Texas

[RoosterCogburn7]

My English Orps are 5 weeks old today. This was a week ago. Everyone wanting to take a bath at the same time.



Add some tortillas and sauce for chicken enchiladas.

We are up to 5 Orps so far. Two buffs, and three chocolates running around the brooder box.

 

[bnjrob]

I am getting so excited....I have two incubators going with 16 eggs that are about to hatch....These are suppose to be mottled Orpingtons....Just two more days before they hatch...I am getting so excited.....How many on here have ever used a Brinsea 7 egg incubator?....That is what I am using and the other one holds 9 eggs but it is not a Brinsea...It is a square blue incubator....Never used this one before.....Sowe will see in two days how many eggs hatch....None may hatch I don't know...Anyone had experience with these?...Thanks in advance....Dexterlady.....

With the small Brinsea, I recommend using a pencil and writing *A*, *B*, *C*, *D* on the sides of the egg shells, one letter on each side as if the egg were square. That way you can monitor and make sure that the turner rolls the eggs around onto the different sides throughout the day. I found that some eggs if they are not set *just so* in there, or if the eggs have just a slightly different shape, the turner will scoot but not really turn the egg. Writing on the egg shell lets you see which letter is facing upright so you know whether or not you need to reposition the egg to get the turner to do right, or if you may need to hand turn an egg that just doesn't seem to be getting turned correctly. Sometimes it's a matter of facing the small end to the inside or outside but other times no matter what you do, certain eggs don't always roll right.

 

[orumpoultry]

So.. I have awesome news. I will expand on this thought later but I am walking in to work.

We're getting a new (to us) trailer house. It's a 3/2 with a really nice kitchen and all the appliances work. Which will be awesome we haven't had a stove in almost two years. We've done a lot of bbqing. And toaster ovening. And patching holes in our current house with newspaper and spray foam.

For free.

We just have to pay the hauler to move it the five miles from their house to ours. I'm so excited I could cry. This is going to be a huge relief for John and I. Financially we were probably going to be stuck in the ugly green house for another year or so while we paid down some bills. This is HUGE. I'll give more details later.

 

[dexterlady]

Beautiful little chicks.....

 

[dexterlady]

Congrats to you and your husband Orumpoultry.....Sounds like you deserve a new house....Happy for you two.....

 

[dexterlady]

Thank you bnjrob, I was thinking that same thing....I really could tell if they were moving or not...So "looked" like they hadn't move but I didn't know whether turn them or not so I didn't.....I sure hope they hatch.....It's $60.00 bucks down the drain if I don't get any chicks!When should they start pipping?it is down to one day now.......

 

[StelleKitten]

Thank you bnjrob, I was thinking that same thing....I really could tell if they were moving or not...So "looked" like they hadn't move but I didn't know whether turn them or not so I didn't.....I sure hope they hatch.....It's $60.00 bucks down the drain if I don't get any chicks!When should they start pipping?it is down to one day now.......

I hope they moved! I can't wait to see pics of the freshly hatched chicks! I've never had any luck with the incubators. I'll try again once we get settled into a better home.

 

[NickyPick]

Grrr. The hawk that was picking off my hens back in February finally moved on and I've had my hens back out in the pens for ranging fly control for the past 3 weeks. They've been so happy. Then, yesterday, foxes took off with 6 of them! I have lost more this year than in the 5 years I've had chickens. Its ridiculous! I'm going to set the traps tonight, but I'm not holding my breath. I usually just catch coons or my dog. Hens are going to be back to confined to the barn and the front pen.

So, now that the main coop is down to 20 hens and the 27 chicks are almost old enough to merge in (they're 14 weeks), I'm thinking of ordering some more chicks, just to have in abeyance in case I get another wipe out. Messes my plans up. I had moved my old rooster to the small coop since his son had wiped the floor with him and had him hiding in corners. Mr. Feathers is doing great with the young pullets and I know he'll be fine with the chicks when they have to come out of the brooder. My issue is that I had planned on moving the last of the originals (5 hens) in there with him, since they aren't laying much anymore, but only 1, possibly 2, is trustworthy around chicks. GAH! I need to think this through. There is a solution somewhere.

Thanks - just needed to vent a little.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

So.. I have awesome news. I will expand on this thought later but I am walking in to work.

We're getting a new (to us) trailer house. It's a 3/2 with a really nice kitchen and all the appliances work. Which will be awesome we haven't had a stove in almost two years. We've done a lot of bbqing. And toaster ovening. And patching holes in our current house with newspaper and spray foam.

For free.

We just have to pay the hauler to move it the five miles from their house to ours. I'm so excited I could cry. This is going to be a huge relief for John and I. Financially we were probably going to be stuck in the ugly green house for another year or so while we paid down some bills. This is HUGE. I'll give more details later.

I am glad things are working out for you guys, Kate.

 

[orumpoultry]

I am glad things are working out for you guys, Kate. e

You've seen my house. You understand my excitement. Johns going to look at it and take pictures. I'll post some layer!