Recent content by annageckos

Try adding some stuff to break up line of sight. Plywood, logs, lawn deco. Anything, it really doesn't matter what.

Rust coloring on the wing bows is a male trait, though not all males have it. Rust or red coloring on the body doesn't tell gender.

I've never heated or monitored the humidity on my mealies, I've been raising them on and off for years. They may grow slower but it doesn't take long to get a colony going. If you wanted to heat them though you could look into heat tape like is used for reptiles. You'll want a thermostat and...

It isn't hunting season and waterfowl are highly regulated. Call the DNR.

I'm not familiar with the black skin gene, but it is sex linked. That is probably were you read about it. I can't tell you more because I don't know the details.

All the chicks should be blue, they may have leakage and feathered legs.

I think it may be a black sex link cockerel. They are often mixed up with barred rocks.

The chalky coating is the bloom, it protects the egg from bacteria entering the shell. It is normal, some chickens just have more bloom than others.

If you flood the tank with CO2 the animal will freak out. It is not calm and peaceful. When I've put animals down with it I put them into the tank and then very very slowly start to pump in the CO2. Once they pass out I flood the tank(for euthanasia) Also, when you use the vinegar method the air...

I've read about this in buckeyes, with some chicks having a different color down. I don't know what genes are involved. I think one color isn't desirable but it has been a while since I came read about it.

Remember that birds and mammals are very different and what works well on one may be very bad for the other. Also CO2, I do have experience with using it. Not for birds, but with small animals. I started out with the vinegar/baking soda route, I wouldn't recommend it. IF you must use it go with...

A sharpie is commonly used on reptile eggs with no harm, I'd think chicken eggs would be fine too.

While it is possible for a pheasant and chicken to cross that chicken is not a hybrid. It isn't very common and most chicks end up dying before hatch, if they do hatch most don't live long. Your chicken has silkie feathers, that trait is recessive and needs two copies to show. One from the...

The hatchery site says they are a black copper marans/barred rock cross. Midnight majesty marans are black copper marans/cuckoo marans cross.

Blue and lavender are two different genes that both affect black. I've heard it is best not to mix them, I think because they can be hard to tell apart. You can also have blue lavenders. Your birds would need two copies of lavender for it to show, I believe that the cross would be either black...