California - Northern

[HighStreetCoop]

Had a bit of a scare last night. I got home from work and let the chooks out to free range for a couple hours, but I spaced closing the back door behind me and my BFF's dog who was over at the house got out and went after them (my dog ignores them so I don't really worry most of the time). Sylvester leapt in, saved all the girls, but lost his entire tail. He has a small cut/tear on his bum, but otherwise seems fine (guess all those feathers ARE good for something!). I treated the wound with Vetericyn (there wasn't any blood, amazingly) and I'll check on it again nightly until it heals up. He was a complete gentleman about letting me handle him though and he greeted me this morning exactly as he normally does, which was relief. I was worried he'd go into shock or have some internal injury that hadn't been obvious.

 

[dldolan]

Had a bit of a scare last night. I got home from work and let the chooks out to free range for a couple hours, but I spaced closing the back door behind me and my BFF's dog who was over at the house got out and went after them (my dog ignores them so I don't really worry most of the time). Sylvester leapt in, saved all the girls, but lost his entire tail. He has a small cut/tear on his bum, but otherwise seems fine (guess all those feathers ARE good for something!). I treated the wound with Vetericyn (there wasn't any blood, amazingly) and I'll check on it again nightly until it heals up. He was a complete gentleman about letting me handle him though and he greeted me this morning exactly as he normally does, which was relief. I was worried he'd go into shock or have some internal injury that hadn't been obvious.

Good Rooster! Doing his job! And sounds like he only got a little beat up, so that is a good ending.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Quote:
He is a good rooster.

 

[QueenMisha]

Belt hatchery here out of fresno has all of them you can order online from them or make the 2-2.5 hr drive to fresno I know elm feed store gets their chicks from them (I got em there last oct) the hatchery might be able to tell you of a store closer that carries their chicks!

I love Belt hatchery. Good strong birds, their Easter Eggers are to die for - such beautiful variation in color. I'm not a fan of their Silver Laced Wyandottes, though. Good layers but terrible pattern. Lots of them have single combs too - I'm pretty sure they crossed White Leghorn into their stock sometime in the past few generations. It's funny too, because their Golden Laced are actually great quality - beautiful lacing!

 

[KernH]

I love Belt hatchery. Good strong birds, their Easter Eggers are to die for - such beautiful variation in color. I'm not a fan of their Silver Laced Wyandottes, though. Good layers but terrible pattern. Lots of them have single combs too - I'm pretty sure they crossed White Leghorn into their stock sometime in the past few generations. It's funny too, because their Golden Laced are actually great quality - beautiful lacing!

From their description of Ameraucanas, it sounds like they are really selling Easter Eggers which is bad.

Known as the "Easter Egg" chicken; these birds lay the famous green, blue, and pink eggs! They are energetic and very easy to raise. Each bird looks different. Some are white; some are black; some are speckled with puffy little cheeks! One thing is for sure, you'll love these birds!

Kern

 

[caychris]

My brother in law lost a bird to a predator yesterday and 2 more this morning. After consulting with a few people we think it might be an opossum. It tended to eat mostly the internals and went after the eggs they had yet to lay today. It was pretty gruesome but they left most of the meat on the carcass.

I rescued the remaining hen(a pita) and since she originally came from my flock and has not been with other birds put her back with my pita flock. She was welcomed in with no problems what so ever. I love pitas so good about flock politics. She wasnt sure what to make of the boys advances though. He is such a gentleman though and didnt push the issue.

He had them in his suburban back yard letting them free range for the greens and bugs when they were all taken.

Sad couple of days but the remaining one seems happy just to have friends again.

 

[Honora]

My brother in law lost a bird to a predator yesterday and 2 more this morning. After consulting with a few people we think it might be an opossum. It tended to eat mostly the internals and went after the eggs they had yet to lay today. It was pretty gruesome but they left most of the meat on the carcass.

I rescued the remaining hen(a pita) and since she originally came from my flock and has not been with other birds put her back with my pita flock. She was welcomed in with no problems what so ever. I love pitas so good about flock politics. She wasnt sure what to make of the boys advances though. He is such a gentleman though and didnt push the issue.

He had them in his suburban back yard letting them free range for the greens and bugs when they were all taken.

Sad couple of days but the remaining one seems happy just to have friends again.

What a shame. I had a possum here when I had chicks outside. The possum got 2 of my chicks but then I put them in the coop which was better protected, and after a while the possum gave up and moved on. They are not territorial; they will only stay if there is food for them, so maybe after a few months your BIL could try again after some more predator-proofing.

 

[h2oratt]

What color is your male Orpington ? Chocolate like the one I got from you?

 

[QueenMisha]

From their description of Ameraucanas, it sounds like they are really selling Easter Eggers which is bad.  

Known as the "Easter Egg" chicken; these birds lay the famous green, blue, and pink eggs! They are energetic and very easy to raise. Each bird looks different. Some are white; some are black; some are speckled with puffy little cheeks! One thing is for sure, you'll love these birds!

Kern

Yes, they're Easter Eggers. I have 10 or so from Belt stock and they range in color form almost completely black to a pale lemon, and one - Margot - who was such a beautiful blue and red as she grew I was certain she had to be a rooster. Most hatcheries sell them as Ameraucanas but honestly they really can't be faulted for it, the trend was started long ago. At this point 90% of the people I talk to will call their EEs Ameraucanas/Araucanas/Americanas/Amerauicanas/Amaericanas/insert-fancy-new-spelling-of-the-day. Sad to say, but more often than not when I refer to chicks as simply and properly "Easter Eggers" I get a blank look from folks.

 

[Honora]

What color is your male Orpington ? Chocolate like the one I got from you?

He is Lemon Cuckoo. He is not as mature as the Chocolate one; he's kind of a dorky skinny guy, lol. He is finally starting to fill out now, and just started trying to crow. He is sweet but he needs to learn to be more assertive, haha!