Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

I'm so sorry about your pullets!!

Raccoons!!

If you are looking for "dealers" away from you, Freehling Farms near Pittsburgh is the place I mentioned that resells hatchery chicks for the local market, in addition to breeding some of their own. They seem to pride themselves on a good selection of interesting breeds, and may well be interested in some good CCL chicks. I have not gotten chicks from them yet, but one of my neighbors has, and had nice things to say. They are on Facebook.

I'm still hoping you may have a silver ameraucana pullet old enough to sex by the time of the chicken train (in addition to the few others that are sexable at hatch), but with 315 eggs in the hatchers now, I understand that taking a few chicks won't help you too much with your overrun!

The trouble is getting them all the way there, on a more or less regular basis.

I really do hope I have some silvers left when the train goes through. I will have Legbars the same age also for you. They will be about 6 weeks old by then, large enough to go outside without heat (as long as we don't get an April blizzard).

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote:
If you get stuck with some older pullets you need to get rid of, I would like to replace some of my layers I sold. I miss the bountiful eggs! If not, I just have to wait for my chicks to grow.

 

[fisherlady]

Along the same lines as my earlier post on the canvas drop cloth.... I have found that I can find useful items at yard sales to repurpose for use with the birds. Old bed linens make good floor coverings also, especially queen sized sheets or thinner, smooth top covers. And the birds couldn't care less about how ugly they are, they will poop on it anyways! just keep in mind that being thinner means it could allow bleed through of wetter substances, so the canvas drop cloth may be a safer option in some situations.
I have found shelf brackets and even shelves for cheap at yard sales, animal crates and carriers (our broody hens love cat carriers!), old bath towels (for wrapping up birds for medical care) , old metal pie plates or cake pans for setting out treats or feed, clamp on lights, old fans, older style baby cribs or play pens ( make awesome brooders or sick wards) .... an open mind and willingness to repurpose can lead to some great items at a cheap pricepoint!

 

[BullChick]

This morning I packed up nine birds to go live down south. The injured duck is being given a chance. He will have a pond to swim on (or is it in?), and minnows to catch. He's still as active as the other two, and his new caretakers are okay with feeding him feed soup, and providing extra deep containers.

 

[dheltzel]

I would really love some lavender bantam Ameraucanas. I also gave your name to someone on the Real Ameraucana Marketplace on facebook for a referral.

Thanks! I keep setting eggs every week in the hope that they will be fertile soon.

 

[dheltzel]

If you get stuck with some older pullets you need to get rid of, I would like to replace some of my layers I sold. I miss the bountiful eggs! If not, I just have to wait for my chicks to grow.

Nothing older than about a month, but even month old chicks are stinky if they are still living in your basement because the weather is too cold for outside.

 

[Lelanae]

I think that one of my English Orps is toying with being broody! She has made a nest on the floor and sits firmly on it and her daily egg until 3pm each day and makes pterodactyl noises at me if I disturb her. Should I give her fertile eggs? Chicks? A cat carrier for privacy? Wait and see if she sits longer each day?

 

[yoopergirl1211]

This morning I packed up nine birds to go live down south. The injured duck is being given a chance. He will have a pond to swim on (or is it in?), and minnows to catch. He's still as active as the other two, and his new caretakers are okay with feeding him feed soup, and providing extra deep containers.

Thats pretty cool that they still took him! Lucky boy!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote: Okay, thanks anyways. I'll have to see what my broody hatches out.

I think that one of my English Orps is toying with being broody! She has made a nest on the floor and sits firmly on it and her daily egg until 3pm each day and makes pterodactyl noises at me if I disturb her. Should I give her fertile eggs? Chicks? A cat carrier for privacy? Wait and see if she sits longer each day?

Wait until you see her on the nest almost 24/7. She will sleep on the nest and flatten her body out. She will be almost in a daze. It's very funny actually when it happens. Let her sit for a few days to make sure she wants to see it through.

 

[fangedknight]

A couple of options...Rather than hooking it over the edge get a length of board and lay it across the tank, secure the board by popping a hole through the tank just under the edge and run a large cable tie or piece of parachute cord through the hole and tightly around the board or through a hole you drilled through the ends of the board. Then secure the light to the board directly over the tank.

My preferred method (though not for everyone) is to place the brooder in a location where you can place a hook in the ceiling above it and hang the lamp over the brooder, making sure to use a twist tie to secure the cord to the hook and keep a wire screen over the brooder under the lamp just in case the securing methods fail so the lamp cant fall into the brooder. Using the 'hanging from a hook' method has a few advantages in my opinion....it allows you to access the brooder without moving the lamp and it lets you easily adjust the height of the heat to control temps easier.

I might try and put a board on the side, I'm not sure if I'll be able to. I was thinking maybe just putting something over the edge like a towel to help the lamps get a good grip on it might work. Alas I cannot put hooks in the ceiling of the kitchen, my mother would probably kill me. (But I can ask her about it just to be safe).