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RedPulletMama said:
My baby Welsummers are finally big enough to go out with all the 'big' girls without being attacked! And I have finally caught my rooster in the act of being 'naughty' so now I know to expect some fertilized eggs at least from a couple of girls. He has 2 that he really prefers to all the others. I've been totally surprised that even though it has been down in the upper 30's at night here, all my girls are still laying every day with no light or heat in the coop. Hope they will keep that up all winter :)
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He only has to do the deed every couple of weeks to keep the eggs fertile. He is likely getting to all of them.

Congratulations!
 
So yes, to answer your other question, my Silkie eggs have been hatching better as I've tweaked my methods. I have 2 pens, one for their incredible good looks, and one for their pretty good looks but more for their amazing health and vigor and willingness to hatch and brood anything. Right now they're raising 10 chicks (pen consists of 4 hens and the cock bird), the chicks are almost 2 months old, and next weekend I'll move them into their own pen. If I put 4 eggs down, at least one hen will go broody again. I don't want them to right away, I kind of think they could use a break, and only one hen has been laying the last several weeks (the one who decided the other three could handle the baby chores this go 'round). I got them specifically to incubate eggs and raise chicks, but I want to give them a rest so I can use them early next year again. They are wonderful. Small, easy to handle, great little moms, I really fell in love with them.
 
Arielle, I always hatch in the middle of winter. I find it works out great. I keep the chicks in a basement brooder for 4 weeks, and then out they go. Haven't lost a single one. They aren't pleased the first 24 hours out, but they quickly get over it.
 
  • No pips yet. Only 3 out of 7 developed to lockdown, but not a peep. Usually I get Silkies to hatch early.
    roll.png
 
superchemicalgirl said:
Arielle, I always hatch in the middle of winter. I find it works out great. I keep the chicks in a basement brooder for 4 weeks, and then out they go. Haven't lost a single one. They aren't pleased the first 24 hours out, but they quickly get over it.
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OH I'm sure I could be hatching. I've had chicks in the house for several winters. I would just like a winter without them in the house ! lol What size barn do you use-- I remember the goat shed but not the chicken coops. DO you give them a heat lamp to use??

I have a group that has been out since the late summer and they still pack into a corner and don't use the second roost if the first roost is full.

I must be doing something wrong.
 
Arielle said:
OH I'm sure I could be hatching. I've had chicks in the house for several winters. I would just like a winter without them in the house ! lol What size barn do you use-- I remember the goat shed but not the chicken coops. DO you give them a heat lamp to use??

I have a group that has been out since the late summer and they still pack into a corner and don't use the second roost if the first roost is full.

I must be doing something wrong.
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I think some will do that no matter the age - both my Silkie groups do every night, the one group hatched in February and the other are 1.5-3 years old. Once I plug in the heated waterers a lot of times they will gather around it on really cold nights. The waterers sit on patio blocks, so probably the blocks absorb some heat, at least the top one.
 

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