Chicks are growing up

[Admin]

Well the girls are getting bigger and getting some pretty silly antics to them. As soon as my greenhouse is finished I'll get that coop built. I've got all the ground area grubbed out and prepped and the building material stacked in the barn. That should be a fun project and will look good in the yard I think.

[muskrat24]

Wow they are growing up aren't they. Congrats on your egg laying endevour. ;D

[patricimo54]

They do grow fast. Looking forward to your pics. of your greenhouse and coop.

[trapperandhunter]

there growing quick !

[flyguy]

Nice ;D

[trapperbud]

Nice looking birds JC . ;D

[Admin]

I'm really enjoying having the birds. Thanks again to all of you that fed me info on preoperly raising them.
As soon as I drop that big pine I'll start the coop project.

[muskrat24]

Get yourself an incubator and not only will these chickens be providing you with eggs but you won't have to buy chicken meat again. You can also sell chicks and the manure will benefit your garden. ;D

[patricimo54]

Our youngest duck hen has been sitting on eggs for weeks and has finally hatched her first two ducklings. I wished I would have remembered to bring home the camera from work. The little ducks are our favorites. We have another 15 duck eggs in the incubator.

Ever since TBud has got me into incubating quail eggs there is no turning back for me. I am thinking about getting a second incubator.

[fishleclair]

This is pretty cool, I wish I lived in the Country, I would have all sorts of freezer meat roaming my property!

[Admin]

May 4, 2012 23:37:48 GMT -5 patricimo54 said:

Ever since TBud has got me into incubating quail eggs there is no turning back for me.

I know what you're saying Pat. You guys been teasing me with all these hatchings and really got my interest in this. I'll be ordering some quail eggs from tbud one of these days as well. I bet those quial breast are great saute'd in butter & garlic with a little wine & spice.

I don't doubt that eventually we'll have several more chickens and a good egg production going. Shouldn't be any trouble selling the eggs in our show booth along with our other natural products. Then Our chicken endeavor becomes an absolute writeoff. Man I just love this s**t.

[Admin]

I know that folks give their laying hens some light through the night, but is it necessary to keep a light on in the coop for my pullets? The shed furnace kicks on if it gets too cold in there so they have been off the heat lamp for a couple weeks now and doing great. Just wasn't sure if it is best to illuminate the coop at all through the night or what is best.

Thanks

[patricimo54]

I am thinking that they should be fine without the light.

[muskrat24]

If its not heat related the only other real reasons why you would want a light is for an egg laying cycle or you are putting weight on birds. Back when I raised broilers for the county fair the first year I raised them there wasn't a light at night. And my birds were small compared to everyone elses. Mine barely made weight while others were about maxing out on the weight limit.

Of course that was also do to they gave smaller quarters for the birds but after that year I started keeping a light on them all night and they grew faster and were bigger by the time the fair came around.

[Admin]

I was thinking along the same line there Luke because when I had them under the heat lamp, they ate food during the night. With no light on, from what I can tell they just roost all night. So I can see why they'd put on more weight with a night light.