Lauradobbs65
In the Brooder
- Jun 17, 2022
- 8
- 54
- 44
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
My son started his coop with 9 chicks early spring. I was super busy and got a really late start. I picked up my chicks May 25th. I went to a co-op and picked up 2 Plymouth Barred. A month prior I had found a family moving to Michigan and needed to rehome 4 girls, coop and all. She was pretty secretive and I wasn't sure it would even happen. I had kind of given up. I was able to pickup a free coop and various feeder, heat Kamp, heat pad, thermometer all free. After I was in control with my first 2 chicks in hand, I ordered, feed, bedding, vitamins,and we all started for home. I wanted to check out the other co-op so we went fir a ride. I had already spent moths preparing for the arrival, but just wanted to see what else was available. No shock to you, I ended up with 2 easter eggees. The 4 of5 of us headed home and got all settled. To my surprise the first 4 girls and coop came through. Now I added 2 Cookoo Morans, a Plymouth Rock, and an Ameruacauna named yellow girl.
It was a little stressful for them the first day or 2. No eggs. Then the Plymouth laid the biggest egg I have ever seen. It really took me by surprise. It was a huge double yolk (huge yolks)! Next the Mirans began laying. Yellow girl I believe was sick before I got her. Owner said she was broody. She only weighs 3.5 lbs. I put her in isolation. Soaked her,and dried her. After a couple days she really perked up. Back out with the girls. She's never laid an egg. She's back to looking really sick.
I probably need to put Yellow girl peacefully out of misery. Another lady posted she had eggs coming out if her ears and needed 2 Rhode Island Redsgone. After the realization the original hens were old, 3+ years I thought it wise to pick up these girls and put them in the second coop. I arrived to pick them up and she begged me to take 3 1.5 year old girls. OK, if you insist. I put them in a large dog kennel and headed to the co-op to get some cracked corn for yellow girl. While in the store the Reds were busy pooping in the kennel, inside the truck cab. Oh my word the smell when I got back in. We got home and I introduced the girls. The first flick started the pecking order. The Morand would attack the Reds. I placed them safe in the coop.
next someone offered up free 2 Call ducks. My baby, a 29 year old sin, was so excited he drove up and picked them up! They were born beginning of February.
I knew I wanted eggs and meat. Can't bear to harvest part of the family, so when I picked up the very first chicks in May, I ordered 10 Cornish cross babies. They ere to arrive June 3rd via a call from the post office. June 2nd, I was busy pressure canning. The post office delivered the chicks to the front door without ringing the bell. I heard my ring doorbell and figured it was just an Amazon package. Around an hour Katerina I went to see the package. It was the 10 chicks. Oh no! I quickly brought them in, opened the box, one gad passed. The chicks felt so very cold. I got the brooder ready and began nursing them. It was so very sad. Almist every time I checked another had passed. By moring 5 remained. I called and reported the loss, they told me to wait 48 hours. By next afternoon only one chick remained. The company sent another 10. Same thing, yesterday the pist office delivered, not called. I was ready! Swift action, heat, water food. The chicks looked much healthier and began drinking AND eating! They are doing great.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
In total In the last 4 weeks I have 7 hens still, 4 laying hen chicks at 4 weeks, and 11 meat birds. Also Fred and Barney the Call Ducks.
(3) What breeds do you have?
Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Barred, Ameraucana, Cookoo Moran, and Rhode Island Red.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
The variety, the joy of finding eggs, the chickens personalities. The chickens starting to welcome me as their new owners.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Family, canning and food preservation, resin art, cricut design, cooking. We also love the occasional weekend get away in out camping trailer.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
We gave 2 dogs, and a cat. All very sweet. We have 4 children from 37 to 21. Three boys and one house princess. We have 5 grandchildren from 8 to 2. I graduated WSU in 2020 with my Business degree in Marketing at 54 and haven't found work outside the home yet. My time is more valuable at home.
Sad note, yellow girl passed this morning.
My son started his coop with 9 chicks early spring. I was super busy and got a really late start. I picked up my chicks May 25th. I went to a co-op and picked up 2 Plymouth Barred. A month prior I had found a family moving to Michigan and needed to rehome 4 girls, coop and all. She was pretty secretive and I wasn't sure it would even happen. I had kind of given up. I was able to pickup a free coop and various feeder, heat Kamp, heat pad, thermometer all free. After I was in control with my first 2 chicks in hand, I ordered, feed, bedding, vitamins,and we all started for home. I wanted to check out the other co-op so we went fir a ride. I had already spent moths preparing for the arrival, but just wanted to see what else was available. No shock to you, I ended up with 2 easter eggees. The 4 of5 of us headed home and got all settled. To my surprise the first 4 girls and coop came through. Now I added 2 Cookoo Morans, a Plymouth Rock, and an Ameruacauna named yellow girl.
It was a little stressful for them the first day or 2. No eggs. Then the Plymouth laid the biggest egg I have ever seen. It really took me by surprise. It was a huge double yolk (huge yolks)! Next the Mirans began laying. Yellow girl I believe was sick before I got her. Owner said she was broody. She only weighs 3.5 lbs. I put her in isolation. Soaked her,and dried her. After a couple days she really perked up. Back out with the girls. She's never laid an egg. She's back to looking really sick.
I probably need to put Yellow girl peacefully out of misery. Another lady posted she had eggs coming out if her ears and needed 2 Rhode Island Redsgone. After the realization the original hens were old, 3+ years I thought it wise to pick up these girls and put them in the second coop. I arrived to pick them up and she begged me to take 3 1.5 year old girls. OK, if you insist. I put them in a large dog kennel and headed to the co-op to get some cracked corn for yellow girl. While in the store the Reds were busy pooping in the kennel, inside the truck cab. Oh my word the smell when I got back in. We got home and I introduced the girls. The first flick started the pecking order. The Morand would attack the Reds. I placed them safe in the coop.
next someone offered up free 2 Call ducks. My baby, a 29 year old sin, was so excited he drove up and picked them up! They were born beginning of February.
I knew I wanted eggs and meat. Can't bear to harvest part of the family, so when I picked up the very first chicks in May, I ordered 10 Cornish cross babies. They ere to arrive June 3rd via a call from the post office. June 2nd, I was busy pressure canning. The post office delivered the chicks to the front door without ringing the bell. I heard my ring doorbell and figured it was just an Amazon package. Around an hour Katerina I went to see the package. It was the 10 chicks. Oh no! I quickly brought them in, opened the box, one gad passed. The chicks felt so very cold. I got the brooder ready and began nursing them. It was so very sad. Almist every time I checked another had passed. By moring 5 remained. I called and reported the loss, they told me to wait 48 hours. By next afternoon only one chick remained. The company sent another 10. Same thing, yesterday the pist office delivered, not called. I was ready! Swift action, heat, water food. The chicks looked much healthier and began drinking AND eating! They are doing great.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
In total In the last 4 weeks I have 7 hens still, 4 laying hen chicks at 4 weeks, and 11 meat birds. Also Fred and Barney the Call Ducks.
(3) What breeds do you have?
Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Barred, Ameraucana, Cookoo Moran, and Rhode Island Red.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
The variety, the joy of finding eggs, the chickens personalities. The chickens starting to welcome me as their new owners.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Family, canning and food preservation, resin art, cricut design, cooking. We also love the occasional weekend get away in out camping trailer.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
We gave 2 dogs, and a cat. All very sweet. We have 4 children from 37 to 21. Three boys and one house princess. We have 5 grandchildren from 8 to 2. I graduated WSU in 2020 with my Business degree in Marketing at 54 and haven't found work outside the home yet. My time is more valuable at home.
Sad note, yellow girl passed this morning.
I'm sorry for your loss.
but welcome to BYC 
