AL - Recording baby steps: Newest Addition

[Denim Deb]

Good to know, DD... I'm curious to know how it would work with chicks.

As for my chicks.... made it through one cold night, 2 more colder ones to go. They sleep in a very loose pile, together but not on top of one another. I am going to work on warming things up for tonight.

If the farrier ever gets here there are several things I need to do. He was supposed to be here by 930... 15 minutes ago.

11 - appt
afterwards - buy scratch and oyster shell, feed for the vacuums.. er... chicks and also some straw.
Have to put straw in the chickenhouse (after I scoop it out) and on my squash plants. Put something to block potential drafts on the walls of both the chickenhouse and the meatie shelter.

Put some more hay out of storage and in the feed stall so it is handy.

Tomorrow my nephew has baseball games and I really want / need to go. I also really want to work on making butter and doing something with my pumpkins!

I had 2 chicks in my kitchen w/this set up until they got old enough to go outside. I kept checking the temp to make sure it was warm enough for them.

 

[AL]

Well, the planting guides for NW Florida were right on the money with our first frost date - Nov 6. Boo.
I think the frost got 3 of my squash plants, the others should, hopefully, be ok.

The meats made it through ok. I dumped a new bunch of deep litter in for them, hung one red light really low and actually clamped the other on top of the hardware cloth. A trip to the bathroom at 130am equaled a jacket, shoes and flashlight so I could also go outside and check on chickens. . Another trip at 630 found them in a pile, but they jumped up and charged the feeder when I refilled it.

Tonight is supposed to be a little colder, so if there are any tips on keeping them alive through it, I am open to suggestions. I have 2 lamps with red lights, litter, towels over the hardware cloth except near the lights.

Headed to my older nephew's baseball game and then may come try my hand at scooping pumpkin guts.

 

[AL]

Sometime this afternoon I lost another meatie chick. They were all fine when I left for my nephew's baseball game. I freshened their food, water and litter and made sure both lights were on.

So I am now down 4 from 25, with 2 weeks to go before processing thoughts even come up. *sigh*
Note to self: If I ever do this again, springtime.

 

[ksalvagno]

The meat chickens do seem to die for no good reason. I'm sure it is nothing you are doing wrong. Probably just a heart that couldn't keep up with the growth.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

yep. what K said.. honestly its so frustrating. we lost one earlier this week - no reason at all.

remember they are given to random heart failure (so i hear) if their combs start going pale or blue be on the lookout.

great work checking them in the nite! ha! i was up at 5am and checked the poults and the light was off again! geez.... but i tried re-hanging the light and got them warmed up.

you're doing a great job, AL, just keep on keepin' on

 

[AL]

Thanks... very discouraging.

So let me ask you this - They turned 2 weeks old this past Wednesday. They are not fully feathered, but they have been fine out in their shelter with 2 lights (until today). I leave the big tray feeder and 2 smaller feeders all night. Should I start taking up their feed some? The 12 on 12 off?

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

yep! i think 2 weeks is the ticket. we feed when we shut everyone in for the night but not more than they'll eat in a 5 minute feeding frenzy.

dont forget WifeZ's reminder to add ACV to their water if they start looking weird. well. weirder than normal.

 

[lorihadams]

yep....take up their food at night and give them some unfiltered ACV...look for Braggs

I have lost 5 out of 62...don't worry about it, next time just order 5 more than you'll think you'll need. some of them will die.....they're not bred for longevity, ya know...

 

[AL]

I actually looked at some ACV when I was at the store Thursday. I didn't recognize anything on the label so I didn't buy it... but "unfiltered" does ring a bell. I'll look again.

And I'll head out now to take up the food. Feel bad since it is cold out (this is why I didn't want meaties )

 

[lorihadams]

Trust me, doing this in cooler weather is FAR better than doing it in hot weather....they drop like flies in the heat, their hearts just can't take it.

Try giving them some chopped up boiled or scrambled eggs once a day with the shells crushed fine to up their protein/calcium a bit, that might help with the feather growth.