California - Northern

[Kaylish]

Finished the new brooder last night; they all seem much happier with the added space (upgrade from a 100 gallon ag tub). I'm sure I'll be adding a top before they're ready for the big coop.

@SpringPeeper all my chicks right now are from NorCal (3 weeks:4 BCM, 2 CLB & 2 weeks: 2 Light Sussex, 1 blue LF Cochin and 2 Bantam Cochins -she's super nice) I'd love to see pics as they grow and compare.

 

[PetRock]

Finished the new brooder last night; they all seem much happier with the added space (upgrade from a 100 gallon ag tub). I'm sure I'll be adding a top before they're ready for the big coop.

@SpringPeeper all my chicks right now are from NorCal (3 weeks:4 BCM, 2 CLB & 2 weeks: 2 Light Sussex, 1 blue LF Cochin and 2 Bantam Cochins -she's super nice) I'd love to see pics as they grow and compare.

Very nice!!!

 

[ronott1]

I guess I should knock on wood about not having any lice or mite problems this year.
For lice in the past, I used poultry dust & ivermectin drops with great success. I also did a total bedding change.
The first time I did poultry dust only & the buggers came right back.
The dust alone did work well for the 1 time I've experienced feather mites though.

I have never found a successful way for killing scaly leg mites. I've treated & controlled from spreading but not eliminated from the affected bird.
I've tried vaseline & vegetable oil multiple times daily over a 2-week period. I refused to try someone's advise of using motor oil (?!?!). That can't be healthy for the bird, can it?

So, I had my first bumble foot surgery yesterday. Got out a kernel the size of my thumbnail. How did I not see this poor hen's foot sooner? I feel like a bad chicken mommy.
Surgery went well and she's not even limping today.

Now today I find my male pigeon has picked a fight with a banty hen AGAIN and lost - for the 3rd time. His chest keeps getting ripped open. I come out to find blood dripping from him. I guess he is too territorial & protective of his hen. Cute but nerve-wracking. The pigeons are getting their own place now.

Life will be a bit easier I hope with them separated!

Finished the new brooder last night; they all seem much happier with the added space (upgrade from a 100 gallon ag tub). I'm sure I'll be adding a top before they're ready for the big coop.

@SpringPeeper all my chicks right now are from NorCal (3 weeks:4 BCM, 2 CLB & 2 weeks: 2 Light Sussex, 1 blue LF Cochin and 2 Bantam Cochins -she's super nice) I'd love to see pics as they grow and compare.

Nice job on the Brooder!

 

[Audio51]

Quote: I have made covers for square ones before...it's the curves on the stock tank that are stumping me.

Does anyone have chicks hatching today?

I finished one hatch this morning and saw the first pipped Dorking egg this morning for the next hatch!

I wonder how many will be out after work today?

I have the free quail eggs that GQF sent with the Genesis that are due. Today is day 19, but I don't think they are going to hatch.

Forgot to mention, I think I had one of them "wonky" or saddle air cells. It pipped internally, but couldn't do the external, so I helped. It's very weak, so not sure it will make it.

-Kathy

Yes, let's ban birds from getting sick and just have healthy hatching!

Make sure you tell your flocks they aren't allowed to have any more problems.

No hatching, but I did get some new chicks! Some beautiful BC Marans from NorCal Chickens- nearly a week old. Agreed to a price for seven, when they were being picked up she realized she'd miscounted and had 8 and just gave the last one to my mom. They're all growing out here, but 5 are for my parent's place. Then my husband was sent to the feedstore to get back-up bulbs for my heat lamp and brought back a happy meal box with 'chicken nuggets' (really, three Dominique chicks). They had Dominiques, Brown Leghorns, and 'one with Red in the name' and he said he remembered Dominiques being one I wanted to own someday. I'm actually kind of impressed he remembered that! It looks the the Rhode Island White's I've been looking for are going to have to wait until next year since I'm also keeping 6-10 birds from the orders I'm raising out for my parents and sister, but that's ok. Gives me time to find just the right stock to pick from.

What a nice Hubby!

 

[ronott1]

I have the free quail eggs that GQF sent with the Genesis that are due. Today is day 19, but I don't think they are going to hatch.

They still might!

 

[SpringPeeper]

Finished the new brooder last night; they all seem much happier with the added space (upgrade from a 100 gallon ag tub). I'm sure I'll be adding a top before they're ready for the big coop.

@SpringPeeper all my chicks right now are from NorCal (3 weeks:4 BCM, 2 CLB & 2 weeks: 2 Light Sussex, 1 blue LF Cochin and 2 Bantam Cochins -she's super nice) I'd love to see pics as they grow and compare.

Same here on the pictures I'll try to get some tomorrow, too,

 

[Audio51]

Finished the new brooder last night; they all seem much happier with the added space (upgrade from a 100 gallon ag tub). I'm sure I'll be adding a top before they're ready for the big coop.

@SpringPeeper all my chicks right now are from NorCal (3 weeks:4 BCM, 2 CLB & 2 weeks: 2 Light Sussex, 1 blue LF Cochin and 2 Bantam Cochins -she's super nice) I'd love to see pics as they grow and compare.

Great job! You are pretty handy!

 

[AlpineButterfly]

I guess I should knock on wood about not having any lice or mite problems this year.
For lice in the past, I used poultry dust & ivermectin drops with great success. I also did a total bedding change.
The first time I did poultry dust only & the buggers came right back.
The dust alone did work well for the 1 time I've experienced feather mites though.

I have never found a successful way for killing scaly leg mites. I've treated & controlled from spreading but not eliminated from the affected bird.
I've tried vaseline & vegetable oil multiple times daily over a 2-week period. I refused to try someone's advise of using motor oil (?!?!). That can't be healthy for the bird, can it?

So, I had my first bumble foot surgery yesterday. Got out a kernel the size of my thumbnail. How did I not see this poor hen's foot sooner? I feel like a bad chicken mommy.
Surgery went well and she's not even limping today.

Now today I find my male pigeon has picked a fight with a banty hen AGAIN and lost - for the 3rd time. His chest keeps getting ripped open. I come out to find blood dripping from him. I guess he is too territorial & protective of his hen. Cute but nerve-wracking. The pigeons are getting their own place now.

Oh! I have questions about bumble foot!

About a month ago, I noticed that there were round scabs on the bottoms of Rosie's feet. So I gave her a bath, and soaked her feet in warm epsom salt water. I did a bit of surgery, but didn't find a kernel. I put antibiotic ointment on the hole, gauze over it, and did my best to attach it with elastic tape, over her feathery feet. She stayed in a cage in the house that day, and I soaked and re-bandaged her feet the next day. But she was getting pretty restless, so I let her out with everyone else, and she promptly lost her bandages. I just let her be, and she's been running around like nothing is wrong. She still has round scabs on the bottom of her feet.

My questions (to anyone in general): do I need to do more extensive surgery to try to find a kernel? do I just keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't start limping? should I try something else to help her fight off the infection on her own?

 

[Audio51]

Quote:
I hope so......but no big loss if they don't. I finally wa able to order some BLRW eggs from Papa Brooder and I found another source for Mottled Ameraucana egg and ordered 36 of them. 36 eggs for $37.50 plus shipping...that is pretty darned reasonable! The BLRW may shipe tomorrow or Monday. The Mottled AM may take longer...she only takes checks and not Paypal, so I had to mail that yesterday. She will let me know when she gets it and then I will send her another check for the shipping.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Does anyone have chicks hatching today?

I finished one hatch this morning and saw the first pipped Dorking egg this morning for the next hatch!

I wonder how many will be out after work today?

Pipping starting when I left this am . Black penedesenca