Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2015 8:18:31 GMT -5
Damn it - I shouldn't have opened this thread I've been toying with the idea of getting chickens, but too chicken to actually do it. With the kind of winter we just had - it would be sooo much work to keep them warm and snow shoveled away... But I would trade my first born for some fresh eggs! I'll give you fresh eggs for free. Keep the kid. You don't really need to do much to keep chickens warm. As long as they have a coop to go in they'll huddle up and be fine even in the coldest of weather. I raise Brahmas which have short combs and feathered feet, they're not as prone to frostbite as others. Sometimes the ones with the big tall combs will freeze them off over the winter.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2015 21:07:56 GMT -5
So...happy/sad day at the chicken ranch. We didn't get home until late because of swim lessons and a packing party for the scout trip that needs to leave right after school. The kids rushed out to the barn to check for peepers and my 4 year old spotted the first one...dead on the floor. Soaking wet like he'd just hatched. A few minutes later we found another. Older son was really bummed and had to have a burial. Meanwhile I go checking under the one hen that had the pipped eggs this morning and found...three live chicks all fluffy and healthy and two eggs. I did the math and realized the dead chicks on the floor were not from this hen (each had five eggs) and checked the dog house hen (the "good" momma, the one whose eggs I was going to chuck because they were due on Sunday) and sure enough all her eggs but one had hatched. I only found two dead chicks so either there are two other ones around that I missed or the hens actually ate them. I have no idea what happened to these little guys but they weren't anywhere near the nest and freshly hatched. I think maybe the hen attacked them after they hatched or drug them out of the nest or something. It was pretty sad.
So, we have 3 and the third hens eggs were starting to hatch. Unbelievable. I never thought those two idiots would pull it off the way they were acting, but I guess they were the good Moms after all. Tomorrow I'm going to lock all the other hens out of the coop when I go to work. Hopefully everyone gets left alone tonight.
I'd post some pics but my Dropbox account is full and it won't let me add anything else. I'm going to have to switch everything to Amazon Cloud storage and the rate it's uploading it will be about 2 weeks before it's done.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on May 15, 2015 9:01:11 GMT -5
So for summary: 3 hens roosting: Bossy Mama, Dum Dum Mama and Do Do Mama. Bossy Mama started with 6 eggs; Dum Dum Mama and Do Do Mama each with 5 eggs. Bossy Mama: 1 Broken, 2 died, 1 egg, 2 missing Dum Dum Mama: 3 chicks and 2 eggs Do Do Mama: 2 chicks and 3 eggs Eta: Updated Per minnesotapaintlady 's info
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2015 9:30:49 GMT -5
Correct. But as of this morning Do Do Momma has 2 chicks 3 eggs. :-)
Oh and Bossy Momma is missing 2. She started with 6 not 5.
|
|
raeoflyte
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
Posts: 15,015
|
Post by raeoflyte on May 15, 2015 12:06:46 GMT -5
for dead chicks. I don't think my kids could handle that yet. This morning I went to lower the draw bridge on our coop and a fox that must have been stalking the chickens bolted less than 10 feet from me when I was turning toward the coop. I never would have known it was there, if it had just stayed still 5 minutes it could have dug under and into the coop and had a chicken breakfast... I guess my dh isn't as paranoid as I think he is.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on May 15, 2015 12:48:46 GMT -5
for dead chicks. I don't think my kids could handle that yet. This morning I went to lower the draw bridge on our coop and a fox that must have been stalking the chickens bolted less than 10 feet from me when I was turning toward the coop. I never would have known it was there, if it had just stayed still 5 minutes it could have dug under and into the coop and had a chicken breakfast... I guess my dh isn't as paranoid as I think he is. Is your coop Mobile or fixed. My grandparents had a fixed coop and chicken yard, so they buried metal (think roofing tin) down about 2 ft down into the ground. The yard was also solid tin for about 3 ft up, to discourage reach-throughs. Lastly the yard was build under two mature trees, that provided cover from birds of prey. If it's mobile, consider a wire bottom, it'll prevent digging into the coop. Foxes are very adaptable, and live in urban areas quite well.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2015 12:56:29 GMT -5
Well, I had to take a "sick" kid home from school today (I'm still fuming a little about that, as he's perfectly fine). So, as soon as we finish playing our third round of Blokus I'll do a chick check.
|
|
raeoflyte
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
Posts: 15,015
|
Post by raeoflyte on May 15, 2015 12:58:02 GMT -5
for dead chicks. I don't think my kids could handle that yet. This morning I went to lower the draw bridge on our coop and a fox that must have been stalking the chickens bolted less than 10 feet from me when I was turning toward the coop. I never would have known it was there, if it had just stayed still 5 minutes it could have dug under and into the coop and had a chicken breakfast... I guess my dh isn't as paranoid as I think he is. Is your coop Mobile or fixed. My grandparents had a fixed coop and chicken yard, so they buried metal (think roofing tin) down about 2 ft down into the ground. The yard was also solid tin for about 3 ft up, to discourage reach-throughs. Lastly the yard was build under two mature trees, that provided cover from birds of prey. If it's mobile, consider a wire bottom, it'll prevent digging into the coop. Foxes are very adaptable, and live in urban areas quite well. Ours is mobile. Since it has the drawbridge to shut them up tight at night I wasn't worried about putting wire on the bottom but I'll talk to dh about it and we may go ahead and do it. I knew we had foxes and coyotes, but even with chickens I figured our dogs/scent of dogs would make our yard pretty unappealing. Dh wants to get the LED lights that look like eyes to make it look like something is already stalking around the coop, and I was thinking of putting a radio on npr to play to deter them too. We're already planning a bigger fixed coop for next year and just keeping this one for young chickens.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on May 15, 2015 13:27:29 GMT -5
Is your coop Mobile or fixed. My grandparents had a fixed coop and chicken yard, so they buried metal (think roofing tin) down about 2 ft down into the ground. The yard was also solid tin for about 3 ft up, to discourage reach-throughs. Lastly the yard was build under two mature trees, that provided cover from birds of prey. If it's mobile, consider a wire bottom, it'll prevent digging into the coop. Foxes are very adaptable, and live in urban areas quite well. Ours is mobile. Since it has the drawbridge to shut them up tight at night I wasn't worried about putting wire on the bottom but I'll talk to dh about it and we may go ahead and do it. I knew we had foxes and coyotes, but even with chickens I figured our dogs/scent of dogs would make our yard pretty unappealing. Dh wants to get the LED lights that look like eyes to make it look like something is already stalking around the coop, and I was thinking of putting a radio on npr to play to deter them too. We're already planning a bigger fixed coop for next year and just keeping this one for young chickens. I'd be more concerned about dusk/dawn than night if they're shut up safe. with a fixed coop, I definitely consider sinking some digging resistant materials down along the sides for piece of mind. ETA: The barn I worked at had a cat that went to bed with the chickens every night. I think she was their protector. She was especially fond of the chicks, in the giving them a bath and treating them like kittens sense.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2015 13:38:31 GMT -5
Do Do Mama is now up to 3 chicks. So we have 6 total. 5 black, one yellow. None of the cool chipmunk ones that turned into the pretty buff hens. Of the 50 or so I hatched last year. All the chipmunks were hens, all the yellows were roosters and most of the black were roosters too. The few that were hens were kind of blah ugly ones.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on May 15, 2015 13:46:58 GMT -5
Do Do Mama is now up to 3 chicks. So we have 6 total. 5 black, one yellow. None of the cool chipmunk ones that turned into the pretty buff hens. Of the 50 or so I hatched last year. All the chipmunks were hens, all the yellows were roosters and most of the black were roosters too. The few that were hens were kind of blah ugly ones. Bossy Mama: 1 Broken, 2 died, 1 egg, 2 missing Dum Dum Mama: 3 chicks and 2 eggs Do Do Mama: 3 chicks and 2 eggs Any sign of the missing ones? good or bad?
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2015 17:07:26 GMT -5
I haven't looked real hard for the missing ones. They are presumed dead. But, I suppose I should try to dig around for them because if there are corpses they're going to start stinking soon. Dum Dum's last two eggs are peeping and one has a pip. She could possibly end up 5 for 5. Wow. Do Do is still at 3 with no signs of life from the other 2 eggs. Bossy is trying really hard to get that last egg to hatch, but that chick is probably safer staying in the egg with her track record. I locked all the other hens out of the coop tonight (but they're still in the barn). The chicks were starting to get where they are going to get out of the nest boxes and I don't trust the aunts to leave them alone. I put a couple pictures on Facebook if any of you that are my friends there want to post them here. I have no clue how to do it without Dropbox.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on May 18, 2015 8:34:18 GMT -5
I haven't looked real hard for the missing ones. They are presumed dead. But, I suppose I should try to dig around for them because if there are corpses they're going to start stinking soon. Dum Dum's last two eggs are peeping and one has a pip. She could possibly end up 5 for 5. Wow. Do Do is still at 3 with no signs of life from the other 2 eggs. Bossy is trying really hard to get that last egg to hatch, but that chick is probably safer staying in the egg with her track record. I locked all the other hens out of the coop tonight (but they're still in the barn). The chicks were starting to get where they are going to get out of the nest boxes and I don't trust the aunts to leave them alone. I put a couple pictures on Facebook if any of you that are my friends there want to post them here. I have no clue how to do it without Dropbox. Sent you FB message so I can see chick babies.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on May 18, 2015 12:19:56 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 12:25:08 GMT -5
WTH?
I didn't see any FB message, but I don't think I have access to everything on the app on my phone.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on May 27, 2015 9:15:51 GMT -5
What's the final chick count?
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 9:28:33 GMT -5
Just the 8. Forgot I got my Dropbox cleared out and can post pictures here again. I need new ones, this is from the day they hatched. They have feathers now and are twice as big. In like a week and a half!
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 9:30:49 GMT -5
I also took them away from the mommas and put them in the garage pool so they could get chick starter and not be eaten by hawks. A few days ago the hens were milling around the garage and the two moms ran in when they heard the peeping, but then they started pecking the babies on their heads and being mean to them. Guess chickens don't have the best memories.
|
|
midjd
Administrator
Your Money Admin
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:09:23 GMT -5
Posts: 17,720
|
Post by midjd on May 27, 2015 9:49:40 GMT -5
Awwwww. I love little blondie on the left with the fuzzy feet.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 27, 2015 9:56:46 GMT -5
Awwwww. I love little blondie on the left with the fuzzy feet. There are two like that, and we love those too because last year every one of the "chipmumk" looking ones turned out to be hens and they became the pretty reds and buffs. The yellow chicks all were roosters and the blacks were about 50/50 but the dark hens aren't as pretty.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,617
Member is Online
|
Post by debthaven on May 28, 2015 18:05:25 GMT -5
MPL, my DD showed me this and of course I thought of you! (Sorry occasional rude word, not mine.)
It's the story of a young man from Brittany, France, who sailed across the Atlantic with a chicken named Monique. Next stop, Greenland!
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 18:08:30 GMT -5
I also took them away from the mommas and put them in the garage pool so they could get chick starter and not be eaten by hawks. A few days ago the hens were milling around the garage and the two moms ran in when they heard the peeping, but then they started pecking the babies on their heads and being mean to them. Guess chickens don't have the best memories. How exactly, do you discipline a bad behaving hen!?
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 22:22:17 GMT -5
MPL, my DD showed me this and of course I thought of you! (Sorry occasional rude word, not mine.) It's the story of a young man from Brittany, France, who sailed across the Atlantic with a chicken named Monique. Next stop, Greenland! LOL Love it!
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 22:24:38 GMT -5
I also took them away from the mommas and put them in the garage pool so they could get chick starter and not be eaten by hawks. A few days ago the hens were milling around the garage and the two moms ran in when they heard the peeping, but then they started pecking the babies on their heads and being mean to them. Guess chickens don't have the best memories. How exactly, do you discipline a bad behaving hen!? You don't. Well, you can, but it's pointless.
|
|
justme
Senior Associate
Joined: Feb 10, 2012 13:12:47 GMT -5
Posts: 14,618
|
Post by justme on May 28, 2015 22:35:10 GMT -5
So Jessica Simpson was right all those years ago, there are chicken in the sea.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 22:18:46 GMT -5
Look what I built for my babies! OMG. I'm like the crazy cat lady with chickens...
|
|
Opti
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 10:45:38 GMT -5
Posts: 42,246
Location: New Jersey
Mini-Profile Name Color: c28523
Mini-Profile Text Color: 990033
|
Post by Opti on May 29, 2015 22:27:26 GMT -5
I like it. Turns out there are signs and t-shirts out there for you.
( just google crazy chicken lady pics.)
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 22:31:29 GMT -5
minnesotapaintlady I love it - Crazy Chicken Lady. Is that for the new babies so they don't get pecked apart by the forgetful mommas?
|
|
Jaguar
Administrator
Fear does not stop death. It stops life.
Joined: Dec 20, 2011 6:07:45 GMT -5
Posts: 50,108
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/IZlZ65.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Text Color: 290066
|
Post by Jaguar on May 29, 2015 22:31:52 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 12, 2024 9:32:51 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 22:37:01 GMT -5
minnesotapaintlady I love it - Crazy Chicken Lady. Is that for the new babies so they don't get pecked apart by the forgetful mommas? Yep. The 8 chicks are getting too big for the swim pool and will be jumping out soon. I could have just taken them over to my aunts but they would have been stuck in a barn stall and not get to go outside until they're full grown. This way I can spoil them. Here's one checking it out.
|
|