Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Celtic Chick]

Tat, don't quote me on this but they may call it hardware cloth because the holes are smaller, usually 1/2x1/2" squares. And they come in different gauge wire, so you can get it however strong or flimsy as you wish. But just remember, the stronger you get it=the more metal in it=more $$$$. Hardware cloth isn't cheap, but it can make a world of difference in the safety of your birds.

H&R, brrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!! I sure hope it is fixed quickly, and I really hope you're all feeling better soon.

 

[Dr HaHa]

You too FT! From the list of possiblities that TO gave me I'm going to be scratchin my backside as to the identity of the chicks.

Except for that one marked D-U-C-K they should hatch on the 15th. DUCK, Dang Ugly Chicken [in the] Kitchen.

H&R glad it isn't -20, that fireplace area would be very crowded. Hope you have heat tonight! TO I didn't forget about Tat not on the java train it was a ha ha. Couldn't really decifer your catagories so it's a wait and see thing. Doesn't matter I'll spoil them no matter what. I'm acutally behaving myself only checking the temp/hyd maybe 10 times a day.

Hey I'm getting better! I know that about 5 days out I'll be glued to it. TO just hope that your Roo's were good at their job! Haven't gone to the movies in years. I'm always disappointed and PO'd that I wasted the money. Thought War Horse would be good now glad I didn't go. Can't help but watch To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Grapes of Wrath everytime they come on. Now those are movies! And of course any Monty Python. NEE!

 

[FrenchToast]

H&R Wow, you went a long time without heat !!! Soun like you need to make some Ho-Made Chicken Noodle soup so you all can warm up and start feeling better. Some hot chocolate sounds good too !!!

DrHa, I don't even check my temp or humidity, I just keep the water resevoir filled. Checked for veining and all was good. I used to check all the time (can't find my thermometer). Had to keep windex handy to wipe the nose prints off the bator top !!
One of my bators actually has a warp in the window from the heat of the flashlight I had resting on it so I could watch them hatch

I have found out the hard way to just set it and forget it works best for me. When I was overly concerned with the humidity is when I had problems. It could just be coincidence but I don't think so. I have one bator just for lockdown and hatching so a staggered hatch should work. Timed it right (by accident) so it will be like a revoloving door on the hatcher. In/Out

DrHa, I think you should get yourself a silkie or showgirl house chicken. They are the poodles of the chicken world you know !! I can supply you with one. I you want a rooster that would make it a bit more macho !!

I have some extras for all of "YOU MEN" on here, just PM me !!

 

[Angiebubs]

I'm sure this has been asked but with all the talk of hatching-what do you do with all the chicks you hatch? Sell them as day one and keep a couple? Wait tillthey are old enough to determine sex-then find homes for the roo's? I know some send the roos to freezer camp-but do you really do that with silkies etc? (I would love either hatch some chicks or let a broody hen hatch some but wouldnt be able to butcher the roo's)

 

[FrenchToast]

Quote:
Well, me personally, I keep them all !!! Haven't butchered a rooster yet and I have a knack for hatchin out roosters !!

 

[Angiebubs]

I was up at 7 this morning and we put up a grow light on a timer-hoping to have eggs soon. How long will it take for them to get back on track after adding light? (they have had a month of down time and think my younger ones are old enough to start laying soon-19 wks and older)

I picked up a fluorescence (mountable) full spectrum grow light for $10 at walmart and a timer for $5 at FF.

 

[Angiebubs]

Quote:
Well, me personally, I keep them all !!! Haven't butchered a rooster yet and I have a knack for hatchin out roosters !!

FT: So how many do you have? how often do you hatch and how many? Do you seperate out the roos and coop them seperately? I have 15 chickens right now and think at least 3- 19 wk olds are Roo's-raised together and so far not much fighting-just pecking order usual deal. I know I need to add Hens-planning on getting a few sexed chicks in the next couple months to even it out a bit. I have to be somewhat selective and add slowly as to not freak out my SO anymore than I already have. How old are your oldest chickens? Do youplan on keeping them as long as they live?

 

[FrenchToast]

Angiebuds

I just added my lights with timers a few weeks ago and this weekend my girls (laying hens) gave me a nice Christmas present and started laying !!

Yesterday we had 12 eggs compared to a week ago with 1 or 2.

I do have some Rooster pens for the silkies but mostly they are just seperated by color. If silkie roos are raised together they do very well for the most part. It is when you seperate them and then try introducing them again later that you will have a problem, at least in my experience.
I didn't hatch for the last 6 months since I really ran out of room. The only reason I'm hatching right now is because I want to get the lavender and paint coloring into my flocks. I normally sell the eggs via BYC auctions but didn't do it over the hot summer months and haven't started up yet. I want to switch some pairs around. I want to improve my showgirls by breeding them with silkies. I plan on regrouping them by next week. My family is coming up from Racine this weekend so that rules out doing it like I had planned.
I think my oldest silkie is maybe 3-4 yrs old. I really wish I had the heart to cull some roosters but they are such sweet birds I can't see doing it just because they were hatched male.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
We end up keeping ours for awhile to determine sex and also to see who looks the best as the kids show them for 4-H. We do sell some but not as day olds. We also send the extra boys to freezer camp for our table.

 

[WIChookchick]

Quote:
TO- Just saying if no one claims it, I will!! I can use another boy or girl.. and don't have a yellow one.. it will be spoiled rotten!!

I lost a cockatiel girl years ago when she flew out a partially opened window with no screen on it... I was devastated.

Well back to work, lunch is over...
sigh..
Carol