Colorado

[dennarahl]

Ive got my first broody! I don't know whether thats exciting or scary. I'm worried about her in the heat, but I think it's awesome that we can raise our own babies. I really thought it would be one of my silkies who went broody first, but nope, it's one of my EEs. She's only 6 months old! She's been pecking my hands when I take eggs for a couple weeks. In the last few it's gotten worse and she's even started in on my hubby. Usually I kick her out of the nest and she's done for the day when she sees the eggs are gone. We had to be gone all day so she got to sit on "her" eggs all day, so I couldn't make myself take them away from her. I still kicked her out to go eat, drink and make the mother of all poops. I wasn't sure she would come back to the nest but she did. *crossing my fingers that she stays there tonight*

Lucy's the brown one in this picture from yesterday, hogging one of the nests until I stole the eggs. Mrs. Fluffybutt and Joss and telling her to get her bum out of the nest.

 

[ONSTAD1]

What type is it, and does it have any similar siblings to compare the comb to? If I remember from my chicks, 5 weeks was still a little to early to tell, but it was the comb that tipped me off in all three cases. I didn't really see any clues from the feathers until it was obvious they were boys from combs and attitudes.

It is an ee. Two other ee's, australorp and red link. All others have combs, just smaller. He/she is the biggest, but certainly not the "boss" . Comb is more orange than red.

 

[TracieJS]

Thanks ColoradoGal
Where can I get vetrx and oxide? I checked a couple of places but no good. Two of three looked better today but the third still has a runny nose and watery eyes. I really wanted to start them on the vetrx, sigh. Hoping it was the hay. I am off tomorrow so hope I can get it first thing.
Thanks. Tracie

 

[dennarahl]

It is an ee. Two other ee's, australorp and red link. All others have combs, just smaller. He/she is the biggest, but certainly not the "boss" . Comb is more orange than red.

EEs are so hard. If I didn't order just girls, I would have been guessing what they were until the day I got 8 eggs out of 8 birds. The two girls in my last post (brown in front and gray in the background) have the smallest combs of the EEs. I have three or four EE girls that have combs as big as the cochin in that picture. The only thing they all have in common is that their combs were miniscule until they were about 19 weeks. Except snowball, hers was an early comb but until she laid a blue egg I didn't know if she was an EE or female for certain (pure white feathers, greenish-gray legs, strange non-pea comb). Tail feathers don't work on my EE's either. Quite a few of them have the curvy feathers here and there.

If the comb/face go bright red before 12 weeks, I would guess male. Snowball went red very early, but I don't think it was that early. If it crows, that's the other early sign. I didn't see saddle feathers til at least 15 weeks on any of my boys.

 

[Mommato5]

OK. After looking at a few pics of chicks thought to be roos, I am pretty doubtful BO is a roo. I'll post a pic anyway, just to get opinions.




Thoughts?

Here's what I can tell you.....Our chicks are the same age. My suspected boy has a larger comb and just in the last 2 days has started growing noticeable red wattles. His legs are thicker. And just in the last 2 days he's started showing aggression towards the other girls. Yesterday he challenged one girl, bumping chests and flapping wings and today he had another chick by the nape of the neck and she was just screeching and he wouldn't let go (it kind of freaked me out)! EE's are such a non-breed that really anything could be normal. I would say it's too early to be sure but I'd keep an eye on Bo watching for any other suspious developments!

Also, I ordered only girls and they sent me one extra chick, an Australorp. My Roo is an Australorp. I'm thinking he was the packing peanut and the rest *should* be girls.

 

[dennarahl]

Here's what I can tell you.....Our chicks are the same age. My suspected boy has a larger comb and just in the last 2 days has started growing noticeable red wattles. His legs are thicker. And just in the last 2 days he's started showing aggression towards the other girls. Yesterday he challenged one girl, bumping chests and flapping wings and today he had another chick by the nape of the neck and she was just screeching and he wouldn't let go (it kind of freaked me out)! EE's are such a non-breed that really anything could be normal. I would say it's too early to be sure but I'd keep an eye on Bo watching for any other suspious developments!
Also, I ordered only girls and they sent me one extra chick, an Australorp. My Roo is an Australorp. I'm thinking he was the packing peanut and the rest *should* be girls.

Some of my girls have done the aggressive chest bumping thing too, so even its not a 100% sign.

 

[mynamesjenelle]

My little EE chest bumps all the time and I'm pretty sure she is a girl. She's just a brat because she's the smallest and knows she's mommy's favourite.

Thanks ColoradoGal
Where can I get vetrx and oxide? I checked a couple of places but no good. Two of three looked better today but the third still has a runny nose and watery eyes. I really wanted to start them on the vetrx, sigh. Hoping it was the hay. I am off tomorrow so hope I can get it first thing.
Thanks. Tracie

I know this one! Go to the store that Mo recommended in Old Colorado City, Buckley's Homestead Supply. It was kind of hard for me to find for some reason, but if you look on Google maps it's right where the Re/Max icon is on the southwest corner of the intersection.

http://buckleyshomesteadsupply.com/

I bought some VetRX for poultry, a roll of vetwrap, and a laundry soap bar there last weekend. I didn't see Oxide but I wasn't really looking for any either. If there is anything else you need just ask and they can probably order it. They even priced out a handheld butter churn for me while I waited. The owner is really nice and his kids will ask you a million questions

 

[coloradogal]

Thanks ColoradoGal
Where can I get vetrx and oxide? I checked a couple of places but no good. Two of three looked better today but the third still has a runny nose and watery eyes. I really wanted to start them on the vetrx, sigh. Hoping it was the hay. I am off tomorrow so hope I can get it first thing.
Thanks. Tracie

Poultry/VetRx can be found for sure out here at Falcon Feed and I believe the place off of Platte behind the Vet Clinic near Powers (can't remember the name of it). Oxine I don't believe is found locally but health food stores may carry MMS (miracle mineral supplement). http://www.mmshealthy4life.com/ is just one of many places that sells it that way. Read up on Oxine/MMS...even if you only have it on hand for water purification, it is well worth it.

I'm out in Falcon but will be out and about in the Springs if you'd like me to bring you some Oxine. I won't activate it for you though. Unactivated works fine for what you need unless you want it to clean. It sounds as though your girls just had unspecified respiratory crud and should be fine. I would still get the Poultry/Vet Rx to have on hand. I love that stuff and you can even add it to their water. If you want to activate it, just add some citric acid and it will turn a very pretty shade of yellow. Keep it out of direct sunlight though. It must be covered or put into dark bottles.

 

[ONSTAD1]

I'm pretty sure I've got good karma and some positive juju coming my way. I'm going to use some of it up willing this bird to be a hen ; )

 

[mynamesjenelle]

I put together a thread for a meetup at the state fair next month, please go check it out!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/695789/lets-go-to-the-colorado-state-fair