Texas

[Ren2014]

When I got up this morning we had 1/2" rain. I emptied the gauge and will report later. It is pouring down rain right now.

Don't apologize. Every time I go to gather eggs, I smile. It is definitely a good feeling.

YAY, glad you finally got some

my kids have to show me EVERY egg they find, do a size comparison, decide which chicken laid which egg, based on size, then compare them to the day before.. then do it all over again to dad.

LOL

So precious!

A few years ago I fell in love with chickens. Last year we were going on vacation and I needed the chicken area for our Great Danes so for some crazy reason I sold them all!

Ticks have been out of control this year in our yard, we try to avoid chemicals with our dogs as much as possible but we've treated the yard three times and the dogs, which is something we've never done, and my husband still had a tick on his sock after being outside Friday. So Saturday we bought 6 pullets and 2 guineas, this morning I ordered 20+ chicks from Ideal. I'm remembering now why I sold them, I have no self control when it comes to chickens!!! Lol

LOL, chicken math at it's finest.

Rain, rain go away, come again another day
My chicken wants to play, rain rain go away

Hung, them's hangin words

We have cracks out here so big your boy would fall in them

Nearly done with the houses! lattice to go on the bottom of the small one, then tin and trim on both nesting boxes. woohoo!

edit: lol I just saw the paint around the hinges is not done. On the list!

Very NICE!

 

[hungnguyen]

Hung, them's hangin words

We have cracks out here so big your boy would fall in them

I though you gone to fill them up with water so your ducks can enjoy some medley races.

 

[kajira]

My daughter is absolutely OBSESSED with raising some baby chickens in the incubator. I'm tempted to let her collect 4-5 eggs and let her give it a go - HOWEVER, I'm worried it will be abust because I'm not sure our incubator will work, or even remotely how to use it.

LOL

All tips are appreciated, I went my "how to" books, but sometimes the things you learn from others who've done it, aren't in the darn books.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KD6HQ5S?psc=1 <-- I believe this is the 10 -egg incubator that she's been given by grandma.

Has anyone used one like this? Does it work at all? the reviews says it works okay, I just don't want my daughter to be completely depressed over not having a single egg hatch.

 

[Kiki]

My daughter is absolutely OBSESSED with raising some baby chickens in the incubator. I'm tempted to let her collect 4-5 eggs and let her give it a go - HOWEVER, I'm worried it will be abust because I'm not sure our incubator will work, or even remotely how to use it.

LOL

All tips are appreciated, I went my "how to" books, but sometimes the things you learn from others who've done it, aren't in the darn books.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KD6HQ5S?psc=1 <-- I believe this is the 10 -egg incubator that she's been given by grandma.

Has anyone used one like this? Does it work at all? the reviews says it works okay, I just don't want my daughter to be completely depressed over not having a single egg hatch.

I do not know anything about that particular bator.

There are a lot of people on here that build there own incubators....sound like something y'all could do? A cool project.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Building+an+incubator

 

[kajira]

I do not know anything about that particular bator.

There are a lot of people on here that build there own incubators....sound like something y'all could do? A cool project.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Building+an+incubator

No, building our own incubator at this time isn't on our to-do list. Her grandma bought her this incubator, and we at least need to try to use it once. Or grandma will be quite offended.

I set aside the 2 eggs today, and will let her collect 2-3 more eggs. I'm going to turn the incubator on tonight, and see if the temp gauge even works. Supposedly, while you have to turn the eggs 3x a day yourself, it does a good job of keeping humidity and temps okay, according to the reviews.

It will be our first attempt at candling eggs, and monitoring air sacs, lol So, I'm hoping it works out okay. I'm still figuring out how to keep track of the days, because I believe you stop turning the eggs on day 18-19 and just leave them alone to hatch? I like this one because it's got a nice little window to see how the eggs are doing - which may make hatching easier for us to monitor.

 

[Kiki]

No, building our own incubator at this time isn't on our to-do list. Her grandma bought her this incubator, and we at least need to try to use it once. Or grandma will be quite offended.

I set aside the 2 eggs today, and will let her collect 2-3 more eggs. I'm going to turn the incubator on tonight, and see if the temp gauge even works. Supposedly, while you have to turn the eggs 3x a day yourself, it does a good job of keeping humidity and temps okay, according to the reviews.

It will be our first attempt at candling eggs, and monitoring air sacs, lol So, I'm hoping it works out okay. I'm still figuring out how to keep track of the days, because I believe you stop turning the eggs on day 18-19 and just leave them alone to hatch? I like this one because it's got a nice little window to see how the eggs are doing - which may make hatching easier for us to monitor.

Tis is THE THREAD to ask any and all questions related to hatching.
There are many many expert hatchers there that will answer any Q you have.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ds-w-host-sally-sunshine/135160#post_17406112

 

[ChicKat]

My daughter is absolutely OBSESSED with raising some baby chickens in the incubator. I'm tempted to let her collect 4-5 eggs and let her give it a go - HOWEVER, I'm worried it will be abust because I'm not sure our incubator will work, or even remotely how to use it.

LOL

All tips are appreciated, I went my "how to" books, but sometimes the things you learn from others who've done it, aren't in the darn books.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KD6HQ5S?psc=1 <-- I believe this is the 10 -egg incubator that she's been given by grandma.

Has anyone used one like this? Does it work at all? the reviews says it works okay, I just don't want my daughter to be completely depressed over not having a single egg hatch.

You don't say how old your daughter is -- but IMO -- you should 'go for it'. You say it would be bad if not one single egg hatched -- but I almost think it would be worse if only one single egg hatched. ;O/ Because chickens are flock animals -- you would be better off with two -- to keep each other company IMO.

We go crazy now a days -- but I have heard of people (way back in great granny's day) that could even hatch chicks in the sun on the porch (so the story goes, I find it very hard to believe. I think maybe granny found the eggs under a hen and they were just about to hatch or in the process of hatching and she finished them in the sun, under a towel on the porch -- but you know how lore goes)

Read the instructions carefully and follow them. Yes, you would need to turn the eggs, since there isn't a turner. At the 1-week point you could definitely 'candle' the eggs and know if there is or isn't development... if there isn't any development it will be a disappointment for your daughter, but not the 3-weeks of waiting and then being on pins and needles to see how the hatch goes. I followed the amazon link - and 75% of the owners gave it 4 or 5 stars - so for the value it is probably a decent little incubator. --

Good luck with this and let us know how you come out!

 

[kajira]

You don't say how old your daughter is -- but IMO -- you should 'go for it'. You say it would be bad if not one single egg hatched -- but I almost think it would be worse if only one single egg hatched. ;O/ Because chickens are flock animals -- you would be better off with two -- to keep each other company IMO.

We go crazy now a days -- but I have heard of people (way back in great granny's day) that could even hatch chicks in the sun on the porch (so the story goes, I find it very hard to believe. I think maybe granny found the eggs under a hen and they were just about to hatch or in the process of hatching and she finished them in the sun, under a towel on the porch -- but you know how lore goes)

Read the instructions carefully and follow them. Yes, you would need to turn the eggs, since there isn't a turner. At the 1-week point you could definitely 'candle' the eggs and know if there is or isn't development... if there isn't any development it will be a disappointment for your daughter, but not the 3-weeks of waiting and then being on pins and needles to see how the hatch goes. I followed the amazon link - and 75% of the owners gave it 4 or 5 stars - so for the value it is probably a decent little incubator. --

Good luck with this and let us know how you come out!

We have a batch coming in, in 2 weeks... so if they hatch a week after, if only one hatched, the new one could be isolated with an adopted sibling - we are keeping her two silkies as indoor pets, so I could always throw a single baby in with the two of them for company. (that's why I thought now might be an okay time to do it, while we had other "babies" around, just in case.)

She'll be 6 in dec, I also have a 12 year old, a 2 year old, and a 4 month old. (2 of each gender.) LOL


My grandma has stories about chickens too LOL

 

[RonC]

So far about 5 inches in the Fe, Ron I will give you 2 Silver Laced WendyRoosters and 2 Laying Hensof the same, I really don't care for them compared to the Goldens.

I can only have 4 where I'm at and no roosters. Those two would always jump for me to pick them up when they were in the brooder. Can't tell a lot of difference in their behavior but the silver is almost bold. My BO was afraid till I picked her up one day and held her and petted her for about 5 minutes. Now she won't jump on my arm but doesn't mind being picked up. The three will sit in my lap and go to sleep if I'm sitting in the run. Poor little Americana is still afraid but let me stroke her back last night and has started eating out of my hand so there may be hope yet for her after three and a half months.

 

[SlipsWife]

We have to use flea/tick/heartworm medication. The oral stuff works well for big dogs, and really works down here.

I still give an oral heartworm preventative but since we're breeding our females I really hate to give them extra medication (though I'd rather give them medication than them get sick from a tick). I'm hoping the chickens will take care of the ticks, until they do, I will just keep getting more chickens. To be on the safe side, I'm thinking we should get 100 chickens! 200?! For now we'll stick with our 6 and chicks. I guess it's a good thing I never had a successful hatching experience maybe I need a better incubator but I don't have a rooster...