California - Northern

[lawatt]

I think some mother hens are just bad. Its not weak chicks its mothers who are too vigerious. My seems thought the 2 week old chicks would perch with them and killed all their babies. Was not the chicks it was the moms.

good to know, i'll keep a close eye on her -- jane the sussex definitely seems too vigorous, especially compared to the marans broody who stops frequently to warm her chick up (and is sensible enough to take it into sunnier areas to peck around in). but hopefully with some extra prodding from me, and babysitting from Frances, the chicks will survive their mom... (fingers crossed)

 

[OR4-hmom]

Hope the cuts heal up quickly Jason and that the chickens don't zero in on them. DH ran his thumb through table saw a few years ago, they put 3 stitches in it to see if blood flow would re-establish. I hope it is only nice clean cuts that heal faster! He found all kinds of things that can't be done 1 handed, buttoning pants, tying shoes, etc.

 

[8machines]

No sorry, no Belgians, D'uccles or D'anvers.

I have about 30 breeds though, what else might you be looking for?

Oh wow, I would love some lavender Orpingtons. Do you have Australorps? Thank you. I will wait till next year.

 

[Ali707]

welcome back Amy..


I have been slow to type but reading.
so not posting much this eek . I cut2 fingers bad on glass so had 2 stiches on one finger. 3 on the other. that one to the bone.
So my right hand is useless for a few days lol

Take it easy man. Glass does cut quick and rather painless until a few minutes later. I get so mad at myself when I do something like that because it is usually me either working too fast or being careless.

I have that same Costco cat food at home. Didn't realize it could go to the chickens. I am concerned because they are snobs about the oyster shells. Our NH red laid her first egg yesterday ( not as nice of a birthday present as going to visit the grand baby but it will do! ) hurrah! But it broke before she got her big behind out of the nest box! Will cat food help?

I did see azure has organic non HMO non corn non soy but kind of pricy! I'm hoping our Costco keeps this organic layer for a while. Saves me a trip to the feed store!

If they don't like Oyster shell sometimes you can mix it in their feed, OR I also save the egg shells from the eggs I use and clean them out. Then I crush them in a plastic bag and mix that back in with their food. Saves on buying Oyster shell too. I don't have any Roosters though. They may still eat crushed egg shell more readily than Oyster shell if you can't mix it in their food and just leave it free choice. You just never know. Since they are crushed it doesn't resemble an egg so it does not promote egg eating either.

I have also added powdered milk and crushed oyster shell to my meal worm bin so the meal worms have a higher calcium content. I haven't added a lot though because at this point I will NEVER get any eggs. *sigh*.

If I even get a fraction of an egg shell in my food it sets my teeth on edge! Chickens don't seem to care so much.

 

[zooweemama]

welcome back Amy..


I have been slow to type but reading.
so not posting much this eek . I cut2 fingers bad on glass so had 2 stiches on one finger. 3 on the other. that one to the bone.
So my right hand is useless for a few days lol

Thanks! Wow hope you heal fast! I was bitten by my cat several weeks ago and it sucked having a wound slow healing on my hand.

Amy!
Good to see you! We have French Muscovites growing out . its my part of my attempt to start doing our own protein . supposedly they are a great beef replacement. But they are mad friendly and I'm loving them.
I hope everyone's air cleans up today sounds awful.
and remember my merriks frim the east coast birds. It is supposed to be under 85 on both sides for shipping. And truely it should be under 85 at the hubs too but that is hard to check. The pi does not always know the shipping rules for birds if they dont get them frequently so its good to check your side.
Give yourself a 3 day window for the delivery so i would check weather for those 3 days.

So id wait for autumn.
I think some mother hens are just bad. Its not weak chicks its mothers who are too vigerious. My seems thought the 2 week old chicks would perch with them and killed all their babies. Was not the chicks it was the moms.

I really really wanted Muscovies originally but everyone in my family thought they were ugly and we actually got ducks for eggs. Muscovies don't lay all year round constantly like mallard domestic breeds do. But I am def jealous. I think Muscovy are gorgeous birds personally. And we've had duck (not muscovy but we did have Appleyard and oh lawd was it goooood).

good to know, i'll keep a close eye on her -- jane the sussex definitely seems too vigorous, especially compared to the marans broody who stops frequently to warm her chick up (and is sensible enough to take it into sunnier areas to peck around in). but hopefully with some extra prodding from me, and babysitting from Frances, the chicks will survive their mom... (fingers crossed)

I have one Speckled Sussex pullet. Do they go broody often? I am hoping I don't have TOO many broody breeds. I am going to thin out the 'herd' of them if so. She is awkward looking right now but I can tell she will be gorgeous!

 

[lawatt]

I have one Speckled Sussex pullet. Do they go broody often? I am hoping I don't have TOO many broody breeds. I am going to thin out the 'herd' of them if so. She is awkward looking right now but I can tell she will be gorgeous!

mine is a light sussex, and this is her first time being broody -- so can't tell you much about how often, but on that Henderson's Chicken chart, they ARE indicated as being "good" brooders and mothers...
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

but i've had 8 of 12 year-old hens all go broody this year: two silver-penciled plymouth rocks (one twice), the sussex, one marans, one cream legbar, one Amelia (CL x penedesenca), one basque, and one australorp -- not all of which are "predicted" to go broody often. for instance, Henderson's lists plymouth rocks as "infrequent" brooders, and says penedesencas are "non-setters" -- my girls seem to think differently. so, it's a roll of the dice...

 

[zooweemama]

mine is a light sussex, and this is her first time being broody -- so can't tell you much about how often, but on that Henderson's Chicken chart, they ARE indicated as being "good" brooders and mothers...
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

but i've had 8 of 12 year-old hens all go broody this year: two silver-penciled plymouth rocks (one twice), the sussex, one marans, one cream legbar, one Amelia (CL x penedesenca), one basque, and one australorp -- not all of which are "predicted" to go broody often. for instance, Henderson's lists plymouth rocks as "infrequent" brooders, and says penedesencas are "non-setters" -- my girls seem to think differently. so, it's a roll of the dice...

My Betty hen- a mix Black Orp/Marans mix is constantly going broody. She is about 15-16 months old and has gone broody 3 times already. 2 of them I have let her hatch. She has hardly laid any eggs ever in her whole so far. LOL I have a Sizzle that keeps going broody too. My Buff Orps are like 20 months old almost JUST went broody this month for the first time and have been great layers through Fall, Winter and now Summer. My EEs have not gone broody yet and they are as old as the Orps. I have 2 Sizzles and 2 Silkies- I expect them to go broody often though. I need to add some non broody layers though or I am going to constantly fighting this haha. When 1 starts - it's like a virus!

I have 2 laying pullets from Betty and 1 is following in her mamas foot steps and went broody less than a month from laying her first egg. It's crazy lol

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hey Molly! Do you still have the kittens? We need to talk if you do.

 

[zooweemama]

I'm counting my chickens- and I hesitate to count my banties. They are so small? LOL It makes it seem like I have so many more than I really have lol. Do you count the banties?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm counting my chickens- and I hesitate to count my banties. They are so small? LOL It makes it seem like I have so many more than I really have lol. Do you count the banties?

I'm the wrong person to ask, but I'd count them as 1/2 a chicken.

But then, my cockerels don't count, chicks don't count, eggs incubating don't count, broodies don't count........... So I only have about 18 chickens!