Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

Busy evening. Pulled 177 chicks and poults from the hatchers. Then set 376 more eggs, more than filling the new incubator

 

[Blarneyeggs]

My new Dickey incubator arrived today!
I'm just too exhausted to set it up tonight. I took a truck and my nephew to go pick up a coop and some pullets from a customer that was told by his landlord they had to go. The pullets are 4 Welsummers and a Rhodebar I sold him back in Jan. They should be coming into lay soon so I will have even more eggs to put in that new incubator.

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I've been meaning to post the pics! I've taken some when they were first hatched, they are even prettier now, love the patterns on the wings.

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This is really helpful, Thanks!

I lost my little Red Ranger tonight.

I'd been worried through the week because she seemed to be keeping apart from the group, being less active and not growing like the others. My guess would be failure to thrive. As all the others seem to be progressing as they should, is there reason to worry about them?

So sorry. It's never easy.

We enjoyed this beautiful day by taking the Khakis outside to play for the first time. I can't believe how fast they grow!!!

So sweet! It's nice that you've got some little helpers to catch them.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

You are a good granddaughter to do that for your Pappy.

I spent a few hours today in the company of a lady I just adore...she's nearly 70 and lost her husband last year, she had some older hens which needed culled, so we had a good catch up gab session and processed 6 of the oldest hens, I am going back Monday to finish the rest, I was out all night on emergency calls and just didn't have it in me to do a 6 hour marathon session.

X2 on being a good gran daughter Aurora.

That's very kind of you Fiasherlady. How does one determine when to cull an older chicken? I would think it would be so tough to eat after a couple years anyways,

I lost my little Red Ranger tonight.

I'd been worried through the week because she seemed to be keeping apart from the group, being less active and not growing like the others. My guess would be failure to thrive. As all the others seem to be progressing as they should, is there reason to worry about them?

If everyone else seems normal, it was probably just a fluke, albeit a sad one. Unfortunately, with chickens, as with any animal, you have to get used to death. And poop. Lots of poop.

We enjoyed this beautiful day by taking the Khakis outside to play for the first time. I can't believe how fast they grow!!!

They're gorgeous! Looks like your boys are having a good time too!

Busy evening. Pulled 177 chicks and poults from the hatchers. Then set 376 more eggs, more than filling the new incubator  

Wow! How is it working out with you providing chicks to the local stores?

 

[emorems0]

The girls got off the bus yesterday and promptly took advantage of the warm, sunny day by each plucking a chick out of the brooder to play in the grass... and then left them for their little sister to play with, lol. Fiona is surprisingly gentle with them. This is a dark cornish and a cornish roaster.

Did a head count this morning and freaked a little when almost half were missing. Peaked in the coop to check the nest boxes and all four of the missing birds were crammed in there, there are usually 2 at most and never sharing a box.

Ignore the dirty coop, we are due for spring cleaning and whitewashing.

 

[fisherlady]

X2 on being a good gran daughter Aurora.

That's very kind of you Fiasherlady. How does one determine when to cull an older chicken? I would think it would be so tough to eat after a couple years anyways,
If everyone else seems normal, it was probably just a fluke, albeit a sad one. Unfortunately, with chickens, as with any animal, you have to get used to death. And poop. Lots of poop.

I agree that it was likely a failure to thrive, especially if no others are showing signs of trouble. ..some are just weak and don't make it, sad but true.

Culling older hens is usually based on production of eggs or general condition exams. These were hatchery sex links and they were rarely laying, their body condition/weight still looked good, so a more practical time to cull, she will debone the meat and pressure can it (makes even the toughest birds great for use). She will also make broth from the bones and scraps.

 

[LeBlackbird]

We enjoyed this beautiful day by taking the Khakis outside to play for the first time. I can't believe how fast they grow!!!

I miss my ducks! I'm going to try buff next year, I've never had them before.

The girls got off the bus yesterday and promptly took advantage of the warm, sunny day by each plucking a chick out of the brooder to play in the grass... and then left them for their little sister to play with, lol. Fiona is surprisingly gentle with them. This is a dark cornish and a cornish roaster.

Did a head count this morning and freaked a little when almost half were missing. Peaked in the coop to check the nest boxes and all four of the missing birds were crammed in there, there are usually 2 at most and never sharing a box.

Ignore the dirty coop, we are due for spring cleaning and whitewashing.

I LOVE this weather! Looks like fun!

 

[chiques chicks]

I miss my ducks! I'm going to try buff next year, I've never had them before.
I LOVE this weather! Looks like fun!

My neighbor has or had buffs. Not sure what all they have at the moment. Pretty birds.

 

[dheltzel]

Wow! How is it working out with you providing chicks to the local stores?

I am selling exclusively through Pughtown Agway. They still have to order some hatchery chicks every few weeks to catch up with demand, but the last few weeks they have been selling at least 50 per week of the ones I hatch. They have never sold anywhere close to these numbers in the past. Some of it may be the burgeoning demand for backyard chickens, but I like to think some is the fact that word is out that they have some rare and unusual breeds, a customer might come to buy a cream legbar and get a few hatchery chicks too.

I am hatching more Ameraucanas and Black Sexlinks than I am selling. I am building more brooders at the farm to hold them all. The sexlinks will be fantastic layers if we can get a pastured egg busness going, and the black Ams are the best for free ranging. I love the look of black birds running around the sunlit grass.

 

[LeBlackbird]

My neighbor has or had buffs. Not sure what all they have at the moment. Pretty birds.

I think they're gorgeous, they look like diluted khakis

I love the bluish heads on the drakes

 

[kimalulu]

The girls got off the bus yesterday and promptly took advantage of the warm, sunny day by each plucking a chick out of the brooder to play in the grass... and then left them for their little sister to play with, lol. Fiona is surprisingly gentle with them. This is a dark cornish and a cornish roaster.

Did a head count this morning and freaked a little when almost half were missing. Peaked in the coop to check the nest boxes and all four of the missing birds were crammed in there, there are usually 2 at most and never sharing a box.

Ignore the dirty coop, we are due for spring cleaning and whitewashing.

Cute pics of your little one.

Wow! How is it working out with you providing chicks to the local stores?

I am selling exclusively through Pughtown Agway. They still have to order some hatchery chicks every few weeks to catch up with demand, but the last few weeks they have been selling at least 50 per week of the ones I hatch. They have never sold anywhere close to these numbers in the past. Some of it may be the burgeoning demand for backyard chickens, but I like to think some is the fact that word is out that they have some rare and unusual breeds, a customer might come to buy a cream legbar and get a few hatchery chicks too.

I am hatching more Ameraucanas and Black Sexlinks than I am selling. I am building more brooders at the farm to hold them all. The sexlinks will be fantastic layers if we can get a pastured egg busness going, and the black Ams are the best for free ranging. I love the look of black birds running around the sunlit grass.

That's great! I'm sure the demand is up because of the breeds you're supplying.