California - Northern

[SpringPeeper]

I like the look of my blrw boy. Dude is a very mellow fellow.

They're definitely good looking birds (like most roosters) I just think the hens "outdo" them. He is a handsome boy.

 

[SpringPeeper]

Oh, yeah- with the 'mystery' quail, it was definitely just the one female and two males left in there.

 

[BCollie]

Saddle feather comparison between 3 Blue Laced Red Wyandottes. The one that is for sure a pullet is on the very left. The two questionable pullets-or-maybe-cockerels are on the right of her. In the last month their saddle feathers have gotten very long. I'm thinking they're definitely boys, I've never seen a pullet with saddle feathers this long. What do you guys think? Around 6 months old now, no crows and no eggs. Go figure lol. P.S., Got these from Jeff and he followed through on his promise of making sure I got a pullet. When they were old enough to be sexed he asked me if I had a pullet or not. I'm very happy with this purchase, even if I did get multiple boys out of it!

I love the blue laced wyandottes! Those are some pretty birds you have there congrats!

Thank you! Jeff produces nice birds! Unfortunately the cockerels are destined to become dinner for my parents and siblings, as roos are illegal here. At least they will go to good use, to feed the family, and will have lived a great life. My parents are interested in trying a home grown chicken, they've never had one before! They have until they start crowing, unless there's a better age to butcher them at(before they start crowing)? Anyone know?

 

[BCollie]

So in case any of you have been wondering...Remember how I had set 23 eggs and was having a difficult hatch? The total for those 23 eggs...FOUR chicks. That's it. This was the worst hatch I have ever had. 17% hatch rate. I am so sad. I got 3 Lavender Orpingtons out of the 8 eggs from Jeff, and ONE out of 15 Golden Lakenvelder eggs. Words can't describe how much I am hoping this little Golden Lakenvelder turns out to be a girl. As you guys probably recall, I searched EVERYWHERE for them before I finally found a single person that has the eggs. I got the last eggs from before she sold the flock. I wish it was the Lavender Orps that had only 1 chick, and the Golden Lakenvelders that had more hatch...at least with the Lavenders I can buy more from Jeff, but my source of Golden Lakenvelders is gone since she sold the flock. I am desperately hoping this little Lakenvelder chick turns out to be a girl...I will be so depressed if it turns out to be a boy, I was sooo excited about having found these eggs. I did not do eggtopsy on the eggs, I let them go for several days past hatch day, and finally threw them away. I was way too sad about the bad hatch, I don't think I could handle opening up eggs and seeing a bunch of dead chicks. It probably would have helped figure out why they didn't hatch, but I just couldn't do it. By the way...Jeff(Papa's Poultry) saw that I was having a really bad hatch and said that his Lavender Orps were having low fertility from the week that I was given eggs...so he's giving me more Lavender Orps chicks. Whenever someone asks where they can get hatching eggs or chicks, I always point them to Jeff. He's awesome!!

You've said before your eggs always hatch early and don't have a good percentage, so it seems to me to be an good indication that you're incubating too hot. Even if you are getting safe readings, your incubator may be a little off or may fluctuate/spike at certain times. I'd say if you decide to hatch more eggs, drop the temp even if the incubator is telling you it is a little lower than ideal. Too cool tends to be more survivable than too hot.

Thank you, I will try incubating a bit cooler. I also have an accurate digital thermometer with probe that I will use to check the incubator next time I incubate.

 

[BCollie]

I must say...I am disappointed in you guys. I feel that it was very irresponsible of ya'll to not let me know that I might die of cuteness overload when seeing a Salmon Faverolle chick!!

Oh my gosh. I picked up my chicks from Jeff's house today and it took all my will power to not open the box before driving home. Got home, brought it to my parents house, opened it...and my mom and I both immediately grabbed Salmon Faverolle chicks. It was like...an instinct. Our hands just reached towards the balls of fluff that we saw. Feathered legs, beards of fluff...and very long, fluffy, yellow down feathers. Tell me this is not the cutest thing you've ever seen?

 

[ronott1]

Thank you! Jeff produces nice birds! Unfortunately the cockerels are destined to become dinner for my parents and siblings, as roos are illegal here. At least they will go to good use, to feed the family, and will have lived a great life. My parents are interested in trying a home grown chicken, they've never had one before!
They have until they start crowing, unless there's a better age to butcher them at(before they start crowing)? Anyone know?

It depends on what you want and how big they get. You can process at any age but 16 to 20 weeks is good for many breeds. Some can go over 6 months old though. They will likely be crowing by then though. Some breeds will start crowing by 8 weeks. Not very good at it but still crowing.

Thank you, I will try incubating a bit cooler. I also have an accurate digital thermometer with probe that I will use to check the incubator next time I incubate.

Get a Brinsea spot check--They are the most accurate incubator thermometers you can buy.

 

[ronott1]

I must say...I am disappointed in you guys. I feel that it was very irresponsible of ya'll to not let me know that I might die of cuteness overload when seeing a Salmon Faverolle chick!!

Oh my gosh. I picked up my chicks from Jeff's house today and it took all my will power to not open the box before driving home. Got home, brought it to my parents house, opened it...and my mom and I both immediately grabbed Salmon Faverolle chicks. It was like...an instinct. Our hands just reached towards the balls of fluff that we saw. Feathered legs, beards of fluff...and very long, fluffy, yellow down feathers. Tell me this is not the cutest thing you've ever seen?

They are very cute for sure!

They are easily bullied though so watch for that.

 

[BCollie]

Quote:
I had a Black Copper Marans cockerel, you guys may remember...he was crowing at 8 weeks. Like you said, not very good at it, but still crowing!

I will make a thread in the meat birds section soon, about my cockerels and when we should process them.

I have the Hydrofarm Digital Thermostat for Heat Mats. It's made for heat mats because it has a plug that you plug the heat mat into to keep the temp of it stable, but it still works like a regular thermometer when there's no heat mat plugged in. It has over 500 reviews and is at 4.5 stars. Will this work fine for telling the temp?
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTP...&sr=8-1&keywords=hydrofarm+digital+thermostat

 

[BCollie]

Quote:
Thanks for the heads up, I will keep an eye on them!! So far so good but I know how it goes with chicks. They're mixed ages, the oldest are the ones I hatched - 10 days old - and the Faverolles and Lavender Orps from Jeff look to be only a few days old. The Chocolate Orps look to be about a week old. But so far they're all getting along fine!! Hopefully it'll stay that way! Last I checked they were all cuddled under the heat lamp. May need to lower it a bit as it's getting cooler in the garage now that it's getting colder outside.

 

[chrissyr]

I would give them grower feed, a good vitamin that has D and A in it and continue the free choice oyster shell.

Calf Manna is said to help with shell and egg laying problems, but it has GMO soy in it.
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds helps lubricate as well as adding fiber.

I give my chickens Big Ole Bird from southland organics every two weeks. I remember because I get paid every two weeks now.

ok that makes sense. I'll put them back on the grower and add the calf manna and vitamins as well.
I had it years ago but my birds turned their noses up at it. Do you have that problem? How much do they need?

Remember, just because they have oyster shell doesn't mean they're gonna eat it. I also have oyster shell for mine, but every now and then some will need that extra oral calcium.

-Kathy

Edited to add: not suggesting anything other than to keep an eye on them and give calcium orally if needed.

It seems some of my birds eat the oyster shell and some aren't interested.
I'm going to give the one girl calcium by mouth a couple of times a week till I know she gets through this.
Not sure if she's laid another egg or another has started laying. So I'm watching her.
I want to get that liquid calcium you recommended but I always forget