Barnevelder breeders lets work together and improve the breed

[buckabucka]

[COLOR=333333]This post is actually about my one Barnevelder who I don't think is very well.   But there is background to all this - so here it is : [/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]I have three large chickens and one bantam.    The two largest chickens ( a RIR and Welsummer ) are still laying even though it is Winter here in Australia, and they are all moulting.  They have bright red combs.    The next largest chicken - sized between a bantam and standard is a Barnevelder.  She is not laying nor is my Aussie Araucana.    Today Milly ( Barnevelder ) is very quiet, seems to need the sun as she squatted for a time in sunlight, has a very pale comb and doesn't seem very interested in anything.   It is probably time I gave them some worming mixture in their water, perhaps that is the problem - although there is absolutely NO sign whatsoever of worms in their droppings, and the other two large laying chickens are in good health.    I am quite concerned about Milly - she's a lovely chicken, and it's obvious something has upset her in some way.    I doubt she would be trying to lay - as she hasn't laid an egg for several weeks now - stopped with the cooler weather and the start of her moult.  [/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]( The only surprising thing is that my two larger birds are still actually laying - through the moult, and into extremely cold Winter weather. ) [/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong, or is it normal for a moulting chicken to have a pale comb or perhaps feel unwell ?   Any replies would be much appreciated.[/COLOR]

Anniebee, while it is possible your hen is sick, some of my hens acted very odd during the molt. A few would not come around me and holed up in the nest box, refusing to sleep on the roost with the others for a while. There combs were very pale. I worried about mine also, but they were fine after the molt.

If you haven't done so already, it may be helpful to offer some high protein treats such as scrambled eggs during this time. Keep an eye on her, but I'll bet it is just the molt having an effect.

 

[sherpagirl]

Could Milly be egg bound ?

 

[sherpagirl]

ROOSTER AGE FOR BREEDING?

How do you know when a rooster is old enough to breed? Is there something about his appearance or do you just go strictly by age?


EYE COLOR?

At what age do the Barnie chicks' eyes change color from greeny yellow to orange? I've never paid attention to when it happens, but now I'm impatiently watching for it to happen with my silver group!


Donna

 

[bonnylass79]

This post is actually about my one Barnevelder who I don't think is very well. But there is background to all this - so here it is :

I have three large chickens and one bantam. The two largest chickens ( a RIR and Welsummer ) are still laying even though it is Winter here in Australia, and they are all moulting. They have bright red combs. The next largest chicken - sized between a bantam and standard is a Barnevelder. She is not laying nor is my Aussie Araucana. Today Milly ( Barnevelder ) is very quiet, seems to need the sun as she squatted for a time in sunlight, has a very pale comb and doesn't seem very interested in anything. It is probably time I gave them some worming mixture in their water, perhaps that is the problem - although there is absolutely NO sign whatsoever of worms in their droppings, and the other two large laying chickens are in good health. I am quite concerned about Milly - she's a lovely chicken, and it's obvious something has upset her in some way. I doubt she would be trying to lay - as she hasn't laid an egg for several weeks now - stopped with the cooler weather and the start of her moult.

( The only surprising thing is that my two larger birds are still actually laying - through the moult, and into extremely cold Winter weather. )

Does anyone have any idea what might be wrong, or is it normal for a moulting chicken to have a pale comb or perhaps feel unwell ? Any replies would be much appreciated.

First of all, you won't usually see worms when an animal has worms. You actually won't see them until the worms start to die, and then they are passed in the stool. What you really have to look for are the worm eggs, which you would need a microscope to see. Moult is a good time to worm chickens since many of the wormers require a 2-4 week egg withdrawal, so you would be throwing away fewer eggs by worming during a time when the chickens aren't laying a lot anyway.

Second, I would look for mites or lice crawling on her skin. Mites, lice and worms will all cause a chicken to become lethargic and anemic. I don't know what you have available to you in Australia to treat for mites or lice, but I usually use Sevin dust. I also sprinkle Sevin dust on the bottoms of the coops when I clean them.

Lastly, it could be the moult. I would try increasing her protein and vitamin intake. Scrambled eggs are good, plus they may encourage her to eat. There are also vitamins you can mix into their water. I've also heard of people giving their birds liquid baby vitamins when they are "off" like this.

 

[Tncowgirl1903]

I am looking for a blue double laced barnvelder hen and a splash hen( not sure what they are called exactly) I really want these two soon if possible and both hens and A resonable price, please pm me detail so we can talk. Have a great day everyone!!

 

[bonnylass79]

My Barnie babies are growing like weeds.



Pullet from Mountain Ridge Poultry (pickledchicken). 7 weeks old





Cockerels from Mountain Ridge Poultry (pickledchicken). 7 weeks old



Cockerel from tls_ranch. 5 weeks old

The pullets were being camera shy, so I couldn't get pictures of any of the pullets from tls_ranch. Hopefully next time. They're getting moved out of the brooder and into a tractor this week.

 

[Chickenman76]

This sucks, my one Barnie Roo Died, and he just was barely over a year old, don't make since he was perfectly healthy

 

[buckabucka]

This sucks, my one Barnie Roo Died, and he just was barely over a year old, don't make since he was perfectly healthy

So sorry for your loss. This happens sometimes. I had a lavender Ameraucana roo that dropped dead when he was just under a year old. Seemed perfectly healthy that morning, then suddenly dropped dead. Assuming he was in with some hens, their eggs will remain fertile for another week or two. I collected all the eggs for 8 days and all of them hatched, so I am raising a new cockerel for that flock now.

 

[Chickenman76]

So sorry for your loss. This happens sometimes. I had a lavender Ameraucana roo that dropped dead when he was just under a year old. Seemed perfectly healthy that morning, then suddenly dropped dead.
Assuming he was in with some hens, their eggs will remain fertile for another week or two. I collected all the eggs for 8 days and all of them hatched, so I am raising a new cockerel for that flock now.

Thank you, I have another one, thank god, but he was a backup, lol. It leaves you wondering

 

[Sarahmc04]

Here are some of my 5 Barnevelder chicks, they are approx between 6 - 8 weeks old! So hard to get a photos as they are continually on the move!