2014 breeding season begins, post your results

[DylansMom]

@DylansMom , how's little Forest doing?

-Kathy

Here are some pics of Forest, 2 weeks old yesterday. Eating very well, but not growing as quickly as his hatchmates are.










Little guy/gal definitely has some quirks. I see him/her peck at the air usually above and to the left of his head, and does it repetitively like it thinks there is something there.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: He sure is cute! Do you think maybe he suffered some brain damage from lack of oxygen or something? There is something similar in foals:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/26863/dummy-foal-syndrome-equine-neonatal-maladjustment-syndrome

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

The PA four are four weeks old today!

-Kathy

 

[DylansMom]

He sure is cute! Do you think maybe he suffered some brain damage from lack of oxygen or something? There is something similar in foals:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/26863/dummy-foal-syndrome-equine-neonatal-maladjustment-syndrome

-Kathy

I think that is exactly what happened. He/she never made the internal pip because the beak was stuck between the legs, and when I opened the egg the blood vessels in the membrane were almost completely dried up, I think suffocation was probably moments away. Puts me in mind of Downs syndrome( although that is chromosomal not oxygen depr.), but if it doesn't interfere with survival skills we can deal with quirks. I worked in the MH/MR field for 20 years, so I am used to dealing with individuals with challenges. I'm just hoping that there are not hidden physical problems because they often occur hand in hand with brain damage.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: Will you be keeping him as a pet or will you try to place him as a special needs pea? I think you should keep him, 'cause that's what I would do!

-Kathy

 

[DylansMom]

The PA four are four weeks old today!

-Kathy

I saw your post guessing the sexes. They look fantastic. Based on nothing but weight your guesses look good, but my first hatch is now 5 weeks old and the biggest one I am quite sure is a hen. She has been the biggest since hatch, a real bruiser, and the wing feathers keep getting less and less barring on them. She is IB split white or split pied, a spalding hatched with her and I think it may be a male but she dwarfs him.

 

[DylansMom]

Will you be keeping him as a pet or will you try to place him as a special needs pea? I think you should keep him, 'cause that's what I would do!

-Kathy

I will keep him unless an absolutely perfect home presents itself. If the others end up bullying him too much it could get tough, because we are at capacity already. So far he is not a target, but they are still really young.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: I've had some huge hen chicks as well, but with the BS chick my main reason for guessing male is the behavior. How soon are you able to sex BS based on color, 'cause I haven't a clue, lol.

-Kathy

 

[DylansMom]

I've had some huge hen chicks as well, but with the BS chick my main reason for guessing male is the behavior. How soon are you able to sex BS based on color, 'cause I haven't a clue, lol.

-Kathy

You really need to have more than one for comparison, if you want to know early. I usually have 3 or 4 and it is easy to spot the difference as the males begin to darken and the hens stay light. With only 1 it is going to take longer. Probably at least 8 -10 weeks old, you will start to see black spots on the neck area and on males these will look blue/green when the sun hits them.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: I was afraid you were gonna say that, lol. For now I say male and have named him Mork.

-Kathy