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

[NovaAman]

Nah, nothing to worry about if that many are doing it.

I see we are going to be referring to the chicks as blobs from now on... AWESOME! LOL

 

[Bens-Hens]

I have a couple of pullets walking around with their wings held out. Anyone have any idea why? This isn't the greatest picture but you can see what I am talking about.

I agree with wrightsx4. When it's warmer of if there has been a lot of corn the wings come out, chicken equivalent of poking a foot out of bed.

If it was just one wing, or they were not behaving like chickens or something else changed in their behavior then I would have concern, but being all of them and still spirited I would just let them be. Keep an eye on them, maybe make sure they have good water and some shade if they want it, not so important if it's not hot though.

Here, we have to worry about the heat. Yesterday popped into the 30's C (mid 80's) for the first time in spring and the big fluffies seemed to have felt it being their first warm day. I added some shade over the coop's nesting boxes and an insulation off cut on the roof. They will have to learn to deal with it sooner or later, but I don't want them cooking in the nest boxes.

Nah, nothing to worry about if that many are doing it.

I see we are going to be referring to the chicks as blobs from now on... AWESOME! LOL

Well, to keep the pattern going blobs are looking quite reasonable so far.
Day 5 candle with the new torch last night, just to try confirm (ok I was nosy too) the night before's numbers.

YES / NO / IDUNNOYET

Curly (BVxARA) 2/2/-
Luna (BAxARA) 3/1/-
Sunny (LSxARA) 0/1/2
ARA 5/1/-
Rosie (RIRxARA) 0/2/2
Cleo (LSxARA) 0/2/-
Wellsummers 6/1/-
Fav's 4/0/-
Marans 7/0/-
Australorp (mixed colours) 6/0/-

Totals
Yes; 33, No; 10 I don't want to throw out just yet; 4

Fingers crossed things stay on that path, will weigh on Day 7 and log that, and by then I should not be able to mistake who stays in and which ones are coming out.

 

[CB and CG]

By day 7 you will know for sure which to remove. Overall fertility looks quite good though. What about fertility in the Australorp eggs?

 

[Bens-Hens]

Ah yes, how could I forget! I will add them in, missed them on my chart. (and correct my totaling)

Anything with the ARA in it came from Smudge and will be some sort of EE mix, the others came from Katt, and so far fertility has been very good. Also, pretty big eggs, biggest Maran egg was 69g, average size was ranged between 55-65. Our pullet eggs (not ideal I know) ranged in the 50-55g's.

 

[NovaAman]

Tomorrow is lockdown! Soo excited! Oh man... I better get the brooder bleached and aired out! WOOT WOOT!

 

[CB and CG]

Good to see great fertility in the Australorps. Let's hope for lots of blue and lots of girls.
Out of our nine we hatched we got 4 blues and 5 blacks. From this we have 2 blue pullets, 2 blue cockerels, 1 black pullet, 3 black cockerels and one black I am still not sure of but leaning towards cockerel. Looking like 3 pullets which is not ideal but I was hoping to add three breeders to my flock this year so at least I got number requirements.

I like to make 50g the minimum benchmark for setting. If I have the choice I prefer larger but 50g is still acceptable from pullets.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Tomorrow is lockdown! Soo excited! Oh man... I better get the brooder bleached and aired out! WOOT WOOT!

Good luck! How many hatches have you done now? must be a coupe at least.

Good to see great fertility in the Australorps. Let's hope for lots of blue and lots of girls.
Out of our nine we hatched we got 4 blues and 5 blacks. From this we have 2 blue pullets, 2 blue cockerels, 1 black pullet, 3 black cockerels and one black I am still not sure of but leaning towards cockerel. Looking like 3 pullets which is not ideal but I was hoping to add three breeders to my flock this year so at least I got number requirements.

I like to make 50g the minimum benchmark for setting. If I have the choice I prefer larger but 50g is still acceptable from pullets.

Looking over my table (aka, note pad scratchings) only the BV and ARA's are below 50g. Curly had only just started to lay, so we knew we were cutting it fine with her, but the rest have been up in your safe range.

BTW CB, do you drive a Ford F Truck? I may have met you one day at Tony's feed store. Just had a weird feeling.

 

[CB and CG]

No Ben, don't drive a Ford F Truck.

In saying that I have hatched eggs that were around 45g. Still hatch fine but they are just small. However they do eventually catch up to their larger siblings.

 

[ozexpat]

i like your numbers ben

fingers crossed

 

[Bens-Hens]

Thanks Oz.

I got impatient and candled again tonight (I know I'm a bad boy!)

Was pretty evident, 13 were removed and weighed recorded and then opened to verify.

All 13 were clear, no blood rings, no weird yolks, no early quitters from what I removed. The remaining 34 have at least made a start and graduated into 'blobville'.

I have been worried that my humidity has been a bit high, looking at the day 7 weight averages it seems acceptable. (Working on perfect world weight loss) Not sure if it makes a difference gauging clears Vs eggs with life though Will see tomorrow when the rest weight in I guess.

Of the 13 clears;

Mean weigh in was 49.46g
Actual mean removed weight = 47.6g
Mean forecast 7 Day weight loss = 2.18g
On average, they should be at 47.28 grams, we have a group average of 47.6g with two weeks to go.

Looking good so far.

12 Days until lock down!