Breakfast with the Oatmeal Buddies (pic heavy)

[seminolewind]

I just love those oatmeal pictures! And your pics are really good too!
I wonder how much money BYC members combined have spent on cameras?

 

[Serrin]

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Well, I can't speak for anyone else around here...but I bought my camera waaaay back in 2004 for a special trip to Louisiana. And back then, it cost an arm, a leg and about 375 dollars! Today, I can get basically the same camera for under a hundred!

Sheesh! The price of technology just keeps going down and down and down.... I'll replace it some day. I'm just waiting for the price of digital SLR's to drop below what I paid for this digital!

(Nikon CoolPix 2100 in case you were wondering)

 

[seminolewind]

LOL, I know what you mean, the prices have really come down. And the quality has gone up. I had a Canon Rebel for a week, but for the size and weight of that camera, my pics with my sony cybershot were comparable to the point that I sold the Rebel. That thing weighed a ton.

 

[Cetawin]

Glad my agony and oops moment could benefit you Serrin

It is always better to learn from someone else's mistake.

Did you give your "I am sorry" to those girls for taken their pictures at this private time? You better do it or they will make your punishment longer. hahahaha

 

[specklesmom]

Just looking at the happy Oatmeal Buddies gave me a big lift!! And the additional shots of large fuzzy butts was even better. Thanks SO much!

 

[Serrin]

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Oh boy! Did I ever!!! Let's see...it all started with an extra large bowl of oatmeal, warm of course, with a layer of baked beans (sssshhhh!! Don't tell Denny...it's his favorite and he'd have my guts for garters for sure!

) then a layer of broccoli, followed by extra whole kernel corn and topped it all off with a nice yummy side dish of romaine lettuce I bought just for them!

Of course, like any child, they went for the desert plate first (romaine lettuce) the silly things! As I was picking up today's eggs (apparently I am forgiven

) Abby even snuggled up for about 15 minutes for some good cuddles and comb rubs. (She's the one in pic # 4 to the left of FussyButt and is showing the worst molt in her neck area.)

Hey! While I'm thinking about it...look at Abby's neck closely in that pic. Every time I turn around, I see FussyButt picking at Abby in that exact same spot. There's not one sign of lice, mites or any other feather parasites. At least none that I can see.

So, my question to you guys is this...Other than for reasons of mutual grooming, why would FussyButt pick at Abby's neck feathers and is there any way to stop her from doing this?

I'm pretty sure this is why Rita took so dang long to come out of her molt last fall. If I could keep Fussy from picking at Abby, I think she'd come out of the molt a heck of a lot faster.

She still does this to Rita on occasion, but not nearly as bad as she used to. Neither two girls seem to mind this attention from Fussy. Soooo...should I even be concerned? Oh, and yesterday while I was squatting down to talk to Fussy, she spied a nice small brown feather on the ground between us...yup! She gobbled that one up too!

Is she maybe lacking something in her diet? I can't imagine what it could be as they have a constant steady supply of oyster shell at their disposal 24/27/365. I'm always feeding them good things like the warm oatmeal in the morning, along with plenty of two way scratch (cracked corn and wheat) and Del's Layer Pellets. They free range from about 10 am to dusk right now. Every evening, when I close them in for the night, they get another scoop of scratch and pellets, and whatever goody I have at the ready to coax everyone back into the scratch yard. And every evening, they all go to roost with tummies that are so full it's nearly obscene!

So what is it? Why this obsession with feather eating?

 

[Serrin]

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Aaaww! Thanks Specklesmom. It always makes me the happiest to know I've brightened someone else's day! You're entirely welcome!

 

[kcsunshine]

Your chicks are beautiful - even molting. Don't you just love those fluffy butts?

Try giving them some extra protein. It will help with their molt - getting feathers back sooner. I picked up some layer pellets at out co-op that was 21% rather than 16% protein. You could also throw in some dry cat food with their oatmeal as well as scrambled eggs. Mine love it.

 

[Partyfowl]

Hi Serrin,
I also live in Spokane and just a fyi on the wormer subject. Aslin Finch on Sprague has Ivermectin generic pour on $19.00 and Big R on Trent has Wazine for $6.99. I saw it today when I was buying a new incubator. Hope that helps.

Edited because its hard to type with a two year old asleep on my lap:/

 

[Serrin]

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Hey Partyfowl!

and thank you very much for the information. I live about 30 miles west of Spokane and even after 5 years, I don't know the area all that well. Yes, I am familiar with AF. In fact, my original flock came from them back when they were in the old mill building across Sprague from where they are now. Isn't the new store beautiful?

And since we have to pop down to Home Depot (right next door to AF) this week, I'll pick up a bottle! Might as well knock out any worms that might exist while the girls aren't laying as much as they do in the warmer months.

Thanks again for the information Partyfowl. I really do appreciate it! Our little bitty Del's in Cheney is about as worthless as mammary glands on a boar!