Washingtonians

[Stumpfarmer]

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I do remember your earlier post now - what beautiful birds! Nice run too! They don't scratch up all that grass?

They've only been there for six days... on the other hand, the run has a yard-wire bottom, and is pasture grass that hasn't been mowed for about twelve years, so it would be a bit of a job for their delicate blue feet. They'll be moved on to a tunnel over the raspberries in a short while, anyway, and will eventually have a big covered yard on the east side of the house. But the point with all of the chicken accomodations is that they will not ever be concentrated enough to tear up their runs. I've got about a half-acre of off-limits-for-cattle ground and only the 400 sq ft around the well is really off limits for chickens in the number and density I'm comfortable with.

 

[pettec63]

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Congrats on the renewed award that's awesome!! GREAT NAME!! LOL!!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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It looks like an exotic chicken paradise to me!

They seem to like it a lot, although the apple branches are more things to hide behind and rest under than perch in: when it comes to bed-time they want a nice piece of 2X2 underfoot.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

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Congratulations for your DD's success!

 

[pettec63]

all righty !! I have one more egg zipping!! And that means if it hatches all the eggs I candled would have hatched!! it's amazing!! You guys have helped me soooo much!! But, the drawing of the air sac that's what gave me an idea of what it should look like!!! I'm really bad about remembering who posted what, but, you know who you are and thanks!!! pics to follow shortly! WA4hpoultrymom I pm'd you!!!

 

[SadieSue]

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That is fantastic - congratulations! That is a pretty successful hatch, don't ya think? I'm having such a great time watching our chicks who are a week old as of yesterday. I'm wishing I had some more hatching eggs right now, but I have my heart set on some from one of our other WA BYC'ers, and it looks like I'll be waiting a few weeks.

Is your brooder set up then? Have fun with the babies -

 

[Ogress]

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I'd start up the incubator that I bought from Blue Ducklings, but I don't know what I'd do with all the chicks! My hen brooders aren't working out so well.

 

[herbandteas]

I have a question about using broody hens for hatching.

It is getting close to hatching time so how long after they hatch eggs can I put more eggs under them?

 

[Ogress]

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Are you going to have the hens raise the chicks? If not, I guess when they go broody again so long as they get plenty of food and water and are not losing weight. One of mine has been broody for 2 months now. I hope this latest batch will hatch, though really I would prefer that none of my birds be broody now. One has been sitting on a nest of plastic easter eggs for 2 weeks! I throw her off the nest and outside about 5 times a dat so she will drink and eat. The others are usually pretty good about gettin off themsleves.

 

[Cackling Hen]

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If mama is going to raise the chicks then you cant put more eggs under her. It really takes alot out of the girls to be broody. She might not take the new batch of eggs. Once the chicks hatch she kinda is done being broody and goes into mama mode