Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[wermnmnmnm]

My BA is cuddly, sweet and friendly with the kids... I have a 7 and 9 yr old. I did hold her several times a day to start, then it gradually became less, and even now she will let me pick her up anytime... I have 4 chickens who are 34 weeks old tomorrow and I have only seen 3 minor attempts at establishing a pecking order... everyone eats and drinks at the same time and sometimes they roost together and sometimes in pairs. My other 3 are Barred Rock, she was my meal maker, Dominique, and Easter Egger. They all have great temperaments.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks for the info

 

[wermnmnmnm]

I am really new to chickening, but was wondering if there might be an egg somewhere in her binding her up... I have really enjoyed following your Morgaine and am pulling for her and saying a little prayer or two to try to help things along. I'll cross my fingers for her too.

Margie

 

[christine9]

@autumnhearth wondering how your two girls are doing. I know it's difficult trying to diagnose and not worry.

 

[Melabella]

Hi everyone!!!
My second Olive Egger Charlotte laid today. Look at the pretty egg she gave me!
Charlotte is 21 weeks!

 

[autumnhearth]

I am really new to chickening, but was wondering if there might be an egg somewhere in her binding her up... I have really enjoyed following your Morgaine and am pulling for her and saying a little prayer or two to try to help things along.  I'll cross my fingers for her too. 
Margie

Aww thank you I thought that myself and gave her a full examination (well as thorough as I can, I'm not a vet). Thankfully, I guess, I've some experience feeling around some of the other girls vents ones that did and did not have eggs. And she was all clear as far as I can tell, which is not to say there couldn't be something soft further back. I also checked her body for mites, lice and other creepy crawlies with a strong flashlight and she is all clean, beautiful clear skin. The only things I can think of are shock, a bit of spoiled feed from the ground or some hip or leg injury I can't see. If it is one of the first two I would expect her to bounce back in a few days, if she doesn't I may take her to a vet for an x-ray but her feet and legs look good to me. Funny enough the vent check is the last thing I did and when I removed my finger she got right up on her feet and started walking around albeit stiffly. Before that she was lying pathetically whichever way I turned her without holding her. Perked her right up. I thought about taking her outside to be with her sisters because she seemed depressed but the 14 degree weather changed my mind, that would be rough after being inside in the high 60s.

@autumnhearth wondering how your two girls are doing. I know it's difficult trying to diagnose and not worry.

Thanks for asking, see above for Morgaine. Victoria seems alright. It was freezing today so we didn't have free range time but I saw her up and about as well as hanging out in the coop while some of the girls laid and under the coop staying warm. She headed inside before the others and was laying in the corner nest box when the others came in to roost, I was going to add more straw and some feathers for her but she came out and perched next to her sisters which will probably keep her warmer as its one of those nest boxes that sticks out from the coop and has the door on the top, though we have it sealed up pretty well. Husband thinks she looks fine but agrees her comb and wattles are smaller, they look like they did before she started laying, which I believe sometimes happens when a hen is molting, yes?

And finally the corn grinder my husband brought back works very well. He remembers using for hours as a boy at his grandfather's farm for the pigs and birds. So we ground the feed to a nice size, fine enough that they aren't picky about the pieces of corn and peas and coarse enough that I don't need to add water like the mash, thank goodness! So next step is to ask the local gal who has the feed mixed if I can buy 100 lbs whole from her so we can grind it at home in small quantities to our desired texture. That would make me feel really good!

 

[christine9]

I am really new to chickening, but was wondering if there might be an egg somewhere in her binding her up... I have really enjoyed following your Morgaine and am pulling for her and saying a little prayer or two to try to help things along.  I'll cross my fingers for her too. 
Margie

Aww thank you I thought that myself and gave her a full examination (well as thorough as I can, I'm not a vet). Thankfully, I guess, I've some experience feeling around some of the other girls vents ones that did and did not have eggs. And she was all clear as far as I can tell, which is not to say there couldn't be something soft further back. I also checked her body for mites, lice and other creepy crawlies with a strong flashlight and she is all clean, beautiful clear skin. The only things I can think of are shock, a bit of spoiled feed from the ground or some hip or leg injury I can't see. If it is one of the first two I would expect her to bounce back in a few days, if she doesn't I may take her to a vet for an x-ray but her feet and legs look good to me. Funny enough the vent check is the last thing I did and when I removed my finger she got right up on her feet and started walking around albeit stiffly. Before that she was lying pathetically whichever way I turned her without holding her. Perked her right up. I thought about taking her outside to be with her sisters because she seemed depressed but the 14 degree weather changed my mind, that would be rough after being inside in the high 60s.

@autumnhearth wondering how your two girls are doing. I know it's difficult trying to diagnose and not worry.

Thanks for asking, see above for Morgaine. Victoria seems alright. It was freezing today so we didn't have free range time but I saw her up and about as well as hanging out in the coop while some of the girls laid and under the coop staying warm. She headed inside before the others and was laying in the corner nest box when the others came in to roost, I was going to add more straw and some feathers for her but she came out and perched next to her sisters which will probably keep her warmer as its one of those nest boxes that sticks out from the coop and has the door on the top, though we have it sealed up pretty well. Husband thinks she looks fine but agrees her comb and wattles are smaller, they look like they did before she started laying, which I believe sometimes happens when a hen is molting, yes?

And finally the corn grinder my husband brought back works very well. He remembers using for hours as a boy at his grandfather's farm for the pigs and birds. So we ground the feed to a nice size, fine enough that they aren't picky about the pieces of corn and peas and coarse enough that I don't need to add water like the mash, thank goodness! So next step is to ask the local gal who has the feed mixed if I can buy 100 lbs whole from her so we can grind it at home in small quantities to our desired texture. That would make me feel really good!

Sounds like things are progressing nicely for you. Seems like Morgaine will bounce back. If she ate enough spoiled food to be fatal, I would think you'd see a little more severe symptoms. But that's my opinion based on one experience with my dog.

 

[christine9]

I raise them for my leopard gecko and turtles. I actually need to reboot my colony in the spring. I use normal quick oats and sometimes throw wheat bran in. Easy to raise as long as you keep veggies in with them so they go cannibalistic on the pupae.

I've read on here of people separating eggs, larvae, worms, and beetles. I can't imagine doing all that. Do you raise all life cycles together? How can you tell if they are eating the pupae? I have lots of squirming going on in there so I'm just assuming it's going well. Lol.

 

[ImNotYogi]

I've read on here of people separating eggs, larvae, worms, and beetles. I can't imagine doing all that. Do you raise all life cycles together? How can you tell if they are eating the pupae? I have lots of squirming going on in there so I'm just assuming it's going well. Lol.

When I first started the colony I would pull out the pupae and keep the beetles and worms in seperate bins. Then it became tedious. Especially when the eggs hatched. I'd take the beetles out then pour their bin in with the worms. Then put new bedding down for them. As of now I'm keeping all stages in the same bin. When I reboot it I'll probably use a bigger bin.
If you're finding pupae with holes/pits then it's probably the beetles. Or if the colony sorta stalls. Though they're less active if it's cooler too.

 

[NotableNancy]

Anybody raising mealworms? I decided to give it a second shot. This time is going really well. I got them about a month ago and I can see about a dozen beetles already. Last try I only saw one before everything turned moldy.

Using wheat bran has made a huge difference (should have listened to the pros from the start).

I would love to but we keep our house way to cold to do it. Even the basement gets pretty cool.

We've had some huge hawks in our area lately too, must be their season for chicken. Hopefully they'll leave our chickens alone though. I wish we had a more organic option here. Mine just eat Dumor layer and I give a lot of kitchen scraps, veggies, etc.

I hope that it is just a molt for Victoria. Mine looked pretty bad too and sickly. We just noticed now how pretty they are finally getting and also how big they look. Added bonus is those large eggs after molting!

That's so neat that you are doing that, I don't believe I could get a way with that here, plus I just don't have the time. I'd be interested to see the progress though.

Stinkin' hawks. Are you free ranging them now? I remember you stopped for a while.
Are you planning on ordering chicks from Meyer or are you buying from a TSC near you?

Aww thank you

I thought that myself and gave her a full examination (well as thorough as I can, I'm not a vet). Thankfully, I guess, I've some experience feeling around some of the other girls vents ones that did and did not have eggs. And she was all clear as far as I can tell, which is not to say there couldn't be something soft further back. I also checked her body for mites, lice and other creepy crawlies with a strong flashlight and she is all clean, beautiful clear skin. The only things I can think of are shock, a bit of spoiled feed from the ground or some hip or leg injury I can't see. If it is one of the first two I would expect her to bounce back in a few days, if she doesn't I may take her to a vet for an x-ray but her feet and legs look good to me. Funny enough the vent check is the last thing I did and when I removed my finger she got right up on her feet and started walking around albeit stiffly. Before that she was lying pathetically whichever way I turned her without holding her. Perked her right up. I thought about taking her outside to be with her sisters because she seemed depressed but the 14 degree weather changed my mind, that would be rough after being inside in the high 60s.
Thanks for asking, see above for Morgaine. Victoria seems alright. It was freezing today so we didn't have free range time but I saw her up and about as well as hanging out in the coop while some of the girls laid and under the coop staying warm. She headed inside before the others and was laying in the corner nest box when the others came in to roost, I was going to add more straw and some feathers for her but she came out and perched next to her sisters which will probably keep her warmer as its one of those nest boxes that sticks out from the coop and has the door on the top, though we have it sealed up pretty well. Husband thinks she looks fine but agrees her comb and wattles are smaller, they look like they did before she started laying, which I believe sometimes happens when a hen is molting, yes?

And finally the corn grinder my husband brought back works very well. He remembers using for hours as a boy at his grandfather's farm for the pigs and birds. So we ground the feed to a nice size, fine enough that they aren't picky about the pieces of corn and peas and coarse enough that I don't need to add water like the mash, thank goodness! So next step is to ask the local gal who has the feed mixed if I can buy 100 lbs whole from her so we can grind it at home in small quantities to our desired texture. That would make me feel really good!

Hopefully Morgaine is on the mend. Brrrr 14 degrees!! that's on the way here the next few days. My girls did fine last winter and it was an awful winter but now I have a few Mediterranean
breeds so we'll see if they know to stay in the coop if it's to cold. Love that you can grind your own food... lucky girls!!