California - Northern

[Sirracha]

Ive asked this on the phoenix thread but got no answer. is there any reason two year old phoenix hens wouldnt be laying? they have layer feed, they get leftover food scraps,have nesting boxes,etc. they did have lice but i got rid of them

Are they in a new environment? Change in diet? How long have they not been laying?

 

[EZFarms]

They were moved to a new coop about a week ago but still werent laying. diet hasnt changed and prolly 7-8 months. when they first started laying i only got 6 eggs the whole time

 

[Sirracha]

They were moved to a new coop about a week ago but still werent laying. diet hasnt changed and prolly 7-8 months. when they first started laying i only got 6 eggs the whole time

They're probably adjusting to the new pad. My seramas did that. It took almost a month.

 

[EZFarms]

Even before they were moved they werent laying

 

[lualshannon]

 
I think I asked this before but I am going to ask again, does anyone know of any Orpington breeders in Sonoma County? That sells sexed chicks? I sadly can't take the risk of a roo where I live so can't buy straight run chick or hatching eggs. 

Most breeders level chicks are straight run. It is hard to tell sex with day old Oprs. and many do not want to take the price loss by growing them out until you can tell.

Vent sexing is the most accurate way to tell with them at a day old. Not many people do it though because it is hard and can hurt the pullets.

@lualshannon
Might have Orpingtons.

Thank you, Ron! At the moment I don't have any Orpington chicks, but, hopefully they will start to hatch later this month. I will keep the chicks until I am sure of their sex which is usually around 8-9 wks. of age. But, still, had several interesting surprises in the past when the pullets started to crow, and the cockerels gifted me eggs : )

Lual

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I was going to add the Penes to the list.

Megans are second generation though so much more recently exposed, like the English Orps.

Real old time Rhode Island Reds are the most resistant to mareks(on Average. I bet Walt's New Hampshires are even more resistant) followed by Leghorns according to a study I read last year or so. I do not remember Which was the worst of the Breeds they tested though.

Skyline Basque and the three Penedesncas ware very healthy.

The Spanish just breed hardy breeds I guess. I am wanting a pair or trio of Spanish Goats too soon

 

[fowlman01]

I was going to add the Penes to the list.

Megans are second generation though so much more recently exposed, like the English Orps.

Real old time Rhode Island Reds are the most resistant to mareks(on Average. I bet Walt's New Hampshires are even more resistant) followed by Leghorns according to a study I read last year or so. I do not remember Which was the worst of the Breeds they tested though.

Skyline Basque and the three Penedesncas ware very healthy.

In the three years I have had the New Hamps I have had zero cases of Mareks.

Walt

 

[chiqita]

Ok for those who I was harping on about b shots for fertility its a multi b (the same ones for human fertility) and it is by size.

Here is the quote the first bird she is talking about is turkeys.

joe is pretty sure I was doing 1/2 mill for the younger girls and 3/4 for the older. He and Alex did 1/4 mill for each chicken hen. Use very small gauge needles even though it's much harder to draw. Less painful and less likely for any complications."

Im going to try this and see if it helps. It should help with hatchablity as well.

 

[debs_flock]

A better picture would be helpful, but the comb is pinker than I like to see (unless I'm hoping for a male)


I'd say pullet


Looks like a cockerel

Too close to call without a better picture, but also pretty pink.

So it looks like a pullet, a cockerel and two I'd just be guessing.

LOL, I've always been one of those buy high, sell low people. I can't bring myself to ask prices that other people ask. Speaking of which, I just set about ten more tolbunt polish eggs tonight! LOL And I'm getting ready to set up breeding pens for the Jubilee, Chocolate and Crele Orpingtons.....................anyone need cheap chicks? LOL
I see this posted above...I have a broody that I am going to set eggs under on Thursday or Friday. Any chance of purchasing six tolbunt eggs? email me off line if we can make this work. I'm in Healdsburg

I'm sending you a note.

Even before they were moved they werent laying

I don't believe they are a terribly productive breed. But just make sure they are happy, healthy and they are getting enough daylight hours. Then sometimes all you can do is wait. My Olandsk Dwarfs were terrible layers their first year. I was getting a few eggs a week from three hens. Now this year, those same three girls are doing much better.

 

[sewandgrow]

Just the way the plates underneath the eggs and the chick are arranged it made me initially that you had a snake in there.

Me too...........I did a double take....LOL

He is 4. I taught him to always be gentle with animals especially babies. He also plays very well with infants and toddlers younger than he.. he just rough and tumbles and beats up anyone bigger than him LOL. It must be the hair, they did not do that with me lol.

Awwwwwwwwwwww. My 4 year old grandson loves the chickies too. We don't have ducks right now though.

I missed that liz. I'm so sorry. Those small eggs are tricky. You have done such an amazing job so far!
Do you think I could not kill them all with a small enough needle? I would be up for it if I could get the equipment and do it by hand. I hate it when people loose pets and I know my silkies are not fully immune stock. I think the bresse are. Marans I should ask peter if he vaccs.

A 4H project in Modesto is doing in the shell dyeing of chicks with a really small short needle. She will be demonstrating it at the party next month. Maybe the needles are the right kind for this.

I've seen this a lot with ducklings they seem to imprint on humans differently than chickens. I wonder if its a difference in water fowl in general and their base instincts are different. It might be the "flock" sense and structure is different with them or something in the fact that we have domesticated out certain traits that are still there with ducks but it seems that ducklings form attachments with humans very differently than chickens. Just from my casual observations

I believe this to be true. We had a Muscovy duck that followed my father in law around like a dog everywhere he went around here. I think it even became protective and/or territorial & would lower his head and hiss at anyone that came close to him.....LOL

Kinda hard to explain without showing on a chick. The cocks feather out starting with a ridge at one would consider the shoulder bone down the back just behind the wing. It looks like 2 mohawks running half way down the back. Feathers come in less smooth.

The pulled seem to feather out more smooth and even around the body.


Its not easy unless you figure out what you are looking for. but I pay attention to details in everything and learn through observation. Thats how i learned to feed and nurture some wild animals over the years when helping them.. or just paying attention to them out of curiosity.

I should try taking pics and documenting this

If it works for you met me know

Could be a new way to commonly sex orpingtons and possibly others. But one has to wait until the chick feathers out. About a month if I remember right.

Oh yeah the combs seem more plump and smooth ridged, pullets are still against the head and rigid. (but doesn't always show so young)

Another chicken lover & I did some research & tried this some years back on new chicks. It was pretty impressive ....... We were right about 80% I think.