Arizona Chickens

[LadyKotaDoria]

I think it is a wonderful idea BYC Hiking Club. I used to hike a lot when I was younger and had my Great Danes.

This morning when I was checking my girls I notice that Whinny has a soft and squishy belly, I am worried something is wrong. Powder had something stuck in her mouth, I pulled it out, it was something dead, no idea what it was, she is still very heavy, no fat. She seems to need to rest a lot. The rest of the girls look good. Two seem to have all their feathers now...... maybe eggs sone?

 

[City farm]

I think it is a wonderful idea BYC Hiking Club. I used to hike a lot when I was younger and had my Great Danes.

This morning when I was checking my girls I notice that Whinny has a soft and squishy belly, I am worried something is wrong. Powder had something stuck in her mouth, I pulled it out, it was something dead, no idea what it was, she is still very heavy, no fat. She seems to need to rest a lot. The rest of the

look good. Two seem to have all their feathers now...... maybe eggs sone?

Hope your girls are ok..

 

[maryhysong]

I honestly can't think of anyone with SQ buff orps. Orps, yes, but not buff. Might ask DeWitt (DeWitt Stables)...his grandkids are always going through different breeds. Best orps would be James Smith in Central, but to my knowledge he only has blacks and whites.

Or check in Poultry Press for ads and order some from elsewhere. I'm not into orpingtons, so I really can't say which lines are the best.

Thank you for the suggestions. I've been drooling over the imported English buffs, but they are soooo far out of my price range at the moment! And frustrating to not be able to find anyone with decent birds here.

 

[maryhysong]

I need some thoughts.

I gave some of my fermented feed to a person I know, he was not in the office so I gave the Gallon jug. to his wife. I told her it needs to breath and be feed or the starter could die. Apparently he was not happy with the results. His girls almost stop laying, they acted wonky, and the eggs they gave tasted bad. Now my sister told me I had to stop giving it to my girls, that is why they have not started laying. I told her what I told his wife, I wonder if the fermentation died. If that was so it may not be good to give it to chickens. My girls haven't started laying because they have been molting baby feathers and they are only 20 & 21 weeks old. Chickens will start laying at 16 weeks to 29 weeks by breed. The early layers are production birds, I do not have any of that breeds. Most will lay between 20 and 29 weeks. I'm not worried. Also the one that is laying, her eggs are outstanding.

Could it be the F Feed had died?

It is possible that the fermentation went over to a bad form of bacteria. I have been feeding FF since like Aug and have no problems at all. In fact, my EE are laying at 5 months and some crossbreed girls (barred hens with buff orpington roo) began laying at 16 weeks. My older girls lay big eggs and they are delicious. I start my chicks on it from day 1 and no pasty butts.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Actually, there's been several studies pointing to evidence that silica is necessary for the body for proper bone development, as well as more "beauty" related items like hair and fingernails. I came across it a few years ago when I was researching some about osteoporosis. The basis was that silicon is primarily ingested in the younger years through dietary intake. The most common method was for younger males by drinking beer. The article I was reading pointed to the philosophy that that is the reason you see far fewer bald or thin-haired men in countries like Ireland and Germany. I haven't been to either country, so I can't verify that, but it does make sense from the stereotypical standpoint. This was probably five years ago and I have no idea if that information is still accurate or if anything more has been done, though, so take it with a grain of salt...

Now, as to the other claims, I have no idea either way. I agree, though, there is a lot of snake oil out there. And being carbon-based life forms, we still require large amounts of iron, zinc, potassium, sodium, etc. It's hard to tell these days, but especially here in America, we appear to be severely malnourished overall.

Just my two cents worth: I have done my own test on myself using the DE - My doctor wanted me to lose weight or was going to put me on blood pressure meds.
I began using food grade DE sprinkling some on my oatmeal at breakfast daily. Didn't taste great but I used it for several weeks. What I noticed changed for me was that
I felt more "present" not sure how to further explain that. Had more energy and clarity. Objectively, on taking my blood pressure daily, it was noted to decrease to within normal
limits for me. I then came off of DE for two weeks now. Am feeling sluggish, and the BP is climbing back up. My family thought I was a little wacky for ingesting something that I was feeding the chickens and putting in their bedding. All I know is that I will be starting up again in the morning....

 

[AZKat]

While I don't think that DE will cure Ebola, when I had bugs in my treat can I mixed some DE in and in a couple of days all the bugs were dead. Since then I've added some to my feed and my scratch and haven't had a problem with bugs. I also put a little bit in the coop and run, especially in summer, and it helps to keep things from getting stinky, although on the poop board I use Stall Dry.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

I hope Whinny is alright. This is the best of the pictures of her belly area. On each side she is missing feathers, not pulled out but looked cut. I compared to Clare and she is not like that. I do not know what I am looking at when I examined her vent area.

She is about 2 years old. Spending extra time nesting. Belly hot and two bare spots on each side. No idea what I am looking at when looking at vent. She was laying when I got her The Eyes of March, has not laid since.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

I hope Whinny is alright. This is the best of the pictures of her belly area. On each side she is missing feathers, not pulled out but looked cut. I compared to Clare and she is not like that. I do not know what I am looking at when I examined her vent area.

She is about 2 years old. Spending extra time nesting. Belly hot and two bare spots on each side. No idea what I am looking at when looking at vent. She was laying when I got her The Eyes of March, has not laid since.

Sounds like she could be broody?

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

My BBS splash boy went to a new home with some Blue Orp gals waiting for him. My 2 Marans boys will be living in Apache Junction with jeepgirl13 beginning tomorrow.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Ok... Broody. I was wondering about that. Any suggestions to make her happy? I seem to remember reading that when a hen goes broody, unless they can satisfy the need there is no way to know how long they will stay broody? I do not want to destroy good Fertilized eggs, and I really do not want at this time expand my flock. I need to correct the time, she has not laid sense mid February. ( I am really bad at time.) Do the bellies seem to get hot when broody? I'm not surprised, life is such a wonder. What do they do? Chow off feathers for a pocket for eggs to keep warm?

My Avatar is Whinny, my Possable broody hem.