D'uccle Thread

[frannyglass]

I put a salve on my chickens with bigger combs every evening right now to try to prevent frostbite. It has definitely worn off from the day before by 24 hours. My rooster does not like to be picked up at all, but once I actually start putting the salve on he calms down and actually seems to like it for some reason. For some reason it is more difficult for me to get the salve onto my very sweet and docile faverolles hen who normally likes to be cuddled. They all have their likes and dislikes...

I think the salve is working, too, I haven't had any problems yet, and the temperatures have gone down to the single digits.

 

[mymilliefleur]

FuzzyButt Love, do you know how often to apply the Vasoline? Does it last a few days or do you have to put it on every day?

I put a coat of Vaseline on every week or so, and it seems to do the trick. My birds are calm, so it's not a big deal to put it on.

 

[chickenman5024]

I am very glad that since I live in texas I really don't have to worry too much about frostbite

 

[chisNchickens]

I ALWAYS list them on craigslist first. I usually won't kill them just because I have too many roos. (that just means I need more hens!) I was preparing them for the dinner table because I dispatched them all at once, but after plucking, I discovered that my flock run their feed off their bodies all day long in the pasture! It wasn't even worth the effort. I had my neighbor show me how to do it because I figured it was something I needed to learn as a farmer. I hated it. Now, I won't kill any of them, UNLESS I have one that I feel is just plain mean and should not be bred or given to some poor unsuspecting person. That only happened once (killed a mean one). Since then, I have nothing but great birds. I do have a huge Australorp that I'm trying to get rid of. The only roos I want are in my banty breeding programs.
Killing is no fun. It's not pleasant, it's messy and you have to be careful to get rid of the blood somehow to avoid predators. You can't even feed the dogs because you don't want them to get a taste for fresh chicken.

Try to find them a home. Someone will want them. Or you can get more hens!!!!!!! (That's my choice, but I have a couple of acres all fenced.)

Post them here. Someone may very well want to buy some , especially porcelains. Pictures!

I know this is extremely old but I had to reply. The red text above is absolutely incorrect. I feed all of my dogs a species appropriate diet, which consists of a lot of chicken. Both my chickens that I process and chicken from the grocery store. There is a lot of difference between a real, feathered, LIVE bird and a dressed out chicken. I never offer chicken unless it is plucked. My GSD is a LGD. He is with the chickens 24-7. He also eats mainly chicken, but not the live ones ;-) His job is to protect my birds.

 

[Metella]

Same with my 2 dogs .... they eat lots of chicken - but they never ever harass my live birds ...

 

[mymilliefleur]

I know this is extremely old but I had to reply. The red text above is absolutely incorrect. I feed all of my dogs a species appropriate diet, which consists of a lot of chicken. Both my chickens that I process and chicken from the grocery store. There is a lot of difference between a real, feathered, LIVE bird and a dressed out chicken. I never offer chicken unless it is plucked. My GSD is a LGD. He is with the chickens 24-7. He also eats mainly chicken, but not the live ones ;-) His job is to protect my birds.

Same with my 2 dogs .... they eat lots of chicken - but they never ever harass my live birds ...

I feed my guard dogs and house dogs chicken as well, and also raw lamb, and they have never hurt the sheep or chickens.

 

[FairLeaBantams]

Vasolining once every few days would probably be doable. I dust my birds with DE regularly so they are very easy to handle and catch.

 

[dsfrango]

Anyone here going to be at the Eastern States Expo for the Poultry Congress Show in Springfield, MA??? Ill be showing 2 Mille hens and 2 Black Mottled D'uccles

 

[Metella]

I found out about it too late

Can you post about it way early next year ?

Have fun !

 

[mymilliefleur]

Anyone here going to be at the Eastern States Expo for the Poultry Congress Show in Springfield, MA??? Ill be showing 2 Mille hens and 2 Black Mottled D'uccles

No, but I would love to see pictures of the two Millie hens you will be showing!