Michigan

[ladyfeather]

OK... I'm already stressing about all of the eggs I have under my broody. I gave her 12 and she seemed to be pushing out 2 early on, so I took those away. But 10. 10! lol. SillyChicken is going to take 2 of the females (as a trade for the eggs she gave me), and I'd like 1. If the hatch goes well I'll need homes for the rest of these babies, so let me know if you are interested in a Faverolle or 7.

I might be able to talk my husband into one or two! I'll let you know for sure in a few days.

 

[RIRJen]

OH NO! we lost power last night!!! I know we did...I don't know how long thought. (I odn't think it was long) Temp/humidity in the bators look good but I'm freaking out here because the one egg that was pipping yesterday made absolutely no progress other then the tiny original pip. I helped it along a little (yes, I know what I'm doing...done this a lot) and after a quick little peek at a couple other eggs the chicks still look to be alive and at least one more has a tiny pip. They were due to hatch yesterday and I'm used to them hatching on the day they are supposed to...anyone have some words to make me leave them alone? LOL

 

[Opa]

...anyone have some words to make me leave them alone? LOL

Back away from the bator. Leave it alone. Don't touch it. Never open it till hatch has finished.

Is that enough words?

 

[Opa]

I can't stress strongly enough how inadvisable it is to open the incubator before the hatch has completed. Taking out hatched chicks only creates problems for the others. Sometimes just a minute change in temperature or humidity is enough to cause an egg to quit. The desire to "help" a chick will often doom the others. The noise and movement of the hatched chicks often triggers the hatching of others. I would advise waiting for the other eggs to hatch or up to 48 hours after the first chick before opening the incubator. The hatched chicks will not be hurt by the delay.

 

[SillyChicken]

Could an empty belly cause a chicken to walk in unsteady circles?
Checked the chickens this morning and found my littlest silkie behaving a bit off. She seemed to be unable to walk in a straight line, instead walking to the side in a circle. She could run away from me in a straight line, but not walk around.
Her crop was so empty I couldn't even feel it, and now that I have her indoors and isolated I've noticed she has a small sneeze. She may also be molting, she's putting off a lot of loose feathers. I gave her some egg and a little bread, as well as water and grit. She ate the egg in large gulps, the bread a little slower, but hasn't show interest in the water or grit. She's walking normally now, and is grooming herself, so I have no idea if I should think she's sick or not.
She's pooped twice since being brought in, first was watery but not abnormal looking, the second was solid but again nothing appeared off.

She has had issues eating around the others lately. It's almost as if she's not part of the flock anymore, the others will chase her away from whatever they are eating and have pecked her so much the back of her head is bald. She's often far away from the other birds and very wary of them, especially our BCM's (they're usually the bullies). I've tried my best to make sure she gets treats and up until today she's always had food in her crop.

could she have a head injury from being pecked in the head?
Sounds like she's being bullied by the other birds. You may want to separate her from the others till she gets her strength up... I've read that silkies are pretty docile and easily picked on.

 

[Scifisarah]

Glad our bantam cochin incubators are self sufficient for power outages. Anyone have suggestions of someone or have silkie chicks or eggs within ~45 minutes of Rockford/Grand Rapids? Hoping my lil cochins hatch today or tomorrow and I'd love to add some fuzzy silkies to the mix. There are some at the Family Farm & Home, but I'd like to try for some better quality birds if possible.

For the picked on silkie - maybe you could have her get back up to strength, and then introduce her back to the flock at the same time you're adding a few more birds (if you'll be doing this)? Then they would spread out the aggression on a few birds rather than all on her. Something similar happened to our female frizzle hen and did not end well. I love chickens, but they sure have the "survival of the fittest" thing figured out and I imagine silkies fall pretty short when it comes to "fit".

 

[Ferrret]

could she have a head injury from being pecked in the head?
Sounds like she's being bullied by the other birds. You may want to separate her from the others till she gets her strength up... I've read that silkies are pretty docile and easily picked on.

That's what BF and I thought as well. She's returned to her usual self now, sneezing may have been caused by all her dander from fighting me. She even stood up the cats as they got a little closer to investigate her. I didn't think I'd ever see my feisty cat back away, but I guess the threat of being pecked on the head is enough for her.
I'll keep her inside still. I want to know she's eaten enough to have the energy to keep away from the others. They all free range in the yard and have plenty of space to get away from each other, I just want to feel that she won't be sluggish if they do pick on her.

 

[SillyChicken]

I'd love to raise them for food too as my source of meat, but am also allergic. I have never eaten one though, how do they taste? Ive always wanted to try. Can you just catch bunnies from your yard and eat them, the wild ones? Is this ok to do?

Hi Sarah,
Since wild rabbit is considered to be owned by the state... you would need to purchase a small game license and shoot them during the designated rabbit season.

 

[SillyChicken]

OK... I'm already stressing about all of the eggs I have under my broody. I gave her 12 and she seemed to be pushing out 2 early on, so I took those away. But 10. 10! lol. SillyChicken is going to take 2 of the females (as a trade for the eggs she gave me), and I'd like 1. If the hatch goes well I'll need homes for the rest of these babies, so let me know if you are interested in a Faverolle or 7.

I wouldn't sweat it, maybe they smelled funny to her, lol!

 

[sarah92480]

Morning everyone!! I woke up way too early now I think I want to go back to sleep. The rainy weather makes me want to have a lazy day too.

This is by no means scientific or based on years of chicken rearing, but looking at the tails might be a clue. The BSL and ISA'a are pullets for sure. Right? The Wyandottes don't have that up turn in their tails And if you subscribe to the wing feather length in females being longer, those Wyandottes seem shorter.

My Wyandottes are the same age and their tails have that up turn and long wing feathers, so I think they are pullets. The one that had a droopy butt was the one that the hawk got and I was pretty sure that he was a roo, based on his agression in the brooder.

Of course I'll know for sure when they either crow or lay an egg.

Yes they are all pullets except the wyandottes (maybe). And I guess I didn't notice it in the pictures that their tails are down...they are usually always up like the others so I dont know if that works in this situation? Or maybe they are both female, who knows. That would be cool if they are. They are bigger than all the others too. That ISA is the smallest; are they just a smaller chicken or is mine a runt? She eats more than everybody else, I figured she'd be the biggest by now.