New homes

 A few days ago, I sold Tyrone, the American Blackbelly ram. I miss him. He was a sweetheart. He went to a local farm and has himself some lady friends. So, all's good. It's for the best, as the goats just did not like him and were beating him up too often.

Today, I finally got around to unboxing the 2 new chicken runs, but didn't put them up, yet. I spent most of the morning fighting with the chicken pen that got blown over and killed my hen last month. I hadn't touched it since then. I got the mangled tarp off of it (surprisingly, not really torn up ... so, I'll be using it for something eventually.) I had a heck of a time getting the pen upright. I couldn't get any of the bolts undone the way it had accordianed on itself. So, had to lift and pull the whole thing upright. Sucker was heavy!! Then, I was able to get to all the bolts & brackets, and straighten everything up and then tighten the bolts/brackets back where they all belonged. I'm amazed that only one of the panels has some slightly bent mesh. I raked up all the old hay that was in that area and put a couple bags of pine shavings. Then, it was moving day for the 11 big chicks!! They were having a blast digging in the clean shavings for the food I'd poured on there. There are some really pretty chicks. Still keeping the first 3 in the pics. Same ones I keep saying. They were 7 weeks old, yesterday. The 3 little chicks will be moved to the playpen that the big chicks moved out of sometime this week. Tomorrow, I'm going to get the floor done for the goat shed. Fun times. The chicken runs that I unboxed will get put up next week, most likely.

 

Water! Water!

Oh ... my goodness. These babies are getting so gorgeous. Five weeks old on Sunday. They grow so fast! They are doing really well outside with the cage separating them from the adults, who often come up and check on them and cluck at them. So cute. They always act like they have never had water in their lives! Every time I give them fresh water, several times a day!, they swarm the bowls! They have 2 bowls; one in each front corner.

I have added two more water stations today! I got these galvanized pans at the hardware store. They are actually oil pans! They are perfect. I will be getting many more! I just don't like the ones I got at Tractor Supply for the chickens and goats. They have too many seams that can fail and cause leaks. I like that these are molded in one piece. I can't wait to get rid of the little plastic ones, too. They were drawers from the old fridge! I don't like using plastic, as a rule, anyway. And, I finally got a stiff brush, so I can clean all the pans and buckets, etc. better. I wanted a wooden one with stiff bristles, but couldn't find one today. So, I was stuck getting a plastic one at Dollar General ... I'm still looking, though.

Outdoors is Better!

The older chicks have been moved outside! They were just too big for the cage they were in, inside the shed. I couldn't keep them clean and their pretty foot feathers were getting damaged. So, out they go! I set up the old puppy playpen (bought in 1988, when Quinn and Gemini - QuinGem - were puppies!) Much better set-up for them until they can free-range with the others. And, they will get to know the adults, safely. Sir Knight was really checking things out while I was setting it up. I think I got his approval. ;) There is a shade on top, now that I am done. And, I can see them from the kitchen window, to check when they need more water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was hard to get individual pics of all of them today. They were so excited to be outside. Running and trying to fly! The first 3 are still keepers and also the third picture up. That one is coloring out nicely.

The younger chicks still number only 4 ... :( The Brahma was the last to hatch. Pic taken on Thursday. He's still wet.

  

Just took this pic - pardon the messies. Haven't changed the bedding, yet.

Early Chicks!

Well ... yesterday, I got a big surprise. This little guy hatched 3 days early! I was worried the temp. spike the other day was going to cause problems, but this is OK if others hatch soon! He was screaming. He needed some buddies! I unplugged the turner ...

I woke up very early this morning, still dark ... 2 more chickies hatched and were screaming their tiny heads off! I left them to dry for a couple more hours and then moved them in with the older chick. They all cuddled up right away. Hopefully, more will hatch in the next few days. These three are all Easter Eggers.

The oldest chicks have moved out of the house today. I've set them up in a safe cage in the trailer/shed. They'll be hanging out with my old rabbit and elderly doves for a while. I was going to put them outside, but it is still so hot and if the shade moves ... so, will wait another week or so. I have more cages, if I need to seperate them as they get bigger.

It's looking like most of them might be roosters ... but, still a bit early to tell. They are 3½ weeks old. I'm still keeping the first 3 pictured, for sure. I just really like their looks right now, and the first one is the purebred Brahma. I was going to move them all into the kiddie pool and cover with netting, but they are all too tall! Big babies. Even the smallest one.

Starting to like this little one

At 2:30 pm, it looks like a Brahma is trying to hatch in the incubator! It's starting to look like a much better hatch than I expected! Just very spread out ...

Some Keepers!

I moved the chickies back onto pine shavings in their brooder bin. So much cleaner! They are 3 weeks old today. Pictures were taken last night. The first 3 I will be keeping. The others will be watched for 2 more weeks before I decide whether they will be sold, kept or matured for butcher.

The eggs, if they didn't get ruined when the incubator temperature surged for several hours on Friday, should start hatching in a week.