Illinois...

[Faraday40]

So far we have 26 live quail and 4 hatched but passed away. There's still a handful of eggs im the incubator. I am going to give it away least 24 hours to set if there are any late hatches. I wanted at least 30 live quail from the 41 eggs I set. I am almost there.
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Such a BIG brooder for all those tiny quail.
Glad your hatch is going well. Are you planning to do another right away?

 

[BReeder!]

Such a BIG brooder for all those tiny quail.
Glad your hatch is going well. Are you planning to do another right away?

That's up top the quail who went into molt. We have about 15 eggs right now that could go in, but I wanted 50 or 60.

Also, the brooder is 4x2ft. It's not so big by the time they are ready to go outside.

 

[Faraday40]

Here are Cookie's newest chicks.
1 lav orp

1 white orp (that should have been laced)

2 black/Lav Split Orps (not cooperating for the photo)

and 3 seramas

 

[BReeder!]

We are willing to sell quail chicks. Please message if interested.

 

[BReeder!]

I was a bit worried that something was wrong with our Cuckoo Marans, A'hole. She started molting about a month ago and still hasn't went back to laying. She's still missing most of her tail feathers too. I did since quick research online and found that a mole could last 60-90 days. Does that sound right to you?
She is about 1.5 yr old. Most of our other chickens of the same age milked recently too, but bounced back within just a few weeks.

 

[Molpet]

I was a bit worried that something was wrong with our Cuckoo Marans, A'hole. She started molting about a month ago and still hasn't went back to laying. She's still missing most of her tail feathers too. I did since quick research online and found that a mole could last 60-90 days. Does that sound right to you?
She is about 1.5 yr old. Most of our other chickens of the same age milked recently too, but bounced back within just a few weeks.

Yes some take forever to molt. Worse when they decide to start in Nov

 

[Faraday40]

a mole could last 60-90 days.

Most of our other chickens of the same age milked recently too, but bounced back within just a few weeks.

Oh How I love auto correct! It makes life a lot more interesting!

Not only do you have subterranean mammals with extraordinarily short life-spans, but you're getting eggs AND dairy from your chickens! What I really want now is a pic to go along with those milking chickens.





Anyway, molting varies about as much as chicken personalities. I had a Leghorn mix that slightly molted in patches so never went bald. She slowed down her egg production for about 8wks but didn't stop laying. I also had my sweet "Precious" who would go completely bald and looked like a porcupine.

Many of my hans start to molt in Sept/Oct and then don't lay again until Feb. (Unless there's supplemental light given) Some breeds can lay year round, but others (like my EE, CCL, Welsummer, & Spitzhauben) like to take the winter off.

Here was what poor Precious would go through:

Princess was another one that had hard molts. She also usually molted in Dec/Jan. Poor girl!

These two hens would drop most of their feathers over a couple days. We'd see a trail of blowing feathers behind them as they ran.
@chickendreams24 calls it "exploding chickens" = when you find a pile of feathers on the ground (but no predator) and some bald, scrawny birds in your coop.

edit to add: You can give them extra protein while molting to help them grow their feathers. There's also special feed called "feather fixer" which is supposed to help them through the molting process.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Not only do you have subterranean mammals with extraordinarily short life-spans, but you're getting eggs AND dairy from your chickens! What I really want now is a pic to go along with those milking chickens

Bwaahaaaa!!!

 

[Faraday40]

@homeschoolin momma
How's Phoenix doing with her chicks? Pics please - if you've got them.

BTW- DD asked me, "When will we babysit Phoe-Phoe again?"
You saw our backyard. It's not like we have a shortage of tiny useless chickens.

I also told the family about how your son was a little nervous around Xansie.

Yup. She's a killer silkie.


We had a pretty good laugh.

(For those who have not met her, Xansie is about as docile as a chicken can be. She even goes soft and molds to your body when being held. )

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Lol, just sent you a private message...

BTW- DD asked me, "When will we babysit Phoe-Phoe again?"

I can always come let her be broody at your house. Maybe take lessons from Cookie or Xansie.....