Hatch-along coming soon!! Mixed breed edition!

[Antiocheggers]

let's go cookie and cream !

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

Aww I can't wait!!! And yes, please tag me when you post the thread!

 

[Moon Daizy]

Sounds good!!!

Thank you so much! The mama hens did all the workView attachment 3823161
This is the 1st time I'm hatching in an incubator.
I'm so excited for yours to hatch as well! Could you post some pics of them once they hatch?
It's just amazing to be part of bringing new life into this world, don't you think?

Of course!

I don’t know how to do a running post that you keep adding to, I guess like a blog… I’ll look into it, then I can chip away at adding pics to what we’re up to in our lil chicken world! The coop (we call it a shoop as it’s really a shed!) is nearly all finished too. the weather has been against us all year so far.
But only 11 days until hatch day!!! So exciting. Have been candling the eggs, have seen some move which has been such a joy, blessing and a privilege! New life is a wonderful miracle

 

[talkinboutchickens]

The coop (we call it a shoop as it’s really a shed!) is nearly all finished too.

That is a really good idea to turn a shed into a coop! Where did you get the shed part?

the weather has been against us all year so far.

Oh no I'm so sorry! That's a bummer

But only 11 days until hatch day!!! So exciting.

Yay it must be so hard to wait! Was it a very long wait?

 

[ilovemybabychickies]

go chicks!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

let's go cookie and cream !

I'll post a pic of the eggs once it's time, and you can pick an egg to go with the name! Yay I'm so excited

 

[Moon Daizy]

That is a really good idea to turn a shed into a coop! Where did you get the shed part?

Unfortunately, we did have to buy it. I looked online for second hand ones first, but they were either not the right thing, or way too far away (we don't have a trailer or anything to transport one in), or the advertisement looked dubious in some way. I had also read that there was a scamming thing being used through buying sheds, which made me even more cynical!!

Oh no I'm so sorry! That's a bummer

It's just been good practise for collecting eggs in the rain!

Yay it must be so hard to wait! Was it a very long wait?

I have been trying to persuade my husband to let me have chickens for a good few years....! But I began clearing the nettle/bramble patch to make way for the chicken run and shoop in January this year. So it depends which way you look at it!! I guess we've come a long way really, but waiting does get harder nearer the end, especially for the children!! To me, it still feels like there's a lot to do, and a fast closing in deadline...

But I keep telling myself that the remaining bits can be done when the chicks are moved out into the shoop/run. For example...:

• I haven't built the nest box yet - but they don't need it yet. And, I've not installed the pop door yet, but when they're in there I'll be checking on them every day, multiple times a day, so that could be done slower time too, but I reckon we'll finish that off this weekend while they're still eggs anyhow!
  
  
• And I haven't installed a bigger window yet, but it's summer time so the default little one the shed comes with isn't so bad this time of year.
  
  
• And I've not installed the guttering to supply the water butt for their automatic feeder, but they will need to use their one from the brooder box initially so they know where to drink from for a while... etc etc....
  
  
• I also need to cover all the mud (working in the area, on heavy clay soil, over a really wet winter and spring has seriously compacted it all down.... it's not fit for a chick!!). I have sown some grass seed but will probably also cover the whole area with hay. We are using a whole composting system with the chickens, and thankfully the composting side of the system is nearly finished. Hoorah!

I just got all these plates spinning and was feeling pretty pooped yesterday when we had to finish work due to a thunderstorm overhead. Somehow didn't feel comfortable working in a chicken run, basically a steel cage, in an overhead thunder storm!!

So.... to answer your question, 'has it been a long wait'.... yes, but in some ways I wish I still had a little more time to finish off all the jobs!!! You're being sensible in doing all of your prep/research first!! Mind you, I wanted to get the eggs when we did, so that the chickens would be grown enough to leave for a few days when we go away for our summer holiday.... so I wasn't completely irresponsible either!!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I haven't built the nest box yet - but they don't need it yet. And, I've not installed the pop door yet, but when they're in there I'll be checking on them every day, multiple times a day, so that could be done slower time too, but I reckon we'll finish that off this weekend while they're still eggs anyhow!

I read that chickens will start laying as early as 16 weeks old so you have plenty of time
I also read that it also depends on the breed. Some may start laying later/sooner than others.

And I haven't installed a bigger window yet, but it's summer time so the default little one the shed comes with isn't so bad this time of year.

I have a window installed in my coop where you can crank this lever to open it, it really comes in handy ESPECIALLY when a hen decides to go broody all of a sudden, conveniently when it's super hot, and she is "cooped up" (no pun intended) in the nesting box 24/7. It also provides ventilation which is perfect for when you are cleaning out that musty dusty coop.

Somehow didn't feel comfortable working in a chicken run, basically a steel cage, in an overhead thunder storm!!

I know right! My run has a steel roof as well and it is really loud when it rains. Somehow the chickens aren't phased by the noise

Mind you, I wanted to get the eggs when we did, so that the chickens would be grown enough to leave for a few days when we go away for our summer holiday

Great thinking!! When I go on a vacation I have family take care of them. They only have to come to my house every so often, and when they do they make sure to fill up the water and food all the way so that they don't have to keep coming back to replenish it.

 

[Moon Daizy]

I read that chickens will start laying as early as 16 weeks old so you have plenty of time
I also read that it also depends on the breed. Some may start laying later/sooner than others.

I have read that, too. I can’t remember what age our three breeds typically reach POL, I will look it up once they’re here safely! It’s hatch day tomorrow!! Well, day 21… I guess I’m looking at it as hatch weekend this weekend!! (Will see when they decide to pip, zip and pop!!)

We managed to tick quite a lot off the list last weekend, so I’m feeling more confident we’re going to be ready for these chicks moving into the coop in a few weeks time!

I have a window installed in my coop where you can crank this lever to open it, it really comes in handy ESPECIALLY when a hen decides to go broody all of a sudden, conveniently when it's super hot, and she is "cooped up" (no pun intended) in the nesting box 24/7. It also provides ventilation which is perfect for when you are cleaning out that musty dusty coop.

That sounds amazing our coop is a little tricky to work with as it’s a plastic shed. Hoping the trickiness pays back dividends with easier clean up and less mites!

I know right! My run has a steel roof as well and it is really loud when it rains. Somehow the chickens aren't phased by the noise

Haha, they get used to it I guess! I love the sound of rain!

Great thinking!! When I go on a vacation I have family take care of them. They only have to come to my house every so often, and when they do they make sure to fill up the water and food all the way so that they don't have to keep coming back to replenish it.

Yep, same here. My mum n dad are just up the road, they already come to check the house, pick up the post etc, honestly I think they do it everyday! (Gives em something to do I guess?) so they will also collect any eggs (obviously no eggs this summer, but another time!) and check on the chicks. They also have our dog and parrot for us so they are so helpful

 

[talkinboutchickens]

It’s hatch day tomorrow!! Well, day 21… I guess I’m looking at it as hatch weekend this weekend!! (Will see when they decide to pip, zip and pop!!)

I'm so excited for you!!!!!!!!!!

Hoping the trickiness pays back dividends with easier clean up and less mites!

Have you dealt with mites before? They sound really gross Whenever I see some little bugs my body itches all over.

I love the sound of rain!

Same here!

They also have our dog and parrot for us so they are so helpful

Ooh you have a parrot? That's really cool. What type of dog do you have? I have a german shorthaired pointer and a mastiff, and I also have a kitty, 2 fish (who are both 9-10 years old) and of course chickens.


I'm finally going to have my hatch-along on Friday-Saturday!!! I think I'm setting 20. I'm so excited to get started, every day feels longer just waiting until I get enough eggs to start.