Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

Telia, she's a bit of a grumble bum too Well I finally had a chance to spend some time with, and take more pics of Beatrice, the Belgian d'uccle I got on Saturday. She's a house chicken atm, to help tame her and help her settle. I ordered some mealworms, which should help win her over too. I think she's something very special, and I LOVE her fluffy beard! I look forward to it getting even fluffier XD

She is so pretty. So nice to see people getting into Belgians now. They are such a sweet breed only downside i can see to the breed is trying to stop at just one I have biddy the grey Belg and her mate BB. I have a trio of millie fleurs, A pair of blue mottle, A black mottle rooster , A frizzle belg and and pair of porcelain Belgies, I would love to get a pair of quail and a pair of silver mottle as well. (don't tell hubby )

 

[Teila]

Yep, ditto that .. HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY Everyone!

Fizzybelle Beatrice is a cutie also!

Adorable little bubs devinandfeather .. congratulations!

We had a small drama late yesterday afternoon in that Dusty pretty much stopped running around the garden with her normal excitement and vigour and started standing very still for long periods of time, straining, eyes closed, not very happy and obviously battling with a soft shell.

She laid a soft shell back at the end of December before coming into a mini moult and has laid only 3 normal eggs between then and yesterday’s soft shell. She turns 3 on the 1st of February so I am not sure if she is still working her way up to her annual dramatic hard moult which is normally March; if she is working her way up to not laying anymore or a combination of both.

Anyways, I kept a very close eye on her for the couple of hours prior to roost time in case she got too distressed and a warm bath was required. At roost time she managed to waddle over to the roost and jump up. 60 minutes later, on relaxing, she had deposited the soft shell on the coop floor. While not intact, it looked like it was all there and she appears to be OK this morning.

I will keep an eye on her today for any signs of retention. Those soft shells can be a real worry.

On a good note .. KiKi and Blondie have been marked off as ‘broken’ on the chicken calendar/egg spreadsheet.

Enjoy your day!

 

[User395221]

On a good note .. KiKi and Blondie have been marked off as ‘broken’ on the chicken calendar/egg spreadsheet.

Woohoo! Those girls were stressing me out with their "broody drama".

 

[kat79]

Sadly I have lost 2 3 year old chickens from the heat over christmas.

kids are hounding me for some silkies, bantams and ducks so looking around for some silkies and bantams and considering musgovies or pekin ducks but dont know much about pet ducks besides their feed and needing plently of water and musgovies are a quiet breed.


I have also been asked if there is anywhere you can get leghorn chickens anyone know where they still sell these?

 

[User395221]

Which state are you in Kat79?

 

[appps]

So has everyone had a good Australia Day? We got together with family and played croquet . Not quite as traditional as cricket but last time we did that a cousin tore his Achilles' tendon in a cow paddock hole so we play a more genteel sport now lol

 

[Fancychooklady]

So has everyone had a good Australia Day? We got together with family and played croquet . Not quite as traditional as cricket but last time we did that a cousin tore his Achilles' tendon in a cow paddock hole so we play a more genteel sport now lol

Sounds like fun. We spent the day at show jumping and then went sailing on the beautiful Yukon, C1930. Great Australia Day. bit late , but we have just lit the barby.

 

[Anniebee]

Yep, ditto that .. HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY Everyone!

Fizzybelle Beatrice is a cutie also!

Adorable little bubs devinandfeather .. congratulations!

We had a small drama late yesterday afternoon in that Dusty pretty much stopped running around the garden with her normal excitement and vigour and started standing very still for long periods of time, straining, eyes closed, not very happy and obviously battling with a soft shell.

She laid a soft shell back at the end of December before coming into a mini moult and has laid only 3 normal eggs between then and yesterday’s soft shell. She turns 3 on the 1st of February so I am not sure if she is still working her way up to her annual dramatic hard moult which is normally March; if she is working her way up to not laying anymore or a combination of both.

Anyways, I kept a very close eye on her for the couple of hours prior to roost time in case she got too distressed and a warm bath was required. At roost time she managed to waddle over to the roost and jump up. 60 minutes later, on relaxing, she had deposited the soft shell on the coop floor. While not intact, it looked like it was all there and she appears to be OK this morning.

I will keep an eye on her today for any signs of retention. Those soft shells can be a real worry.

On a good note .. KiKi and Blondie have been marked off as ‘broken’ on the chicken calendar/egg spreadsheet.

Enjoy your day!

Hi Teila ....

About the soft shells. A while back, ( can't find it now ) Fancychooklady, mentioned to me the benefits of calcium carbonate ( for soft shell laying chickens ) - which I ultimately could not find out here in the sticks. So I opted for simple calcium powder that is mainly fed to horses.

Gave her ( on advice from the Stock and Produce merchant ) 1 flattened dessertspoon of that twice a week for 3 weeks, and it did the job. I then reduced the dosage to 1 teaspoon twice a week for 2 weeks - and she has laid well formed eggs ever since, except for one disaster, which I blamed on her dirty bottom. It may have stuck there, and she dropped it from a greater height. She ate the yolk of that one which was harder shell broken, more than a soft jelly like shell - ( several days back now ). So back she goes, onto the powdered calcium - probably 2 teaspoons twice a week for the coming week ( in a mix ). Will think on that.

I did however, clean her dirty bum ---- ( oh ye Gods ) with really warm water, a pair of scissors, and a couple of well aimed 'plucks' which does not bother them at all .... and she is kind of bare bottomed at present, although has cleverly arranged her other feathers to cover the bare patch, and keep her warm !!! .......AND she has laid 2 firm, well developed eggs since. Her egg shells are most often like bricks to break open for use. !!

My rule of thumb would be if a chicken continually lays and strains on soft shells ... then something has to be done. As Fancy pointed out, calcium carbonate is best - and if you can get it, well and good. Not for over-use or use for a long period of time though, from memory. Their food should give them enough calcium, however, if they gorge themselves on dirt pickings / insects etc. while free ranging, I figure they might not always get what they need. Which is why my girls free range for only a small time of any day - about 2 > 3 hours only ( weather permitting ).

They pick at dirt and heaven knows what in their run anyway, but not enough to fill them up. They always eat and drink before bed.

Glad to know that Kiki and Blondie have been broody broken ( for how long ??? ). I do hope for a long time - for your sake. !!

Enjoyed your ovation - that you like hearing of my girls 'chickenalities'.

Cheers .........

 

[Fizzybelle]

She is so pretty. So nice to see people getting into Belgians now. They are such a sweet breed only downside i can see to the breed is trying to stop at just one

I have biddy the grey Belg and her mate BB. I have a trio of millie fleurs, A pair of blue mottle, A black mottle rooster , A frizzle belg and and pair of porcelain Belgies, I would love to get a pair of quail and a pair of silver mottle as well. (don't tell hubby )

She's really starting to bond with me, I woke up to a chicken sitting happily on my bed next to me this morning. She jumped out of the box she's currently sleeping in that's next to my bed, to help her settle in. And frizzle Belgiums? That sounds soooooo awesome, have you posted any pics of your brood anywhere? Sounds like you've got a wonderful group there

I'd also love some quail too, but yeah, I think my mother would hit the roof, like your hubby would (I've gone back to uni, had to move back in with the oldies). She complains, but really loves them.

 

[kat79]

Which state are you in Kat79?

Hi Potatochip.

I am in victoria