Raising Chicks has been a Joy

[Grandmas Coop]

This one wants to hatch eggs but wants nothing to do with the chicks. I pulled her out of the nesting box she slept in over night and made her be outside.
She’s telling me how she must go back to the nest

 

[Grandmas Coop]

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/red_star.html
@Smokerbill
My hope was that I would have plenty of new chickens to supply eggs to my son,,, Now with only 6 new ones that wont be laying until November, we wont have eggs over winter. so I am thinking about adding at least 6 Red Stars???????????

 

[Smokerbill]

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/red_star.html
@Smokerbill
My hope was that I would have plenty of new chickens to supply eggs to my son,,, Now with only 6 new ones that wont be laying until November, we wont have eggs over winter. so I am thinking about adding at least 6 Red Stars???????????

My son had a couple ISA browns. They laid lots of eggs during their first laying cycle, but if I remember right they both ended up having reproductive issues after a couple years.

The barred rocks I bought 2 years ago also laid lots of eggs, but I lost 3 out of 8 to reproductive issues, and at least one, maybe more, of the remaining 5 are having issues now. I think the hatchery barred rocks I bought were bred to lay lots of eggs at the expense of long term health.

I'm hoping the New Hampshire pullets I bought weren't bred to lay lots of eggs, but are closer to their heritage line, laying fewer eggs but being healthier over the long term.

But all that is just my opinion. Maybe my birds' issues were my fault from less than perfect care. I think some have had ISA browns that had long, healthy, productive lives.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

My son had a couple ISA browns. They laid lots of eggs during their first laying cycle, but if I remember right they both ended up having reproductive issues after a couple years.

The barred rocks I bought 2 years ago also laid lots of eggs, but I lost 3 out of 8 to reproductive issues, and at least one, maybe more, of the remaining 5 are having issues now. I think the hatchery barred rocks I bought were bred to lay lots of eggs at the expense of long term health.

I'm hoping the New Hampshire pullets I bought weren't bred to lay lots of eggs, but are closer to their heritage line, laying fewer eggs but being healthier over the long term.

But all that is just my opinion. Maybe my birds' issues were my fault from less than perfect care. I think some have had ISA browns that had long, healthy, productive lives.

This is VERY GOOD to know thank you!

 

[Grandmas Coop]

 

[Grandmas Coop]

@Smokerbill
I bet you are exhausted!!! I am so sorry ,, I think the airlines are VRRRY rough with the handling of the chicks. The temp in flight is way to cold.

 

[Smokerbill]

@Smokerbill
I bet you are exhausted!!! I am so sorry ,, I think the airlines are VRRRY rough with the handling of the chicks. The temp in flight is way to cold.

I was kind of bummed out, for sure. You'd think that paying the $15 extra post office fee would ensure that they took special care of chicks, like keeping them in heated containers and treating them gently. I guess need to find a West Coast hatchery that ships by truck on the road.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I was kind of bummed out, for sure. You'd think that paying the $15 extra post office fee would ensure that they took special care of chicks, like keeping them in heated containers and treating them gently. I guess need to find a West Coast hatchery that ships by truck on the road.

I pray you get your rooster , alive.
I asked Murray to mark my roosters so I knew which ones they were.
The two are good. So I know I can hatch more in due time.
I did take the full refund. Had the roosters not lived my I would have took replacements. And they only ship 6 chicks minimum, so I would have taken it.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

7am
I am keeping the door ajar so the hens can access the nesting boxes

I have towels as cold air blocks


I use old beach towels for bedding its Less messy than litter and they can eat it. First towel down then the heating pad then another towel.
I elevate the water so they don’t make mud, they can peek at the sand for grit,





The over night temp has been holding at 83 to 90

It is currently 45 out. The high might reach 58
We are not going to get warm until maybe June 11th

 

[Grandmas Coop]

My grandkids did great babysitting yesterday. They took care of my Tony dog and watched over the chicks.