California - Northern

[PetRock]

OMG!

My middle DD asked what was wrong with the chicks? That is a very odd noise, is one hurt?

I listened and heard a little 4 week old cockerel crowing!

Crazy chickens!

Love it!!! What kind of chick is he? My earliest crowers have been Marans and Marans mixes. Some of my Bresse crow early, too, but not that early!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I collected eggs a bit ago and found one odd one. It actually appears to have some lavender specks on it. I'm not sure who laid it. I have Marans, a red sex link (who laid earlier today), a black cochin banty (who also laid earlier today), a Blue Wyandotte (who is broody and not laying right now...she is in a different nest box), a buff orphington, a blue wheaten Ameraucana (has not started laying yet that I know of) and a buff x wheaten EE Ameraucana ( who has also not started laying yet as far as I know). Have any of you seen lavender specks on an egg before?

My barnevelders lay eggs like that sometimes.

My new baby chicks are almost 2 weeks old. It's been a while since I've checked in here! Sorry for the pic overload, but they are so cute I had to share. How is everyone doing?

Cuties! I love the look on this one!

I finally got some time to butcher some cockerels and a 2 year- old hen. Going to make some chicken soup I wish I had some earlier this month when I was so sick. I am starting to get better at processing. I skinned them because I didn't want to set up hot water for plucking.

Trisha

How did the skinning go? I'm thinking of doing that for the next batch I process to save time.

Thanks for all the acknowledgments about my new baby, it was my first successful hatch! Here is a pic of the two that hatched. "Mutt & Jeff" lol

Adorable, congrats!

Hatching question here;
I've read here that some leave their eggs in egg cartons during lock-down for hatching as it gives good results. Should I cut holes on the bottoms of the carton? Does using either cardboard or Styrofoam mater?
Starting lock-down Monday morning.

Just cut the tops off. I leave the bottoms intact, it makes for easier cleanup. Just make sure they go in air sac UP.

 

[chrissyr]

The whole point is new genetics. I say we henseminates instead! Those lbs were odd id be sad too.
Winner winner chicken dinner!

Wonder if anyone's transported sperm from Europe successfully. That would be great to have new genetics.

Just cut the tops off.  I leave the bottoms intact, it makes for easier cleanup.  Just make sure they go in air sac UP.

do you they get stuck in the carton? Just wondering if you have to pull them out ASAP or help them in the carton

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Wonder if anyone's transported sperm from Europe successfully. That would be great to have new genetics.
do you they get stuck in the carton? Just wondering if you have to pull them out ASAP or help them in the carton

we are still hoping the birds test ok as id still rather have eggs

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Nope. They hatch like this:



Then flop down onto the bottom of the bator. I've had much better hatch rates since I started hatching this way. No more egg soccer going on. Sometimes the ones that hatched earlier make it back up onto the cartons to talk to those that haven't hatched yet.

 

[sonoralinda]

Lizanne, your little babies with the fuzzy feet are adorable. In a chicken run and coop would you have trouble with poo sticking to their little feathered feet?

 

[farmhand]

Quote: Is the air sack side the large side?

 

[tommysgirl]

I thought I would test the waters by posting an add on craigslist asking if anyone in my area wanted to share an order for California Gay’s from Privett. Within one hour I had all the offers I needed and the guy I’m sharing with is sharing some of his Welsummer’s chicks he’s getting with me. Chicken Math strikes again!

I think you will love your CA Greys.

But I still have room for the U of A blue chicks from you. After that, no more, nada mas, just not getting any more! never. Not even one.

until you get a broody

Is the air sack side the large side?

Yes...it is supposed to be but in shipped eggs they get wonky sometimes. Chicks are programmed to try to bust out through the fat end of the egg.

 

[chrissyr]

I am helping a person with a 9 month old Cockerel that has symptoms of cocci. Poo turned blue! One night of cord and the poo is back to green and the poor guy is starting to walk around again.

Just a warning--especially to those at higher elevations--Cocci will make them stand still and lead to foot sores or frost bite on the feet.

It seems like more of us are getting bad strains of cocci. The odd weather may be the culprit.

Watch the older ones too and if they have symptoms treat them!

So far the treatment: the 5 days at 1 1/2 tsp/gal then 5 days at 1/2 tsp are consecutive . Then I do b vitamins, but how long for the vitamins? If there's symptom I redo the whole thing including vitamins every 3 weeks right?

 

[juststruttin]

I am soooo thrilled its raining!!! Maybe the birds will get some green grass this spring after all. I have to admit, I did not believe the forecast and left the pasture feeders uncovered so the food was very soggy but I will take soggy food over bone dry fields any day.