AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[ohiofarmgirl]

ours were inside for a couple weeks and wow they got stinky... but then we moved them out to the turkey house. we have had COLD night temps and had to put two lamps in at nite for them but during the day they are just fine.

you can see their set up here:
http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.com/2010/10/creepy-meat-bucket-of-laughs.html


GREAT pix by the way! i think i love agnes.

 

[AL]

Well. They're here.
At 645 this morning the post office called. Created a little bit of schedule drama because I had to pick up my 12yr old nephew at 730. The PO is 10 minutes from me, nephew was 5 minutes past that - but I got the chicks, brought them home, tossed them in a tote with food and water, then flew back up to get nephew to school.
When I finally got back home I dunked beaks in water. My mercy!! 25 chicks have wiped out a quart waterer already today! And they are definitely working on the food as well.

I guess I will try to keep them inside at least a week. I will have to get another brooder light tomorrow so I can put half in another tote. I have a big water trough, but it has water in it ... I was going to use the 300gal stock tank and put it in the run, but it won't fit under the shelter. SO.... totebins for a week, then maybe kiddie pool and 2 brooder lights outside? I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

For now.... Franken-chicks day 1:

 

[lorihadams]

Awwww the nuggets are here!

 

[Blackbird]

Yay! Chicken poppers!

 

[TanksHill]

Woo hoo!!!! Very cool!!!

 

[AL]

LOL Y'all are way more excited about this than I am!! I sure hope they get "creepier" because they are kind of cute now.
I am anxious to get home (at work for a few more minutes) and see how they all made out. I am going to have to get some more waterers since they went through that quart so fast.... I hate thinking of soemthing going thirsty.

Looks like we might get some rain first of next week, so I am sure temps will drop more. I don't know what I will do if I have to keep them inside past the point of them fitting into totebins.

 

[AL]

Well... I had my first casualty. :/
Evidently I didn't have enough pebbles in the water and a meatie drowned. I feel awful. Then I had another picking feathers. No, it was more than that - he was attacking himself viciously. I have never seen anything like it. The fuzz just under its right wing seemed to have poo or something stuck in it so I rinsed him off, wrapped it in a towel and put it in my shirt .... pocket.
After he dried and warmed up some, I moved it to the brooder box with the red light. Everytime it would try to peck I would take it out and hold it until it fell asleep. He finally stopped... his wing / underneath isn't so angry red anymore.

I have been amazed at how much they eat and drink (and POOP!!!!). I know i was warned, but it is crazy! I have one of those feeder trays that is about 2ft long and maybe 2 inches deep? They cleaned it out yesterday. They seem to be movign a little slower today... but could be because I have split them up into different totes.


In other news - the trail ride fundraiser for the Horse Assistance Council is tomorrow. Foster coordinator asked me to come and bring photos of Buddy to try and find him a home since there should be a good turnout of horse people. I am seriously backpeddling on whether I should just keep him.


Meeting lady from work this afternoon (if she remembers lol) to pick up some venison and wild hog. We put away some mullet today.... in the freezer AND for lunch

 

[lorihadams]

See....told ya, dumb as rocks.

We've lost 5 out of 62. Culled one, one had leg issues and couldn't eat, the other 3 were too stupid to lift their heads out from under the others at night and smothered.

Stupid stupid stupid birds......and YES, they poop.....A LOT.

 

[AL]

GAH! Lost another one!!
I should have ordered more than 25 because killing them is easier than I thought. This time it decided the bottom of the pile was ideal, I guess.
I think I am going to start winterizing their outside shelter...since they are dropping like flies anyway. :/

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

in your shirt.. right. HA!

and yes.. see dumb as rocks. and do NOT feel bad. we are down a total of 5 so far mostly to stupid stuff like this.

we had one try to get under the others and was smothered.. but make sure they arent normally sleeping in one big heap. if yes they might be a little cool.

you can also put a little bit of sugar in the water if you think they need a pick-me-up.

they only get goofier.

GREAT WORK!


Lori - love the pooper! ha!