D'uccle Thread

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

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[wegotchickens]

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I had a hen that was what I considered cream mottled, but others said still counted as a goldneck. I used her a very yellow porcelain roo to get a batch of gn's and creams. I bought gn eggs from other sources in order to have more bloodlines and because I found straight gn to be very pretty.

I have the hatchlings from the last set of eggs from the gn pen, and there are more from the cream mom than the gn mom. I am hoping I can get a cream quad, and then work from there.

I hope my project birds will produce some lavs next spring. They should be laying by then.
I am torn between adding fresh bloodlines into my lavs, or keeping a closed flock.


I almost lost all the chicks last night. Either the waterer wasn't screwed together correctly, someone tilted it, or the puppy pad wicked water away. I hadn't completely filled it, so it wasn't as bad as it could've been. They stood on dampness for an undetermined amount of time. Most seem very perky and okay.

But Norman was special needs and should've been culled. He was a little fighter though, so I left him be. But he was soaking wet this morning from flopping around on the wet pad, so I cuddled and warmed him, apologized, and set him free. Poor Norman.

The others were back to eating like greedy pigs when I left, so I'm hoping all will be alright. I plan going to move everyone to the coop brooder over the weekend. But anyone who acts puny will stay where I can keep an eye on them for a while longer.

 

[wegotchickens]

GypsyChic, will your lavs be laying all winter, or do they take a break?

I promised myself I'd close my flock in 2011, so I'd like to get some eggs from your lovely lav boy the week of 12/27. Think that's do-able?

I want to get NPIP certified by spring 2011 so I can ship chicks. Shipped d'Uccle eggs are sooooo fragile. I'm going to try hatching and shipping next year to spread the d'Uccle wealth

NPIP will help with that....

 

[spook]

I am beyond words here. I cannot handle much more of my chick issues this year. I have had 3 chicks dispatched from their legs going out from under them. No, I highly doubt its mereks (sp) and another poultry person said that it was Coccidiosis. So I've medicated with 2 types of antibiotic for the "rest of my chicks in the chick room" to make sure I covered it. Fed yogurt, cottage cheese, grit, a few cooked veggies here and there and apple each day and a 1/2 slice 12 grain bread. Not in huge amounts, but I want healthy birds too.

A week ago I moved one of my standard cochins, so the remaining chicks could be together thinking I had a nice hatch of Por & MF eggs. I turned around and the lg cochin was dead(8 weeks). No other bird showed any signs of illness. Today, my last and remaining MF chick (9 weeks) is gasping and has not really walked for a couple days. I thought her feet were catching on the shavings. She is now gasping and I noticed after 1-2 seconds, her eyes will dialate, shrink etc until she can finally focus on what she is seeing. She is in the pen with the other 2 chicks at this point, its where she came from and they do not harm her.
Next thing on my list of woes...the 2 dozen eggs that I paid a pretty penny for were due to hatch. 1 very weak porc chick hatched out to only lay on the one side it came out of the shell on. I've tried to perk him up, offered water the usual way and is now laying there gasping I know I need to cull these 2 chicks.

The reason I put this here is that I cannot understand whats going on with these birds and need some answers at what it is that I'm doing wrong.
please, have you guys had any issues with the D's? Have you heard any such thing happening to another? *sigh* I'll be throwing in the towel soon.
Sorry for unloading here.
Kel

 

[wegotchickens]

spook.

Hang in there.

I've noticed d'Uccles can have awfully weak hips at times. I put down any with spraddle leg as soon as it shows up. You can also have the rare bird who's foot feathers grow the wrong way, and they step on and break them. Only ever had 2 of those, and after seeing the first suffer I put the 2nd down as soon as I saw the problem.

I have had BAD goldneck luck lately, but that's just what happens at times. Sometimes things just go to heck in a handbasket.
I'm trying again, but the chicks had a rough incubation and hatched 3+ days late. So I'm not getting my hopes up. Hip issues can show up at any age.

d'Uccle eggs are really fragile, and shipped d'Uccle eggs have poor hatch rates. The farther any egg ships, the harder it is to hatch. That's why I want to learn to ship chicks. It makes me sad when someone has a bad hatch. Even if it's because they screwed up or the power went out, I still feel sad.

I don't know what the deal is on your gasping chick. Maybe an internal injury that can't be seen? Maybe an illness? Who knows. I've had my share if mystery deaths, too, and it's always hard.

Hang in there, Kel, and don't give up. Take a break if you need to, but don't totally give up.

Another thing I've noticed with my d'Uccles is that high protein is a must. I've started feeding mine all flock raiser with supplemental protein treats.

 

[spook]

Thank you wegotchickens, I appreciate your input, support and just reading whilst I whine. This chick is odd, she only wants to eat apple. I placed grain in front of her, nothing to do with it. But I got out the polyvisol and gave her enough to charge her up or kill her. At this point it needs to be a cure... I did try to help the new porc chick and I dispatched him. I have a dozen in the bator now that I may take out so I don't have to deal with any more bull.
Its just another fun day in the neighborhood...NOT! And like you said the handbasket...guess I'll go make one, then I can go in style! :0)
Thanks again.

 

[GypsyChic]

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They seem to do pretty well all winter, but they are also kept in a heated building with lights, so yes I usually have eggs available most of the year

 

[GypsyChic]

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Spook, try feeding the baby either a lightly scrambled egg or finely mashed up boiled egg. I would also moisten a small batch of medi chick food with PLAIN pediolite (sp) get the generic kind at any walmart. It will help with rehidrating and since there is no taste, the babies will drink it just like normal water. Lori is also right about the high pro in d's...they really do require a bit more than other breeds. Hope this helps, I hate it when things like this pop up, it's frustrating and nerve racking at times. Hang in there, keep us updated on how it all goes. Take care hun.

Misty

 

[spook]

Thank you guys, she is still alive, debating on culling her. She is bright, nappy, will gasp every now and then, refuses to drink, but have vites in the water. She will eat grain off my finger (what I do for all my chicks to teach them that my hand coming at them in not scary) and now she is pushing back with her feet and then squeaking when she turns over onto her back.
I'll try some egg, I don't know why I didn't think of that. For my hens I put them in with scrambled egg and cheese. (using care with sodium levels). Her head is resting on her back, like looking at the sky and her mouth is coming open on inhales.
Oh, and wegotchickens, she has quite a few feathers going up her shank.
ah well, I dunno.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I went to a poultry show today in Va. and they had a Mille Fleur D'Uccle for judging. I pointed out that I had never seen a D'Uccle w/o any feathers on the feet...is this true? it was totally clean legged. I told her it was definitely a Mille Fleur, but not a D'Uccles. I don't think she appreciated me telling her that...I could tell by the look. she said she would move it....am I wrong for saying something??