California - Northern

[debs_flock]

my girls aren't laying

Everyone decided to molt at the same time. Sea of Feathers.

X 1,000,000

I have hundreds of chickens and am getting less than six eggs per day.

But I could stuff several feather beds! I am up to my kneecaps in feathers of every color imaginable. I've been picking out the best turkey primaries to fashion a few "quill" pens to decorate my antique school desk.

 

[ronott1]

I lost a Polish to an owl last night, or atleast I think it was an owl.

I have been locking the birds up at 6:45 every night last night but last night I did not make it out there until 7:30 because I was taking an on-line timed test to re-knew my Real Estate License. As I approached one of the barns I could see a silhouette of a large bird which flew away as soon as I got close. I decided it must have been an owl unless hawks fly at night.

Unfortunately, I found one of my Polish headless on the ground below where the bird was perched. The curious thing is that the polish lives in a barn at least 200' from where its body was found. I also find it odd that the bird was headless. Is removing the head typical owl behavior?

I am Sorry about your Polish.

About them eating the heads, this may answer that question:

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hi! How is everyone doing?

Got my first Marans egg a few days ago! Super stoked! Although she hasn't laid since, is that normal for new layers?

Beautiful assortment of eggs! Yes, sporadic laying is normal.

finally home from work today, and candled the eggs (day 8 in the incubator) -- of the seven isbar eggs that came from Mary, 4 hve nice clear veins, two are uncertain (dark masses, but nothing identifiable as a vein), and one that looks clear but i'll leave it in a few more days, just in case.

with the dark marans eggs, though, my gosh it's hard to tell what i'm looking at, if anything. one seemed to have a blood ring (which i should take out, yes? or leave a few more days & check again?), but most of them i just couldn't see anything definitive. the challenge of dark layers!

Yay! On the dark eggs, all you can do is candle them at lockdown and look for darkness. They are hard to see into.

I lost a Polish to an owl last night, or atleast I think it was an owl.

I have been locking the birds up at 6:45 every night last night but last night I did not make it out there until 7:30 because I was taking an on-line timed test to re-knew my Real Estate License. As I approached one of the barns I could see a silhouette of a large bird which flew away as soon as I got close. I decided it must have been an owl unless hawks fly at night.

Unfortunately, I found one of my Polish headless on the ground below where the bird was perched. The curious thing is that the polish lives in a barn at least 200' from where its body was found. I also find it odd that the bird was headless. Is removing the head typical owl behavior?

I'm sorry.

And yes, owls will eat the heads. Skunks do it too I believe.

 

[juststruttin]

I am Sorry about your Polish.

About them eating the heads, this may answer that question:

That is a beautiful owl. Poor chickie. I will make sure to lock my birds up on time from now on. I feel horrible.

 

[lawatt]

That is a beautiful owl. Poor chickie. I will make sure to lock my birds up on time from now on. I feel horrible.

so sorry about your chicklet!

 

[chrissyr]

I lost a Polish to an owl last night, or atleast I think it was an owl.

I have been locking the birds up at 6:45 every night last night but last night I did not make it out there until 7:30 because I was taking an on-line timed test to re-knew my Real Estate License. As I approached one of the barns I could see a silhouette of a large bird which flew away as soon as I got close. I decided it must have been an owl unless hawks fly at night.

Unfortunately, I found one of my Polish headless on the ground below where the bird was perched. The curious thing is that the polish lives in a barn at least 200' from where its body was found. I also find it odd that the bird was headless. Is removing the head typical owl behavior?

So sorry for your loss. If the polish lives 200' away, the owl must have carried it. Not sure if hawks can carry a bird that far. I could be wrong though. I've had hawks kill hens, but never move them after. I've seen those automatic coop doors. They sound great, but look a little pricey.

 

[tommysgirl]

When is that Poultry show in Chico? It's open right? Just curious who might be going either as a looky-loo or an exhibitor.

I might put together a field trip of local people to head over and check it out.

Deann so sorry about your polish.

ETA: in whatever is the broody version of lockdown. 7 eggs were/seemed still viable on fri. Two that I had thought were maybe just a little behind turned out to be clear...I had been seeing the yolk I guess. The other was an early quitter. Judging by the embryo chart it looked about 7 days along. It was one of Ozzie and Harriet's so I am a little bummed out by that but excited about the 4 LPW eggs and the remaining Del as well as the Ozzie over Chock Rock and Ozzie over CA grey. Eggs due to hatch tomorrow pm through Thursday


What will that produce in terms of color? Del roo over choc barred and over cuckoo?

 

[Ali707]

That is a beautiful owl. Poor chickie. I will make sure to lock my birds up on time from now on. I feel horrible.

That was an amazing owl, but it must have been a biggie in order to carry of an 3 lb? Polish?

If I didn't have my Polish that I hatched from you in a covered run they would for sure be gone by now. They are beautiful easy pickin's for sure.

 

[Ali707]

*sigh*...... after 10 days on Corid, they birds still aren't quite right.

I have to send some poo in to Davis I guess. I was hoping I wouldn't have to, because it is kind of a pain in the butt finding the form, getting the right box, getting the right poo, wrapping it all up and then taking it to a drop off center! Even with Ron's help and instruction, I feel like I am not doing it right.

They are still losing weight too. I don't like it. They all act okay but appear to still be losing weight and runny poo and slightly reddish in color. Not sure if it is blood or not.........

I did get another Wellie egg though last night. They are so dark and pretty. Much darker than my last Welsummer, but the last one had more spots.

 

[ronott1]

*sigh*...... after 10 days on Corid, they birds still aren't quite right.

I have to send some poo in to Davis I guess. I was hoping I wouldn't have to, because it is kind of a pain in the butt finding the form, getting the right box, getting the right poo, wrapping it all up and then taking it to a drop off center! Even with Ron's help and instruction, I feel like I am not doing it right.

They are still losing weight too. I don't like it. They all act okay but appear to still be losing weight and runny poo and slightly reddish in color. Not sure if it is blood or not.........

I did get another Wellie egg though last night. They are so dark and pretty. Much darker than my last Welsummer, but the last one had more spots.

Yes, get the sample in to UCD!

Eggs are good sign. Egg laying equals health.