Michigan

[RIRJen]

Oh! Also, wanted to get some feedback from you guys. I'm thinking about bustin' out my bater and putting some of my speckled sussex eggs in it. (I'm getting 6 a day!) Any tips on high pullet hatch? I've heard temps will help determine the sex...anyone else hear that? I had to seperate my roo's and wonder...not sure how to word this...if I take the eggs now they are from my roo "Chief"...how long do I have to wait after switching which roo the girls are with to know they are the second roo's offspring? I've heard a week before but wasn't sure...
Any other feedback on hatching would be great. I've had humidity problems in the past as well and had to help the chicks out...I've gotten really good at it and have a 100% sucess rate when I intervine but would rather not have to help them out because of the lack of humidity.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Congrats Jen and Hannah!!! That is wonderful!!

 

[Olive Hill]

'grats on the wins! I love the looks of belgian hares.

I've always been under the impression that it takes 2 weeks for a hen's reproductive tract to clear. For the humidity what kind of incubator are you using? Do you use a humidifier in your home at all during the winter? That's something you'll need to take into consideration this time of year. It's drier than it is in the spring/summer/fall so you need to compensate in the 'bator. I only add water once -- twice at most -- during most parts of the year, but in the winter I try to pretty much keep water in there all the time. No advice on pullet hatches from me. I am always crossing my fingers for cockerel-heavy hatches. LOL! They say rounder shaped eggs are pullets, pointier are cockerels. They also say the temperature affects the hatch -- the sex of the chicks is set when the egg is laid but they say the sexes have different abilities to withstand fluctuations during incubation, kind of like they say in people male sperm "swim" faster but females live longer so if you want a baby boy you should try to conceive at the end of the fertile period (egg is closer and they get to it faster) or if you want a girl aim for the beginning of the fertile period (egg is further away, girls have more endurance). But in any case you know that's "just what they say". No guarantees. Though it can be fun to experiment if you're hatching anyway...

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
OUCH! That doesn't sound too good. I don't think it would be because of the meds, because that was an antibiotic. I would just keep cleaning it up with warm water and if you want to you can smear a little neosporin (regular, not the pain relief kind) on there. It says on the tube "not for eyes" but I've been using it forever on any of my rabbits who get a little sticky in the eye.

Jen,

It appears the eye "infection" is gone. It's been clear for a couple of days now. Aric and I spent a good 20 minutes cleaning it the night I posted that msg about it. He really dug it out the I put the neosporin on it. I was a bit concerned if it was ok, I worried it might get in his eye. Gizmo was SO good about it. I held him while Aric did the work and he just sat there, didn't jump or anything, I was shocked! He's been such a good boy through all of this!! At least his eye looks totally normal now.

However, I'm back to being worried again

Yesterday I let him run around the porch twice in the day. Both times when I put him down he did this weird kicking of his back legs thing while turning around in circles. Also while roaming around the porch, he tilted his head at quite an angle. He doesn't do it when he's in his cage though.

Today he didn't do any of that!! He's still eating and going to the bathroom really well. I'm so confused and worried. When all of this began I thought maybe it was the food so we changed it. Elvis (his friend I also got from Vicki) hasn't had any signs of problems. I feel kinda bad because Gizmo has been getting more fresh veggies and fruits because he's right in the house. I'm out there all the time checking on him, letting him run around, etc. I think tomorrow I'm gonna bring in Elvis and let the two hang out. I usually put them in the dog run while their hutches get cleaned out but it's a muddy mess. I'd at least like to cheer him up because he's used to seeing his buddy through the screen between the hutches or playing in the dog run.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Quote:
kate, was that spin/kick the 'happy bunny dance' that they sometimes do when they are happy and excited? Sometimes bunnies will jump up in the air and do this weird kick/half twist when they are happy.

 

[SillyChicken]

Congrats on the wins RIR!

Oh lookie, my roo's in the forum photo!

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
kate, was that spin/kick the 'happy bunny dance' that they sometimes do when they are happy and excited? Sometimes bunnies will jump up in the air and do this weird kick/half twist when they are happy.

I was wondering the same thing. They do a kind of "kick up your heels" thing when they're happy/excited and running around.

 

[Olive Hill]

Well, 87 days until April 1st... some how that feels manageable.

Ordered my onions (5 dozen each of walla walla, red zeppelin and ringmaster) and leeks yesterday and have the rest of my seed orders pretty well finalized, just need to place them. I'm going to try Orange Fleshed Purple Smudge tomatoes this year from Baker Creek -- anyone grow these? They've definitely got an interesting look, here's hoping for a decent flavor, too. I like having new varieties every year to keep us on our toes. Also trying Dragon Tongue beans, Tonga di Parigi Carrots, Chinese Green Luobo radishes and Extra Dwarf Pak Choy for the first time. And the kids are going to try their hand at peanuts. Hopefully we'll get a small harvest so they can make peanut butter from them. Anybody else got their garden plans in the works?

 

[SillyChicken]

garden.... planning........

um..... no

Where do you guys get your seeds, do you think you get better quality food/crops from ordering them or just picking them up at TSC or other? When do you plant and do you start from seeds or,do you start them inside and plant outside. I've not had good luck starting seeds inside and transplanting (no good sunny location)... of course I guess that all depends on weather as we had a frost that killed everything so I had to start over again.

 

[babszoo]

Hi everyone been awhile since I've been on. Hope everyone had a great Holiday.

I am posting for my brother. He has 2 Russian Orloff Roosters, just started crowing. He lives in Ashley. he wants them to go to a good home. FREE!!!
Please let me know asap as he wants them gone this week PLEASE.

Thanks
Babette