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

[Fancychooklady]

Hi,

I've just joined BYC although I've been lurking for about 18 months. I posted in the NYD hatch-a-long thread and someone reply and suggested I introduce myself here as well.

My wife is not an animal person so I almost fell over when about 18 months ago she suggested we get some chooks!

I lost no time and sourced 4 ISA Brown hens of unknown age but they were still laying well. Within a few months I purchased some chicks from a local primary school and then went back for more figuring some were going to be roosters. The rule in my backyard is, "if you crow, you go" because we are living in town with neighbours on either side and across the street.

As they started to crow, I gave them away and eventually our flock was whittled down to a manageable 10: the 4 original ISA Browns, 5 Gold Lace Wyandotte X Rode Island Red (they were supposed to be GLW), and a black Aurcana (probably a X but she laid blue/green eggs and had tufts of fluffy feathers sticking out either side of her face).

About 6 months ago the ISA Browns stopped laying and I was wondering how to get rid of them. A dog from across the paddock came to visit. (we live on the edge of town, suburbia at the front and farmland over the back fence). Said dog had a great time chasing and killing the chooks. The wife was distraught and I had to leave work early to come home and deal with the carnage. Fortunately it wasn't as bad as it first appeared and the dog had dine us a favour by killing 3 of the nonproductive ISA Browns. Some of the other chooks had lots of feathers missing but all survived apart from the Aurcana which sadly died a day or two later.

Since then the other ISA Brown had died (just a few weeks ago). So that left us with 5 GLW X RIR. But you know how Chicken Maths works. One of the hens went broody so I bought a dozen X breed mystery eggs and have ended up with 6 healthy chicks which will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. I have already found a home for these because a second hen went broody and is sitting on a dozen Light Sussex eggs, due to hatch on Sunday (hopefully).

Mark

Hi Mark. Welcome to the Aussie thread. Look forward to getting to know you and your flock in 2017

 

[Kooka]

Drooling hen came good after quitting scratch feed....however, she died last night, a quiet and well mannered hen she was. I have had her for 9 years and she was over a year old when I bought her. Good Wyandotte stock....and still laying the odd egg

Thanks for the help it made her last couple of weeks trouble free

Cheers

Andrew

 

[Tillicans]

Not sure I agree with your understanding about Isa Browns Mark. No offence but they are a hybrid bird purely created for laying hens and it breaks my heart to see them being abused because they don't lay anymore. My 2 were the sweetest natured but unfortunately one passed on early and the other was not well. I won't support people that breed them now.

 

[Tillicans]

Sorry to hear of your loss, I lost my Pekin pictured to a virus only yesterday, I thought her peculiar behaviour was because she was broody. Learning all the time.

 

[emelie]

oh nooo ..so sorry for your guys loss. I hope we can start into 2017 with less bad news

wishing everyone the best

 

[Teila]

Howdy folks

Quick visit .. busy, busy, busy!

Welcome Sparky74 lovely to meet you.

Good to hear your hen recovered Kooka.

Tillicans I am sorry to hear of your loss

 

[Fizzybelle]

Sorry for the loss of your little Pekin Tillicans, do you know what the virus was?

 

[Tillicans]

Sorry for the loss of your little Pekin Tillicans, do you know what the virus was?

The vet said it was neurological poor sweetie couldn't stand up she was walking backwards shaking her head. She had a bad infestation of scaly leg and mites, got that cleared but as she was not eating hardly drank she lost heaps of weight. I thought she was firstly broody because she would not come out of her nest area so I bought fertilised eggs, she seemed happy sitting on them but occassionally she left them and the got cold so I tossed them. By the time I took her to the vet it was way past anything the vet could do. I'm missing her such a gentle soul, I will definitely get myself more Pekin they are beautiful.

 

[Tillicans]

Howdy folks Quick visit .. busy, busy, busy! Welcome Sparky74 lovely to meet you. Good to hear your hen recovered Kooka. Tillicans I am sorry to hear of your loss

Thanks Teila, it's very sad, but a happy new year of the rooster does that mean more chicks for everyone?

 

[Fizzybelle]

The vet said it was neurological poor sweetie couldn't stand up she was walking backwards shaking her head. She had a bad infestation of scaly leg and mites, got that cleared but as she was not eating hardly drank she lost heaps of weight. I thought she was firstly broody because she would not come out of her nest area so I bought fertilised eggs, she seemed happy sitting on them but occassionally she left them and the got cold so I tossed them. By the time I took her to the vet it was way past anything the vet could do. I'm missing her such a gentle soul, I will definitely get myself more Pekin they are beautiful.

If it was neurological then yeah, you did the kindest thing you could for her in letting her go. I lost my Silkie Agnes a few months ago due to a degenerative condition, despite doing everything the vets could. It's a futile feeling, but actually my little Pekin Esme helped me deal with it, so I hope your flock are a good source of comfort for you. Definitely get more Pekins, they are such great little chookies, I love mine so much. Such a nice cuddly size, with a sweet nature, just so long as they aren't broody....

Speaking of broodys, Beatrice is still clucky and will sit on any egg anyone lays and leaves for her in the nest box. Amazing how many eggs a determined little D'Uccle can fit underneath herself.

and Happy new year everyone, I'm starting 2017 in the gym after this holiday week.