Spring 2017 first timers post!

[Merrymouse]

I make a hot breakfast M-F for my family, weekends they are on their own. Thats 6-8 eggs a day the 4 of us use. I have 7 chicks, hopefully all girls I think I may have maybe a dozen a week extra, and I have like 4 people who want to buy them.

Gary

Wow you're a good daddy! My kids are older and cook their own breakfast or I don't really call if breakfast because its usually noon before they stumble out of bed when they don't have morning commitments

We are a family of 5 but only eat eggs maybe once a week. I do bake and cook alot and neighbors, friends and co-workers have been asking for eggs already so I don't think they will go to waste. Plus I plan on bringing some down to the food pantry and the senior center but not sure if there are regulations because Im just a back yard chicken owner and even though I'm not certified organic I am doing everything organically. Except I did give my sick chick a lot of nutridrench but i don't think there is anything chemical in there but not sure. Whatever that stuff is it worked and the near death chick is thriving. Ok, I'm getting off topic again.....my menopausal brain is showing again

 

[igorsMistress]

@Merrymouse don't downsize too much. The kids tend to come back. And when they do they've often managed to mutiply!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Wow you're a good daddy!  My kids are older and cook their own breakfast or I don't really call if breakfast because its usually noon before they stumble out of bed when they don't have morning commitments   We are a family of 5 but only eat eggs maybe once a week.  I do bake and cook alot and neighbors, friends and co-workers have been asking for eggs already so I don't think they will go to waste.  Plus I plan on bringing some down to the food pantry and the senior center but not sure if there are regulations because Im just a back yard chicken owner and even though I'm not certified organic I am doing everything organically.  Except I did give my sick chick a lot of nutridrench but i don't think there is anything chemical in there but not sure.  Whatever that stuff is it worked and the near death chick is thriving.  Ok, I'm getting off topic again.....my menopausal brain is showing again

I think the nutridrench is mostly molasses!

Thanks, i try to be a good Dad. My girls are 8 and 10 and i want yhem to get protein before school. Cold cereal does not cut it around here, i let them have donuts on thr weekends though

 

[Honora]

I think the nutridrench is mostly molasses!

Thanks, i try to be a good Dad. My girls are 8 and 10 and i want yhem to get protein before school. Cold cereal does not cut it around here, i let them have donuts on thr weekends though

I have an 8 year old, 10 year old, & 5 year old, and it's toast for breakfast around here on weekdays! I am not much of a morning person; it's all I can do to make my coffee, lol. My son had a filling yesterday and I am complaining cause I actually have to make him eggs today since he can't have crunchy food.

 

[Hillaire]

I have an 8 year old, 10 year old, & 5 year old, and it's toast for breakfast around here on weekdays! I am not much of a morning person; it's all I can do to make my coffee, lol. My son had a filling yesterday and I am complaining cause I actually have to make him eggs today since he can't have crunchy food.

that must be terrible for you lol

 

[rainee63]

How old are they?

Mine are only 2.5weeks old, they are getting bigger, still 1/2 fuzz though.  I am thinking another week or 10 days at this rate.  They are being brooded in the coop, using a heat plate we have had temps drop into the low 30's and they are just fine.  So glad I found BYC and learned about in coop brooding, I cannot imagine having them and the mess inside the house!  The thing is my chickens are chicken, I open the brooder up and they will not venture out.  I may just move them to the coop floor and be done with the brooder soon.

Gary

I hatched out 5 EEs that are 6 weeks old now. And I bought 6 BOS that are 7 (could be 8) weeks. Not sure of their age but I know they had little 'starter' feathers when I got them from tractor supply. They're each in their own coop. I've been watching them at night and only 1 of the younger ones was really sleeping in the part of the coop where their heat lamp was, and even that one was half in/half out. The others were roosting outside. So - they're big birds now. But it's been in the 60s at night here, so I think it's warm enough.

As for chicken math - I have 3 1 week old chicks brooding in bathroom. Lol

 

[Honora]

that must be terrible for you lol

I know, right? haha

 

[maribameche]

I have a question.. so most of my chicks are still scared of me (I got them on Monday). When I hold all but when they sit there and shake. Is this because they're scared or maybe cold or is this normal for chicks? (They're about 3-4 weeks)

 

[L2fly]

I have a question.. so most of my chicks are still scared of me (I got them on Monday). When I hold all but when they sit there and shake. Is this because they're scared or maybe cold or is this normal for chicks? (They're about 3-4 weeks)

I think it depends what you mean by 'hold'... none of my 5 week BA like it when I wrap my hands around them and pick them up, but two of them are pretty good with sitting on my hand/lap and taking mealworms from my hand, and the other one, who doesn't like to sit on me, will still fly out of the brooder at me for treats when I open the door! I think they just find it scary when their movements are restricted, which makes sense, although I still do it just so they get used to being 'inspected' & handled... I don't hold them long, and they don't have to LIKE it, just tolerate it.

But it took a little bit of time, and plenty of dried mealworms, to get them to this point!

 

[Chickywolf]

I also had this problem with them being very scared at first. I fixed it with a lot of patience, just sitting with them with my hands in the pen and talking very softly with no sudden movements. I also gave them a daily treat of cornmeal in my hand at first then when they got older and they were pecking kinda hard I put it on a small wooden board in the pen but kept my hand in the pen with them. I did still pick them up now and then even though they protested. There are still a few of them that run away when I come to them but most of them come over to me now, expecting a treat no doubt, and let me pet them but still protest loudly when picked up. One of them seemed more friendly than the others so got picked up much more. Then the other day as I was sitting there she flew up onto my lap all on her own! What a thrill that was!

So just be patient with them and yourself and it will happen. And remember, treats are our friend.