Is this what molting looks like? One of my female ducks are losing all her neck feathers. None of my other ducks are showing signs of doing so, I checked for mites/fleas/lice and saw nothing concerning, the skin isn't raw... I have no idea what's going on. If it was a wide range problem, you...
So I have 2 drakes and 3 hens, all adults. But I recently got 3 ducklings. They're now about 7 weeks old, fully feathered and quite big and I've had them in a movable run that sits inside the larger run to keep them separated from the older ducks for about 2 weeks, putting them up in the pen at...
NOTE: These are mixes. I'll post what mixes above each picture with the chicks name. The coloring is probably mute for all but the pure BR, as I guess the double barring gene wouldn't pass on. I'm asking as far as comb/waddles and redness. First I'll post my positive males to give a comparison...
So a month ago I was sky high. I had successfully incubated 13 chicken eggs with a 100% hatch rate. First time ever, and I managed to keep every single one of the 13 straight with very careful notes and weekly photos of development. I was looking forward to some more girls, maybe keeping a male...
I did my first hatch of chicks and they were born early Feb with a 100% hatch rate. Then started a 2nd hatch so I can incubate some eggs from my favorite hen, who wasn't laying when I did the first round...
Well, I set 10 eggs, but turns out my favorite hen is pure, and doesn't let my rooster...
gently now... all 3 of these Barred Rocks are indeed male, aren't they? The one on the bottom makes me think maybe girl, because it's slightly darker... but just not dark enough. lol. ::hangs head::
Chicken 1 (Cucco):
Chicken 2 (Zebra):
Chicken 3 (Minda):
All 3 (same pattern top to bottom-...
Hello! So today I finally found someone who was rehoming some of their ducks and managed to grab 2 Hens. I've been trying to collect a few more girls since I didn't have enough Hens to my 2 drakes. Now I finally have 3 and feel comfortable with hatching a few babies, maybe even grabbing a baby...
So everything I understand (limited) about the barring genes said that when the roo is Barred Rock and the hens another breed, the offspring (if they turn out barred) will have the barring coloring of the female Barred Rocks. That it takes 2 barred rock genes to make the male barring coloring...
So, I did my very first hatch. :) 13 eggs into the incubator, and all 13 came out without a hiccup! I'm so proud of my laying hens and their strong eggs. All came from a Barred Rock roo with a mixture of different breeds for moms. Here's my outcome.
Buff Op Hen/Barred Rock Roo mixes (Chicka and...
So I hatched my first babies in the last 3 days and I have a few pure Barred Rock breeds and I know the first few days are the most important for IDing sex. Any guesses?!
Also, does anyone know if Barred Rock mixes (father being the BR) will have the same spot-sexing method?
Here's my full BR...
So, I'm on day 14. I started 13 eggs, I still have 13 eggs. All 13 are growing perfectly and 12 of the 13 were actively moving when I candled them today. I've got my hopes up! But should I? When do most of the egg failers start, right before hatch? Can most of my babies fully develop and die at...
So I got a new hen today (trying to get 2-3 more but she's my first) and the owner doesn't know what she was. My guess is a Khaki Campbell (mix?) but thought I would ask more duck-knowing people. lol. What is your all thoughts? Someone suggested a Mallard or Rouen mix.
So, my rooster is really good with coraling the girls and keeping them safe and together and protected.. but one thing I've noticed is that my hens won't let my rooster mate them easily. He's getting the job done, but only with a lot of chasing, grabbing their back or neck, and climbing on. I...
So I just started my first batch of eggs today! Did all the precautions- started the bator up 2 days before, collected 3 days worth of eggs, stored them in a 50ish F room, tilted them by propping the carton up on each side several times a day, handled the eggs with plastic gloves to prevent my...
So, I'm tired of seeing yellow feathers on some of my birds. Before it was just my Easter Egger who is yellow with a bit of black under-feathering, turning up with some ugly yellow splotching and coloring... now it's my Barred Rock rooster, who's whiter parts are getting a yellow under-tone. Is...
Okay, right now I have a Barred Rock Roo, and he's great. Handles his 8 girls really well.. but I've been thinking about when I incubate eggs for more chicks come spring, and realized that any of his off-spring are more likely to look like low-breed barred rocks, even if it's with one of my EE...
Okay, so for the last few days I've been allowing my ducks and chickens to free-roam. We had almost a week straight of rain and bitter cold and now the sun is shining so I've been letting them go wild. I was fine with the idea of my ducks slopping around and drinking mud water (honestly, I'm...
I honestly hope I never have to get rid of this fellow, he truly is amazing. Great and protective with all 8 of his girls, keeps them all safe and together (except my 1 wayward one, there's no controlling her) and I love the peaceful understanding the two of us got. The only negative is my kids...
I've got 6 of my 7 layers I'd, and only one more chicken is due to start laying! 6 of them have laid TODAY! Usually only 1-2 of them are consistent and I've been averaging 3 eggs a day, but I got a new layer yesterday and another one started today, so it's 6 for me! So egg-cited!
C- Barred...