Barnevelder breeders lets work together and improve the breed

[RachaelS]

We finally got rain

and a lot of it. Which is very odd for TX at this time of the year. However, an unfortunate side effect is the baby chicks house was saturated nasty dirty, with about 3 days solid of rain. So today I went out and clean out the other larger brooder (that was oddly pretty dry) put new hay down, then moved over all the wet and muddy (stinky) little chicks (10 weeks) to the dry pen. All of this while I am at home sick with bronchitis

What we do for our babies.

On a side note, I had a feeling a few weeks back, but during the move today I am 99% positive that out of the 8 Trisha babies I have 2 are roos and 6 are pullets

When she sent the eggs, I said please only send 2 rooster eggs and she did

. The chicks were so happy to be warm and dry, rolled in the hay like there was no tomorrow. Now I have to think of a better way to keep the first coop dry, it has never gotten like before. My only fear is that the other coop is not 100% predator proof. So I doubt I will sleep good tonight, both with worry and a body wracking cough.

 

[tls_ranch]

Hope you feel better Yay for the rain...even if it did soak your chicks. It's been such a dry year all over the US. Hope your chicks stay safe tonight. Glad you got just the 2 cockerels you asked for

The weather is very nice right now and today may only get to 80 as a high. Next week it'll be back to 105! I have a few hens that stand right under the misters like a shower until they are soaked then they go out and lay in the sun to dry. Barnevelder feathers tend to shed water very well because of the dense feather texture. It takes a lot of standing under the misters to get really wet, but boy do they enjoy it I'm also stocking up on overgrown zucchini and cucumbers from the garden and putting them in the freezer for chicken treats when it gets hot again.

There's been a coyote out by my coop at 5am at least 3 times over the last week. Luckily my dogs have been chasing it off before it can get any chickens. I'm going to have to set the auto-doors to open later in the morning. I also wonder if I can talk my DH into getting up at 4:30am on his days off and seeing if he could shoot it?

Trisha

 

[AyaBlodgett]

good luck with the predators! It's a struggle, I know.

I spent 5 hours today washing two Roosters, blow drying them, trimming their toes, beaks, cleaning out the scales on the legs. Phew! What a job. Grandson taking them to the Fair tomorrow. Wish us luck? Aya

 

[RachaelS]

Trisha,
Good luck with that! I have a pack that is near, I hear them at night, but they never come close to the house. Knock on wood!

Aya,

For your grandson! Keep us posted!

Okay found this on E-Bay - Black Barnies!!!! I want them SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad but can not get any more eggs this year, Dr. I mean DH orders

LOL! However, you guys can appreciate them. Ends in 4 days. If anyone has any constructive thoughts on them it would be good to hear as a learning experience.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Rare-Blac...339?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35be627d53

 

[Helen in the Desert]

The hens have very dark legs...

 

[RachaelS]

You are right, I was so mesmerized by the feathers did not even look at the feet, nope not ready to be a judge yet, to easily distracted

 

[Meg2000000]

Some are using Silver Penciled Rocks.

I just picked up three of those last week for my layers! They really are beautiful.

We finally got rain

and a lot of it. Which is very odd for TX at this time of the year. However, an unfortunate side effect is the baby chicks house was saturated nasty dirty, with about 3 days solid of rain. So today I went out and clean out the other larger brooder (that was oddly pretty dry) put new hay down, then moved over all the wet and muddy (stinky) little chicks (10 weeks) to the dry pen. All of this while I am at home sick with bronchitis

What we do for our babies.

On a side note, I had a feeling a few weeks back, but during the move today I am 99% positive that out of the 8 Trisha babies I have 2 are roos and 6 are pullets

When she sent the eggs, I said please only send 2 rooster eggs and she did

. The chicks were so happy to be warm and dry, rolled in the hay like there was no tomorrow. Now I have to think of a better way to keep the first coop dry, it has never gotten like before. My only fear is that the other coop is not 100% predator proof. So I doubt I will sleep good tonight, both with worry and a body wracking cough.

Hope you feel better Rachael! And congrats on your babies (only 2 roosters? Yay!!)

Hope you feel better Yay for the rain...even if it did soak your chicks. It's been such a dry year all over the US. Hope your chicks stay safe tonight. Glad you got just the 2 cockerels you asked for

The weather is very nice right now and today may only get to 80 as a high. Next week it'll be back to 105! I have a few hens that stand right under the misters like a shower until they are soaked then they go out and lay in the sun to dry. Barnevelder feathers tend to shed water very well because of the dense feather texture. It takes a lot of standing under the misters to get really wet, but boy do they enjoy it I'm also stocking up on overgrown zucchini and cucumbers from the garden and putting them in the freezer for chicken treats when it gets hot again.

There's been a coyote out by my coop at 5am at least 3 times over the last week. Luckily my dogs have been chasing it off before it can get any chickens. I'm going to have to set the auto-doors to open later in the morning. I also wonder if I can talk my DH into getting up at 4:30am on his days off and seeing if he could shoot it?

Trisha

This weather has been amazing.. although it reminds me of autumn days and I get tired around lunch time Good luck with the coyote! That's one of the only things that I like about where I live.. very few big predators to worry about.

good luck with the predators! It's a struggle, I know.

I spent 5 hours today washing two Roosters, blow drying them, trimming their toes, beaks, cleaning out the scales on the legs. Phew! What a job. Grandson taking them to the Fair tomorrow. Wish us luck? Aya

Wow that sounds like a ton of work! Good for you and good luck with at the fair with your Grandson!

My two Barnie chicks are still up and kicking. They're going back to their breeder on Saturday. I'm kinda going to miss these guys! They've been staying in a rubbermaid in our sunroom and for the past couple of mornings when I go out there, they have "flown the coop" and are walking around on the tile. LOL It's pretty sweet to watch the 8 week old follow around the 11 week old. The older one is soo much bigger than the baby. It's like watching a momma with her chick. So sweet!

 

[mountainvieworchards]

Those "black" hens sure do look like marans. With the dark legs and the rooster with so much red in his hackle it looks like that project has a long way to go.

 

[AyaBlodgett]

Nice summer shower this a.m. Cooled everything down a bit. Grandson won Best of Show! He exhibited a bantum white leghorn rooster. Long tail feathers. We washed him with a horse shampoo until he sparkled. He is a beauty and he knows it! Aya

 

[Helen in the Desert]

Those "black" hens sure do look like marans. With the dark legs and the rooster with so much red in his hackle it looks like that project has a long way to go.

yeh, I think "Project" would have been nice in their add...