in there full time.

The coop, was stripped of removable stuff, and put in an un-used section of yard. I then painstakingly (and possibly pointlessly) removed every trace of feather and down I could find. First in the coop, then the rest of the yard. (patio area was stripped, washed then Virkoned too)

Once everything was out, I scrubbed the coop with soapy water, inside and out, then sprayed with a home made mix of hospital grade disinfectant and household bleach. Then it smelt very clean indeed, but the process continued. The soil was raked out smooth, and all the loose bits of rock etc were removed. Then the same solution was misted over the earth.

Now comes the big guns. I picked up a pressure spray pack and mixed the Virkon S solution, and went to town on the coop and earth and let that dry off.

This was backed up with a dusting of builders lime on the earth which I raked over with a lawn rake, then watered it in the following day.

My youngest son and I also made some modification inside, added a second high roost, turned one 90 degrees and made it generally better suited for a larger volume of birds.

Still to come.....a couple of days before our young birds move in I will hit it again with a big dose of Virkon S (this is animal safe btw) and then we will see if it all worked. Not sure if the coop is going to get the fallow time we had hoped for, but we will keep the chicks in the mobile coop as long as we can (they may just out grow the little coop too fast)

Also have to build some more nest boxes too, but there is no rush for that at this point, may pay to leave then until the new birds are used to roosting anyway.

Finally, candling our current 'bator eggs tonight, look forward to it!

 

[NovaAman]

How'd they look?

 

[Bens-Hens]

Ah I forgot to come back here and share the results. I did post them in Pam's hatch a long thread.


Day 14 candle complete.

The five clears (aka heat sinks) were removed. At the Day 7 candle there was also a suspicious egg, it had some shape to it but seemed clearer than the developing eggs, but murkier than the clears. We had hopes that it was perhaps in a cold spot and just a bit behind. Was removed this time (pics below).

All up we are down to 12 from the 18 we started with.

Here are a couple of pictures of the suspicious one we had, both in and out of the shell. Any help as to what this is/caused it would be great thanks.

Our clears,
1 Araucana
1 A/Lorp
4 SPW


No. 6 Had this shape to it, we thought it may be a shell anomoly.





When we cracked it open, it was very runny, not smelly (none were) no bloody but did have a long stringy membrane that I can only assume was the part around the yolk.


The other five looked like normal eggs, just warm and a bit 'runnier' no blood or smell so we assume they were just non fertile or very early deaths.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Also, been kicking about some ideas for the new coop nesting boxes.

I had removed the old '4 in line' box, and am now thinking I might make two boxes divided into three to hang off the side like wings. Will give them more shelter under the boxes and more internal space to move about.

Just looking at measurements, materials and how to make it look reasonable.

Will post some pics when I have something to work with.

 

[NovaAman]

I have had the same thing with shells... You leave it after the first look, just in case, then after second look you know. Usually. Lol

I like the off the side, more shade idea, on the nests.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I'm very much a 'just in case' kinda guy lol

In other news, Latte, our re-homed chicken laid her very first egg this morning, 1 week and three days after moving house. A bitter sweet piece of news.

Her new owner dropped in today and gave us her first egg, which I think was a great gesture. Perfectly formed, naturally a bit on the small side.

Gives me some comfort that she has settled in ok too, I would think if she was picked on and stressed she would not have laid so quickly.

Only about 5 more months until we get our own fresh egg!

 

[Bens-Hens]

SO, been a bit quiet in here, been tied up with our current two part hatch.

I will give the full break down on how it went when our 'Part 2" is complete. Had our first pip tonight so should be done in a couple of days.

I kept myself busy of the weekend (anti 'bator opening activities!)

Got the two new nesting boxes made up from a shipping crate I had arrive earlier in the week. Just need to paint and hang them!




Since I am here and in the picture folder....

7 went into lock down, 7 came out.
3 'lorp (black)
2 BV
2 SPW


I find these pic funny, I call them Insta-naps

Insta nap #3 - The heart attack edition


Insta-nap #2 - Stop drop 'n snooze!


More to follow, we have 5 Lavender Araucana in lock down, one pip. Will do a full update down the track.

In our 5 week old chicks are pretty much fully feathered, and tonight they spend their first night outside (sobs lol) They seemed pretty confused about me not showing up with the night time crate. I had to whip up a little board on a pole to push them down into the roosting area for the night!

Thanks for reading.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Insta - naps are hilarious. They are shocking at first glance though. Can't wait to see the araucanas!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hahaha, funny now we know. First time it happened we weren't laughing, not until it got up and ran away lol

That second pic, I was trying to get a nice shot showing the colour and she decided to have a stretch, fell asleep mid stretch, just like that! I went to find Alicia and show her the pic, came back in and the 'lorp was on it's back! Well deserved name IMO hahahaha