Setting eggs Memorial Day Weekend! :) They're hatching!!!

[Airilith]

Well I have to admit I hardly bothered Chole today at all.

I did continuously worry about the heat. I had to run to the store to buy an extra tarp, as I had rigged the one I have to hang over Chole's broody coop so that it is always in the shade. With the new tarp and extra cold water the rest of the flock was happy as could be.

The only time I bothered Chole today was when I went to close up the coops. I peeked in the window and saw that one of Chole's eggs was out from under her. I was worried, but by time I opened up the coop to get a closer peek she had resettled and all was well (and underneath her for that matter). So all is good, and I managed to restrain myself on the candling front yet again. That's a big accomplishment for me.

Day 7 you are over and out!

 

[sequoiacyclist]

Airilith, I feel your pain with all of this heat. Today it was in the mid 90's in California. I kept an eye on the incubator to make sure the temps didn't get too hot, but mostly I was worried about my 10 5-week old's outside. They are all in the shade with plenty of water available but I noticed a couple of them panting. You've got to love CA weather!

 

[Airilith]

Quote:
I know exactly what you mean Sequioa! We hit 93 today with 85% humidity. It was nasty! But the best thing I ever did was to buy a cat litter box (w/o the lid) and fill it with water. I showed some of the hens how to get in it. And today I saw Flitter wading in the water and looking so happy about it. They especially love it right after I've filled it with really cold water on hot days.

 

[sequoiacyclist]

Airilith, I am shocked to hear that your chickens like to wade in their makeshift pool. I was under the assumption that chickens didn't like to be wet. Thanks for the great idea though. I am going to try it out with a shallow dish tomorrow.

 

[Airilith]

Quote:
I had to do something when it started getting hot around here. They definitely weren't happy about the heat. So I got the litter box filled it up and inserted one chicken at a time. The roo's don't like the water as much. My BR and EE hens loved it. If I put them in there and pressed on there backs gently they would lay down in the water. I would back up then, and most of the time they'd stay there for five minutes. One time Flitter laid in the water for 15 mins, and managed to take 2 naps. She looked like she was in heaven. Haha!

Now they really only lay down in the water when I persuade them too, and I really only do that when it's super hot and they're panting their heads off. But I see them walking through the water ever now and then. I figure it cools them off enough to be comfortable.

 

[pfmoore17]

Quote:
Humidity has stablized at 40% in the bator, but the outside hunidity has been swinging from 65-100% over the last few days here in CT.

And I caught another raccoon.

 

[sequoiacyclist]

pfmoore, I am glad that we don't have raccoons where I live. I can imagine they would be quite the predator. Do you have your chickens in an enclosed run? Can they break through standard gauge chicken wire? The only predator I have to deal with is our 2 year old Lab. She would love to get her mouth on one of my chickens, so we have to watch her closely. I hope that as time goes on she gets used to the fact that I have chickens and she can't eat any! We'll see.

 

[pfmoore17]

Quote:
Yes sequoiacyclist, my 3 remaining wheatie hens are in an enclosed house/pen fortified with 1/2" wire cloth. The top has standard chicken wire. My pullets got nailed in broad daylight while free ranging. It is best to keep them enclosed from May-Oct and let them free range during the winter months when varmints are hibernating. We got fishercats, weasels, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes to deal with.

 

[sequoiacyclist]

Ok, I officially candled today and I have 9 developing eggs.

The supposed fertile eggs I purchased from a local farmers market turned out to be infertile (so much for taking the seller's word that they were fertile

) but the fertile Rock Island Eggs purchased from a grocery store really surprised me. Today I had to move the 'bator from a guest house outside into my main house due to rising temps. I wanted to move them earlier but thought I could stick it out. Then at noon today I decided to make the move after I could not get the temps to go down inside my 'bator. The high today was 96. Ugh!

 

[SarahIrl]

Well, it's raining here today, and my humidity has gone up by about 5% but it's still under 60%, so happy enough.

Lost one buff orp egg, day 6 quitter I think. Ah, well.

Count now:

5/6 buff orps
4/5 silver brahma
36/40 barnevelders