The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[countrygirl74]

So.... I've been reading a lot about everyone's crazy sexing methods and I realize that is usually left up to the professional vent sexers (and even that isn't always accurate). As some of you remember I had mine professionally vent sexed and I ended up with a ratio of 5 roosters to 4 hens. So, now I think I am paranoid... I picked up some new chicks at the local feed store that are SUPPOSED to be pullets, but we all know that isn't 100% either. Anyway, just wondering if all of you that have raised batches of chicks over and over have any tell-tale signs?
I am posting pics of the first 4 that are now about 1 1/2 weeks old.
They are a silver-laced wyandotte, rhode island (or production) red, buff orpington, and blue cochin. Somebody mentioned that the tail feathers grew out faster on the females? All are getting pretty good tail feathers in except for my cochin. I REALLY want a cochin and wondering if anybody sees anything that might show that any of these guys are potential roos? If so, I might go pick up another cochin just in case. What are your thoughts? I posted little notes about each chick below the pic.


Very inquisitive - trying to fly the coop already.



Mellow, but has attempted to fly up to the top of the waterer.



Skittish - runs around like crazy while you're trying to catch her with your hand.






Both of these are same Blue Cochin - super mellow, sweet, just seems to mind her own business. Easily picked up, not flighty, but not necessarily outgoing either.

 

[jlynnet]

Looks great!

 

[delisha]

BDM..thanks for the tour..really nice job!

 

[delisha]

your Cochin is a pulllet

The top chick..? cockerel? you need two more weeks to be sure

 

[Pozees]

your Cochin is a pulllet

The top chick..? cockerel? you need two more weeks to be sure

Okay,

, how do you know that immediately? Is there something specific about Cochins to look for?

Thanks

Judi

 

[Mumsy]

@BDM: That was a fun tour! Thank you for showing. Very cool!

@ del: So nuts about the fowl pox and glad you do what you have to do to protect your flock.

Kitty kats, cochin chicks, and chickens in the flower pots! HAH! I love this thread. Never know what the conversations may steer to.

We have sunshine briefly here. Everybody out of the barn for some fresh air and scratching in the dirt time.

Candled the seventeen Catdance eggs today. Three maybe four look like quitters. They are weird looking. Large air space on both ends of the egg like what del described with hers. The remaining thirteen have normal looking fourteen day embryos developing. Air cells look great in half and I can barely see it in the others. I hope that doesn't mean they are chicks with huge vaulted skulls with inability to hatch. I will find out next weekend.

The Fogle HRIR eggs are the largest eggs I've ever set in my incubator. They are jumbo and barely fit in my cartons. I have to handle them so carefully because they are so huge. (I only have one real good working hand). I looked at two in the dark room to get an idea of air cell. The yolks were at the top of the egg. It's going to be interesting with this batch.

Judy the Broody is awesome. She is like clock work. Off the nest for exactly five minutes every morning at 6:30 am. Stays on the eggs all day. Her five Johnny eggs are supposed to hatch tomorrow. Not sure if they will. I've moved them from two incubators to her a day before they would be in lockdown.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

A video tour of my horse trailer chicken coop... I forgot the show the storage area, but it'll give you an idea of the rest:

Lovely trailer coop. Also I like your hoop coop. I have been working with my husband on what I was planning to be a hoop coop but he is turning it into a box style coop. He did not want to work with the fencing. I'm not heart broken or anything but I did like the looks of a hoop coop over a box. Plus now it is going to be heavier, at least he is the one who gets to move it around the back yard. Also I like your nesting boxes.

I know many of you hatch your own chicken eggs using incubators. I am warming up a little giant still air incubator that I got as a gift. I was wondering if any of you had any hints or could link me to your prior posts that detail all of the adjustments you thought to make. I'm only putting in 5 eggs. I just want to see if I can get chicks.

 

[Bulldogma]

I know many of you hatch your own chicken eggs using incubators. I am warming up a little giant still air incubator that I got as a gift. I was wondering if any of you had any hints or could link me to your prior posts that detail all of the adjustments you thought to make. I'm only putting in 5 eggs. I just want to see if I can get chicks.

I found this article especially helpful (thank you Mumsy!)

I also took an old PC fan and put it in my incubator. I now have 2 LGs - one (with the fan) for incubating and one without a fan just for hatching. My first hatch failed terribly, but then I took Mumsy's advice and "redecorated" my 'bator and had a very good hatch the next time around.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Sally - Mumsy did a nice article on using the LG at at this link.

 

[Leahs Mom]

HaHa....bdm...we must have posted at the same time.

I'M JEALOUS.... love your trailer coop. Thanks for the video - and we got to hear your voice, too!