So the Cornish Cross (Meaties) are outside enjoying the grass and the sun. We acclimated them to the coop, while still in the garage, last weekend (March 14) and moved them out while the spring temps were in the mid to high 50s (F). Today is probably the last warm day and most of next week will be rain and probably blustery.
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| Cornish Cross in the Hoop Coop Pen (1 month) |
The Rhode Island Red (RIR) chicks arrived on March 20. We had been given a black Cochin by the store that was in critical condtion to see if we could save it. But, it died on Saturday morning. It would not eat or drink. The four RIR layers all seem to be quite healthy, eating and drinking well, along with many mini poops. I just switched out the "cloth" that we use under the brooder warmer so it is all super clean at this point. I use this method because helps them to stay cleaner while they are sleeping and snuggling under the warming plate.
I took a few snaps of the brooder pen layout this morning. For the meaties, I had used a piece of cardboard to keep them confined in the "front" of the pen for the first week. I had the heater set up on a block in the corner and prayed that they did not knock the heater over on themselves during the first week. (It is a safety heater that shuts off if it falls over.) I got to thinking about the small wire panels that I have and so we ziptied them together and clipped them to the opposite edges of the cage to do the exact same thing but, allows the heater to be on the other side, safely away from the chicks for a week or two. These gals will grow a bit slower than the Cornish Cross. For the first couple of weeks, as long as we can keep the ambient temp at about 80F, we are good, along with the use of the brooder warmer.
So this is our new layer flock that will start laying in the fall.
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| RIR at 5 days - Hatched 3-17-2020 |
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| Rhode Island Reds First Week Wings |
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| Chick Pen with Safety Wall |
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| Brooder Warmer in Chick Pen |
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| (: Just a little Peep :) |
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