Recent content by lorelei71221

Thanks, Sneebsey! I bought them from a breeder in California that claimed they were bred from a mix of Greenfire Farms' first and second import lines, which as far as I know are the only pure isbar lines in the U.S. I have heard that the 2nd import keeps popping up some wacky genes, so maybe...

So I bought 3 Isbar chicks—what appeared to be one blue, one black and one splash. However, the “black” appears to have some slight barring going on (first 2 pics) and the “blue” is feathering out with white and black streaky feathers (last 2 pics). Can anyone tell me genetically what is...

Is this little guy/gal an Isbar? I ordered 3 isbar chicks and received a blue, a splash and a black. The black looks like s/he has barring on the wings, as well as a white spot on the head. Shouldn’t they be all black?

Thank you all—good to know!

I have two Cayuga ducks about 5 1/2 months old. They were both supposed to be ladies, but about 6 weeks ago they started mating in their pond, so I assumed the dominant one was a drake. But today, he started quacking! A loud, clear quack just like hers (she has been quacking for months). I...

Thanks for the article. However, I thought egg-binding was an acute condition that would probably have resulted in death by now. I have had an egg-bound hen before, and this is different. She seems generally healthy, just stressed from the rejection and bullying, and I assume the stress is...

I have a small backyard flock of four hens. Originally there were three, but when one went broody I bought some fertilized eggs for her and she successfully hatched and raised a single chick, Sappho. As soon as Sappho grew up, her mom and one other hen started bullying her. They have never...

This is my friend's black australorp, not quite 5 weeks old. S/he walks and acts like a roo, but maybe she's just a really assertive lady? What do you think?

So far so good... All three mamas (four if you count me) seem to be successfully co-parenting, and the chick is enjoying bossing everyone around. Here's a pic of baby girl Sappho:

I will definitely do that next time--thanks!

I will definitely try that--thank you!

Your chicks are adorable! So excited for you!! :)

When she first went broody, I tried to break her for 10 days, but she was so determined I finally gave in and bought her some fertile eggs to hatch.

Thanks, fisherlady. Sad, but I guess it's just one of those things that happens. She had been broody for 31 days, so that definitely wasn't the issue, but good to keep in mind for the future. Hopefully she will be satisfied with her one baby chick!

2 chicks hatched yesterday, right on time! But this morning one was dead--hubby thinks it was smothered. Could a first time mama smother chicks by accident? I'm not home, and super worried about the remaining baby.