Kentucky people

[Mojo Chick'n]

Squishy is looking less squishy now - still needs to get a little more leg strength, but is doing great - he's very fast

I hope I have more hatch out of the next two batches (due next week).

 

[shelleyd2008]

I hope you do too, baby ducks are so cute!!

We have fluffy babies!!

2 of Cris's silkie eggs have hatched, and these are PURE silkies!!

I have had one hatch before, but it was mixed with who knows what! It had racing stripes and green legs

But these two are pure white, so they are pure silkies!! They are sooooooo cute!! I'm hoping your button eggs will do something, but so far no go. I checked them, and there were only a few that looked completely clear, so there should be something happening? We'll see! These eggs are just now due, so the buttons could take another 2-3 days. Maybe they'll hatch around the same time as the coturnix, so I don't have to keep buttons and silkies together!

I think I need to move the coturnix to the hatcher today?? OMG, how am I gonna do that? I have a pipped silkie egg, I can't open that hatcher!

Oh no!!

I guess they'll be okay for another day, you think?

The stupid puppies either killed Brutus, or he died, and then they ate him. Either way, Brutus the ugly silkie roo is gone.

I'm thinking he probably died on his own, or was pretty close to it anyway. He hasn't been himself lately. All he did was hide in his tractor, every time he came out dad's RIR cockerel would punk him. So Brutus had taken to his bed so to speak, and wouldn't come out. I guess he's better off. He was pretty old anyway.

 

[pop57]

Quote:
Wow Shelley never had that happen ! sorry I think i would isolate just to make sure it does not happen again. is it a young hen?

Pop

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Wow Shelley never had that happen ! sorry I think i would isolate just to make sure it does not happen again. is it a young hen?

Pop

Not too awfully young. She is from the first batch of eggs I got from you. They hatched the weekend after Christmas. So that would make them about 12 weeks old. But most of them just started laying a few weeks ago. I think there was one that started around 9 weeks old, and when I moved them outside last week the other 3 had finally started laying. I already put her back with the others, I'll just have to make sure I grab each one of them (there are only 4) tomorrow and make sure that none of them have half-laid eggs sticking out! I'm surprised I even saw it! I'll definitely be keeping an eye on them!

ETA: I was told that maybe they are getting too much calcium? I feed them flock raiser and they have a small bowl of oyster shell in there also. When they were inside, I would give them eggs w/ the shell once or twice a week. I'm thinking I'll go back to that! The egg was rock solid and still halfway inside her. It should have been a little bit pliable yet, and it wasn't. So I'm thinking the excess calcium idea is probably right on.

 

[estpr13]

My broody NH hen is still doing her job. It is about day 19 or 21 depending on how you wish to look at her finally getting serious about setting.

I tried to look under her and got a good peck. I think she has a full nest of eggs including one under each wing. About every two hours or so she moves clockwise about 5 minutes worth of degrees. I guess that keeps her from getting bed sores. (egg sores?)

Stupid young roo got out of his pen and was hiding in the nest box where the other hens were laying. Pooped all over about 7 eggs. He is now back in his cage. I really need to fix that cage.

Today is day 18 for my Red Silkies and some Dark Cornish eggs. I really don't have anymore space for chickens so I guess I will have to sell the Red Silkies. I got them on a whem so I guess I need to sell them on a whem as well.

I also have a bunch of Barred Rocks. They are okay but skiddish and hard to round up. I need chickens which are easier to round up. Either that or keep them caged/tractored. They really enjoy being outside.

I have a tooth ache and cannot seem to think as straight as normal. Went to the feed store and they don't have a clue about chicken feed. I had to order twice and they still didn't get the order right.

"Start and Grow" is not "Egg Layer," or "Medicated chick starter." gees! I now have the correct bag tag in my wallet. This is the second time they have screwed this up and I have ended up taking the wrong stuff. I can still use it, it is just a big hassle.

Just thought I'd check in and let youall know what is happenin'!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:

about the Barred Rocks - they are independant cusses!! My oldest BR hen is the worst for trying to get to do what ya want her to do. She's the one who moved out of the coop and lived in the woods by herself for two months. I gave up trying to make her go back in - she went back when she decided she was ready. (Which was basically when the freezing rains and heavy winds of winter began

)

My other BR - is pretty independant, also (or is that neurotic?) - she has decided the world of chickens is against her so she spends most of her time by herself (although she tries to make friends with Fluffy and Gump - maybe because Gump is half BR, too - she figures she'll understand.)

Even now Miss Celie (the oldest BR) is the last one to go in the coop at night, and often doesn't go in until I go out to turn off lights.

I think it's just the breed - they're a weird chicken, but funny. I like the BRs - less work for me, cause they refuse to be coddled.

meri

 

[estpr13]

Yesterday when I was feeding and watering the flock I had one of the Cornish x Delaware cross meat birds came up and jumped on my knee. (I was squatting down) The hens are friendly and the roos are very protective, but not mean. I think that is why I am keeping them instead of eating them. They are the dominate group of chickens with a couple of the hens starting to fill out finally,
after 4½ months.

The black Jersey Giants are bossy but they are older, and bigger than most but are gentle and not too skiddish. The New Hampshires are a bit skiddish but assertive when it comes to treats.

But when it comes to the barred rocks you would think I mistreated them on a regular basis. Since I live in town and around people; including college students, I'm a bit reluctant to put the 5 week old Barred Rocks out where they can be seen running and screaming about me trying to pick one up.

They are so much different from an Orpington which I use to have. Orpingtons would come up and pull on my pant leg wanting a treat. I would pick them up and pet them and then give them a treat. They were almost too friendly, I had to watch where I put my feet.

I guess that is the difference between a British bird and an American frontier bird. The Orps are more domesticated, and the BR's are a bit more wild. I guess if you stayed away from the farm house you didn't get invited to Sunday dinner. As opposed to the British birds who were cooped up and the friendly "pets" were kept.

I think I breed for friendlyness. If a chicken is mean or skiddish... then, the less compunction for it to go into the pot.

I was reading a thread from a guy from China about capons. He is a professional capon er. Had a video showing how fast and easy it was. His site also showed the school he attended to learn how to caponize. kind of interesting. These Barred rocks are about that age. And....

 

[estpr13]

I guess if I set here long enough I will think of other things to say. Perhaps I should think longer before posting the first time. Anyway... Barred rocks again. I have two bantam Barred Rocks which are not so skiddish and will allow you to pick them up. I guess that is because as a bantam they are bred more for a pet than dinner.

Just wondering out loud...

Stupid Barred Rocks...

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
Yeah, mine are reasonably friendly (not Pet Me friendly, but they'll come up for treats), mainly cause I don't have a whole flock of them at once - I've gotten them one at a time, so they had a chance to be "chickens" and not "flocks of wild forest chickens"

I have a few skittish hens who are going to auction when I get the truck back, though - I have too many friendly ones to bother with the snots.

Luckily, if ya don't want to eat them, Barred Rocks are VERY popular around here, so maybe over by you, too. You could sell a BR flock pretty quickly and for decent money. I took white rock and barred rock chicks to the auction last time, and sold out of the BR chicks before anyone even asked about the white rock chicks.

I don't think I'd keep a whole flock of them, but I'd be very willing to get some more bargain BR chicks next spring and sell them off, or raise a few to POL to sell.

I don't recall, do you have any Light Brahmas? You'd love the brahmas - they are so friendly ya got to nudge them out of the way to get past them. They mob me whenever I go near them

I'm waiting for the feedstore to get some brahma chicks in so I can expand on that flock.

I finally got some orp chicks - waiting to see which ones I'll be keeping out of them. Tried hatching some shipped buff orp eggs, but they got cold during ship - only two hatched, both roos - sold em. I have 10 orp chicks I got from the feedstore, can't wait til they get bigger.

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Could be, most of the bantams I've had were friendlier than the big chickens.

I know a few people who want bantam barred rocks - must be a popular breed, too.

I don't want bantams, anymore - they just don't fit into "the plan"

They're cute, and nice, but - I want to work on my dual purpose babies, and that means being brutal about choosing what to buy and keep.

I'm even planning to take Frodo and her brother and Jr. to the auction, (mostly cause Jr. is driving me NUTS lately - she starts to squawk and doesn't stop - for hours. she isn't hurt, isn't hungry, just squawks a lot - must be the old english in her.)