Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[stake]

Stake----new grow out pen looks good! I am wondering if you are planning on putting a back door ?

How many coops do you have at this point?

Lisa:

There is a back door on hinges....it was in the 'up' positition ....lol, and just the main coop and the grow out...I needed replace the other one as it wouldn't be fair to winter chooks in it...and the grow out is where my outcast hen stays with the young'ins

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Hey stake that is great...............your backdoor is a door and a roof! excellent!

 

[wingstone]

Really bummed out, I had high hopes that the broodies would do better than me.
Here is where things stand.
I will not be having any extra Beltsville this season, out of the 12 eggs, I had 1 stinker, 2 no development, 2 yet to be determined, found 3 dead this morning, they looked like they were malformed and head funny looking heads...but I am happy to say I got 4 healthy looking Beltsville turkey, hopefully I can raise and breed from them...did I mention that they are hatching on day 24 also.

Out of the dozen budkeye, I do not hold much hope, 2 no development, 4 stinkies, the 6 remaining have not done anything yet...they should hatch today.

I wonder if the broodies are having trouble controlling their thermostats with this weird weather?

The incubator gave me 14 quail so far today, need lots more.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Okay-----I am going away for a week long vacation and have a friend who will be taking care of my chickens and cats

My question is :

recently the chickens have had lots of free ranging opportunities and when I a run they are in a bigger run that has less secure fencing.

While away they will need to be in a smaller run that is more secure.

I don't want my friend to have to round up chickens that have wandered out.............I want it easy for her...........as easy as possible.

So the question is..........should I ease my chickens into staying in the small run gradually .............they will not like it as they have been spoiled recently

or shall I continue to give them their freedom?

will it be like culture shock?

Its only a week and they will have the usual food and water and all day out in a run?

can you tell they are spoiled and have a caring human mom!

Lisa- they won't like it, BUT..it is what will work best for the one taking care of your birds. JMHO...they will get over it and when you get back, it will make getting "out" that much more special & the fact that YOU have "set them free"..hahaha..they will be fine..have a great Vacation!!!

 

[fisherlady]

Really bummed out, I had high hopes that the broodies would do better than me.
Here is where things stand.
I will not be having any extra Beltsville this season, out of the 12 eggs, I had 1 stinker, 2 no development, 2 yet to be determined, found 3 dead this morning, they looked like they were malformed and head funny looking heads...but I am happy to say I got 4 healthy looking Beltsville turkey, hopefully I can raise and breed from them...did I mention that they are hatching on day 24 also.

Out of the dozen budkeye, I do not hold much hope, 2 no development, 4 stinkies, the 6 remaining have not done anything yet...they should hatch today.

I wonder if the broodies are having trouble controlling their thermostats with this weird weather?

The incubator gave me 14 quail so far today, need lots more.

Dang!! Sorry you are having bad rates on your hatches... I feel your pain!
This last hatch is the worst we've ever had with broodies, between clears, blood rings and crushed eggs (from porous shells) we only ended up with 5 out of 24 (maybe 7 since 2 are still not hatched, but not holding out much hope)... and one of those which looked good was found dead in the nest this morning by DH, probably an accidental smothering.
Maybe it has been affected by the weather also, with so many early quitters and clears I would put some blame on temps and humidity fluctuations, that is for sure.

And I was really hoping for a 6-8 at least of the leghorns to hatch for my friend... now I will have to find another leghorn egg source to try another hatch.

I currently have 3 more broodies on a total of 24 eggs, day 10, so far their development numbers look a bit better... hopefully the eggs don't start failing in the second half of the brood!

 

[sharron]

The most traditional use is as a pasta sauce, in place of tomato-based sauce. It's also very good spread on chicken breasts before you bake them, tossed with steamed veggies, and added to pasta salad.

that sounds good, will try that, usually if i eat tomato based sauce i end up eating it all night, something in it that gives me fits, also sounds good on the chicken breast. thanks

 

[barbiegirl]

I got a pip under my broody!!!

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I got a pip under my broody!!!

..congrats and Good Luck to you and everyone hatching under broodys...some have great hatch numbers other not so much, but the same can happen when we use the incubators
too.....
***Here's a question: Has anyone ever done a study("professionals"/BYCkeepers) OR does anyone know, if are there specific numbers that would say, hatching under a broody is more successful than "artificial" hatching(incubator)...or vice-versa?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

i forgot to ask, just what do you eat the pesto with ? i've heard of pesto but don't know what it goes with lol

Everything! A delicious way to prepare or use up a little extra that we found is to buy or make some pizza dough, shape it and spread a generous amount of pesto. Slice fresh tomatoes on top and add your cheese. Then try not to eat the whole thing in one sitting.....my mouth is watering....

Lisa- they won't like it, BUT..it is what will work best for the one taking care of your birds. JMHO...they will get over it and when you get back, it will make getting "out" that much more special & the fact that YOU have "set them free"..hahaha..they will be fine..have a great Vacation!!!

Agreed, they will get over it. Have fun!

..congrats and Good Luck to you and everyone hatching under broodys...some have great hatch numbers other not so much, but the same can happen when we use the incubators
too.....
***Here's a question: Has anyone ever done a study("professionals"/BYCkeepers) OR does anyone know,  if are there specific numbers that would say, hatching under a broody is more successful than "artificial" hatching(incubator)...or vice-versa?

Sorry to hear Fisher and Wing have had poor outcomes. That must be a real bummer.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Sooo..... My new chickens were allowed to be integrated with my other four girls yesterday. Right away they were asserting themselves and chasing my original girls away. A few times thy have gotten fierce enough that they pulled feathers out. The two girls seems to be spending a lot of time by themselves. I know chickens tend to go in pairs, but will they eventually chill out? Again they are free ranging so they have opportunities to get away from each other. Why can't we all just get along?