INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Faraday40]

Molting quail ?s

My 1st few 3 quail (from Thanksgiving hatch) are molting. No eggs & their tiny feathers are just dropping everywhere. Is this about the right age or is molting more seasonal? My quail hatched in March & April are doing well & laying fine.

So how long does the molting last?
Will they go back to laying when done or will production be very low afterwards?
About what age do female quail usually get "retired?"
(DD's attached to the 1st 3, so I have a feeling they'll be pets. If so, how long do they live?)

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@jchny2000
Incubator? Really? Have access to any Buff O or Dominique eggs?

Possibly Lavender Orps, one of DHs friends has part of my old flock.

@jchny2000 Think you have any room in the incubator for pheasant eggs? My male has disappeared Various people have "adopted" or "rescued" him only to finally tell me about it after his escape, but it looks like pit bull may have gotten ahold of him or he's been adopted/rescued/blatantly stolen for the last time because no one's admitted to seeing him for weeks. But I have a few eggs that might be fertile still, and I've hand no luck incubating this year.

Ugh sorry, I wish I had seen this sooner. Text me if you ever need to get in touch! I do have room if you can get hatching eggs.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I honestly don't know if I will ever get to catch up, wow so far behind. I am going to be on more regular now. If anyone asked important questions I missed please send me a message. Welcome to any new member that have joined!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Molting quail ?s

My 1st few 3 quail (from Thanksgiving hatch) are molting. No eggs & their tiny feathers are just dropping everywhere. Is this about the right age or is molting more seasonal? My quail hatched in March & April are doing well & laying fine.

So how long does the molting last?
Will they go back to laying when done or will production be very low afterwards?
About what age do female quail usually get "retired?"
(DD's attached to the 1st 3, so I have a feeling they'll be pets. If so, how long do they live?)

They live average 3 years or longer, oldest I have heard is 5. Our little speckles lived to about 3. The molts tend to be major, watch for pecking.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Been crazy last few months, but things are finally settling down a bit.
Since my Mom went on a pain management program, she has improved so much! My brothers and sisters have stepped up to help after we nearly lost her. DH and I were able to go camping last weekend, and came home to healthy parents & happy critters. Please don't take it wrong, I love being able to give my parents in home care. Sometimes we all need a break.
I have begun to realize, my RIR may be too old to be fertile. (ages unknown, flock was given to me) Or, my DC roo isn't, ugh. My little OEGs are doing great. So, I may be looking into chicks! @Indyshent I will be ready for the EE and Leghorn very soon! I've restarted my quail flock. Our new buckling, Bocephus II came home Thursday, he will be 8 weeks old next Tuesday. My Holstein, Abby is pretty sure expecting her first calf, woohoo! I plan to have my vet out to ultrasound all 3 cows. So far, my Jersey bull, Moose is still a big lover boy. He turned a year old May 11th.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@jchny2000
Good to see you I think you should just start in where we are and not worry about trying to read EVERYTHING!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Super cute! Wish you weren't so far away, then I could lie and say someone just abandoned a kitten in our coop. I need another animal like I need a slug to my face, but our kitty is an only cat (not by preference) and the new Rottweiler puppy (growing like a weed) can get a mite rough with her. Our neighborhood is crawling with unaltered Tom's who still try to mount her even though she's about the smallest cat in the world and spayed besides. Our other cat (her mom) went missing very early this year and I found her body while looking for our still missing (stolen or dead) pheasant.

DD will be home tomorrow. She has several kittens for our friend down south. I can see what she has before she sees Lori.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@jchny2000
Good to see you I think you should just start in where we are and not worry about trying to read EVERYTHING!

LOL thanks. I just hate missing the posts!

I love to learn from others. I hope everyone on our thread knows there's never a dumb question. We do not just discuss just chickens either... open to anything homesteading aside from politics and religion. BYC asks we keep discussion "family friendly" as there are children following our forum also. If you aren't sure, just PM me guys.

 

[akorte]

These are my 6 year old's chicks, but we are going to re home them as she would like to try bantams. They are black mottled English Orpingtons.

 

[Indyshent]

Possibly Lavender Orps, one of DHs friends has part of my old flock.


Ugh sorry, I wish I had seen this sooner. Text me if you ever need to get in touch! I do have room if you can get hatching eggs.

Ugh, I wouldn't think they'd be worth it at this point. The shock of losing him seemed to throw her off laying entirely, because I haven't seen new eggs since he disappeared.

Two EE have gone broody, including one little olive Egger from you (not the one with the battle scars on her eye). Yes, both of the olive egger sisters lay little olive eggs. The RIR and WL are still laying pretty well here so it might be your Cornish rooster. I'll have to check fertility, but they're laying well most days, though some have decreased shell quality.

Hens here are all looking pretty ragged with six roosters. As nice as Fog horn i in almost every respect, his obnoxious and frequent crow--often right in my ears as I'm gardening -- has made him the only rooster I've ever been tempted to throttle, so I'm very happy his pen is almost done! He's the only one of your boys to have been even slightly problematic. My two roosters are growing up pretty and chivalrous, and I don't want to give either up ever. The silver laced Polish has started fluffing up nests for the girls, and he's not yet a year old! And Optimus Prime is gorgeous, quiet, and claimed by my youngest.