Recent content by SB907

  1. SB907

    How much care for crossbeak hens?

    Dealing with a crossbeak chick right now and having the same conundrum, especially since I won't even be able to keep it if it's a roo...I have tried all the hand-feeding techniques and they have been stressful for the chick, it's mama, and me, but what does seem to be working is private feeding...
  2. SB907

    Cross beak, help

    Yeah we've definitely got a Picasso-face going on over here! I haven't trimmed yet as he wears the top down pretty well pecking at the ground, but I am guessing as he grows we'll need to start doing that too. I plan to use a Dremel, I use that for dog nails and I would be too worried about...
  3. SB907

    Cross beak, help

    I have a silkie chick with a very similar level of crossbeak and have tried a number of different feeding options since he can't pick up food off the ground (torpedos, wet mash, syringe feeding, pellets, tube feeding) and all have been frustrating for me and him. The other day, while trying to...
  4. SB907

    Are Opossums Misunderstood?

    My yard is an opossum highway. I have caught them in the coop, they have walked through my flock in broad daylight, and for the most part, they have coexisted peacefully for the past 4 years. A couple months ago, I lost several of my silkies (one a week, three consecutive weeks) to a mystery...
  5. SB907

    16th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

    4 beautiful call duck babies hatched between 5pm Saturday and 10am Sunday! The BEST Easter present, I am so in love! I was dealing with a dog emergency so only got to see one in person, but I am making up for it and getting lots of quality time with these little quackers now!
  6. SB907

    16th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

    5 of 6 call duck eggs made it to lockdown - all are very active at this point but no pips yet. Hopefully won't have to assist but I am keeping a very close eye on them.
  7. SB907

    16th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

    sourced from a local breeder here in SoCal.
  8. SB907

    Call Ducks

    Call ducks often need assistance hatching due to their short bills (unable to position properly to pip/zip). Lots of threads and youtube videos on this topic: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/assisting-call-duck-hatches.76507/ I also regularly open the incubator really quickly to get...
  9. SB907

    16th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

    Set 6 call duck eggs last night and setting some silkie eggs next weekend, hoping for a bunch of little floofs on Easter morning!
  10. SB907

    How Long Do Bantam Eggs Take to Hatch For You?

    Bantam silkies and polish here: the majority of my chicks pip externally on day 20. There are usually 1 or 2 early ones that pip on day 19. 90% of the hatching activity is on day 20, and the stragglers continue into the early hours on day 21. Interestingly, this time around, I had three...
  11. SB907

    Hatching Eggs of Different Breeds at Same Time

    I have hatched silkies 4 times in my NR360 and they have always hatched towards the end of day 20 or early day 21. The last time I hatched half bantams and half standard, and they all hatched the same day, so I just do the normal day 18 lockdown. I wouldn't worry - if they do start hatching...
  12. SB907

    4 Satin Cockerels - SoCal

    15 weeks old, so far all are very respectful of humans and take good care of their girls. Two handsome multicolored laced boys, one white, and one paint. I can deliver within California!
  13. SB907

    Topic of the Week - Broody vs Incubator

    I picked up 12 eggs a few weeks ago and gave 3 to my broody silkie and put the other 9 in an incubator. Broody has sat religiously for the full three weeks and has tended to the eggs constantly, and at a week all three of the broody eggs were developing, but by 14 days it looked like all three...
  14. SB907

    How did you prepare yourself (mentally) for first time butchering?

    For me, I was also nervous about processing some (admittedly obnoxious) silkie roosters I had intentionally hatched and raised but knew I couldn't keep once they started crowing. A friend of mine ranches locally, and practices sustainable and humane ranching, and I know she has processed...
  15. SB907

    Moving Chicks to Open Air Coop - Bedtime Related Questions

    I am fortunate that I’m in a busy downtown neighborhood and I have 3 large dogs and an enclosed lot, so not many predators are brave enough. I do have the occasional raccoon, stray cat, hawk, and lots of opossums, but they seem to be more interested in the chicken food than the chickens as food...
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