Texas

[orumpoultry]

He coined the term you're my boy Blue.

 

[epinkstn]

Holy Cow, That's Awesome!

 

[Starfire669]

The ducks' poop isn't even dry (we sold them to @Starfire669
on Wednesday) and my husband is already talking about getting some chicks this weekend.  I knew we would eventually be adding to the flock, but I didn't think it would happen so soon.  Nothing officially planned...he just mentioned it to me, yesterday.  So, we may be getting a crash course in how to care for chicks & introduce new birds to our flock...only three weeks after our crash course in raising backyard poultry.  Are we crazy?  I think we are.  e

- TieDyeMommy

PS: Any tips/tricks/cheats/recommendations/suggestions?

The chicks may become harder to find soon, chicks are a spring frenzy. Don't know when feed stores and TSC stop officially ordering/selling them though. My 1st batch of chicks I brooded in the garage until they were 3 weeks old. My 2nd and 3rd batches went right outside because the weather was warmer and I had a nice cozy draft free corner of the coop to put the brooder in. They still need heat though. I actually used my doggy playpen, layered with chicken wire, to separate the older chicks from the new ones without letting the older ones harm them. My 9 week old chicks and 6 week old chicks are 1 flock now. As are my 9 week, 4 week, and 3 week old goslings. My last batch of 4 week old chicks and 5 day old goslings are in the brooder section now. Since the flock is bigger it is taking longer for the 2 groups of chicks to play nice, and the 5 day old goslings need a couple weeks to get to a size that my older ones won't hurt them. Since your flock is 5 pullets get a couple chicks. That way when you introduce them it's not 1 bird being pecked by all 5 of your older birds. It seemed to help to have multiple targets for the older birds to chase.

 

[orumpoultry]

Pretty much after May 1st its hatch on demand only.

 

[Starfire669]

Another good boy Blue moment. We were tracking poop in the berry patch trying to figure out if it was coon or coyote and I heard Blue losing his mind in the bushes. He ripped the coon out of a tree and... well... after a twenty minute fight of wit he won.

That is an awesome dog! Hope he gets treats tonight!

 

[orumpoultry]

Oh. They got rawhides when we got home.

 

[tiedyemommy]

The chicks may become harder to find soon, chicks are a spring frenzy. Don't know when feed stores and TSC stop officially ordering/selling them though. My 1st batch of chicks I brooded in the garage until they were 3 weeks old. My 2nd and 3rd batches went right outside because the weather was warmer and I had a nice cozy draft free corner of the coop to put the brooder in. They still need heat though. I actually used my doggy playpen, layered with chicken wire, to separate the older chicks from the new ones without letting the older ones harm them. My 9 week old chicks and 6 week old chicks are 1 flock now. As are my 9 week, 4 week, and 3 week old goslings. My last batch of 4 week old chicks and 5 day old goslings are in the brooder section now. Since the flock is bigger it is taking longer for the 2 groups of chicks to play nice, and the 5 day old goslings need a couple weeks to get to a size that my older ones won't hurt them. Since your flock is 5 pullets get a couple chicks. That way when you introduce them it's not 1 bird being pecked by all 5 of your older birds. It seemed to help to have multiple targets for the older birds to chase.

Tractor Supply have already stopped selling & the lady at my local store said they will not be selling them again. My daughter & I were excited to see some chicks when we went to pick up the DE, oyster shells & meal worm...but they were already gone. So I know finding chicks will be tricky. I may want to get slightly older pullets first, closer to our pullets' age, so there won't be so much prep-work before introducing them to our lovely ladies...for that, I have found many listings on Craigslist, although I am a little skeptical of Craigslist animal listings. Or, I could hope to run into that lady from yesterday who said she had too many chicks and pullets on her hands & was willing to sell 'em. Our options are different now that the chick-selling season has ended, but I'm sure we'll figure it all out if we really want 'em.

- TieDyeMommy

 

[magpiesing]

Well we officially have 5 peepers. There are still 2 more eggs. Not sure how long to wait on them..Since I don't know how far apart the eggs were laid, She buries them in the hay.

 

[Starfire669]

Tractor Supply have already stopped selling & the lady at my local store said they will not be selling them again.  My daughter & I were excited to see some chicks when we went to pick up the DE, oyster shells & meal worm...but they were already gone.  So I know finding chicks will be tricky.  I may want to get slightly older pullets first, closer to our pullets' age, so there won't be so much prep-work before introducing them to our lovely ladies...for that, I have found many listings on Craigslist, although I am a little skeptical of Craigslist animal listings.  Or, I could hope to run into that lady from yesterday who said she had too many chicks and pullets on her hands & was willing to sell 'em.  Our options are different now that the chick-selling season has ended, but I'm sure we'll figure it all out if we really want 'em. 

- TieDyeMommy

Good luck!

 

[magpiesing]

That is an awesome dog! Hope he gets treats tonight!

Good dog!! Dogs are awesome. Our boxer mix nearly got a 'possum last night. It came up on the porch to check out the empty dog food bag DH has just put out. She and our lab were barking crazy so DH went to bring them in. She dashed out the gate and pounced on the dog food bag and out popped a 'possum. She chased and almost caught it but missed it and it escaped under the house. I think it surprised her enough for it to get away. DH dispatched it with his 22 last night.