Texas

[LBejaran]

Do I see some real feathers coming out on their wings?  They would be at least a week old, maybe two weeks then.

I do believe that all of these little ladies have begin to grow some wing feathers. That being said,I was fairly certain that female chicks began showing feathers sooner. It's been awhile since I've had to raise chicks myself (New Year's Eve chick being the obvious exception because of how big he already was when I got him).

I'm just worried that the trip was hard on them. Four hours in a car wasn't great for these girls. The last time we did this kind of trip with young chicks, we lost both. We haven't lost any this time, but I want to err on the side of caution.

 

[henless]

Also, does anyone else have this nasty bug going around?! My entire family is sick! We are all cughing, feel like our heards are twice their normal size, drainage, stuffiness, dzziness, soreness, you-name-itness. You get the idea haha. It is horrid. I just want to crawl in a hole and die.

Yep. I got it for the 3rd time this weekend. Started with a sore throat Friday morning and progressed from there. Needless to say, I worked on my chicken coop Saturday anyway. Sun was out so wasn't that bad. I was just exhausted when we quit for the day.

 

[mi2bugz]

I need to do this to my garden.  I wish the people that installed it had taken the time to do it right.  I'd like to add another bed someplace too. Not sure where I would put it though. 

I am going to use 6" raised beds to start so it only requires 4 2x6's and nails. The book I am going off of swears only need 6" of soil and they are moveable so can move them depending on season to get the most sun.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Your post gave me an idea!

These chicks were all looking a little exhausted and I didn't think they were drinking water or eating on their own, so I decided to try putting Mama with them.

Mama is our little bantam Cochin who, while very determined to hatch a chick last year, wasn't very good at protecting her baby out in the open. However, that little chick was otherwise healthy. So, I put Mama in the cage with the chicks and they started moving around!

Mostly, the chicks wanted to peck Mama until she paid attention, but afterwards, they all started drinking water and now two are eating all on their own!

I'm still watching her to make sure she doesn't do something stupid like kicking a chick up into the air while scratching for food. However, the starter has her distracted enough that she isn't paying too much attention to the babes. We'll see if she grows to like them just a but, haha!

Edit: Would anyone like to give me a guess at how old these chicks are? I forgot to ask, but I really did get worried when they didn't start eating right away. The main reason why I didn't panic is because I based their health on how fast they ran away when my hand came near, haha!

Those are great pics. What a beautiful hen. I hope she takes them. I have never tried it with a hen that wasn't broody. I am anxious to see. I have my fingers crossed. I absolutely love to watch hens mother chicks. I am excited for you.

I would call the place you got them. I bet they will know. I would guess under a week.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Think more about a sunken garden than a raised garden. It makes more sense in Texas where water is in such short supply. A sunken garden captures the run off from rain.

My garden is already raised. It just needs new wood to be properly done. I have very old (from the 1940's) RR ties around it right now. :/

I do believe that all of these little ladies have begin to grow some wing feathers. That being said,I was fairly certain that female chicks began showing feathers sooner. It's been awhile since I've had to raise chicks myself (New Year's Eve chick being the obvious exception because of how big he already was when I got him).

I'm just worried that the trip was hard on them. Four hours in a car wasn't great for these girls. The last time we did this kind of trip with young chicks, we lost both. We haven't lost any this time, but I want to err on the side of caution.

Four hours by car beats a trip though the USPS system.

 

[txnative]

Think more about a sunken garden than a raised garden. It makes more sense in Texas where water is in such short supply. A sunken garden captures the run off from rain.

It would take dynamite to get a sunken garden around here - raised is the only way to go!

 

[gameandmore]

I do believe that all of these little ladies have begin to grow some wing feathers. That being said,I was fairly certain that female chicks began showing feathers sooner. It's been awhile since I've had to raise chicks myself (New Year's Eve chick being the obvious exception because of how big he already was when I got him).

I'm just worried that the trip was hard on them. Four hours in a car wasn't great for these girls. The last time we did this kind of trip with young chicks, we lost both. We haven't lost any this time, but I want to err on the side of caution.

can we have an update picture of new year chick?

 

[bnjrob]

Think more about a sunken garden than a raised garden. It makes more sense in Texas where water is in such short supply. A sunken garden captures the run off from rain.

One problem with a sunken garden is the often high clay content in a good many parts of TX. Sunken gardens with all that clay - tends to rot roots. Heck, we've had regular garden beds and lost everything because of the rains we had and the clay in the ground just kept hanging on to the moisture causing root rot and fungus. It's a real balancing act with TX weather and all the variables.

 

[lovingmyhens]

I did my daily 1 mile walk at 10am. When heading South, it started to get colder, when head back facing North, I could feel the freezing 25 mile wind. Tomorrow we will be 27-39F. Then on Fri (Chinese New Year day) it will be 59-77F, just can't wait.

On Sunday I will go to Houston to see my Mom, have lunch with her, do a little card game for luck and maybe she will give me a red envelope with some money in there ( a way to wish me to grown up )

On the way, I will wave to Hens (Katy), Lisa Rosenberg) and a few more.

I did my daily 1 mile walk at 10am. When heading South, it started to get colder, when head back facing North, I could feel the freezing 25 mile wind. Tomorrow we will be 27-39F. Then on Fri (Chinese New Year day) it will be 59-77F, just can't wait.

On Sunday I will go to Houston to see my Mom, have lunch with her, do a little card game for luck and maybe she will give me a red envelope with some money in there ( a way to wish me to grown up )

On the way, I will wave to Hens (Katy), Lisa Rosenberg) and a few more.

Red envelopes are the way to go!!! Have fun!

 

[lovingmyhens]

When I got home today one of my bunnies had gotten out of his pen, has happened before, but he always stayed in my backyard. This time he had gotten out. Just not sure how. I made sure all sundry holes were fixed. I'm sad. It's going to be so cold