Washingtonians

[itsren]

For a flock of 12 layers, how much is too much? I know a lot of people who offer plenty of healthy treats and their birds lay fine, but I'm paranoid they'll slow down their laying if I give them oatmeal and alfalfa every day. I cooked up 1/2 cup of oatmeal (when cooked, it's about a cup) and a handful of alfalfa pellets. I also added flax seed meal, sesame seeds (1/8c each), and probiotics. WDYT? Is that too much? Really it's just the middle of a large plate full for all 12 girls.

Well, considering mine free-range more than they eat feed, I'm guessing mine get treats all day long. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, but they sure do scream at me if I don't let them out to have the "good" stuff they can scrounge up in the yard.

What you're giving doesn't sound like a lot for 12 girls. You should see the piles of veggie peelings, extras from the garden, etc. I've dumped in my run for my girls, and I only have 3 girls to eat it all - and somehow they manage to eat it all. I can't even walk to the back yard without the girls thinking I'm bringing them something. I open the back door and they come running.

 

[itsren]

I just checked the calendar and they are due on the 17th, so that would be plenty close enough.

Yay! I have a back-up plan!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Jen, definently don't give up yet, since today is really only day 21! Another thing I do to keep the other eggs from being knocked around, is put them in an egg carton with the big end up. Use a styrofoam one if you have one to prevent it from getting wet which would add extra humidity. The chicks ma still climb all over it but at least the eggs are still and the little one can stay focused on getting out.

Monroe F&F got their last order of chicks in last Friday. They have a Facebook page you can like & they post when they get things in.

Itsren, when are your eggs due? I filled my incubator last week 42+ eggs and if all goes well, will have extras 2 wks from Saturday.


RonB, so very sorry about the missing baby! Big hugs! (I'm on my phone so the smiles don't work or I'd have many hugs posted!)
Glad to hear your vacation went well!

I always hatch them in egg cartons. Works awesome. And, I haven't seen anyone else say it yet, so I will...you need to quit opening the bator. LG's are SUPER temperamental, and every time it gets opened, it drops temp, which is going to delay the hatching further. It also messes up the humidity, and you could end up with shrink wrapped chicks, even though your hygrometer says 55%....

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
You're probably right. I'm just crazy about these girls and want them to be at optimal health. I think what they're getting is probably just fine though. I'll keep doing it unless they stop laying well. It's nice to give them a treat each morning.

 

[ChickAudie]

Oh, Oh, Colville.... Can you see me wavin' really hard from way over here???

I have family near there. My cousin used to teach math at Colville Highschool. But he retired a few years ago. It's so pretty over there, but I hardly ever get to visit. Darn.
Enjoy the dry side and being able to see the ground under the trees, not just salal and ferns.

That's funny, Colville! I'm a Harshbarger, there were a lot of us around there at one point. My brother just passed away in town there in March.... Somehow, the nostalgia seems lost. I went to CHS for a little bit, my math teacher was the awesome Mr. Fine. There were a ton of memorable teachers!! Love my pottery teacher, she was the best

 

[JennS]

I always hatch them in egg cartons.  Works awesome.  And, I haven't seen anyone else say it yet, so I will...you need to quit opening the bator.  LG's are SUPER temperamental, and every time it gets opened, it drops temp, which is going to delay the hatching further.  It also messes up the humidity, and you could end up with shrink wrapped chicks, even though your hygrometer says 55%....  

I'm worried I already have them. :-( The one chick is at least staying contained and not jumping on the eggs anymore. At what point do I give up and help them? I don't want to let them die.

Jennifer

 

[FirewifeJess]

Darn it!! Why can't I catch a break? Scarlett is now limping around the yard. No visible wounds. Hopefully it's just some sort of strain in her leg or foot. She seems fine otherwise. Ugh.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote: The problem with helping chicks, is that you don't know which ones need help due to humidity / temp issues now, and which ones need help because they weren't going to hatch anyway...and know that if you help a chick hatch, there is a good chance you will also either watch them die later, or help them along because they shouldn't have hatched in the first place.

If they can't even pip the shell, I wouldn't help them at all. If they are pipping a good sized hole, and then not making progress, they are likely shrink wrapped in there, and then I will help at least enough to see if that's the problem...if they aren't shrink wrapped and they can't zip, they likely weren't meant to be....

 

[hallerlake]

Long icky day today. Up at 5 - out the door by 5:15. Blow by my office to pick up a few things, and then a road trip to Bellevue. Work there all day, fighting with the database guys in Dallas. On the road again to come home at 5 -- just got past the blast zone before the pass was closed for an hour while they set of charges.


Dang I'm tired.

Thank goodness for small favors.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: The problem with helping chicks, is that you don't know which ones need help due to humidity / temp issues now, and which ones need help because they weren't going to hatch anyway...and know that if you help a chick hatch, there is a good chance you will also either watch them die later, or help them along because they shouldn't have hatched in the first place.

If they can't even pip the shell, I wouldn't help them at all. If they are pipping a good sized hole, and then not making progress, they are likely shrink wrapped in there, and then I will help at least enough to see if that's the problem...if they aren't shrink wrapped and they can't zip, they likely weren't meant to be....
Sadly as cold as it may sound .... the reality is it comes down to SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!!! While it isn't easy you will discover that there are times one must think with their head and not their heart.