Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

I had almost 40 C fever last night. Today is a lot better. But stil a little headache , mussel pain and not feeling splendid. Took the liberty to take a day off.

 

[chickengr]

What do you mean?

once you set the temperature it remains the same. my chinese incubator is digital. although I set it not to heat above 38 c it sometimes jumps to 40(+) and kills chicks.

 

[Erba]

I've got to sell some more chickens, and if this rain would ever stop, send the cockerals to freezer camp. Also need to kick the 8 youngsters down to the coop, but its a flood in the run, so I wanted to wait. I am really getting fed up of this miserable weather here. It is after all, the end of May.

 

[abpatchy]

I understand that! First of all I am fed up with the weather too. It just sucks!
And space... freezer camp.. yup yup yup. I was able to sell 4 hens (7.5weeks old) and 2 cockerals (same age). Before the buyer came I caught them and put them in a dog crate for them to look at. He decited on buying all 4 hens and one rooster. Then he asked what was going to happen to the other rooster. I said he'll get butchered. So he bought it too. I am happy for the little guy!!
I will have the roosters without rings butchered in 2 weeks. And one hen who ended up getting crooked toes. At first I wanted to just give her a nice home... but someone pointed out that she will be too big for those feet. She won't be able to walk right. And I had to agree with that. So sorry for her!
Are you still having to lock up your birds @Erba ?

 

[abpatchy]

I finally got the "Federliebe"magazine. First issue ever, austrian... and my rooster is in it!! Eva took those pictures in February I believe... and when they asked her to write about Sulmtaler and send pictures, she included pics of my birds as well.
Soooooo proud!!!

 

[LoreWalker]

After an adventure and a half with buying 24 eggs (8 each of silver&black laced wyandottes, buff orpingtons, blue&black laced orpingtons) and then having the incubator die on me 24 hours in, and rushing the eggs over to a hatchery the next morning...

I am happy to say I am now the proud owner of 16 chicks! We picked them up yesterday, the oldest hatched Tuesday, the youngest Thursday morning.
They are very cute and I could honestly just watch them for hours on end

Can Orpingtons and Wyandottes be sexed by looking at their wing feathers? (at this age) Or is it really just a waiting game til they are a few weeks old?

I was also wondering if anyone had any tips on how to tell them apart if you don't have bands for their feet. Could a dab of nailpolish work and be safe?

 

[abpatchy]

Congratulations!! Yes they do grow up so fast... watch them as long as you can!
I am sorry your incubator broke but happy you had another option.

I don't know about feather sexing. I don't have to deal with it... I see what is what in about 2 or 3 weeks with my breed.

You could use zippy ties if you can't get chick rings. You would have to get different sizes anyways as they grow so fast. Putting nail polish on their feet...well, that could lead to picking. They pick everything that they can. This year I had marked some chicks with edding dots on their heads when they were a couple of weeks old. They got picked on.

Oh I have read that someone put those head bands on them... the ones out of plastic that are formed like a spiral... they cut some pieces so it's like a spiral ring. Just a small piece.. like 1.5 or 2 spiral turns.

 

[Erba]

I use coloured zip ties, for the different hatches, I bought a box with five colours, yellow, red, green, blue and brown. 2.5 x 100mm on Amazon. I know Sussex can't be feather sexed. I've got to wait until their hackle feathers and combs develop.The females combs stay pale,

​

 

[Beckyard_Silkies_Ger]

Germany, Uckermark, near Berlin.
I keep a wide range of sizes from Brahma to Bantam Silkies.

 

[abpatchy]

Germany, Uckermark, near Berlin.
I keep a wide range of sizes from Brahma to Bantam Silkies.

Welcome to this thread!!