Spring 2011 RAISE-A-LONG!

[foREVer]

I just moved the babies to a bigger brooder (3'x4') out in the garage because of the nice weather. They are having fun, and some are discivering how to dust bathe in the wood shavings, lol.

 

[Kathi D]

I really didn't mean to buy any chicks today, but . . .

4 RIRs, 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Black Sex Links.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Here are our new babies!

This is my Year 2 Flock additions. I only meant to get 4 BA hens and a roo, but my neighbor, and sort of partner in Poultry, ordered 6 hens and a roo, found out the hatchery doesn't sex them, and got 7 straight run Black Australorps.
The final count, in the box, was actually 8!
Also, an order for 12 Buff Orpington pullets and one roo has become 15 BOs.
There are also 3 Red Turkeys in this mix.
We are brooding together, at her house, this time.
Hopefully, next time, my "big girl" broody hen can do the incubating and brooding!!!

Love this thread!!!
Everybody's chooks are adorable!

 

[ROCKIN R FARM]

Quote:
HI Kate welcome to the group. Only way I know how to tell them apart is to wait till they get a little older and see if they start showing a comb on top of thier head. but I think there are some you can sex by looking at them. As Male or Female but not really sure about that. I am sure some one will chime in and let us know that have more experience than I do.

deana

 

[coloradowildflower]

Oh, the cuteness! I love the pictures of everyone's chicks!

Kate, I've found with our two batches that the more you observe the little ones, the more you can tell them apart. We had 3 SLWs and 2 GLWs and 3 EES our first year and there were subtle differences in their appearance and big differences in their "attitudes"

I'm finding the same thing this year with our 3 Buff Brahmas and 2 Marans. We've had them almost a week and I can spot who's who easily now.

Congratulations, all you new (and expectant) chicken parents!

 

[foREVer]

I am SO tempted to stop at TSC and get some more chicks.
My mom and I are going to be heading to the grocery store today, and TSC is RIGHT next to it. I may just come home with 9-10 more babies

 

[kitchwitch]

I've got 6 EEs from TSC that'll be 3 weeks old on Monday. Today I went into TSC to look for a book and all the ducks were gone (they had 20+ on Tuesday) and the rest of the chicks were older/slim pickins'. Well all of a sudden I heard really loud peeping and I went back to where the chicks were and they'd just opened a new box of red pullets (don't know exact breed). Oh it was SOOOO hard to resist the total cuteness! I probably would have come home with some if my ducks weren't arriving on Tuesday.

 

[ROCKIN R FARM]

Quote:
OH my I was just at mine getting me a small bag of chick starter to get me by till Friday. I did look at mine but nothing that I really had to have. Bantams, reds, pullets, ducks, assorted chicks as well was really hoping for some silkies but guess mine is not going to order them. Might have to find someone around me that has any or order some and see if any of my friends what to go in with me. Do not need 25 lol

My grocery store is next door to TSC as well. Think they do that on purpose.
deana

 

[emvickrey]

I used to buy my chicks at Rural King mainly because they're cheaper and they also have more variety to choose from. Since I've been joining the egg swaps I really have no use for buying chicks. I finally got control of my egg hatching by sticking with mainly 1 breed. I started with quail last year and discovered they are more work than I cared for. So we sold last years breeders and decided to just start over in the spring. I have eggs coming in the mail soon. Instead of keeping most of the chicks I plan to just keep enough for our own use to help out with the winter grocery bill and sell most of the chicks at the auction. That way they will be paying for their own feed or at least close to it. I have some Orphington eggs coming in the mail soon also. I'm trying to get a couple girlfriends for my big fella. He is a mammoth of a roo and not any hen can take his weight so I have to find some big girls. He's a year old and I still haven't had any luck. I keep trying. We also have a pair of speckled sussex oegb's that the hen will start to lay soon. I guess we'll just sell those or send them to freezer camp later on.

My silkies that have been sitting on eggs all winter should be done in a few more weeks then i'll gather the eggs to sell. I have a pen of 3 and 4 month olds that i'm waiting to make my final picks from to put my color pens together. I'll also pick from the chicks i'm still getting.

I started taking the eggs when I hear chirping and putting them in the hatcher because I've found 2 dead chicks and I'm guessing the 4 broody's fought over who was going to keep the babies. So no more dead babies. I'll set up a couple fr broody's in their own pens later when all these eggs hatch and the ladies get a break. They certainly deserve one.

 

[ROCKIN R FARM]

Quote:
I have not heard of Rural King, where are they located? I have 2 hen silkies that hubby brought home to me as a surprise. They did not have any roo's. I have a white and black one touch of gray on the tail feathers. Not sure if I should get a roo that is either one of those colors or something else.

Who did you get your silkies from. Mine will start laying in a month or two. So going to see if someone around me has a roo close to their age for sale.
deana