California - Northern

[liz9910]

Quote:
It was weird to say the least, one bled a little from the umbilical cord the other one was a sticky...but they're fine so far.

 

[Luvinmyhurd]

My husband gave me our first Boxer puppy, Archie, when we were still dating.  Years ago when our girls were little we went on a camping trip.  On the way home we stopped for lunch and because it was hot we let the dogs out (we had a second Boxer at that time) and I stayed with them while Tom took the girls in to order and get the food.  I noticed a guy asking people for money or something in the parking lot but was getting water for the dogs, tying the boys to the van etc. so didn't notice he was approaching me until I heard his voice.   He asked for "25 cents so he could hitchhike to Willits."  He was about 20 feet away from me.  I am not a cold hearted person and have given spare change/food etc.  I always think of Matthew 25 ya know...anyway This situation did not feel right so I told him "No, sorry I don't"  well he continued to walk towards me and unfortunately for him he didn't see the dogs.  I heard a sound like I had never heard before...it was a growl with a serious purpose and Archie who was about 5 at the time blasted by me.  His leather collar broke like it was string and he had that guy by the ankle, shaking and growling and pulling him further and further away until he felt like it was safe to release him then he stood guard and watched as the guy limped away.

He was the biggest clown as well as the great protector.  I loved that dog...I have loved all of our  Boxers...sniff

Awe! Sounds like he was awesome! Sorry for the loss! Glad you had him while you did!

 

[ronott1]

My guess since we didnt wake up and no one else was harmed was a possum.
Ron you take great pics and Videos

Thank all of you for posting such awesome photos!

Jake the jake is looking for a home if anyone knows people who want a royal palm jake. He is just now strutting amd the most docile turkey I have met.

Thanks!

Did you notices that I was brave and even commented in the Video?

Congratulations!

I am surprised at how well the ones I helped are doing. The last two are still getting stronger. Do you have to peel chicks often? It was rather scary!

Not too often the past two years. The Temperature is so stable in the Brinsea that they absorb the yolk and do not get stuck as much.

I am getting very good at it though. I pretend I am pealing a hard boiled egg...without damaging the white.

 

[CackleJoy]

Quote: Mine were sticky, sticky, sticky, some with pieces of egg that was SO stuck I chose to leave it. The egg is falling off leaving bare spots. Very gross process, that business of hatching a chick! One chick is wearing it's shell like a saddle. I should take pictures.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: That happens when you do not help them sometimes. There was a bit of blood in the incubator yesterday.

Tonight when I take the eggs out there may be a couple still alive. that did not get out. One was still zipping this morning.

 

[ronott1]

Mine were sticky, sticky, sticky, some with pieces of egg that was SO stuck I chose to leave it. The egg is falling off leaving bare spots. Very gross process, that business of hatching a chick! One chick is wearing it's shell like a saddle. I should take pictures.

The important thing is to get the head out. You can leave pieces of shell on them. It will dry and fall of later. I do the min of washing--make sure the vent is open and the heat is clear.

Watch chicks like that--they will be prone to pasty butt.

raise your temps my .5 of a degree for the next hatch.

 

[tommysgirl]

MFL update.

Leghorns (sigh).

Last week one went dead on me. Just up and fell over.

I was shocked and dismayed as I consider myself an active avian caregiver and should normally notice if a bird was just going to fall dead.

I panicked and treated all the birds (apx 60) for mites and lice. I was sure she died from my negligence and overcompensated by scouring all 5 hen houses and spraying everything even the helpless ground. Little red spider mites were swarming my raised bed so I sprayed them too.

Mailed off said dead bird to UC Davis.

Crazy thing had a tumor within a tumor and many other little tumors.

All that cleaning, spraying and treating and she didn't even HAVE mites.

WELL. That would explain why with 4 hens I never get more than 2 eggs a day, and some days just one.

Then 4 days ago one went broody on me. We had to move her because the other (2 left besides her) kept trying to oust her from the box so they could lay eggs, even though the other box was sitting empty. So, we made her a nest and moved her. It is very nice but I don't think she likes it because she's no longer sitting. I will take the eggs and put them in the incubator. Maybe being broody for 3 days is all the attention span a leghorn has?

And one of the two leghorns left has just proven herself to be an egg eater.

You get the point.

One leghorn out of 4 still laying. (Where's my sarcastic woohoo emocon?)

I am sorry for all of your leghorn drama...Bad Birds!!! What was your final hatch total?

On the off chance that you might want to replace your Leghorns with another white egg laying breed...a rare one even... I would like to say that California Greys are an amazing breed. They are cuckoo so lack the wow factor of a MF but they are sane and dependable and curious and funny and engaging and altogether charming.

Another endangered breed that fits pretty much the same description is the Barred Holland...Their eggs are smaller than a CG but they are alleged to be a great personable breed as well.



Oh and they are both great foragers too.

 

[ronott1]

MFL update.

Leghorns (sigh).

Last week one went dead on me. Just up and fell over.

I was shocked and dismayed as I consider myself an active avian caregiver and should normally notice if a bird was just going to fall dead.

I panicked and treated all the birds (apx 60) for mites and lice. I was sure she died from my negligence and overcompensated by scouring all 5 hen houses and spraying everything even the helpless ground. Little red spider mites were swarming my raised bed so I sprayed them too.

Mailed off said dead bird to UC Davis.

Crazy thing had a tumor within a tumor and many other little tumors.

All that cleaning, spraying and treating and she didn't even HAVE mites.

WELL. That would explain why with 4 hens I never get more than 2 eggs a day, and some days just one.

Then 4 days ago one went broody on me. We had to move her because the other (2 left besides her) kept trying to oust her from the box so they could lay eggs, even though the other box was sitting empty. So, we made her a nest and moved her. It is very nice but I don't think she likes it because she's no longer sitting. I will take the eggs and put them in the incubator. Maybe being broody for 3 days is all the attention span a leghorn has?

And one of the two leghorns left has just proven herself to be an egg eater.

You get the point.

One leghorn out of 4 still laying. (Where's my sarcastic woohoo emocon?)

On a Yahoo Group, someones Vet told them that there is a new cancer causing virus out in the poultry world. Like Mareks, it caused ovary tumors in two year old Hens.

The egg eater needs to have some Calf mana twice a week to get those shells back to hard enough.

Egg Eating will Magically go away!

 

[CackleJoy]

On a Yahoo Group, someones Vet told them that there is a new cancer causing virus out in the poultry world. Like Mareks, it caused ovary tumors in two year old Hens.

The egg eater needs to have some Calf mana twice a week to get those shells back to hard enough.

Egg Eating will Magically go away!

Ron, the egg eater ate a fooler egg I put in the box! It was a nice hard-shelled egg from another chicken. I put it in the box to try and get them to use the box adjacent to my broody hen instead of ousting her. Well, the egg eater used the box alright! The kids have been telling me that we had an egg eater but I didn't believe them because there was never any evidence, not so much as a piece of shell! Well this time I looked and looked and finally found the damp spot. GRRRRR

I shall try calf manna, a blindfold and a mustard egg, all at once. Aught to cure her

Ok. I'm kidding about the blindfold.

 

[CackleJoy]

I am sorry for all of your leghorn drama...Bad Birds!!! What was your final hatch total?

On the off chance that you might want to replace your Leghorns with another white egg laying breed...a rare one even... I would like to say that California Greys are an amazing breed. They are cuckoo so lack the wow factor of a MF but they are sane and dependable and curious and funny and engaging and altogether charming.

Another endangered breed that fits pretty much the same description is the Barred Holland...Their eggs are smaller than a CG but they are alleged to be a great personable breed as well.



Oh and they are both great foragers too.

You are the best promoter of CA Grey's I have ever met