Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[OneMountainAcres]

Broody update, Brownie was the happy recipient of 9 beautiful Lavender Americauna chicks which we had picked up from @Auroradream26 yesterday. We gave them to her 2 at a time yesterday through the evening, ending with a group of 3. She transitioned to mama mode overnight and this morning we moved her from the box she had set in for the past 3 weeks to the broody hut in our people area of the hut. The chicks took to her right away and are already exploring a bit in their new area. Looks like it was meant to be.
Mindy knew there were chicks under there...she was determined to be the first to see them! LOL

They look like they're doing great! Brownie is a beautiful mama

 

[fisherlady]

Well, may as well do some photo bombing... uploaded a bunch of pics from the last 2 weeks and today. Jo hatched 3 silkie chicks late yesterday too, the 3rd actually needed a bit of assistance. We had noticed the air cell was on the side, it finally pipped, but not into the air cell, it pipped directly to the outside on the side opposite of the air cell. Once we saw the pip we left it alone for a few more hours. DH was in the coop and heard it cheeping as if distressed so he brought the egg into me. I widened the pipped area (the chick had moved slightly and couldn't get it's beak out of the hole anymore) , wet the membrane to identify blood vessel locations and used tiny scissors to cut a hole in the membrane big enough to allow good airflow. There were still a lot of vessels visible so I had him return the egg to her for overnight care, knowing that now that the chick could breath easily the hen was his best chance...sure enough at 0530 it was about half zipped and by 0830 it had itself out.
So we transitioned Jo and her new brood to a nursery nest this morning...

 

[fisherlady]

Jo's new brood...

The smallest is still hiding under mama most of the time, but poor thing had a hard hatch, so understandable. The other 2 are out and about and full of attitude!

This is driving me crazy, half the time my page is loading without the ability to add pictures or emoticons...I have more pictures and will load them when I can get it to work.

 

[fisherlady]

And some from other hatches....

 

[AnRamire]

Broody update, Brownie was the happy recipient of 9 beautiful Lavender Americauna chicks which we had picked up from @Auroradream26 yesterday. We gave them to her 2 at a time yesterday through the evening, ending with a group of 3. She transitioned to mama mode overnight and this morning we moved her from the box she had set in for the past 3 weeks to the broody hut in our people area of the hut. The chicks took to her right away and are already exploring a bit in their new area. Looks like it was meant to be.
Mindy knew there were chicks under there...she was determined to be the first to see them! LOL

how precious

 

[AnRamire]

And some from other hatches....

this makes my heart melt. I want more silkie chicks!!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

And some from other hatches....

So adorable! How do you keep your numbers down with so many babies all the time?!

 

[fisherlady]

So adorable! How do you keep your numbers down with so many babies all the time?!

Butcher the boys and sell the girls...and usually keep hatches smaller now. Brownie having 9 is by far the biggest brood since last summer.
We try to set the hens in pairs, and with enough to split the hatch between hens if anything goes wrong. I have a friend who is always looking for laying hens too...

 

[Jacob Duckman]

Anyone here know how to sex adult ducks he duck thread isn't letting me post pictures these ducks were my cousins they have gotten then a few years ago they slept outside in the yard they have gotten many different houses for them but they wouldn't use them but early this morning something killed this ones partner and if he is good and know what gender he is I want to find him a buddy and let them live out the rest of there lives. But they couldn't find its partner there was only blood spots and feathers they have neighbor dogs but they have an underground fence. And they only slept in a house in the winter but rain or shine they wouldn't sleep in a house they slept down by the road and I think they felt the cars scared things off away from them. But anyways can anyone identify gender or breed of this duck. So I geuss now I have ducks

Most adult male ducks have what is called a "drake feather". A single feather on their butt ends that curls up. Females just have all straight tail feathers.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Montgomery county, one block out of Philadelphia, PA

Welcome! Upper bucks here.

So Friday Night I got to check out DHetzel's hatching and brooding set up. I could not possibly be more impressed. I think I stared in awe with my mouth hung open the majority of the time I was there. I have NEVER seen so many beautiful chicks in one place at one time before. We're lucky to have him in PA with us.

Agree, if this is his basement set up, it is impressive! And I saw it a couple years ago!

Well, may as well do some photo bombing... uploaded a bunch of pics from the last 2 weeks and today. Jo hatched 3 silkie chicks late yesterday too, the 3rd actually needed a bit of assistance. We had noticed the air cell was on the side, it finally pipped, but not into the air cell, it pipped directly to the outside on the side opposite of the air cell. Once we saw the pip we left it alone for a few more hours. DH was in the coop and heard it cheeping as if distressed so he brought the egg into me. I widened the pipped area (the chick had moved slightly and couldn't get it's beak out of the hole anymore) , wet the membrane to identify blood vessel locations and used tiny scissors to cut a hole in the membrane big enough to allow good airflow. There were still a lot of vessels visible so I had him return the egg to her for overnight care, knowing that now that the chick could breath easily the hen was his best chance...sure enough at 0530 it was about half zipped and by 0830 it had itself out.
So we transitioned Jo and her new brood to a nursery nest this morning...

Great catch! Glad to see those little cuties! I can't wait for mine. I was glad to have the incubator, but I definitely prefer the broody method! Although having said that, I am putting aside fertile turkey eggs for hatching later this week...

So adorable! How do you keep your numbers down with so many babies all the time?!

Butcher the boys and sell the girls...and usually keep hatches smaller now. Brownie having 9 is by far the biggest brood since last summer.
We try to set the hens in pairs, and with enough to split the hatch between hens if anything goes wrong. I have a friend who is always looking for laying hens too...

How long do you wait before you sell them? Do you sell the baby chicks straight from the Mama? Or do you let her grow them out a bit?