what would be your flocks catch phrase

[redinator]

I'm trying to take a "lessons learned" approach to it all. No, I'm probably not doing everything right. But I'm doing the things I'm doing to the best of my ability and with my chickens' best interests in mind. I know that will include flock modifications, and I'm prepared for that.

I know from your threads here you are doing the same things. We got this, lol.

Set up, change, adapt, get a break for a few days/weeks (if you're lucky) then repeat, lol.

 

[redinator]

Oh, @ChickenChick46 yesterday when I went to collect eggs one of my RIR pullets was in the nestbox laying. Initially I wasn't concerned, but she was still in there an hour later. My first thought . . "Oh _____ no, not more chicks. I'm bursting at the seams." Thankfully I found out it was two separate reds laying one after the other.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Oh, @ChickenChick46 yesterday when I went to collect eggs one of my RIR pullets was in the nestbox laying. Initially I wasn't concerned, but she was still in there an hour later. My first thought . . "Oh _____ no, not more chicks. I'm bursting at the seams." Thankfully I found out it was two separate reds laying one after the other.

Lol yeah they need to let you get settled with these before they start blessing you with more!

 

[redinator]

Lol yeah they need to let you get settled with these before they start blessing you with more!

Right! Give me a minute ladies, good grief!

Edit: At least now I know I have some sense of survival and won't let them just go crazy with chicks.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Right! Give me a minute ladies, good grief!

Edit: At least now I know I have some sense of survival and won't let them just go crazy with chicks.

That's true! I figure mine will begin being tested by late Spring. The first day of Spring next year is March 20th. My oldest birds will be 34 and 35 weeks them. Yes I just counted, lol.

 

[redinator]

That's true! I figure mine will begin being tested by late Spring. The first day of Spring next year is March 20th. My oldest birds will be 34 and 35 weeks them. Yes I just counted, lol.

I think after 4/5 months it's safe to start counting in months. What are the ages you have again?

 

[ChickenChick46]

I think after 4/5 months it's safe to start counting in months. What are the ages you have again?

Lol I hope so, because counting in weeks with all these age groups gets confusing.

I've got 9 weeks, 8 weeks, 5 weeks, and 3 weeks. All groups have 4 chicks except the 3 weekers. That's the group from which I lost one.

 

[redinator]

Lol I hope so, because counting in weeks with all these age groups gets confusing.

I've got 9 weeks, 8 weeks, 5 weeks, and 3 weeks. All groups have 4 chicks except the 3 weekers. That's the group from which I lost one.

So . . . not to give you anxiety or anything . .but Pot and Sweety both started laying at just over 16 weeks (nearly 4 months old) and Sweety went broody at 6 months . They also hatched in February, so that might account for it, but . . ummm . .you might want to get ice packs ready to break some broodies.

 

[ChickenChick46]

So . . . not to give you anxiety or anything . .but Pot and Sweety both started laying at just over 16 weeks (nearly 4 months old) and Sweety went broody at 6 months . They also hatched in February, so that might account for it, but . . ummm . .you might want to get ice packs ready to break some broodies.

That sounds about right. We are in similar climates, if I'm not mistaken. So our winters here don't get remotely harsh. We'll have some cold stretches, but then it's right back up to 50s or 60s for highs and 40s for lows. I have wondered whether them reaching maturity during winter will really affect much, because of how mild the weather will likely be.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

So . . . not to give you anxiety or anything . .but Pot and Sweety both started laying at just over 16 weeks (nearly 4 months old) and Sweety went broody at 6 months . They also hatched in February, so that might account for it, but . . ummm . .you might want to get ice packs ready to break some broodies.

@ChickenChick46
As long as your days get shorter, you should be fine!
I was planning to buy a broody on Sunday, so I got chicks for her on Friday.
Turns out, I jumped the gun….
When I got her, she decided that being broody in the Winter didn’t sound as much like rainbows and unicorns as it had before.
I now have to build them an insulated outdoor brooder in time for us to leave on a camping trip next Thursday…

But if you CAN get a broody, chicks hopping around in the snow with their fluffy mamma watching over them make great pictures!