Consolidated Kansas

[cherwill]

Ordinarily I wouldn't post something like this, since it's just a photo of ME, but this morning I was doing some video for my church and one of the guys snapped a photo of me while I was working and posted it to his Facebook page. I haven't had a really great photo taken of me in a while, and thought his camera phone did a great job! Too bad I can't photoshop all the kids in and my DH and send it out as Christmas Cards! LOL (well, I could, but it would look crazy!)

That's a great picture. I don't photograph well at all. AT ALL. You look fantastic.

Well S***!!!! He just died. UGH. I really liked this roo, he was a gorgeous and super sweet boy. It is so heartbreaking when they get sick like this. I assume this was more than an impacted crop, but it appeared that was part of the issue. Grrrr...I hate losing birds, hate it!!!

I'm sorry. It's such a helpless feeling when you can't do anything to stop it.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Wow Mike that is an awesome buy. And inexpensive too. I would certainly consider that if I were you Maidenwolf. Farm Innovators makes some other products that I've seen so it isn't some fly by night company either.
Josie I'm so sorry about your roo. It sounds to me like more than an impacted crop. I have one hen that almost constantly is impacted and always had been. She shakes her head a lot kind of like they do when they are congested. Was he doing that? Nothing I've done will help her but she seems like she gets along fine. I wonder if he got something stuck in his throat. Your advice cured my duck that did and I am really sorry it didn't work for your roo.
Hawkeye I will probably just donate the chicks to Maidenwolf or someone who wants more birds and doesn't care what they are. I used to sell all these mutts but I really don't want to mess with them when I am trying to breed for quality and purebreds. The last bunch of chicks I had a hen sitting on was 18. And it was a tiny little pheonix hen. Maidenwolf got those chicks except the last 4 which I hatched because she left the nest to take care of the babies. Those will be her chicks as well. I am just letting her raise them for the time being.
The second batch of eggs I gave the hen came from the sussex and orpington house so there might be some salable birds in that mix.
Marans are big birds. With that many eggs some will get pushed to the side and may not make it, but they do a pretty good job of covering them. I just felt really sorry for her sitting there for weeks without a single egg under her.
So a little after new year we might see a few chicks.
I sure hope you don't get the flu but it sounds like you are on your way. I hope you shake it off.

The incubator looks great. I will keep that in mind. I will take whatever chicks you need to find homes for. Or if someone else has need or want for some babies then give them out. I have gotten some from you and getting those other 4.
Hawkeye that is a very nice pic of you. Very festive.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

OKay-- and everyone knows who Jen is, right (Revolution Mama Ranch)?? Well, here she is with her R-Coms! They look really easy to use! Except that they have the turners on the INside. I really like that Brinsea has the turners on the outside, or you can turn outside by hand, you never have to open the lid even if you turn by hand. But anyway, I've considered the R-Com as a possible next incubator.

I'm thinking of contacting Brinsea today and returning #3 they sent me - I just cannot get the temp to maintain. It will be at 100 for 24+ hours and then in the morning it is at 103... I am going to see if I just return and not trade this time. If I am able to do that, this will be what I buy. Wish me luck.

 

[chicken danz]

I just want to add one thing in here about smaller incubators. I learned this using the LGs in the beginning. They need to be up against a wall away from any drafts and and heat vents. Room temperature must stay stable and solid. If adding water always add very warm (like hot from the faucet water to compensate for taking the lid off. I often just removed one of the windows on mine and never actually took the lid off to add water. Keep in mind if the temperature fluctuates if you have a lid off it is no different than a hen getting off the nest to eat and drink. It's the internal temperature of the eggs that makes all the difference in the world....not the external temperature. ALWAYS regulate your temperature and get it steady BEFORE you ever think about adding eggs. The time to mess with it isn't after the eggs have been added. Onc eyou get it stablized for about 24 hours....LEAVE IT ALONE! I put a mark on mine when I had the temp set and maintained at the perfect 99.5 where the eggs sat.
I read several revues on the farm innovators site and most of the revues were good. The one thing it said was the thermometer and hygrometer dial was for reference only (even says so in the instructions) and to go by a thermometer placed on top the eggs to verify how close it read. It said the hygrometer was pretty accurate but the thermometer could be way off. They do include a separate thermometer for inside. If I were using one of these I would do what I did with my styros. I had a remote digital thermometer with a prob I just laid on top of the eggs. It was dirt cheap, under $10.
I honestly think a lot of failures get blamed on the incubators because people don't know how to use them properly. I had good hatches with my styros, not as great as what I have with the GQFs but very within above average limits.
The way I see it, if people can hatch eggs with a homemade box, a light bulb, and a thermostat from a water heater which will fluctuate by huge swings you don't have to spend a fortune to hatch eggs. It's at least 75% management.
Yes I am very spoiled to my GQF's that do all the work for me but I still use the others when I run out of space.
Okay I'll get off my soapbox.
Hawkeye I meant to say that really is a great picture. I do not photograph well. Maybe I am just uglier than I think, and it's really not the photos' fault!!!
I panicked this morning cause I opened windows yesterday in the brooder since it was warmer to let some fresh air in. I just knew I would have dead chicks this morning. I ran out in my jammies and they were all just fine. With the temperature dipping down again all through next week it really worries me I will start loosing babies again. I need to buy a few more bales of shavings. I thought I had a couple left but I had used them in the hen house and forgotten.
I need to deliver eggs to town again today and go finish decorating at my Dad's apartment.
DH built some sides for the camper topper some of the birds use for a chicken coop. I had put netting around it to protect them and a bale of straw to block the wind. (It was sitting on saw horses before.) It does make a fairly nice little coop for them especially for winter. And I can always open windows to get breeze in there. It doesn't look quite as trashy.
I really wish he had made a shelter for my pig though instead. I need to get busy on that project for sure.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

This poor wee chick's right foot was turning under this week, so my son taped on a cardboard shoe. Then the left leg began having problems, buckling under him, and sticking out to the side. We have to sit him upright or he flops over. He is eating and drinking, but can't get around easily. We are also giving him Polyvisol vitamins. He is about 8 or maybe 9 weeks old.

This was sent to me from another member, this poor chick.. They got it and a few others from a feed store. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas?

 

[chicken danz]

That is going to be a neurological problem most likely. He probably got his head o r spine hurt some way. About all you can do is give him the vitamins and some vitamin E capsules and hope they help. I personally would remove the shoe if this developed rather than something he was born with.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Yes it was a developed thing all of a sudden. the feed store has been feeding this person the wrong info this whole time and is why they are asking here. Anyway is this somthing that can be fixed like when my little chick had the head shake and couldnt get up?

 

[Hawkeye95]

Marans are big birds. With that many eggs some will get pushed to the side and may not make it, but they do a pretty good job of covering them. I just felt really sorry for her sitting there for weeks without a single egg under her.
So a little after new year we might see a few chicks.
I sure hope you don't get the flu but it sounds like you are on your way. I hope you shake it off.

Aww, that's nice you can give her those chicks! Sounds like they are big birds! It just seems crazy she can cover 20 eggs! ha!

I saw that pic on FB, it's a nice one of you!


I delivered another extra roo to Mulvane today on my way to Wichita. It was the extra lavender Orp roo that I hatched out in the spring & I kept one of them & found a new home for this one. He was going to a farm with 29 hens, so he should be happy. He is going to be a huge rooster, I picked him up to put him in the crate & he was already getting heavy & is not full grown yet. He has big legs & feet already, I can't imagine what he'll look like when he's done growing. I kept his brother, but I don't think he will be quite as big.

I have one more rooster right now I need to re-home since I'm getting a new one from Danz & then I think I'm done shuffling roosters around until I decide on which two I want out of the Swedish Flower Hen roos. I have two too many of those also, but I want to see exactly how these two crested ones feather out first. I already know which one of the non-crested ones I want to keep.

I've been running all this week, I have some things I need to catch up on, I just need to be able to be here to do them. I heard my Black Copper Marans roo sneezing today, I think I'm going to just try the VetRx on him since he didn't seem too bad yet. Gosh I hate it that birds are already having these issues & we haven't even really gotten into winter yet.

I just looked at that incubator, that honestly does seem like a nice incubator for a great price, I know nothing about that brand though. Well I just did a search & came up with two different references on BYC talking about this incubator & they weren't good comments. They said they couldn't control the temp & would never buy one again.

Sounds like VetRX is the best solution right now. I do that too when I see them do a yawn or a little sneeze, I go rub them down! Usually if caught early, it works really fast! Hope you are able to rehome your roos! I've not had good luck getting rid of my extra silkie roos. I have two of them that are breeder/show quality that I want to get rid of. Of course, I'm not going to sell them for cheap-- I'll sell them for what they are worth. Then i have two FREE pet quality roos to get rid of. Sigh.

I'm thinking of contacting Brinsea today and returning #3 they sent me - I just cannot get the temp to maintain. It will be at 100 for 24+ hours and then in the morning it is at 103... I am going to see if I just return and not trade this time. If I am able to do that, this will be what I buy. Wish me luck.

Did you see the price on the R-COM? They are $435.00!!!!! Not cheap. Although, the reviews on them are fantastic and everyone who owns one loves them. But, WOW are they expensive!!! I was just thinking if I ever saw one used, I'd love to snatch it. But people who own them might not ever want to get rid of them. I saw the comments Brinsea made to you-- they said they'd take your machine back a few days ago. I wouldn't have messed with it any longer and sent it back early this week. It is just insane how much trouble you've had! I've never known anyone to have problems! Usually the Brinsea is extremely trouble-free and easy.

I just want to add one thing in here about smaller incubators. I learned this using the LGs in the beginning. They need to be up against a wall away from any drafts and and heat vents. Room temperature must stay stable and solid. If adding water always add very warm (like hot from the faucet water to compensate for taking the lid off. I often just removed one of the windows on mine and never actually took the lid off to add water. Keep in mind if the temperature fluctuates if you have a lid off it is no different than a hen getting off the nest to eat and drink. It's the internal temperature of the eggs that makes all the difference in the world....not the external temperature. ALWAYS regulate your temperature and get it steady BEFORE you ever think about adding eggs. The time to mess with it isn't after the eggs have been added. Onc eyou get it stablized for about 24 hours....LEAVE IT ALONE! I put a mark on mine when I had the temp set and maintained at the perfect 99.5 where the eggs sat.
I read several revues on the farm innovators site and most of the revues were good. The one thing it said was the thermometer and hygrometer dial was for reference only (even says so in the instructions) and to go by a thermometer placed on top the eggs to verify how close it read. It said the hygrometer was pretty accurate but the thermometer could be way off. They do include a separate thermometer for inside. If I were using one of these I would do what I did with my styros. I had a remote digital thermometer with a prob I just laid on top of the eggs. It was dirt cheap, under $10.
I honestly think a lot of failures get blamed on the incubators because people don't know how to use them properly. I had good hatches with my styros, not as great as what I have with the GQFs but very within above average limits.
The way I see it, if people can hatch eggs with a homemade box, a light bulb, and a thermostat from a water heater which will fluctuate by huge swings you don't have to spend a fortune to hatch eggs. It's at least 75% management.
Yes I am very spoiled to my GQF's that do all the work for me but I still use the others when I run out of space.
Okay I'll get off my soapbox.
Hawkeye I meant to say that really is a great picture. I do not photograph well. Maybe I am just uglier than I think, and it's really not the photos' fault!!!
I panicked this morning cause I opened windows yesterday in the brooder since it was warmer to let some fresh air in. I just knew I would have dead chicks this morning. I ran out in my jammies and they were all just fine. With the temperature dipping down again all through next week it really worries me I will start loosing babies again. I need to buy a few more bales of shavings. I thought I had a couple left but I had used them in the hen house and forgotten.
I need to deliver eggs to town again today and go finish decorating at my Dad's apartment.
DH built some sides for the camper topper some of the birds use for a chicken coop. I had put netting around it to protect them and a bale of straw to block the wind. (It was sitting on saw horses before.) It does make a fairly nice little coop for them especially for winter. And I can always open windows to get breeze in there. It doesn't look quite as trashy.
I really wish he had made a shelter for my pig though instead. I need to get busy on that project for sure.

Yes, I always add warm water too, not cold. Plus when you add your eggs to the incubator, your temp will dive down low... it takes a while to stabilize and warm up those eggs. And you are so pretty! I think you took a fantastic picture last year with your family at Thanksgiving! Glad your babies were okay! Do you have your pig home, yet? When you get him, post a picture!

This poor wee chick's right foot was turning under this week, so my son taped on a cardboard shoe. Then the left leg began having problems, buckling under him, and sticking out to the side. We have to sit him upright or he flops over. He is eating and drinking, but can't get around easily. We are also giving him Polyvisol vitamins. He is about 8 or maybe 9 weeks old.

This was sent to me from another member, this poor chick.. They got it and a few others from a feed store. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas?

This looks like classic Mareks symptoms!


Neural form: Characterized by one, all, or none of the following symptoms -
• Progressive paralysis, usually of the leg or wing, a typical leg-paralysis victim will
have one leg extended forward and one leg extended back. A swelling of the sciatic
nerve is the cause.
• Weight loss
• Labored breathing
• Diarrhea
• Starvation and death due to an inability to reach feed and water and to trampling by penmates.

I'm guessing your bird has Mareks, and if so, it is transmitted by feather dander, dust, bird to bird, insects, air, etc-- basically this is HIGHLY contagious and very dangerous to your flock. You could lose your entire flock in a matter of days. I'd separate him, and probably just go ahead and put him down and bury him. Mortality for Mareks is 100%-- there is NO cure. And the death is quite awful. I'm so sorry, and I'm usually not all "doom and gloom", but I really think you have a very, very serious disease on your hands. I would be a disaster if I saw this on one of my birds and I would cull immediately just because I would not want it passed on.

That is going to be a neurological problem most likely. He probably got his head o r spine hurt some way. About all you can do is give him the vitamins and some vitamin E capsules and hope they help. I personally would remove the shoe if this developed rather than something he was born with.

One of the first signs of Mareks-- the sciatic nerve is the reason for the lose of function in the leg(s).

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Oh goodness. This person got a bunch of chicks from a feed store, funny thing, the feed store told them before they left that they would get meraks easily as they are not immune. Why would they even say this, did these guys have it already and they knew? Anyway, I was afraid of this, so the other chicks are all this age, they wont survive?

 

[Hawkeye95]

Oh goodness. This person got a bunch of chicks from a feed store, funny thing, the feed store told them before they left that they would get meraks easily as they are not immune. Why would they even say this, did these guys have it already and they knew? Anyway, I was afraid of this, so the other chicks are all this age, they wont survive?

NO, they will not survive. Everything I have read, says it is 100% fatal. I would not bring in any other birds, and there will have to be some SERIOUS cleaning. The birds that do NOT show signs/sypmtoms will be carrier birds. So the ones that do not get the symptoms can pass it on in their poop, dander, etc. They will either have to be a closed flock... or I *THINK* maybe you can vaccinate new birds that come in.... but I'm not sure on that one. I'm in tune with this disease right now because we had a silkie breeder on our club site that lost nearly her ENTIRE flock of breeder/show quality birds to Mareks. She ended up putting down the rest of them and starting over. But she is going to have to wait several months before bringing in new birds and they will have to be vaccinated. She talked about spraying bleach on the ground, in the pens, and cleaning EVERYthing. It is very serious.