Texas

[Ms Jellybean]

This summer I want to hatch some of my own chicks.  I'll be using bantam Cochins and Silkies to hatch.  I just can't imagine a heavily feathered Cochin sitting for three weeks in a enclosed nest box in the Texas summer (I'm just north of San Antonio).  Last summer it got up to 107F.  I'm really worried about this breed and our summers.

I'm setting up a pen of four little Cochin pullets to hatch the eggs.  I'm thinking of making a row of four nest boxes that have strong wire for sides, covered in shade cloth with a little front area for them to be able to get access to food and water at all times just outside the nesting area.  I will lock them up at night in a little dog-house coop or the nest box coop if they are setting on eggs.  This little nest-box coop will be inside one of my parrot aviaries under trees.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Which way are the prevailing winds in the summer?  I'm pretty new to the Texas and never paid much attention to the wind direction until this winter.

Winds are almost always from the south.
Hanging frozen water bottles in with them will help bring the temp down.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Paul Smith, the breeder I got my Ameraucanas from is in your area in Gainseville.  He is a director for the Ameraucana Breeders Club and has an outstanding reputation. 

If you ever see Ameraurcanas birds offered for sale, but the name is spelled Americana with an "i" you have a pretty good idea it is an Easter Egger.

Sometimes Easter Eggers don't produce a blue egg, but various shades of brown mixed over top of the blue, giving anything from khaki egg to a greenish egg.  The brown color is added at the very end of the egg-making process, almost like a paint.  You can even scrub it off.  The blue is from something that is added to the calcium, etc, that makes the shell, so the blue color goes right through the shell.  I think a lot of people are selling Easter Eggers that don't produce a nice colored blue egg.

Here is a good article on the difference between the breeds.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Here is a good article on the difference between the breeds.

That is a really good article, Ms Jellybean.

Just be aware that the blue color is not usually as blue as the pictures in the article. I held the Ameraucana Breeders Club Egg Color Reference Chart against the picture and there were only a very few colors (out of 46) that were as blue as the photos in the article. Most Ameraucana eggs are on the greener side.

I also want to say that the depth of the blue color changes over time as more eggs that are laid. If the hen is laying a lot of eggs, the blue can get paler, but once she takes a break they get more blue again.

The Maran eggs also get paler the more eggs they lay, then once they take a break, the eggs go back to their dark brown.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Schools are closed today in whitehouse. Is 16 here and ice everywhere. Took me almost an hour to clean the ice off the wife's car so she could go to work. Tryed to talk her into stay home but she says she just can not. She works up in Tyler at mother Frances Hospital as a admissions transporter and has to be there at 5am.

I hope she made it ok. My mom in Athens says it is just terrible!

 

[lovingmyhens]

Melanie has too!!
X2

 

[Ms Jellybean]

It's down to 14* here now. The high is only 30* today. Waaayyy too cold.
The sun is coming out now so that will help the roads. I'm glad I work from home. I think the office will be closed today anyway.
Sasha has a vet appointment this morning. That isn't going to happen. I'll be calling as soon as they open (if they open) to reschedule.

Stay safe and warm.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Isn't this cute? I love it. Wish it didn't cost so much.

 

[TexasLisa]

Hi,

Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers. It is very appreciative. I went out this morning and found 3 of the 4 that were missing dead. I am missing my petite speckled sussex. Once I warm up, I will head out again and see if I can find her.

Lisa

 

[therarebreed]

Hi,

Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers. It is very appreciative. I went out this morning and found 3 of the 4 that were missing dead. I am missing my petite speckled sussex. Once I warm up, I will head out again and see if I can find her.

Lisa

Oh, I'm so sorry.

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote:
luvingmyhens...my name is Melanie too! there is actually a Melanie group on fb because of the rarity of our name lol