I Built A Bridge!

[arkansas55]

Good morning, all!
Still 9 chicks here on the farm! This is even more a feat than normal, as I managed to leave the door to the run open last night! Oops! I've been a bit distracted lately. But,everyone's fine and I recently secured the run better in anticipation of the babies, so there probably wasn't too much of a risk.

@ItalyChickie , thanks for the info about the hobble progression. I will probably experiment with cutting the hobble today and seeing how Lu does. It's pitiful to see her fall so much with it on.
I'm going to go against the grain here and offer the tough love approach for Bonnie. If it's bad timing, it's bad timing. She will go broody again. Yes, she's a wonderful mama (adorable pictures) but there will be plenty of other opportunities to let her brood that will work better for your travel plans, I'm sure. I don't like breaking broodies, but it's a lot less work (and emotional strain) than a hatch, in my experience. So, I just wanted to offer my support if you decide to break her - I think it would be very humane under the circumstances.

@16 paws , I bought liquid bandage at the drug store. It was under the brand name "new skin" and they had a generic one as well. When I saw poor Frankie's head, and realized it needed to be closed, but couldn't be stitched, I was thinking I needed some sort of glue, like derma bond, and went to the store to see what they had. I'm beyond impressed and will start using it on myself! Congrats on the second baby!

@Teila , poor little Frankie's head actually looked worse before the liquid bandage - that first picture is actually a little better than it was at its worst.

good morning,glad your chick's are doing good,poor Lu,cheering for her,how's our Cy doing????

 

[lizgarf]

Arghh!!!!!!! I wish BYC would let me curse!!
I feel like the worst human in the world right now. I was trying to remove Lu's brace with my tiny scissors, and I snipped off the tip of her tiny rear toe. What is wrong with me? Poor little bubby!! I want to give up! It was bleeding too much for liquid bandage, but I taped it up with the butterfly strips and that seemed to work for now. She seemed to be walking better, so no more braces from me, just bandages. And actually, both Lu and Cy had braces, because I couldn't tell them apart and I'm doing too much. So, they're both off and as they start exploring more, I can figure out if they need them and then torture them some more.
Maybe everyone will be better off if I just leave them alone!

 

[tommysgirl]

Thaks, TG! I'm still in shock! Have you ever had a chick hatch after 24 days?


I want to ask you and @ItalyChickie more about your hobble experiences. IC,

Your taping looks good and yes, over on the Northern CA thread there was a woman who had eggs hatch at 24 days...pretty sure they were Marans too. I was thinking about you trying to put on the tape by yourself. That's not easy. I always had help and even then I felt like I was traumatizing the poor little thing. Looks like you have better manual dexterity than I do.

I will look for the article I used when I had my last splayed chick. It did talking about giving them PT by putting them in a cup that would prevent the splay but encourage them to stand. I think I have it pinned but I will post it.

Number 2 has just hatched under Pancake. Yay, its alive!

Yes Liz, I cant believe I didnt block off Pancakes nest. I was so concerned about blocking off Freckles so she could hatch that chick I totally forgot about Pancakes nest. No excuse....
Marie

Sorry for the losses but Congrats on the new babies. You are totally due for a trouble free hatch but I hope they hold off for you until spring. I love your family photos but yes enough is enough.

@Teila I never heard back from my egg source so I gave Julie Taylor 7 eggs yesterday. We will once again be hatching together...sort of

3 SL NH over Dorking
2 SL NH over California Grey
1 SL NH over Delaware
1 Petunia egg. NH over Polish/Dorking cross....This is the one I most want to a) hatch and b) be a pullet also the only one who will not be sex linked so I will have to twiddle my thumbs for awhile before finding out.

@MistyMountain it is good to hear from you and you two should feel really proud of your accomplisments. It is hard hard work! What are your black and white 9 week olds? They sure are pretty!

In news from here: I retrofitted the old sheep pen to make it a predator safe place for growing out my boys and I moved 7 of them in Monday night. They seem to like it in there quite a bit. I gave them a special live meal worm treat last night and they went wild. Now I have just girls, my two AMs who I think are girls and my two Konza babies who I believe to be cockerels, in my nursery pen. Things are more peaceful and less congested.

I have a new favorite, her name is Daphne and she is a Pita Pinta. She is underfoot friendly and as curious and cute as she can be. There are two breeders close by and I for sure will be getting more but not until next year.

Norma's are the youngest on the property right now and they are 5 weeks. She is still mothering them...making up for the time she didn't get with her first clutch

the boys are beautiful crele pattern and the single pullet has some crele on her back and wings but is mostly orange. I am calling her Topaz and calling my little red Dorking mix girl Garnet. My OE girl is Sapphire, and my lighter AM is Opal (or Opie if she starts crowing). Not sure about the other AM it is a dark grey with black feather tips. I think she will be Beryl.

 

[arkansas55]

Arghh!!!!!!! I wish BYC would let me curse!!
I feel like the worst human in the world right now. I was trying to remove Lu's brace with my tiny scissors, and I snipped off the tip of her tiny rear toe. What is wrong with me? Poor little bubby!! I want to give up! It was bleeding too much for liquid bandage, but I taped it up with the butterfly strips and that seemed to work for now. She seemed to be walking better, so no more braces from me, just bandages. And actually, both Lu and Cy had braces, because I couldn't tell them apart and I'm doing too much. So, they're both off and as they start exploring more, I can figure out if they need them and then torture them some more.
Maybe everyone will be better off if I just leave them alone!

awwww,don't be so hard on yourself,you're doing great,there is some quick stop you can buy from farm supply for the bleeding,its nice to have on hand,dog groomer's and vet's keep it too,i am proud of all your chicken momma hard work,cudoo's

 

[16 paws]

MistyMountain

Japanese Black Tailed Buff Bantam Hen

 

[16 paws]

awwww,don't be so hard on yourself,you're doing great,there is some quick stop you can buy from farm supply for the bleeding,its nice to have on hand,dog groomer's and vet's keep it too,i am proud of all your chicken momma hard work,cudoo's

X2

 

[arkansas55]

MistyMountain

Japanese Black Tailed Buff Bantam Hen

just beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tommysgirl]

Arghh!!!!!!! I wish BYC would let me curse!!
I feel like the worst human in the world right now. I was trying to remove Lu's brace with my tiny scissors, and I snipped off the tip of her tiny rear toe. What is wrong with me? Poor little bubby!! I want to give up! It was bleeding too much for liquid bandage, but I taped it up with the butterfly strips and that seemed to work for now. She seemed to be walking better, so no more braces from me, just bandages. And actually, both Lu and Cy had braces, because I couldn't tell them apart and I'm doing too much. So, they're both off and as they start exploring more, I can figure out if they need them and then torture them some more.
Maybe everyone will be better off if I just leave them alone!

ohhh LIz! I remember slicing the tip off of my baby girl's finger with the nail scissors....you probably feel the same way I am sorry. The bandaid will eventually fall off on its own if you find that she needs to be rebraced. That's one of the nice things about it.

Chin up little farmer. I know you feel terrible but things happen. Was it you who said that because they were designed as prey animals chickens don't process pain the same way predators do?? Anyway that may cheer you up.

And here is the link to the page about treating spraddle.
http://poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

@arkansas55 Welcome I too admire your coop and you have some lovely birds!

 

[arkansas55]

ohhh LIz! I remember slicing the tip off of my baby girl's finger with the nail scissors....you probably feel the same way I am sorry. The bandaid will eventually fall off on its own if you find that she needs to be rebraced. That's one of the nice things about it.

Chin up little farmer. I know you feel terrible but things happen. Was it you who said that because they were designed as prey animals chickens don't process pain the same way predators do?? Anyway that may cheer you up.

And here is the link to the page about treating spraddle.
http://poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

@arkansas55 Welcome I too admire your coop and you have some lovely birds!

thank you Tommysgirl

 

[lizgarf]

Thanks everyone! I know I'm the hardest person on myself, but that was an extra crappy moment.
But, I just checked on everyone while giving three separate containers of the 10 am treats, and Lu seems ok. She's still walking funny, but better than she was with the hobbles and better than before them, so maybe it did enough of its magic that I can let it go (since she's going to be somewhat of a cripple no matter what, now!). I don't want to mess with her leg at all until the toe heals. Cy walks great - I can't believe I hobbled them both!
In the meantime, Reggie has the runs, and mice have taken over my kitchen. Completely overwhelmed by farm life at the moment, so I'm going for a bike ride!