Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Toxic Chicken]

Nah.  I ordered a new hammock, Bobby bought a new saw, I'm acting like a baby about my elbow (I was in the hammock when it broke) and I figure the fewer chicks that hatch, the fewer I have to find homes for.

Besides, there's a piece of chocolate mousse cheesecake in the fridge with my name on it (did I mention that I was in the hammock when it broke?).  And I don't have to be back in school until Tuesday.

Life is good!!

That's how I feel now. Less chicks to find homes for.
Although it would have been nice to get one just one
little cream legbar..... and a Appen spitz.... and a mottled Java
But like I said earlier I can buy those from MPC next spring.
(except the Java)
I think they are going to have lavender orps too (if Lavinia
turns out to be a Roo). I'm already thinking I can get a second
small coop for my silkie and get a bantam mottled Cochin
and a milli flur thingy. Ugh I'm so bad.
I need to go play with my chicks and be happy for what I have.

 

[smkchick]

That's how I feel now. Less chicks to find homes for.
Although it would have been nice to get one just one
little cream legbar..... and a Appen spitz.... and a mottled Java
But like I said earlier I can buy those from MPC next spring.
(except the Java)
I think they are going to have lavender orps too (if Lavinia
turns out to be a Roo). I'm already thinking I can get a second
small coop for my silkie and get a bantam mottled Cochin
and a milli flur thingy. Ugh I'm so bad.
I need to go play with my chicks and be happy for what I have.

I hear ya on that! The last (I think) of the Light Sussex just hatched. My daughter had been watching it peck at the little hole during the afternoon, so I called her downstairs to see it hatch. She timed it perfectly. Laura sat down to watch and she gave two big pushes and out she popped. Despite her all day struggle, she seems okay.

I listened to all the remaining eggs. Nothing. And they don't seem to be generating their own heat. I'll leave them overnight, just in case, but then I'll do post-mortems in the morning.

Kinda glad it's all over...

 

[goldeneggtees]

I'm still here, just not allowed to talk about what happened. Big brother is watching!

Anyway, it wasn't the right place to vent. Sorry folks, too much wine yesterday. I will behave now.

I feel like Jack Nicholson from one flew over the Cuckoo's nest

 

[goldeneggtees]

What if you added 2 side petals on the heart roo and paint it green for all the Irish chicks Shamrock roo...

I like that idea!!!!! I will try it.

 

[smkchick]

The final head count: 1 White Orpington and 3 Light Sussex.

The last LS took a very long time to hatch. I got up to check on her at 4:30 this morning and she seemed very weak. I moved her to the brooder box and the others started picking on her. I had to help her stand and I dipped her beak into the water so she'd know where it was. She did start walking. She's got a small red dot on her beak - I guess it's an injury from her long hatch. I put a little bacitracin on it - being careful not to get it into her nostrils (no easy feat) - and changed to a red light bulb. When I really get up I'm going to put a little Sav-A-Chick into the water. Maybe she needs a little time in the chick bra.

Fingers crossed she'll be okay.

 

[smkchick]

Here's a question for everyone: What do you think about hardwood mulch for the run? Not cedar, and not nuggets, but that shredded stuff. Thoughts?

I'm hesitating to put sand in because I may want to reclaim that corner for planting.

 

[ChickenAl]

Here's a question for everyone:  What do you think about hardwood mulch for the run?  Not cedar, and not nuggets, but that shredded stuff.  Thoughts?

I'm hesitating to put sand in because I may want to reclaim that corner for planting.

I've never heard of hardwood mulch being used in a run. Why not pine shavings? It's soft and is pretty good at neutralizing odors. It breaks down easily and makes a nice compost with the chicken poop that will be deposited there.

I use the pine shavings mostly in the winter cause it insulates between chicken feet and cold ground. It eventually gets ground up and mixes with the sand. I think the hardwood shredded stuff could cause splinters and not break down quickly enough. Also, the pine shavings are acidic, which neutralizes the alkaline nature of their poop.

 

[smkchick]

Thanks Al. I knew you'd have the poop on run bedding. Get it??

 

[goldeneggtees]

Good morning everyone! No more talk of tees (for now). LOL!

I do have some chicken news to share. My hubby bought me a motor for our coop door and it let them out this a.m. and closed them in last night while we were out. There's been a few glitches but it's very cool to not have to worry as much. The coop needs a major cleaning, maybe this morning! I will take pics after I clean. I clean their poop up from the deep litter shavings every morning to keep down on smell and flies but man is it dusty in there! Ewwww… Time for the shop vac, some goggles, gloves and breathing filter thingy.

We also purchased a new treadle feeder and it came and we set it up yesterday. Everyone was very afraid at first but they were eating out of it this morning so that's cool! I put some bird seed, along with their regular food in and then they went for it. We are trying to minimize wild critters eating all their food - rats and wild birds, specifically.

Hubby had bought me a grandpa feeder (which I returned) last year for my bday but it was very bulky and I was afraid the hen's heads would get stuck if the thing closed on their heads. The flap goes in on this one and I just feel it's sturdier and not as likely that something could happen. If anyone is interested in the feeder I got, here it is http://www.ebay.com/itm/14051717168...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1436wt_1097


I will probably resort to putting down some rat poison too. I can shove it in the holes I see and cover it up. Hope it stays down there with them!!

 

[smkchick]

Nice feeder! Very deluxe.