South Carolina

[ranchhand]

All these great pics inspired me!

The black or blue mottles are 9 weeks old, the columbian is 11 weeks. Only one is frizzled, darn it, and of 9 chicks 7 are cockerals!

Now you know why I have my title....
Never again will I hatch in the fall or winter, at least not until I have a remote brooder. All 7 cockerals are trying to crow and they're right next to the bedroom.

I had hoped to have them outside by now but no way in this freezing weather.

Here's my one frizzle:

Assorted cockerals:

Group shot in the old dresser turned brooder:

I will be looking to rehome some of the cockerals, let me know if you want one!

18F here this morning- hope everyone is staying warm and happy hatching! (Amy/Nadine, you know me as Sally, so does Lisa - I've actually gotten to meet Lisa.)


edit because I screwed up the pics.....

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Popping in to say

Got caught up in the NYD hatch....have had hands full with various other things... will try to get caught up reading this thread....am a couple hundred posts behind!

Hope everyone is doing well

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I must say I am glad I have slowed down some on hatching.

I am trying to be adamant about not hatching after the first of Oct. this year! I am so weak, you watch, I will still try to hatch some but please, SHOOT ME! I have 2 brooders begging for cleaning now and am sitting here waiting on DD so we can go to NC and get Guinea Pig pellets. That is the only place local selling them in 50 lb bags and Blue seal is a good quality feed.

You know the roads are still not good out there??? We just went on egg deliveries this morning and I still had to be dag-gone careful! I dread running to NC but DD did not remind me to get more GP pellets to last out the week. We go through 50 lbs a week with her piggies. So maybe the road will be somewhat okay after the sun warms it up and moves around.

I stopped by one of the feed stores on the way back home and was thankful they had plenty of grain. I got a few bags but will stop at another feed store in Landrum on the way back from NC and will probably hit Williams sometime tomorrow. Unfortunately, I can't drive down to the barn with all the ice still out there so DD and I carried them down from the carport. Only 2 bags so not too bad but I guess I will try my wagon when I get more.

Happy hatching everyone! And be careful on these roads still!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Went up to the shed to feed the chicks and close up the adults and heard peeping.
A few Silkies have been broody so I picked up the cat box cover and there sat the Serama and a Silkie, Fluffy. Lifted them and 2 silver laced Wyandotte/Cochin chicks were under there. Fluffy has been sitting ont the eggs the whole time. So adorable! I sat the hens back on them and put the cover back over their nest.
Those were some test eggs for my SL Wyandotte pullet (8 mths) and SLC roo. I have one of those chicks in the brooder, too. Nice to see they hatch as well under a hen in winter as they do in a 'bator. Bet they will be cute to watch grow up!
The one here in the house has a straight comb and feathered legs. I didn't look too closely at those in the shed, too cold.
Pullets will stay here, roos will go to freezer camp.

So now my black Silkie hen decided she wants babies and since the Serama was sitting with the chicks I let her have the eggs laid today. The only hen laying I suppose, is my white one but since Fancy went broody then I expect Miss Muffet to join her in another week. They always sit together but Fancy has to initiate it. I need more Silkie chicks like I need a another hole in my head! Last January they hatched out a few roosters and dearly love to raise chicks so I let them.

See. Even when I stop hatching the hens decide they need some to raise, too.

 

[Moonchild]

So I just got caught up on all the post! Back to work I did!!! Long Days!....

So...I love all the new pics and I see lots of people have new hatches and batches! My Big Girls got to go out of the coop for the first time in a week, Yeah they still hate the snow(nothing has changed)! I actually got excited today I heard what I thought was the "egg song" well it wasn't, but my Barred Rocks are kind of loud(anybody elses loud)?

Amy aka Nadine lol...How's those JG eggs going? How many days have they been sitting? Excited!!!

Quick Question: If my hens have never been around a rooster or older hens well they go broody? Just wondering and wondering what I do if they do?

Yes it's still cold! I just thought you guys may want to know

....lol

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! Anybody heard from DanielBrown? I haven't heard from him in a while. Miss my chicken-talks with him. Hope all is well.
Anybody heard from Polochic? Haven't heard from her in ages and she's got an incubator I loaned her. I could sure use it back if you are done with that hatch.
I think the cold is making me nostalgic and a bit cranky. We STILL have snow on the ground here and no thaw in sight (or at least a complete thaw).
I've just loved meeting many of the local/semi-local folks. I'm so forgetful, I forget who is a byc member or not.
Sally, it was a joy and a pleasure to meet you.
Others I had the pleasure to meet, wekiva-bird, gofasterstripe, snick, and badrotti. All delightful folks.
And through byc, I got to be part of a sisterly 'chicken' birthday gift between a sister 'somewhere up north' and a sister here local (relatively). That was fun to be part of.

Lisa

 

[snick]

Ahhhh just got back from picking up some hatching eggs...Thanks again for the contact Amy. Got to oh and ah over the new chicks...and they threw in a prize for me...very nice folks.

I made my girls a "flock block" today they are enjoying it but are really enjoying being outside and laying around in the sun.

Bator is running and holding steady so the new eggs go in tomorrow

Here we go again

John did you get yours in today?

Oh yeah Amy Keith told me these eggs will probably go to day 22-23...how will I ever wait that long????

Moonchild (did I tell you my llamas name is moonpie...LOL) glad your girls got to come out today...and yes mine seem very loud also...if they get broody give them an egg LOL

 

[WestKnollAmy]

You all know I just hang around this site all day, right?

Actually I have to check emails so much I am always checking here, too. I like to answer promptly.

Yancy, I have only had those eggs about a week!

I need to check for veining for you to give you an update. I will do that tonight when the house is dark and let you know if I see anything. The eggs are not nearly as big as my JG girl's eggs. But still I hope we get some nice chicks from them.
Even without a roo they may go broody. Very hard to break sometimes. None of my BR have ever gone broody but I had a JG go broody once. Henrietta wanted babies but when they hatched she did not do well with them so I discourage them now. most ladies in my free range flock do not go broody and I have....uh....4 or more roos out with them. I guess it depends who gets out from the trampoline pen during the day.
Louder than my BRs is my little Dominiquer! She belts it out when she lays. I guess your girls are getting close to egg laying, Yancy!

Dipsy, it has been a few weeks since I heard from Daniel. He brought me a bunch of lumber and got some eggs from me. We talked about what we cooked for Christmas and that was the last I have heard but we talk so seldom. He works weekends and I work....all the time.

I can't believe you all still have snow on the ground down there!

We went to NC yesterday and they seemed to have less than us here. I was amazed. But their roads were at least more clear than ours. I was worried because of all the curves and hills.

Snick, I knew you would love Keith. He is a great guy. I always love to talk with him. We email a lot and I always say I will go visit him but have never made it. My BCM eggs do not go to day 22-23 but I know he says his did and I have heard that before. I have gotten to where I up my humidity to 70% and that really helps in those last few days. I was keeping it at 50-60% and they seemed not to do as well.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:
Amy, I was wondering...a local man told me about a feed store - I remember he said Campobello...something something turn....IDK...could not find it the one time I looked for it....can't even remember name of it. He said they had good feed prices. Would that be the one you go to by any chance?

I do not live far from Strawberry Hill

~Kimberly

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:
Ohhhhhhhh auction!

Where?

We drove to Jefferson SC a few months ago for an auction there.