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

[Bens-Hens]

Hi Katrina, thanks for stopping by. Another AUSSIE! Yeah! hahahaha Drop in anytime.

Thanks Nova, we already had MK 1 removed, so we have changed style. May have to go a boot yet. I know it's not the end of the world for a curled toe, but if we can do something about it I will.

As for Oz, we got way back about a hundred or so pages lol. I have been following his thread since his first hatch. He was very kind to throw a link to this thread from his. A great read, I read all his in one sitting! How is your hatch going BTW?

 

[NovaAman]

Well, I set the eggs at 9 last night. Temps were holding good by the time I went to bed at 10:30. I got up to "go" and checked it, and the temp had went up to 104! I opened it up to get the excess heat out, put shook down the thermometers, and set them back in. For the next hour, every 15 minutes I was checking and rechecking and several times it was going back up! Finally figured out the problem... I think one of the four legged furry monsters had gotten on it and used the temp dial as a convenient face scratcher, the heat wasn't cycling on and off. SO, got that problem fixed, and now has been holding at 99.5 since. Being that paranoid person I am... or maybe like a baker, always checking so you don't burn that special cheese cake, I keep checking those thermometers!

 

[ozexpat]

Hey Ben

You are a keen chicken man to pick one toe on one chick.

I am on day 14 of the get the flock out of here part 2 hatch. The cotournix come off the turners tomorrow. the chicken on the weekend.

I have no idea as to how they are doing except the temps are stable.

Once Bernie deals with one hatch on his own, I will teach candling. I was just there 2 days last trip and overwhelmed him a bit.

If that chicken still has issues - have it cross its toes for me

 

[Bens-Hens]

Sounds like you are both in the groove!

I find candling the most exciting part between set and lock down, just seeing inside there and getting an idea of progress. Kind of like legal cheating or something hahaha.

Good luck to the both of you. May the percentages be high and your toes be straight! Speaking of toes, our BV had kept the tape on all night. It is still pointing off to one side a bit but at least it is straight and not curled. Will leave the tape on for another day then remove and check/replace as required.

Oz, the brooder is in my office, so I spend a bit of time in there, in fact the whole family like to bend over the edge and watch them. Try to keep them used to seeing us and being touched/patted. We hope to keep social birds that don't mind a pat or scratch when they are full grown.

 

[BooBear]

Ben,
Enjoyed reading your story. Glad you stuck with chickens and love your setup. Hope you have mostly pullets with the chicks.
Glad to read that Baby had come round for you guys. Hopefully she will grow into a sweet hen.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Thanks BooBear!

Too much hard work invested to walk away. Plus I had someone ask why I liked chickens. My reply was;

You can't eat your dog.
You can't eat anything your dog leaves behind
Dog's don't leave fertilizer around the place,
Dog's don't control weeds.

He said "but you can't take a chicken to the park and throw the ball" He had me there hahahahhaha.

I don't have much new to write about, just feeding everyone and patiently waiting until everyone will end up in the big coop. I am thinking the feather sexing of the recent chicks was not overly accurate, as it seems two Australorps are working to be the dominant leader, and the third joins in on occasion too. Perhaps by that guess, all three are boys.

The BV with the curly toe, I took the tape off and the toe curled again pretty much straight away. We are going to monitor it and see if it gets worse or stays on the angle it is. If it continues to curl further, we will make a boot, if it gets no worse then we will let he/she learn to live with it.

Thanks for visiting!

 

[NovaAman]

I have hens that do that, did that... Tonight before the flood, two girls were going at it, foot up like boys. Lol I know they are girls because they are salmon faverolle chicks. They color in different. Very different. Lol. So, don't worry yet. Establishing pecking order early is totally normal and can be better entertainment with their antics that crap on the tube.

 

[ozexpat]

Thanks BooBear!

Too much hard work invested to walk away. Plus I had someone ask why I liked chickens. My reply was;

You can't eat your dog. Depends which country you live in - but it does not taste like chicken
You can't eat anything your dog leaves behind - unless its the chicken it just dropped from its mouth
Dog's don't leave fertilizer around the place, - I will give you that
Dog's don't control weeds.- if they pee on them enough they can.

He said "but you can't take a chicken to the park and throw the ball" He had me there hahahahhaha. but you can do egg and spoon races!

I don't have much new to write about, just feeding everyone and patiently waiting until everyone will end up in the big coop. I am thinking the feather sexing of the recent chicks was not overly accurate, as it seems two Australorps are working to be the dominant leader, and the third joins in on occasion too. Perhaps by that guess, all three are boys.

The BV with the curly toe, I took the tape off and the toe curled again pretty much straight away. We are going to monitor it and see if it gets worse or stays on the angle it is. If it continues to curl further, we will make a boot, if it gets no worse then we will let he/she learn to live with it.

Thanks for visiting!

Keep up the fight Ben!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hahahaha, I love my dog too, and will always have one. You certainly have some valid points though!

Thanks Nova. No one gets 'the alternative' until they play piggy backs or start crowing, but it's good to have an idea....for the chicken math calculations lol

 

[scottcaddy]

Hi All,
I just found this thread (refered by OX) and making sure I can find it again.

Have a Good ChickenDay!
Scott