California - Northern

[TheKeeper]

Just sharing some chick pics =)

Yay! But you must share what kind they are.

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Yay! But you must share what kind they are.

The one in front is a buff silky. Umm I think I have rir, barred rocks and slw and blr splash dottes in their and maybe a couple of my project buff barred rock. This is brooder B =)

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

 

[sewandgrow]

I usually try to spread out the leftivers. As in not to much of one thing in one day. And careful if they're the sugary baked beans....

Anyhow I have an incubation question everyone.... I let my shipped eggs settle room temp 24 hrs then set them in the turner but left it off. How many days should I incubate before turning on the turner?

I did 2 or 3 days without turning on shipped eggs when I was actively hatching.

 

[Flowers of Abba]

I did 2 or 3 days without turning on shipped eggs when I was actively hatching.

I am glad I asked when I did. I was it was just two days last night... I don't want mid placement on those air cells

 

[chrissyr]

Well last night I left a coop open. Actually, probably glad I did. Because the dogs were throwing a fit at 3 am, and I figured "I should go check because a coop is open".
They caught a possum inquiring about the jubilee pen. Thank God no losses

My neighbor officially thinks we're odd. His kitchen light suddenly went off so I know the commotion woke him, even though he's a ways off. #1 on To Do List today: explain that we aren't crazy over here

The muscovies were quite scared too. They were running around off their night perches. I figured they'd be too big for a possum, but they weren't taking my word for it.

 

[1zooman12]

Okay Folks, about the bean question.
Feeding new and unusual food to chickens is usually a safe bet. I would give the flock a small amount to see if they will eat it. Birds can be conservative diners too. If they don't eat it, mix it with scratch feed then see if they will eat it. Again small amounts. To prevent the beans from decaying, divide them up in small lots and freeze them, thawing each small batch say 6 hours in advance. In any event, one way to monitor a dietary change is to watch the droppings for any significant change. A slight change is to be expected; a severe change should last only a couple days at most while the birds adjust. In the event of a severe change skip feeding the beans (or bean mix) for a couple of days then resume. I'm just saying how I would approach the situation. Beans are a great source of carbohydrates and some proteins so why let them go to waste without trying them on the flock? Let us know how it goes…
Sincerely,
Neal, the Zooman

 

[Audio51]

Hiya!

New here .... technically in "Central CA" .... but was told I can come join the fun over here

I'm a new hen mommy - four 2 week old pullets Learning LOTS of this site!!! Wonderful resources.

Anyway ... HI!

Welcome!!!! You were told correctly!

Quote: Agreed!!

The scrap built outside brooder/grower cages Excuse the old campaign signs the wind is pretty bad still
The bachelor pad







The Sorority house.





Going to cut a window in the girls door when the wind dies down


90% scraps. (A few cheap lenolium stick tiles on the floor and fasteners)
The top is open and its under the eaves so it wont get too hot during the last few week they will have to be in it.

My saw skills need lots of work but fortunately it didnt have to look pretty. They shouldn't have to be here more than 6 weeks before transitioning to a perm pen;

Very nice job, Chris! It looks great!

Quote: Me too! Dripping bottles is a problem for me too

It is time for Chicky cuteness!

I have a small hatch--6 Pita Pinta and One OE(olive egger; Arakansas blue rooster over Partridge Penedesenca hen) Five have hatched already!

Here are the first three, two Pita Pintas and one OE:

Awwwww

Quote: Took me a sec to remember "the dress", but you re probably right!

This day just gets better! I just caught our dog in the front yard licking out one of the OE eggs Ron sent me! She's never stolen eggs before, but now she knows where they come from.

Awww...that sucks!

Quote: Nope, we're all electric, and the lowest setting on the oven is 175.
Heating pads?

Well that was fun! Opened the door to let the dog out and heard chickens squacking.
Grabbed my headlamp and headed to the coops. The bantams in the coop that I lost the eggs in were all down in the run except the broodie I caged in with more eggs. I knocked on the coop door and heard rustling, by the time I got to a point I could see the area under the elevated coop all I could see was a fluffed tail crawling back under the 8 x 12 coop that share a wall.
The girls were freaked out to be picked up and put back inside the coop even with the light inside. They are now locked safely away from the stink kitty.
While exploring to see if the nest raider was wandering in the garden area I found we have a new stray cat. We seem to get a new one every spring, haven't been able to tame any of them.

So glad you caught it before anyone wad hurt!

Quote: How long was she broody? My best broody will do the same if I don't give her a good couple of weeks before introducing chicks.

I've got an incubator!



Thanks to Ron's suggestion, I called the Ag extension, and they let me borrow one, even though we're not a 4H family. I've got it set up and stabilizing now, and will put the eggs in tonight.

Awesome! Love 4H!

Successful hatch! 8 Pita Pintas, 6 Splash&Blue Marans, and for a friend, 3 Spitzhaubens and 2 Black Marans!
Penny (hen below) did half the work, but then took all my 14 total chicks. She did seem a bit startled when they multiplied suddenly, but is managing like a trooper!

Marans daddy VeLo even stood and let the chicks run all over his feet so Penny could take a dust bath! Nice to see...

So cute! My broody is about 1/2 way thru on the Marans eggs from you...can't wait

Just weighed a big double-yolker egg laid 4/14: 99 grams! Oof.
I believe it was the black English orpington who done it.

Wow and OUCH!!!

I live near Sacramento and consider myself Northern. My chickens seem to love the weather here except for the hot summers. They like it under the coop in the summer.

Welcome!!!!

I shared these pics on the Pita PInta thread but wanted to share them with my N CA friends! I have several broodies sitting on Pita PInta eggs and the hatching began this week. This is one of my favorite hens and she hatched 6 PIta PInta chicks a few days ago. She is a Cream Legbar/? mix named Trinket. Last year, she hatched 3 different clutches and was an excellent mama. I love this bird!

Another great shot!

I love my d'anvers babies from @chickee !
Here is Panda (black/white mottled), Pirate (blue/white mottled), & Pepper (buff/dun)

They love sunbathing together

Beautiful colors!

HI ALL!! not to be abroken reord but does anyone know where I can get some local guinea keets? I am looking for 3 at least a week old. I will be driving to get them so preferably in northern California.
Thanks for your help!

There is someone in Biggs on Craig's list right now.. http://chico.craigslist.org/grd/4980815342.html

 

[ronott1]

I found this regarding chickens and bad things for them to eat. One of the Authors should be familiar to us!

and Robert T. Ludlow from Gardening with Free-Range Chickens For Dummies

When you’re free-ranging chickens, acquaint yourself with the more common ornamentals and edibles that are mildly toxic to poisonous to chickens. You’ll find a variety of plants that have toxic or poisonous qualities for chickens.
Always err on the side of caution; if you suspect a plant is poisonous to your chickens, rid it from your garden. Many plants have toxic properties that act as a type of innate defense to help the plants to survive.

Poisonous ornamental plants

Even though many ornamental plants are mildly toxic or poisonous to chickens, they’re highly unlikely to eat these plants while free-ranging. While sheep, goats, and other livestock animals will eat toxic plants, chickens rarely do.
When chickens eat something poisonous, it’s usually because someone unintentionally fed them something poisonous or underfed them while they were confined and exposed to something poisonous.
The following are some of the more common ornamental plants potentially toxic, yet unlikely that chickens would freely eat these.

· Azalea: Rhododendron spp.
· Boxwood: Buxus spp.
· Buttercup family: Ranunculaceae. This family includes anemone, clematis, delphinium, and ranunculus.
· Cherry laurel: Prunus laurocerasus.
· Daffodil: Narcissus spp.
· Daphne: Daphne spp.
· Foxglove: Digitalis spp.
· Honeysuckle: Lonicera spp.
· Hydrangea: Hydrangea spp.
· Ivy: Hedera spp.
· Jasmine: Jasminum spp.
· Lantana: Lantana spp.
· Lily of the valley: Convallaria majalis.
· Mexican poppy: Argemone mexicana
· Monkshood: Aconitum napellus.
· Mountain laurel: Kalmia latifolia.
· Oleander: Nerium oleander.
· Rhododendron: Rhododendron spp.
· Sweet pea: Lathyrus spp.
· Tobacco: Nicotiana spp.
· Tulip: Tulipa
· Wisteria: Wisteria spp.
· Yew: Taxus spp.

Poisonous edible plants

The following list contains suggestions for edibles to avoid with hand-feeding and free-ranging chickens:
· Avocado skin and pits contain persin, which is toxic to chickens.
· Avoid citrus juice and skins.
· Don’t give chickens any edible containing salt, sugar, coffee, or liquor.
· Uncooked raw or dried beans contain hemaglutin, which is poisonous to chickens.
· Raw green potato skins contain solanine, which is poisonous to chickens.
· Onions are a poor food to give to chickens because onions flavor eggs. Large quantities of onions can be harmful to chickens, affecting their red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia or Heinz anemia.
· Avoid feeding or free-ranging chickens specific unshelled nuts of walnuts(Juglans spp.), black walnuts (Juglans nigrs), hazelnuts (Corylus), and pecans (Carya illinoinensis).
· Don’t give your chickens leaves of rhubarb, potato, or tomato plants.

Deadly poisonous plants found in pastures

These plants are not only extremely poisonous to poultry, but also to many other types of livestock and humans. This is not an inclusive list, and be aware that these plants can be found in other areas besides pastures, such as meadows, wilderness areas, and sometimes in gardens as volunteers. These are the types of plants you absolutely should never expose your chickens to:
· Black locust: Robinia pseudoacacia.
· Bladderpod: Glottidium vasicarium.
· Death Camas: Zigadenus spp.
· Castor bean: Ricinus communis.
· European black nightshade: Solanum nigrum.
· Corn cockle: Agrostemma githago.
· Horsenettle: Datura stramonium.
· Milkweed: Asclepias tuberosa. And other varieties.
· Mushrooms: Amanita spp. Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Panther Cap. Extremely deadly and poisonous if ingested.
· Jimsonweed: Datura stramonium.
· Poison hemlock: Conium maculatum.
· Pokeberry: Phytolacca americana.
· Rosary pea: Arbus precatorius.
· Water Hemlock: Cicuta spp.
· White snakeroot: Ageratina altissima.

 

[1zooman12]

Just a tip but maybe a very important one; Someone asked about feeding baked beans to chickens; I think it was my friend and chicken partner, Caychris (Chris Young) and I wrote a reply about what I would do in the circumstance that I would not want to waste 8 quarts of baked beans remaining from a wedding reception. Okay, so far, so good. I checked and it turns out that dried or raw beans or bean flour made from dried beans all contain hemagglutin which is toxic to the being who eats it! That is the bad news. The good news is that this poison degrades into harmless material after being cooked for 30 minutes at high heat. So for the sake of your chickens, and you too, cook those beans! And for you husbands, beware the wife who decides to feed you some concoction containing uncooked beans!
Sounding the alarm AND good news,
Neal, the Zooman