Spring is coming. Today we delivered the Garden planner and seed to DD and GD. GD was delighted at her binder with a simplified plan, companion planting guide, square foot planting sheet, and when it is safe to plant sheet. After going through DD’s old seed and combining some seed packages, we took a walk out to their 3 boxes from last year to discuss the best arrangement for the new 3 boxes they plan to add. It is a glorious, sunny, mild day, a delight to be outside.
Yesterday morning, as I was adding water to my hydroponic herb garden and trimming some of the herbs, I took a picture of it for Son2 and his family that gave it to me for Christmas. I am thoroughly enjoying the fresh herbs in cooking and salads and drying dill and mint as I can’t keep up with them.
As I worked with it, it occurred to me that a large version of it would be the perfect seed starter for the tomatoes and peppers for the garden and could be used to grow lettuce and spinach in winter and when it is too hot outdoors in the summer. DH suggested I put it on my wish list and he could get it for me for next Christmas.
As I was preparing to lock up the hens last night, one of the Welsummers is almost always the last to go in the coop. She stood there looking up the ramp and as usual, I was amused by the pantaloons that breed wears.
After thinking that I had turned the corner on chick loss as they all seemed healthy and active yesterday, I found the second Maran this morning, so there will be no chocolate brown eggs. In talking with DH about it, I told him, I could have ordered directly from the hatchery if I wanted a dozen of the same breed, but since everything I have ordered in the past few months has been delayed by the USPS for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks beyond the original tracking delivery date, I feared that chicks would meet the same fate and not survive the trip. That is why I purchased from Rural King, but 9 out of 19 dying is not good. I don’t know whether to go back with my receipts and see if they will replace at least a few of the 5 they haven’t already replaced or accept that I have what I have and just keep some or all of the older hens too. I am hoping that the nights will soon stop dropping into the 20’s and start seeing more feathers on the chicks so they can be moved to the garage. I really don’t like having them in the house, even in the basement.
I need to get a new bale of straw and do a coop cleaning. In about 6 weeks, I will have to thoroughly clean and sanitize it before I can move the chicks to it. Either they or the older hens will have to use an old style feeder bucket until the two flocks can be on the same feed and in the same coop. I really like the 5 gallon feeder I made with the pvc elbows, but I think the chicks wouldn’t be able to reach the feed in it and they need to stay on starter/grower until they are at least 16 weeks old.
You’re right in that’s a miserable survival rate for baby chicks….I would go back with the receipts. Generally, assuming you have the temperature right, and they’ve been vaccinated – you might lose one, maybe two. But nine? That’s crazy. Not sure if you do this – we always dip the chicks beaks in the water as soon as we get them, and set them near the food after. Sometimes baby chicks aren’t the brightest little things.
Val, that is my routine with new chicks. Dip beak in water, set them down beside the food. My big plastic box has a heat lamp hanging at one end and a Mama Hen heat table at the other. Early on they stay near the heat lamp moving on to eat and drink, and as they start staying away from that much heat, I raise it, then remove it and they use the heat table to get under, stand on, and try to use as a launch pad to try to escape. I fear they were in transit too long in cold weather. I hope I don’t lose anymore. I was aiming to 10-12, have 10, but one looks smaller than the others and is standing away from them this morning, so I fear I will lose her too. A new batch should arrive this morning but I am hesitant to add ones that are a week younger.
Sounds to me you’re doing everything right – so yes, transit time is likely the culprit. I think you’re owed a refund, or maybe a credit for next year. 🙂
Batch 3 addition must have been the charm. They shipped a week later than the others, the weather more stable. I did lose 1 but I expect that. There are 14-15 fast moving and noisy bodies in the brooder, a nice mix of egg colors to be. The oldest are now 3+ weeks, the younger 2+ weeks. Starting to see feathers and longer legs. Had to cover the brooder to prevent escape.