Nankin Discussion Thread

[RioLindoAz]

franciscreek, Thats too bad that you're getting out of Nankins. What other projects are you planning to work on?
I would love some of your 2011 pullets. Your birds are stunning, and I'd be honored to carry on some of your lineage.

My only drawback right now is that I'm 100% rooster-less. We had to take them to a friend's house for the time being because of the city.
So for now, I'm left with only 8 hens. Hopefully, this will give them a chance to feather out a bit and to regain their sassy vibes. The guys have been putting quite a load on them. (12 roo's to 8 hens)

Thanks

 

[franciscreek]

Ok, i will keep a couple for you, let me know when you want them. If you would like a cockerel I will make it a trio. They are all Don Cable's breeding, I think that is where I got the best ones, breeding Cable to Cable.

 

[Micki]

I am so upset! Apparently the post office has lost my Nankin chicks. I'm just sick over it. Lund's poultry mailed them out on Tuesday. According to the paperwork I printed out online from the USPS, they were guaranteed to arrive at my post office at by 3 pm the next day. I have been on the phone with Customer Service at USPS, who gave me a number to an office in St. Louis, I talked to my post office who made some calls, and I got off the phone again with Customer Service about an hour ago. I've been dealing with these people all day. No one can tell me where the chicks are. They are most likely deceased by now. I am just sick. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of situation?

 

[Micki]

Update on the chicks. I received a call from St Louis first thing this morning and the chicks were there at 6 am. They are due to arrive at my local post office at 11 am. I will be there waiting. A few things that I want to say: First, Lund Poultry did absolutely nothing wrong. Terry Lund has been in close contact with me throughout this ordeal and has made phone calls from his end to the USPS as well. I would work with Lund Poultry again in a heartbeat. Also, the people that I've talked to that work for the USPS have been very professional and very nice. However, due to someone's negligence, no one could tell me where my birds were for over 24 hours. I am filing a formal complaint, but I will let them know the names of the responsible people who helped me. The people at my local post office have been wonderful. I went in there yesterday to talk to them and they spent over 20 minutes on the phone trying to find my chicks. They are just sick about it. I will be there waiting when the birds come in and I'm still praying that they survived. We shall see when they get here.

 

[fowlman01]

They should arrive in good health. I have found the USPS very helpful.

Walt

 

[Micki]

Good news and bad news. Mostly good. The chicks finally arrived at 11 am today. Almost 3 full days to get here from the time they were shipped on Tuesday. 3 were dead, 6 were alive, but a bit weak. Terry Lund suggested that I bring sugar water with me to give to them right away. Wow, what a difference that made! One bird was so weak it couldn't stand up anymore. It's head dropped into the water when I put it next to the cup for it to drink. Once it realized there was water, it just started sucking it up like crazy! The other birds too. They drank for about 5 minutes, then I put some food in with them for the 15 minute ride home. We got home and I put them in the brooder, and they all spent another 45 minutes eating and drinking. As their empty little digestive systems started working, they started passing gas. Then eventually all pooped. Then they ate and drank some more. Finally, with bulging crops, they all laid down together and dozed off. As they ate and drank, we could actually see them getting stronger again. It was something! They are beautiful birds and I am very grateful that 6 made it. Even though it was not at all his fault, Terry Lund told me that he would send me some more birds later this spring. I feel like for these 6 birds to survive this ordeal he must be breeding some pretty tough ones. They are very pretty and once they got some food and water into them they became very alert and curious. I am very happy with these chickens. Thank you Lund Poulltry!

 

[Micki]

Ok, now that I have my Nankins, I get to play the "which are cockerels and which are pullets" game! Any suggestions on trying to figure it out? And yes, I know, when they start to crow I will know they are cockerels . What have been your experiences on timeline for that? Are there any other clues?

BTW, the birds are really doing great! They are eating and drinking like pigs, everyone went through a major preening session this evening, and they are much more alert and active. They are fun to watch!

 

[franciscreek]

Rio,

I plan on taking most of the young birds to the show in Stockton at the end of the month.I plan on shipping most of the birds out the following week.Let me know if you are still interested. At the show this weekend One of the pullets was RV and the cockerel was 1st out of 8 cockerels. Pullets were best are reserve

Franciscreek

 

[Micki]

The following are pics of my Nankins. I have 6 of them. First pic is everyone together, top view. Then an individual pic of each of my 6 birds. I want to label the individual photos Bird 1, Bird 2, etc, but I don't seem to have figured out how to get text on the same post as a picture yet. I will try!
All comments and suggestions are welcome. I noticed after taking the pics that everyone's feathers look a little ruffled. I had just cleaned their brooder and they really don't like the camera (hate the flash, but I have to use it to get any kind of a decent photo). So they weren't particularly happy. No one is posed. I held them up, snapped a pic, and that was that. All are doing really well. The chick in the first shot appears to be a cockerel, and he really likes to be held. He will fall asleep in your lap if you rub his neck or wattles. The others tolerate it but don't particularly seem to like it. All of the birds have good dispositions.
If any breeders know of any reason that I shouldn't be posting pics of my birds, please feel free to pm me. This is all a learning experience for me! Again, all comments and suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

 

[Micki]