Redinator's First Hatch-Along w Bonus Broody: And Everything Thereafter

[ChickenChick46]

I was about to order them yesterday, but then I realized if I want a male I have to order 5 . . . why on Earth would I need 5 males for 5 pullets? I even tried ordering one male and 5 pullets . . .order wouldn't go through . . ..

Oh wow. I wonder why they require that?

 

[redinator]

Oh wow. I wonder why they require that?

I get the 5 chick minimum per order, but 5 of each breed or gender seems bit much. I might have to get an assortment of 'colored egg layers' instead and hope I get the breeds I want and sell the rest.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I get the 5 chick minimum per order, but 5 of each breed or gender seems bit much. I might have to get an assortment of 'colored egg layers' instead and hope I get the breeds I want and sell the rest.

Yeah I agree. I definitely get the minimum number of chicks. But I find breed minimums and especially gender minimums to be odd.

 

[redinator]

So I rewatched the video I made on all the things I intend to get done this month. I might have overestimated my energy level and ability to not play with chicks instead of actually getting things done.

Here's the list:

• replace Storm door
• Mow front yard
• lid for feed bucket
• install bird spikes and clean off landing
• replace torn pool noodles
• move yard tools to materials yard
• move cinder blocks and pavers (in progress; as needed)
• set up auto waterers; need diverters
• organize "junk"
• use edging along fence line
• put metal nest box in run for bantams
• clean under landing and add pavers under stairs to prevent chickens from laying eggs there; add bedding pellets to reduce odor
• move shade cloth poles to side yard and hang shade cloth
• remove old ramp and foundation pavers; save plywood
• set up grazing boxes and dust bath area
• remove t-posts along back of the yard
• replace netting with welded wire above 4ft chain-link fence
• install fencing on t-posts to divide chicken yard from main yard
• Mow side yard
• Organize material yard
• set up hides for chicks
• build perches in runs
• Build 8 bay nesting box and figure out where to put it

Doing these last; because once they're done I'll end up hatching more chicks:

• turn henhouse into Brooder
• clean incubator

I've decided to hire someone to do this because I don't have the tools or skill set to do it properly myself:

• install skirting; need professional help

I could also use some ideas on what to do with metal panels I kept when I tore down my old shed. I was planning to use them to wrap the run during winter, but I've decided tarps would be easier since I plan to remove them every summer.

I'll be updating this list as I go . . . wish me luck, lol.

Edited: 8 bay nesting box

 

[redinator]

Well I worked on integration of the incubator chicks (turning 3 weeks tomorrow) with the nearly 10 and 11 week olds.

An interesting turn of events happened. Some of the more skittish 10 and 11 week olds were interested in the chicks enough that they came and perched in my lap with them .

Cookie and KitKat are the more adventurous of the bunch and they wandered away from me and explored the run a bit. When they would get pecked by one of the older chicks they'd quickly come running back to momma.

The Black Sexlinks and Cinnamon Queen (Red Sexlink) are definitely gonna make integration a challenge. The Buff Orpingtons and Buff Cochins bantams seem to be the more accepting of the bunch and one of the cochins took up residence in the pen with the babies. She went in and just hung out and wasn't bothering them or chasing them from the feeder so I decided to let her stay. A couple of the chicks snuggled under her and she wasn't bothered by it one bit. She might be my next broody.

Ok I had my dose of chick therapy, now to get some real work done.