INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[PeacefulWalls]

So far only 3 live ducklings. There was a fourth, but it must have got trapped under the momma and suffocated. It was one of the babies in my first pictures.

She still has 4 eggs under her yet, so we'll see if any more hatch...

My phone couldn't capture it real well, but the moon and clouds were really awesome tonight when we left church. The second light down to the left is the parking lot light -- not a second moon

 

[kabhyper1]

So far only 3 live ducklings. There was a fourth, but it must have got trapped under the momma and suffocated. It was one of the babies in my first pictures.

She still has 4 eggs under her yet, so we'll see if any more hatch...

My phone couldn't capture it real well, but the moon and clouds were really awesome tonight when we left church. The second light down to the left is the parking lot light -- not a second moon

Really cute!

 

[kabhyper1]

Okay 8 silkie paint eggs under my broody silkie. Day 7 Shipped eggs, my first, and some have saddle cells. 2 are clear. Anyone have experience with this? They are developing fine, just funky cells. Not completely detached, just saddles.

 

[Mother2Hens]

When the timing is right for you, should you want another RIR, I'll donate a heritage RIR to you. I should have chicks this spring if not late winter. It takes about 4-6 weeks for me to make sure they are not roos. And in a month or so I should have a started hen that I will cut from my breeders.

SallyinIndiana~ Thank you for your thoughtful offer! I will have to see how things are going around the time you have chicks. I was outside with the flock this afternoon, and it just seemed dull without Nene. This evening when it was time for the hens to go in, they all (BR, SLW, EE, 2 Orps, 2 Silkies) stood outside of the coop and waited, and looked out across the yard and up at Nene's special perch (where only she could fit). It was eerie and sad. Then they went in. My Blue Splash Orp, Eliza, was especially nervous. She has big, dark eyes and kept panting and looking up at Nene's perch.

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40 - educating people on chickens is so important to me! I really think this is so great that you have chicken ambassadors and have been speaking to the public about them. Did the library/museum contact you or how did you get started doing these events?

Short answer:
If you volunteer for things at the library, park district, 4H, your kids' school, etc. Your name (& names of your chickens) will spread. See below.

Long answer:
Because I'm a science teacher (now a "stay at home Mom") several people know me &/or my kids. When I 1st began this "stay at home" phase, I had a small baby who couldn't talk. I missed the constant daily interaction of having 400+ tweens around. I began small home-school science classes in my living room (during nap time) & volunteered to teach similar lessons at the public library. Later as my daughter & I took those baby classes together, I soon found myself co- teaching them. Then I was hired by the park district - a job I never even applied or asked for. As my children grew older, I started guest teaching in their schools, then the school district, etc. Last year, my daughter joined 4H. She did a poultry science project, won Best in Show as an 8 yr old, and was in several local papers. Because word was out that we had chickens, the local preschools wanted to hatch eggs, the park district wanted a poultry class, my science students wanted to study embryology, etc. A nearby museum has an annual fall festival, so they contacted 4H for some animals. Of course, my daughter got a call since we live close.

We're not a farm but a suburban family. We have incredible neighbors who are not simply supportive, but encouraged & pitched in when we decided to get chickens. Our chickens happen to be local celebrities. When playing a classroom Jeopardy game at my daughter's school, one of the frivolous bonus questions was to name all of our chickens. (Not just the 2 I had with me) It was surprising that most of the children could name all 9! How did they know??

Note: I say "stay at home mom" in jest b/c I'm rarely home. Besides the being known as the local singing science teacher & chicken "expert" (again not really accurate), I am also called the Monarch lady, Frog catcher, Backyard Bug Camp Leader, and ____'s & ____'s mom. Many of these jobs I do not get paid for, but it just shows how much I enjoy them.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

You Marge is blue cream pip'd. Her parents must have been carrying the lavender gene. The top 3 chicks in my post are blue cream. Also known as porcelain in other breeds.

[COLOR=900000]Haha, all I know is she's pretty and soft and fluffy! Brad might know more about her parentage (I don't know if she came from his birds or if he hatched her from someone else's birds, so maybe not, though?). Thanks for the response about your pretty birds, too! [/COLOR]

So far only 3 live ducklings. There was a fourth, but it must have got trapped under the momma and suffocated. It was one of the babies in my first pictures. She still has 4 eggs under her yet, so we'll see if any more hatch...

[COLOR=13598B]They look so much bigger now that they've dried out! And this picture is too cute!! I'm getting more and more excited for my duckies!![/COLOR]

[COLOR=008080]SallyinIndiana[/COLOR]~ [COLOR=8B4513]Thank you for your thoughtful offer! I will have to see how things are going around the time you have chicks. I was outside with the flock this afternoon, and it just seemed dull without Nene. This evening when it was time for the hens to go in, they all (BR, SLW, EE, 2 Orps, 2 Silkies) stood outside of the coop and waited, and looked out across the yard and up at Nene's special perch (where only she could fit). It was eerie and sad. Then they went in. My Blue Splash Orp, Eliza, was especially nervous. She has big, dark eyes and kept panting and looking up at Nene's perch. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=900000]Aw, this reminds me of when I buried my Blizzy and the flock gathered around to watch. Usually if I'm digging, they'll jump right in and scratch the soil around, but not that time. They all just watched, eerily. People really don't give these birds as much credit as they deserve. They are much more intelligent than they are given credit for, and very aware of changes in their flock. Sorry again for your loss. I know all too well what you're talking about with your flock seeming so much duller, so much smaller than before. It took me a long time before I got used to my flock without silly ol' Blizzy around. Those big personalities are the hardest to face losing, but are really what makes raising chickens so worth it in the end.[/COLOR]

 

[Faraday40]

Okay 8 silkie paint eggs under my broody silkie. Day 7 Shipped eggs, my first, and some have saddle cells. 2 are clear. Anyone have experience with this? They are developing fine, just funky cells. Not completely detached, just saddles.




Clear egg is most likely not fertile, scrambled in mail, or early death.





Saddle-shaped could be just fine.

I normally put the questionable ones aside to be candled in a few days. Toss when you're sure they're dead. I had a thin shelled rotten egg explode on day 19-20. Because I had to clean out the incubator at such a bad time, I had several chicks get shrink wrapped inside the shell. Very poor hatch, so I no longer allow dead eggs to stay.

As far as saddle cells, it's quite common in shipped eggs. If the air cell is attached & stays in place, the chick should be able to hatch. If the air cell can move around like a bubble in a level, then the chick may develop OK but have a very hard time getting out. Aside from allowing eggs to sit for a day or two before plus 2-3 days after the start of incubation, there's nothing else I can think of to help. You have to turn the eggs like normal after that. Dry hatching also seems to help. I am hoping that I someday learn a few more tips to help increase the odds for those shipped eggs.

 

[Faraday40]

SallyinIndiana~ Thank you for your thoughtful offer! I will have to see how things are going around the time you have chicks. I was outside with the flock this afternoon, and it just seemed dull without Nene. This evening when it was time for the hens to go in, they all (BR, SLW, EE, 2 Orps, 2 Silkies) stood outside of the coop and waited, and looked out across the yard and up at Nene's special perch (where only she could fit). It was eerie and sad. Then they went in. My Blue Splash Orp, Eliza, was especially nervous. She has big, dark eyes and kept panting and looking up at Nene's perch.

My condolences to you & your flock. That is so sad.

 

[kabhyper1]

I normally put the questionable ones aside to be candled in a few days.  Toss when you're sure they're dead.  I had a thin shelled rotten egg explode on day 19-20.  Because I had to clean out the incubator at such a bad time, I had several chicks get shrink wrapped inside the shell.  Very poor hatch, so I no longer allow dead eggs to stay.

As far as saddle cells, it's quite common in shipped eggs.  If the air cell is attached & stays in place, the chick should be able to hatch.  If the air cell can move around like a bubble in a level, then the chick may develop OK but have a very hard time getting out.  Aside from allowing eggs to sit for a day or two before plus 2-3 days after the start of incubation, there's nothing else I can think of to help.  You have to turn the eggs like normal after that.  Dry hatching also seems to help.  I am hoping that I someday learn a few more tips to help increase the odds for those shipped eggs. 

Thanks. These are under a broody, so Ill just let nature take its course. None of the air cells move independently.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So far only 3 live ducklings. There was a fourth, but it must have got trapped under the momma and suffocated. It was one of the babies in my first pictures.

She still has 4 eggs under her yet, so we'll see if any more hatch...

My phone couldn't capture it real well, but the moon and clouds were really awesome tonight when we left church. The second light down to the left is the parking lot light -- not a second moon

What a fitting moon for october! I loved this picture. The ducklings are just toooo

Quote: When Mama goose passed last year, it took me weeks to accept she was really gone. Her flock wasn't the same for a long time. She wasn't mean, ever, but was always by Gee's side, and always first to the coop at night. They know. Her "sisters" Angel and Snowy refused to go in the coop because Mama wasn't in yet! It was terribly sad.
Red didn't pass away, but was rehomed with his girls. The roosters all still hesitate before going after a hen! Red did not allow other roosters to mate "his" hens, period. There is still a pecking order here, and none have been bold enough to become "top roo" yet. Reds been gone almost a week I think or longer. When Its the flock leader, it takes a while for the new pecking order to develop. Someone will probably surprise you.

Quote: WTG! I commend you for caring, pretty awesome with having so much on your plate!
Totally agree, just jump in and become a part of something you love, like our thread for me. 3 years ago, if you told me I would have a poultry farm, I probably would have laughed! (or started 6 months sooner

) My neighbors will stop in anytime someone finds a stray bird, be it a duck, chicken or even guineas. They often see them out in the field and yard here, so they all know the birds are here lol. I have a few folks that love duck eggs, never have enough. My neighbor north and west of me now also own flocks. its contagious!
I donate hatching eggs to anyone that provides programs for schools/park programs. That's a great way to help. I can't volunteer much, but will sure help someone if I have the time or resources to do it. Its a really good feeling to take in a few birds that need a home, then to find a family less fortunate to help start a small flock with a few adult hens. The birds and that family both get a good start in another chapter of their lives. I do always tell anyone that gets birds from me, they are always welcome back.