We have had the layer flock chicks since Friday. They probably hatched Monday or Tuesday, so that would make them a week old. I can already see a difference in them, in just 3 days! Those things GROW like they are radioactive! They are already taller, and plumper. And why wouldn't they be with the amount of food they put away? I must say, this impresses me more than anything! That and the amount of water they consume. They already have wing feathers, and are getting some little barrels on their little tails. I picked several of them up yesterday evening to inspect rear ends. A couple had poop stuck to down, but I think it's because there are just so many of them, and, with the feed sack/straw floor, they just can't get away from it. I think they are about ready to graduate to wire anyway, which should fix that. Most poop is firm, not runny.
I fill those (2) one gallon waterers twice a day. Neither of them are quite empty, but they would not last through the remainder of the night/day. And I can see that in another week, that will not be sufficient. My M-I-L has some wire hanging rabbit cages, each 24" deep and high, and 36" long. There are three cages in a "string." I will hang those and separate about 6 chicks into each cage. I can see that they are already a bit overcrowded. This should alleviate that problem until the Dom coop/run is finished (probably today, but, just in case It isn't, I want the "backup"). When the Doms move into the "Dominique Palace," these chicks will be moved into the layer coop which will be their home for the next two years.
I am going to Odessa to get necessary fencing to finish that run. Bryan was home yesterday, and did much hard labor on the coop, helping get the roof on, and handing metal R-Panel sheets up to me. I can't lift one up, shrimp that I am, or our rolls would have been reversed! But I can screw them into place with a drill. He also dug the trench for our two courses of cinder block (put in place by a dirty, sweaty-faced BJ with "annoying help from his little sister) to be buried to prevent critters from digging under the fence, and placed the fence posts. My mother-in-law, Therapydoglady, insisted on this on every coop. People dump dogs out there with alarming regularity. And if that's not enough, there are foxes, skunk, coyotes, not to mention bobcats, hawks, owls. There is predation from every direction! BJ has been very insistent on sticking to his grandmother's "rules," often quoting some pearl of wisdom that she had imparted to him. And we have learned to listen to him. He paid attention! When we ask him "why?" he can always tell us the reason. And more likely than not, it is wisdom learned from her experience, and the remedy that was borne from it. When she was through with a pen, coop, barn or whatever, about the only "predator" that could get in were snakes (not often), mice and the occasional rat. Something that would fit through chain link fence.
And let me tell you. When she built something, it was meant to last until the Second Coming! She did not like "do-overs!" So, we are trying to "do it right the first time!"
I haven't read from Mr. Welling's notebook since Saturday, so no pearl of wisdom from him today. I promise, soon.
Brie
