Made Easter eggers

[brewmaster15]

Growing fast.. still in the "cute" stage but approaching the "ugly"stage that chicks go through. Fuzzballs for sure but also growing feathers now...

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[brewmaster15]

We are officially out of the cute fluffy phase and into the ugly but endearing phase...

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These guys are moving out to the heated coop this week..new batch of fluffballs us hatching soon
Al

[jwcarlson]

Nice, Al. There's not much that goes from cute to awkward quite as fast as a chick!

[brewmaster15]

Nice, Al. There's not much that goes from cute to awkward quite as fast as a chick!

Yep.. happens so quick!

So moved the mini t-rexes out to their new home...

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They will be inside still for weeks under a heatlamp but then they will have a predator proof run.
They are a bit over whelmed at this point..literally in the coop 5 mins.
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[Greg-Florida]

Growing fast! Do you feed them special feed with extra nutrients for chicks?

[brewmaster15]

Hi Greg,
They are fed a special diet designed for chicks.. "chick starter" that has a high protein and nutritional profile that promotes growth and development. They will be on this diet until the reach egg laying age 18-22 weeks. At this point they are switched to a diet that has more calcium for egg shell production. Because of how important poultry farming is, theres been so much research into this stuff that its all very well understood. Really anyone can successfully raise chicks now...provided the town zoning allows for it.

We have had chickens years and years now.. There is something very rewarding about keeping them that goes beyond eggs.

[brewmaster15]

The chicks survived last night in the coop.. we got down in the low forties... at their current age they need to be protected from cold as they can't fully thermo-regulate
Yet. They current need to be kept at about 80-85F. Theres a 250 watt infrared bulb that warms a large part of the coop, and there are cooler areas so they can move as need if too hot.

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Article at backyard chickens
https://backyardpoultry.iamcountrysi...d-a-heat-lamp/


In other news.. the new batch of eggs is due to hatch sometime in the next 24 hours...I wish I had planned better.. could have had them ready for Easter CHICKS.
Actually its better this way..alot of easter chicks and bunnies wind up unwanted once the cuteness wears off and parents realize they actually do have to do some work to keep these critters alive and well.

[jwcarlson]

Chicks getting moved out to a coop for the first time are always semi-dramatic.

I've hatched several batches of eggs, and I really enjoy watching the eggs develop. But the last couple batches I have done I have just let one of my broody hens hatch them and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier and extremely fun to watch. I can't wait until I get to move out of the silly city and do more fun stuff.
Been saying that for well over 10 years though so I'm not holding my breath...

[brewmaster15]

Well chicks are doing fine in the coop
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and our next batch just hatched out Sat-Sunday.. pretty good hatch too.. 16 out of 22 eggs.

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Thought we were done yesterday but had one hatch this morning. It pipped the shell on friday but never came out or moved so we figured it was dead.. nope.. just a little shy.

[Second Hand Pat]

They are getting so big Al and the little ones are so cute. Do you have room for all these youngsters? What will you do with the roosters?
Pat

[brewmaster15]

The initial plan was to just sell the little ones, but probably what will happen is we will sell some of our egg layers right now move things around . We have three coops... 2 small and 1 large. The little ones will most likely get the large coop after we sell some of the egglayers. These egg layers are young at only 8 months old so should sell fast here..

Can't keep anymore roosters, we have two so any roosters will get re-homed as soon as we can or if need be and they aren't causing issues .. harvested.

al

[brady]

I have one last set of pics here. I have a confession to make.. I do not name my Hens...most of the time we get a flock of all one kind and I could not name if I wanted to ... but we always name our roosters..usually after singers. Generally we find the roosters have more of a personality, maybe because they are always interacting with as the flocks intermediary and they notice the fastest. All that has changed. For the first time we have a hen that has literally imprinted on us. She is a blackstar hen and from day one she has been like pet. She responds to you, comes over when you call..not just for food..Has to see what you are doing, and be under your feet. She likes being picked up, practically flies into you. Just an all around spaz and nut case. ..so yes we named her..SPAZ

Spaz is a photo hound.. she probably has an instagram page and is a chicken idol.

IMGP0228 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

IMGP0220 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

IMGP0201 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

IMGP0369 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

IMGP0345 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

IMGP0339 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr


We have a policy with our birds.. you produce or else. I don't want anyone thinking I am crazy chicken person. I am not. We process and eat our birds here as well as raise them for their eggs. I have no qualms with that...but I will say this, I will most likely break my policy with Spaz, unless she turns into a nasty old hen.. Spaz will probably get the golden handshake and live on here past her eggs years.

Weird, I know but this is not your ordinary hen! lol.

alp

AL
Is That a wyandotte? I'm pretty sure in one off the frames is a silver laced wyandotte.
They are my favorite along with orpingtons, very friendly and good layers.
Pardon the spelling.LOL
Jay

[dagray]

Need to paint that hutch with the KFC logo

[brewmaster15]

AL
Is That a wyandotte? I'm pretty sure in one off the frames is a silver laced wyandotte.
They are my favorite along with orpingtons, very friendly and good layers.
Pardon the spelling.LOL
Jay

Hi Jay, she is a breed called "blackstars" but yes.. I do have several of the Silver laced.. beautiful birds with a good disposition.

[brewmaster15]

Need to paint that hutch with the KFC logo

Nope.. not while they are laying eggs. We have a collective bargaining agreement.. they lay eggs inexchange for room, board and all the food they can eat. As long as they fdo their part ..no kfc.