Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[T Hi]

He is so attuned to us all, and is so worried about us all...he is a big softie.........

......a big sweetie....

....a wonderful man, a wonderful friend .

CL!!!!!! Stop telling all our secrets!!!! If too many people know what a squooshy mooshy lovey bear he is then it would ruin his reputation! So for anyone who has NOT met CR......He is a roughem toughem strong studdly man!!! Cuz only a REAL man can/would wear pink!!

 

[melissaG]

CL!!!!!! Stop telling all our secrets!!!! If too many people know what a squooshy mooshy lovey bear he is then it would ruin his reputation!

So for anyone who has NOT met CR......He is a roughem toughem strong studdly man!!!

Cuz only a REAL man can/would wear pink!!

waaaait, I thought you guys said he was a colored egg thievin' stalker??

 

[sarahkatie]

So... Now that the chicks are outside I am worrying about temps... They are pretty much draft free, with a 120watt red/heat lamp 2' off the ground... Chicks range in age from 3.5-7weeks.....

I have a 250 watt but reason told me that was overkill.... Was I right? Should I swap out bulbs???

......on another note.... If I agree to growthe RIR roo out, then process, how young can I do that and not have it be a waste? Kiddo and I are in negotiations now, but he keeps changing his mind.... My plan b was to just give the chick back... It's a $3 I'm willing to eat ;-)

 

[pbjls]

I am learning alot about hatching.
first lesson was check and double check temp and humidity.
second was use trays for first 18 days to prevent eggs from rolling when using a self turning incubator.
third was it is called lock down for a reason. if you open the incubator for more than enough time to add water you take a chance of piping chicks having the membrane dry out and preventing the chicks from hatching.

of the 17 eggs I set three weeks ago 2 proved to not be viable. 13 developed perfectly. Of those 13 seven hatched out perfectly. the other six pipped but then stopped hatching.

this last lesson made me kinda upset with myself. after a long time of being pipped but not making any progress I finally decided it was time to go from acting as a parent to acting more as a scientist. I was convinced that they were not going to hatch, and my research had shown that helping does not work (as stated by people here) and that the issue was caused by the chicks drying due to low humidity before they had cleared the shell. the membrane shrinks and sticks to the chicks. it is like putting a straight jacket on them.

I went ahead and pulled gently on the shells to increase the crack the chicks had started so I could see exactly what had happened. all six were still alive and struggling to get free. I could clearly see the dried membrane. It was like a crust and prevented the chicks from moving. the chicks feathers were completly dry while still in the shell. I decided to cull these chicks instead of having them suffer.

This was last night that I made this decission. my wife and I were going out and my son had several outside chores to do so I instructed him to dispatch the chicks after his mother and I left. I knew she would rather not know or be around for that and while it is not a chore my son enjoys, he knows it is one that comes up from time to time when you rasie as many birds as we do. well he forgot. I got in very late and went straight to bed. this morning I was shocked to here chirping from the incubator. when I peaked in I was amazed. all six had made it through the night. I gave them a warm water bath to losen the membrane that was still stuck to them, dried them and left them in the inbutator. A couple of them lost some feathers due to the the dried membrane and two actually had it over their eyes keeping them from being able to open their eyes. with the warm water it all came off. by this evening all six look very strong and seem to be no worse for the ware. I will brood them on their own for a day or two, but if they are developing ok I will add them to the rest of the hatch in a few days.

while this is on the way to being an incredible result, I know it was my error that caused the problem and I can't count on these chicks surviving yet, much less this being any thing but a lesson on what not to do.

I will not open the incubator during lock down.

I will not open the incubator during lock down

repeat 98 more times

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: They can get it at any time. Most older birds fight it off on a daily basis quite well, but if for some reason she got a little stressed or run down, it can start to take over in the gut. Is her poop normal looking? It is something that I do if I have a chicken that is lethargic, standing around, puffed up. It's just where I start.

X2

 

[stoneflowr]

me too am in shelton and new sence last mo. but am here and i found a serama and looking for another as she is by herself. she is so sweet i jut love her

.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: OK peeps Listen up I is gonna set the record straight. No matter what these two try to tell ya. I am who I am and dat is all I is. Yes I may have been seen wearing something PINK ! Yes I may have a reputation fer stealin chickenz but only ones that DO NOT lay white eggs.

And for anybody who wants to read about Chicken Rustler. Under my avatar click on My Coop the scroll down.

 

[CarolynF]

So here is the coop/brooder with an update

Looks like this little guy sprouted a black Mohawk! He seems happy in his new home, where are all his buddies??

Your little RIR may be a guy, but as far as picking a fight.... All the chicks with Dash picked fights with one another. It wasn't exclusive to the boys.

 

[blessedgirl73]

I'm new...from fairfield, wa. We brought home our first chicks ever yesterday. So excited to finally have chickens of our own!

 

[pbjls]

I'm new...from fairfield, wa. We brought home our first chicks ever yesterday. So excited to finally have chickens of our own!