coxm3
Hatchling
Posts: 33
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Post by coxm3 on May 12, 2012 19:02:05 GMT -6
Our second grade decided to hatch a batch of chicks for me. However, the teacher hatching didn't have much experience and didn't put water in the incubator after the first week. Out of the 42 eggs we started with, 3 made it. I am now the proud mother of Bobby, Blair, and Lucky. None of the babies are from my hens, but they are ADORABLE. All 3 are some part Maran and one even has the feathers on his(her) legs. We are SO excited to have new additions to our flock which has dwindled to 6 hens and my gorgeous rooster. And the best part is that we had so many eggs to start with for the incubator, K is hatching more for me. As of day 14 we had 25 still viable. The teacher hatching them is VERY experienced with the incubator. Just waiting for Thursday to get her to see what I end up with. So excited! Did I mention how excited I am? Hatching chicks is addictive! ;D
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on May 12, 2012 19:36:19 GMT -6
Yes it is. I keep falling off the wagon. I was down to 1 incubator and i'm gonna have to fire up the third one tomorrow so I can add the quail eggs. When fertility is right on with my new silkies i'll stop putting them in. I keep telling myself that over and over. Maybe it'll stick.
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Post by Timbo on May 12, 2012 22:09:01 GMT -6
Congrats! HAtching is very addicting. never know whats going to hatch out. Wish you luck!
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coxm3
Hatchling
Posts: 33
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Post by coxm3 on May 16, 2012 7:38:38 GMT -6
Holy cow! Kindergarten eggs started hatching yesterday on day 20. The teacher came in to find the little fellow perched on the egg turner because there were no cracks etc the night before and she was gonna remove the turner yesterday. Last night at 6, we had 8 chicks and more pipping. Haven't checked today because I am home with a my sick daughter. My question is this, how do I introduce the new chicks to the old chicks? The oldest of my 3 current chicks is 6 days as of today. When we tried to introduce one new chick yesterday to my current 3, one of them jumped on him and tried to flock him. We quickly put him back in the bator as he was only about 12 hours old. Should we wait for the rest of his hatch to be ready for the brooder and put them all in together to fend with my week old chicks?
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coxm3
Hatchling
Posts: 33
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Post by coxm3 on May 16, 2012 7:54:14 GMT -6
Make that 11 new ones!
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coxm3
Hatchling
Posts: 33
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Post by coxm3 on May 16, 2012 16:29:59 GMT -6
HOLY MOLY! I just quit counting! I've been home today with a sick child and briefly went to school to check on the chicks kindergarten was hatching for me. There were chicks EVERYWHERE! I don't know how many I put in the brooder with the 3 weeks old chicks I took back to school yesterday. But let me tell you ALL those new chicks have overwhelmed my 3 weeks old ones. You could almost see the thoughts in their head asking, "where in the world did all these chicks come from!" Love it! Still more hatching (about 4) and still babies in the bater not ready to come out. They are gorgeous! All different breeds and mixes! I bet I end with with 20 or 25!
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Post by Timbo on May 16, 2012 20:54:50 GMT -6
that sounds great! Congrats
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coxm3
Hatchling
Posts: 33
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Post by coxm3 on Jun 6, 2012 10:21:37 GMT -6
I have been totally stressed with my babies, LOL! I ended up with 24 total. All gorgeous and still doing well. They were making a mess of my garage in the brooder and picking on one another so I moved them to the big coop with my 4 hens and rooster. Started a whole new level of stress because we rigged up a seperate coop for the big guys, but that didn't work out because they wanted their old coop. So....I rigged up a chicken jail in the big coop for my little guys with some chicken wire and staples, literally RIGGED it up. Then began my concern about the introduction to the older chickens and my stress with trying to herd the babies into the coop every night because they had not figured out that was were they were suppose to sleep. Well, my introduction happened totally by accident 4 days ago. When I went down to let the babies out of their jail.................they were already out in the coop with the big girls (4) and the big guy. I went ahead and watched them forever and let them out into the run together. My big chickens are TERRIFIED of the little ones. I think its a numbers thing with mine since I have 24 babies. I have left the big chickens shut up with the little ones since then in hopes they would show the little ones how to get back in the coop, protect them from the snake that I still haven't found, etc. No problems so far! My big chickens are still terrified of the little ones, but becoming more accustomed to them. Since I have left them together, my little ones go into the coop by themselves for the night. YAY! No more herding chickens! I left their chicken jail open enough that if they need to hide from the bigger ones, they still can. I think I was way more stressed than necessary. THe only issue I have right now is that the big chickens eat the chick starter and the little chicken eat some of the layer pellets that my kids throw out for the big guys. THe little guys still have exclusive access to their food in the coop, but in the run they have access to both. I am going to stop stressing about these chickens! The good Lord will take care of it! Now, I am going to worry about who is a boy and who is a girl because I do not want more than one rooster, but am afraid I already love them to much to get rid of them. Especially since I know there are going to be some interesting roosters because I know one of them is a Polish. What to do...............
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