***SEPTEMBER HATCH-A-LONG come join in***

[Lesalynn]

Why, build more coops, of course, lol. But seriously....I keep all the hens for eggs....Right now we process all the roos at around 16-20 weeks. They're mixed breeds, for eggs and meat. I will be getting into 2, possibly 3, pure breeds in the future, so the kids can show them. I'll have separate quarters for those, of course. I just make sure I don't get attached to the roos, unless it's a definte keeper, and I'm ok. We processed a few yesterday. Gonna process some more Friday. Happily, I'm one of those people that lives in the country, and I've got around 40 acres to play with, my fiance is a carpenter, and so is his dad....lots of scrap lumber around....Yeah, I'm lucky, I know. And believe me, I take advantage of it, lol.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
It's a bottle of bottled water (called "Smart Water") that I recycled into a poultry nipple waterer for the chicks. I installed a poultry nipple into the cap, drilled a hole in the bottom of the bottle so no vacuum is created as the water drips from the nipple when the chickens peck at it.

Poultry nipple waterers are the BEST ever!

 

[Imagesoart]

OK, so do you have to teach the chickens how to get the water? That would be the best thing to have. I hang my waterers, but they still manage to get dirt in it! (We have Smart water too, doesn't really make me smart!)

 

[Madcap621]

Quote:
Also cut the bottoms out of the cups so that air can circulate

LOVE my egg cartons

Keeps the hatchlings from playing soccer w/the UN-hatched eggs, donchaknow.

 

[Gerbil]

Here they are!! More pics! Everyone has hatched!

 

[featherz]

Nah my babies used the nipple waterers right out of the egg. Didn't have to show them a thing. Even the silly silkies!

Here's what I use - water jugs:

(and yes, I just raised it a bit - those are my biggest silkies that just went to a new home!)..

 

[Newyorkrita]

Quote:
You are fortunate to have lots of room. Unfortunately I live in a much more suburban setting. Never will be able to keep a rooster so no breeding for me. Too bad really as I would love to breed. I have bred many different animals at various times in my life and would love to try chickens now. But no go. I can't have too many hens even.

I read the directions one time for processing your own chickens. It sure did sound complicated to this city girl

 

[Madcap621]

Quote:

CHICKEN PROCESSING 101: WHACK off their heads, BLEED 'em, PLUCK 'em, GUT 'em. Cook & eat! YUM!!!

 

[chasehope]

that sounds terrible!!!

 

[Imagesoart]

Back to the hatching! I will put them in lock down tonight. If I use egg cartons, I should cut the bottoms out, and the sides. But put the eggs on their sides or big side up? Anyone got a picture?