Poultry
Sick chicks
Wednesday 23 March, 2011
Another two sick chicks this morning. I've made a sick bay with another heat lamp, so that they are safe from being trampled by their littermates. No sign of scoots, just lethargic. Nurse Rebecca was unable to save the sick chick last night, despite her best efforts. I'll try and get them to drink later.
Still bl88dy cross. It was the bulb that blew in the lamp, so at least the lamp's fine.
Light out
Tuesday 22 March, 2011
Damn, when I went out this morning I discovered that the heat lamp in the Black Rocks had failed. I don't know if it's the bulb or the lamp - only bought it last week. I set up another lamp but when I went in this afternoon, two chicks were obviously on the way out. I dispatched the worst one and Rebecca (Florence Nightingale reincarnated) has taken the other away to nurse it. It's good of her because it will almost certainly die.
The rest seem fine; I suspect it's just weeded out the weakest chicks, although both were a good size. I'm bl88dy cross, I'll tell you.
New hen house
Saturday 19 March, 2011
We bought a new henhouse recently. We intend to run three 40 bird flocks - hence the Black Rocks day olds. I approached a local business that makes sheds and the like and they were keen to build the henhouse.
Dave and Murray came down and sketched the existing house, took measurements and built the new one. They delivered it a couple of weeks ago and it's very good. The best bit is that it's high enough for me to stand upright in, which makes cleaning easier and improves ventilation. There were a couple of things not quite right but we've discussed them and they're coming to make the modifications on Monday.
Black Rocks 2
Saturday 19 March, 2011
The little Black Rocks are thriving. They are now a week old. Yesterday, I put in a tray of spent compost and a divot for them to scratch about it - despite initial fright at this scary intrusion to the box, within five minutes, a few were pecking at the grass and by this morning, much of the compost was out of the tray and on the floor.
Today, I gave them a pile of leaf mould to play in. As I was watching them, two fell asleep - literally. They were standing under the lamp, and I could see their eyes closing, their heads drooping then they fell asleep, bump.
Black Rocks
Monday 14 March, 2011
I picked up our 40 (or thereabouts - they don't stand to be counted) Black Rock chicks today. What busy little creatures they are - I'd forgotten how cute they are. Like pom-pom pets. I'm a wee bit anxious about them - for no specific reason, except that we've used the equipment before. They seemed fine when I looked in last thing.
The lame hen seems much better - I thought she was a goner on Saturday. Ate nothing Friday, she had terrible squits and the foot on her bad leg was all curled up again. Dan was getting out the gun. Anyway, Sunday (yesterday), she ate her breakfast and seems much better. When we move the flock to the new house, I'll put her back in and hopefully they won't notice her.
To the barn, Hubbards
Sunday 6 March, 2011
The Hubbards, at a day short of three weeks old, have moved to the barn with their external run. They still have the heat lamp but I'll be trying to get them off that in daytime, if the weather's not too cold. None of them actually went outside to day - well, one took one step out and went swiftly back in.
I'll put their feed outside tomorrow so that they start stretching their legs. They're feathering up nicely now and growing well. I had to change their drinker for a larger one today, as the wee one was empty this morning. Soon, I'll be changing their feeder too.
Hubbards and dirty feet
Sunday 27 February, 2011
Our Hubbards are now two weeks old, having hatched on St Valentine's Day, and are growing fast. They do poop a lot and, despite changing their paper twice a day, some of them were starting to get balls of poop stuck to their feet. This is uncomfortable for them but really difficult to remove without damaging their feet.
I think I've solved the problem but putting in a tray of old compost. Not only does this give them something with which to display natural behaviour, it also seems of get rid of the feet problem. All of them now have nice clean feet!
More Hubbards
Sunday 20 February, 2011
I picked up another 12 Hubbards day-olds on Thursday. Well, four-day olds to be entirely accurate. They are doing fine in the batchelor pad in the loosebox - so looking forward to fresh chicken in twelve weeks or so.
New birds
Friday 4 February, 2011
I've just ordered 40 day-old Black Rocks as the first stage of my egg production expansion. I should get them next week or in three weeks. I have some Black Rocks already and they are a great hen for outdoors - very hardy and healthy, and prolific layers.
I like to raise my own pullets if I can - then I know how they have been reared and they get used to the bugs on this farm.
John's adapted the oversized hay box as a brooder - it's not quite finished yet but will be this weekend. I hope it works! I also have to go see the local "shed man" to see if he can build me a new hen house. The one I have from "Gardencraft" is very good but I'd rather source it locally if I can.
Hector says it's spring
Monday 24 January, 2011
Hector's sap is rising - he's chasing hens and treading like mad if he can catch one. He obviously thinks it's spring.
Good to see though, since I thought I'd lost him last year.
