Colorado

[ChickenCanoe]

Is anyone driving east on interstate 70 through St. Louis Missouri on their way to the Ohio national poultry show?
It is in Columbus, OH on November 9-10.
I have a Black Penedesenca rooster that needs to go there. The buyer could help with gas.

ETA

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Ohio_National.html

 

[Pozees]

I've been thinking of worming my flock. My Cochins, who laid every day last winter, have completely stopped. I upped protein, and that hasn't helped, so I'm out of ideas, aside from possible worms.
From what I've read, GFF Creams were bigger the first year but as they bred for correct color the hens got smaller. Having correctly colored hens means I can start breeding for size right away, I'd prefer they were a little bigger. My males are more colorful then they should be, I'm thinking we might order a few next year, since GFF just imported more, specifically to fix the color issue.
My girls are within two weeks of laying...I check at least four times a day, but they aren't getting the hint.

LOL darn those girls!

I argued with myself for two months over whether to use the wormer after I got it, and now I wish I'd just done it as soon as it arrived. I generally agree with the notion that the more artificial support I give my birds, the less naturally healthy the flock will evolve. That said, this is foundation stock - birds all bred elsewhere, not here, not bred from parents raised here, so there has been no genetic or human selection or adjustment for conditions at this elevation, humidity, temperature, etc. And, no genetic adjustment to the parasites, viruses, protozoa, and bacteria present on the grounds, in the air, and carried by local wild bird populations.

Once I have a generation or two bred here, I will expect them to survive without intervention, and if I find at that point I still need to worm, I'll have to consider the best way to address it then. I know there are people who worm on schedule every bird every year, and they often live in areas much wetter and warmer than here, so there is no climate-based intervention (ground freezing) to control parasite populations. Most of them are raising birds that might not have been kept in those areas by our forebears - another thing to consider when selecting breeds and deciding how one will care for them.

Just my random thoughts on a Sunday morning.

 

[ttclan]

We are driving through there next week, but not leaving until the 11th. If that works at all, we'd be happy to help.

Is anyone driving east on interstate 70 through St. Louis Missouri on their way to the Ohio national poultry show?
It is in Columbus, OH on November 9-10.
I have a Black Penedesenca rooster that needs to go there. The buyer could help with gas.

ETA

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Ohio_National.html

 

[suncatcher]

You are right, there has to be an adjustment time for any animal being moved from one place to another. I too wanted to only go the holistic natural way, but had to treat with chemicals on one occasion. You have to do what is best for the flock, and sometimes chemical intervention is the way to go.

If anyone is interested in a chick/hen experience, I have a momma hen with three chicks that are looking for a new place to roost! The chicks look to be blue splash cross, and the hen is a Bantam Cochin.


This picture is from several weeks ago......

 

[wsmith]

You know haw people say that if you watch your animals you will notice that they know when a change in the weather is coming? Some even say they will tell you of tornados and earthquakes...'
anyway, knowing that a storm is coming, I watched the chickens for any change in normal behavior. They all seem to be determined to eat as much as they can. Some are acting a little nervous as well...... Just some thoughts.....

 

[ChickenCanoe]

We are driving through there next week, but not leaving until the 11th. If that works at all, we'd be happy to help.

That would be fabulous. We've been trying to get him a ride for a long time. There are no other Black Penedesencas between Missouri and Ohio. In fact mine are by far the closest to her. She has 2 aging hens and no rooster.
I'll PM you.

 

[Mtn Margie]

I've been thinking of worming my flock. My Cochins, who laid every day last winter, have completely stopped. I upped protein, and that hasn't helped, so I'm out of ideas, aside from possible worms.

They will not lay until the days start lengthening again unless you give them light. Nothing wrong, totally natural for them to stop this year as they would have had a big molt and put the energy into feathers and resting up for the next round of egg laying.

 

[Ashdoes]

They will not lay until the days start lengthening again unless you give them light.  Nothing wrong, totally natural for them to stop this year as they would have had a big molt and put the energy into feathers and resting up for the next round of egg laying. 

Isn't it weird that the Cochins are the only ones not laying? The barred Rock, two sex links and wyandotte are laying almost daily....they are all the same age.

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Are they Standard Cochins? My eight month olds are not laying yet either, one looked into the nest box last week, but just doesn't seem interested! But, my Bantam Cochins are going strong, they too are eight months old.

Hope we don;t get a whole bunch of snow in the next few days! Still have some outdoor things that have to get done before the really cold weather hits.

 

[Ashdoes]

They are standard Cochins, but mine are about a year and a half now. I had one go broody and hatch chicks about five months ago, I think she's only laid a few since then. The second girl stopped about a two months ago. Just frustrating, always trying to figure out odd chicken behaviors.