Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[jvls1942]

good morning,

stacey, I hope this works as well for you as it does for me,, remember , measure twice, cut once.

Cooties, you know what I think about K.. I am keeping all of these ducks..
I don't know anything about calls.. if they are seasonal layers? good layers ? bad layers?
can I let them free range after awhile ?
I am happy I got them , finally ..

the hatch is going along yet,, but I think it is not going to be even 50%..
I figure, If it were my fault, none would have hatched,,
In the past, even a 75% hatch with their eggs was considered good..
I question their roosters' viability and ability ..
and like Cooties said,, how cold was it when they gathered the first eggs ?
I think early spring eggs are not fertile as later eggs..
Old wives tale,, the rooster has to feel the heat of the sun on his back to be worth anything ..

we have 36 chicks in the brooder.. out of 116 eggs.. almost 33%..

have a nice day..

I heard the perch were starting to bite ..

..........jiminwisc.........

 

[jvls1942]

hi again,

I re-modified one of my hatching trays,, sorry for the bad pictures,, but the flash refused to work..

...
I raised the fence at the front and rear 1 1/2" it is the piece with the 3 screw holes in it.
I hope this will keep the chicks from escaping ..
In the future, I will add 1/4" mesh to the floor.. the 1/2" I have in there now is too big for the tiny feet of the newly hatched chicks..

...
this view shows the 1 1/2" additional piece at the left .. then there is the side flange that fits tight to the inside sides of the cabinet..

39 chicks in the brooder,, I think that is it for this hatch,,
39/116 about 33%

 

[babylady4]

Jim, clip their wings before you let them loose. Mine were almost daily layers and would lay for around 6-8 months. Give them a pool to play in and they will love you. We would toss shiners in the pool for them to chase.

 

[irishrovr]

The weather was so nice the last couple of days so I brought the peeps outside for a day on the grass in the sun. I first put them in a little toddler playpen but they quickly found their way out through the small holes so into the chicken tractor they went. They loved their outings after they got acclimated to the new surroundings.

What do you think, Cuties? Will you tell me again what the names of the colors are?

 

[irishrovr]

Three gardens plowed and ready for disking. I may just have three plots of plowed earth if we don't get that high fence up to keep the deer out!

 

[bigzio]

Afternoon to all...wish I had a driver to whisk me through the roundabouts Jim....yep the fleets are different in Greenbay...think it's a brother thing. Good to hear you had a safe trip and the folks actually did show too.

Nice pics from everyone..love the gardens Irish, and congrats to your daughter bl4...I see she listened to all my good advice at the bash last year...

I also agree to wait for the rooster vigor in the Spring for your best hatching results. Chicks also seem stronger to me....just my opinion.

Working on the gardens between the hunts. So much to do and so little time...gotta go for now.

bigz

 

[jvls1942]

I am not going to clip their wings.. I don't mind if they fly a bit.. as along as they know where their coop is at night,,
My muscovys flew all over the place.. liked sitting on top of the highest building..
my peacocks roosted on top of the chimney chase or high in a tree..

40 chicks out of 115 eggs,, found another bad egg.. 40/115
there is one pip yet that I can see.

I looked up call duck nest boxes.. many pictures look more like wood duck boxes ..
I am going to just make a spot in the corner like I did for the geese.. lots of straw and shavings..

the geese have 22 eggs in their nest. one of them is acting as if she is going to start incubating.

call duck incubation takes 26 days from what all I have read.. lock down on day 23..

 

[birdman55]

so alittle update....
jumbo texas whites

jumbo browns

lamonas in with show quality barred rocks

polish hen with goofy chicken guy

polish rooster with same goofy chicken owner

easters hatchalong growing up big

and cant forget the chicken gaurd dog...practicing....lol...you guys wanna play with me ...im only 100 pounds

another hoop coop done

some of the birds in the hoop coop

been super busy....also dug out one post for the gate for the front entry way...eating and then relaxing

 

[cuties]

Jim, what Miss said I would definitely clip one wing at first. They likento wander farther than any other of our birds. And I always worry they won't come back. I keptnthem clipped that first summer. And they stay nicely. I have heard lots of stories about people keeping them penned to make them feel at home. And the minute thay let them oit they leave and never return.
I am glad you are keeping them. You will really like these little guys
very nice pice Birdman!
Irish, they are beautiful! !!! I tried clicking on the images. But the phone will not cooperate and enlarge them. I see a lot of tails. That is a good sign for girlies
the ones without a tail and that have less neat looking feathers tend to be boys at that age in our lines.
the ones that have white are splash. The blues look almost gray at this age. And the black are just black and red

 

[babylady4]

What Cuties said. Calls can and will fly away.