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fisherlady said:
What a long day.... we had to thin the coops...a responsibility we have frankly been avoiding for a while because it is not a pleasant thing, but certainly needed for flock longevity and economics. We had numerous old hens who were no longer laying and they were slowing down in general, so it was time to be responsible and get it done even if we didn't want to.
Between older birds and a handful of growing out cockerels we ended up butchering 21today. Time to take a break for the evening. Tomorrow will be coop cleaning and reorganizing. :th
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One of the hardest necessities of owning birds. Look at the bright side.... It's done now...

And if you don't mind me asking, what's your preferred method?
 
fisherlady said:
What a long day.... we had to thin the coops...a responsibility we have frankly been avoiding for a while because it is not a pleasant thing, but certainly needed for flock longevity and economics. We had numerous old hens who were no longer laying and they were slowing down in general, so it was time to be responsible and get it done even if we didn't want to.
Between older birds and a handful of growing out cockerels we ended up butchering 21today. Time to take a break for the evening. Tomorrow will be coop cleaning and reorganizing.
th.gif
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Fisher:

I do not envy your circumstance....I've never ran into this because of Mr. Fox...I think I will need to do some culling in the future...but my group maxes out around 20 and I promise not to go hatch crazy......

On another note, couldn't resist candling my day 5 eggs....4 of 12 were clear and two might have gone blood ring...(I reallly can't tell)....that leaves me with 6-8 viable....anyone want to opine on how many will make it to hatch???
 
I just turned on the first of the cabinet incubators to join the New Year's day hatch-along. Will set eggs tonight:
Cream Legbars (mostly pure Jill Rees, I love those pullets)
Welbars
Ameraucanas - Silvers, Blacks, bantam Lavenders, Black/Lavender splits
and 1 Bielefelder egg

So, if anyone is thinking of getting some early chicks, I hope to have some available early in January.

Changed all the waterers I could to heated water bowls/buckets. Just in time it seems, might get some snow today and later this week we will have lows in the teens. I also turned on the lights in the main coop to start lengthening the days to rush spring a little.
 
stake said:
Fisher:

I do not envy your circumstance....I've never ran into this because of Mr. Fox...I think I will need to do some culling in the future...but my group maxes out around 20 and I promise not to go hatch crazy......

On another note, couldn't resist candling my day 5 eggs....4 of 12 were clear and two might have gone blood ring...(I reallly can't tell)....that leaves me with 6-8 viable....anyone want to opine on how many will make it to hatch???
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I'll guess 6
 
stake said:
Fisher:

I do not envy your circumstance....I've never ran into this because of Mr. Fox...I think I will need to do some culling in the future...but my group maxes out around 20 and I promise not to go hatch crazy......

On another note, couldn't resist candling my day 5 eggs....4 of 12 were clear and two might have gone blood ring...(I reallly can't tell)....that leaves me with 6-8 viable....anyone want to opine on how many will make it to hatch???
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Thanks...it sucks but had to be done. Glad it is over and won't put it off so long in the future.

I will guess 5, with 3 boys and 2 girls, lol
 
kie4 said:
First egg today!! :) :)



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bit congrats...the first one is always special.....poached, fried, or scrambled????

PS:
Flurries have started here a couple of hours early....past two days I've had really hard freezes in the water bowls...
 
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stake said:
bit congrats...the first one is always special.....poached, fried, or scrambled????

PS:
Flurries have started here a couple of hours early....past two days I've had really hard freezes in the water bowls...
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Thanks @stake! Fried!

400


7 of us shared this monumentous egg. This has been built up since June 27th.

For the past 2 days I've found frozen water in the run waterers. Should be a little bit warmer tomorrow, but yes time to start heating the water agreed.
 
dheltzel said:
To everyone looking for heated water bowls, Jeffers has them for $19.95 and today has 15% off, so only $17 each. Free shipping on order over $49. They also have a bunch of other deals, including a heated 5 gallon bucket for about $25 after discounts. I don't recommend the 5 gallon for chickens, they could drown and it might be too tall, but they are nice for larger animals.
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/premium-heated-pet-bowl
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Thanks DH, my order is in. I had already planned to fit a biscuit tin with an incandescent bulb and heat a plastic bucket of water from below. I've put so much work into my set up, $20 for a waterer is not much for peace of mind so I shelled out and scrapped the potential fire hazard.
 

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