Raising chickens from chicks to half grown

[dlgoff]

I decided to see if Big Boy the rooster is doing his job. So I've temporally turned my daughter's old room into a chicken lab.

Update:

I set 19 eggs in the incubator on Feb 14.

Candled Feb 21 and all looked viable (for these dark eggs you need to wait longer).

I did the second candle two days early Feb 26) due to a developing smell.
Removed 3 undeveloped eggs and 1 with dead embryo (crack in shell hence the smell)

Today March 6: so far 5 of remaining 15 show beginning breakout (one since starting this post).

 

[jim hardy]

I came here looking for why the chickens cross the road .

To show armadillos it CAN be done..

 

[Evo]

Today March 6: so far 5 of remaining 15 show beginning breakout (one since starting this post).

Awww.

 

[dlgoff]

You sure you don't have a prankster in the neighborhood? That is more like the size of an emu egg, not a chicken! And it doesn't appear to have any rings on it to show that it was difficult for her to lay.

Look into records and get that thing weighed!

You should take bets on how many yolks it contains. :)

Heck. That's a normal one yolk egg for Roger. She laid one that measured >18cm around the major axis.

 

[dlgoff]

Rogers first born

Rogers First Born

 

[Evo]

OMG, she/he looks so silky! Roger is a mother, does that make me a grandmother?

 

[dlgoff]

OMG, she/he looks so silky! Roger is a mother, does that make me a grandmother?

Congratulations grandmother Roger. Now you have 3 more grandchicks.

 

[lisab]

Congrats! How are they doing?

 

[dlgoff]

Congrats! How are they doing?

So far so good. There are 3 more breaking out right now. :)

 

[Evo]

Congratulations grandmother Roger. Now you have 3 more grandchicks.

:!)

 

[Ms Music]

How much fun! New borns are so cute!

So is the giganto egg in the incubator?

 

[dlgoff]

So is the giganto egg in the incubator?

Nope. It's in my belly.

 

[dlgoff]

Looks like 8 is the final number. Here they are resting.

 

[Evo]

Awww, look at the little silky balls of fluff! Will Roger accept them and train them?

 

[dlgoff]

Will Roger accept them and train them?

I doubt it with the rooster around. I'll wait until they are big enough to fend for themselves before integrating.

 

[Evo]

I doubt it with the rooster around. I'll wait until they are big enough to fend for themselves before integrating.

So, you are officially the mother hen.

 

[dlgoff]

So, you are officially the mother hen.

I am. Just last night I showed them where the water was be getting a drop on my finger and touching their (the two oldest) bills. Then they all came running up to see my finger going into the water dish. This morning; dish 1/2 full. Oh. And I know chicken talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_6Ipe4RsUQ

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Just make sure they don't peck you to death. Baby chicks can be brutal.

 

[dlgoff]

Just make sure they don't peck you to death. Baby chicks can be brutal.

For sure. Especially when they grow up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDN0jJB_KP4

 

[dlgoff]

I couldn't resist buying these little guys last week. Cuter than chickens.

 

[Evo]

What kind of ducks?

 

[dlgoff]

I bought them at Tractor Supply Co and asked but they didn't know.

 

[Evo]

What "come hither" eyes. :!)

 

[edward]

If you want to see a wild game of "keep away" toss a grape in with a bunch of chickens. They love watermelon too, preferably sliced not tossed.

 

[OmCheeto]

What kind of ducks?

Those be Mallard ducklin's. My mammy used to buy 'em.

 

[Astronuc]

At my brother's place. I think there are a couple of ducks in the coop as well.

They also have 18 sheep and two llamas.

 

[dlgoff]

At my brother's place. I think there are a couple of ducks in the coop as well.

They also have 18 sheep and two llamas.

Nice. They must have more than 5 acres. :)

 

[dlgoff]

One duck for the possum, one duck for the owl, and this one for me.

 

[lisab]

I heard a description of chickens that made me think of you, Don: Pets with benefits .

 

[dlgoff]

I heard a description of chickens that made me think of you, Don: Pets with benefits .

Since this photo of Duck/Buddy; yea. He follows me like a dog and if I get out of his sight for a minute, he cries like a baby. Damn thing wants to come in the house with me. So far he only nibbles on me when I not moving and working on something outside. Must be his way of showing affection?