Eastern Tennessee Thread

[littlechicklet]

I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in an EE cockerel or 2 or 3 or 5

. My first ever broody hens hatched 11 chicks & I think I have 5-7 cockerels. Since everyone on here has been so very nice I thought I would see if anyone wanted any of them before they are sent off to the freezer (not here of course but my husband's cousin knows someone who will take them). The rooster I have is not related to any of the hens and they have the blue gene (I think that's how to put it). There's 1 I think crossed with the RIW hen & 1 crossed with a BCM mix hen. If you want/need an EE cockerel they are free and if you want to finish raising them for the freezer they are free also. The older ones were hatched mid May & I am letting them go first.

I am waiting on a hatch from Tennesseeckn so I can add some more orps

She has been very generous and I am so excited! I am trying to get things in order.

So if you want any or all just let me know. I am going to post here first to see if anyone is interested. Thanks

Forgot to say I am located near Dandridge.

 

[tennesseeckn]

Does anyone know what causes a prolapsed vent? I had a chick that developed this at 4 days old. I couldn't fix it and I tried really hard but the chick ended up dying. It was one of my SG doking chicks and I only had 3.

I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't know it could happen to chicks. I good friend of mine had a hen that constantly struggled with it. They named her Violet because she always had a purple rump from Blu-Kote. She says you haven't lived until your daily schedule involves rubbing Preparation-H on a chicken's vent.

 

[tennesseeckn]

I have question for the folks here that show poultry, how do you wash a chicken for the show?

Mine are free range right now, and they take dust baths under the wife's rhododendrons and azaleas.

At times it reminds me of this when they fly up in a tree during dry conditions.



How do you clean them up before you show them?

Or do you?

I'm working night shift this week, got up, was drinking a cup of coffee on the front step, talking to pullets, petting them, and this is something that just came to mind.

I wish I could give you advise, but I've participated in two shows and didn't wash mine either time. The first time I didn't know any better and the second time I thought they looked fine... in the dark coop... before I had to get up at 5:00 to leave for the show... Poor things look like refugees next to the other birds.

I know Barnqueen and Bairo have both done it, though.

 

[bairo]

I was really not looking forward to washing chickens

the first time I did it. It really turned out well though. We have a hand shower with a longish hose that we got specifically for dog baths (we have 3 dogs) I sat the hen in the tub and got the water up to temp..after the initial : "What the H do you think your doing" flap of the wings; she loved it. I was washing her and she fell asleep. The second one was just as easy. Those two were Dels (the same 2 that are going to sevierchicken tomorrow as matter of fact), I cant comment on other breeds but I would def. try it again with any of mine.
The funny thing about that story is that it poured rain right after getting them out for the show and they looked like crap anyway. My NHR's that were out in it the whole time looked so bad that I thought Daphne was going to turn me in for chicken abuse.

P.S. If rain is in the forecast...dont park by tnbarnqueen either

. We looked worse than the hens I think

 

[bairo]

Does anyone know what causes a prolapsed vent? I had a chick that developed this at 4 days old. I couldn't fix it and I tried really hard but the chick ended up dying. It was one of my SG doking chicks and I only had 3.

It is extremely rare on a chick younger than laying age. Only two things can cause it that I know of on a chick.

1. A problem with a blockage causing build up and pressure great enough to stretch the area enough to prolapse
2. Congenital defect

Like I said both of those are rare, but have happened. You should watch for pasty butt a couple times a day and rub with a warm and damp cloth until they are a week old. Even after that keep a good eye out for it.

 

[chigger bait]

I was really not looking forward to washing chickens

the first time I did it. It really turned out well though. We have a hand shower with a longish hose that we got specifically for dog baths (we have 3 dogs) I sat the hen in the tub and got the water up to temp..after the initial : "What the H do you think your doing" flap of the wings; she loved it. I was washing her and she fell asleep. The second one was just as easy. Those two were Dels (the same 2 that are going to sevierchicken tomorrow as matter of fact), I cant comment on other breeds but I would def. try it again with any of mine.
The funny thing about that story is that it poured rain right after getting them out for the show and they looked like crap anyway. My NHR's that were out in it the whole time looked so bad that I thought Daphne was going to turn me in for chicken abuse.

P.S. If rain is in the forecast...dont park by tnbarnqueen either

. We looked worse than the hens I think

Mine were looking fairly clean this afternoon after that 3 to 4 inches of rain that we got in two hours, the night before.

Their roost in the peach tree was more like a shower stall.

 

[bairo]

Quote: Unless I was showing a white chicken..I would probably only rinse them well with some good warm water. When massaging soap into them you really have to be careful not to break or damage feathers.

 

[bairo]

Quote: How did the hatch go?? Hopefully well.

 

[chigger bait]

Two more questions.

My pullets have just now started laying.

I am just getting an egg every now and then.

I have had them on TSC's Dumor Flock Grower and they have done well it.

I am going to switch them over this week to a laying pellet.

Which brand have y'all had the best luck with and do I need to supplement with oyster shell?

 

[Contrastphoto]

How did the hatch go?? Hopefully well.

Good hatch. 5 out of 7. Last two pipped and quit on me. Well I just set 25 more eggs. I am hoping to sale some at the fall chicken show in Newport. When is it this year?