NY chicken lover!!!!

[ChickPrincess]

Just got an email from AJ farms hatchery in Seneca Falls, where I thought I bought some Buff Orpingtons last February. Those are the ones that turned out to be red sex links...I asked them to not send any more emails, since I only get angry when I see mail from them. I even called and asked them if they were sure that those were BO that they sold me. They gave me some mumbo jumbo that it was just genetics...they had a chance to be standup people, and they blew it as far as I am concerned. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I won't be getting anything from them anytime soon, as it probably won't be what I would have wanted.
Just checked the mirror, and Yes, I am frothing at the mouth.
I really hate when people won't admit their mistakes. And I don't do business with them.

I've dealt with this place also, and just wasn't thrilled with them. Talked themselves up as if they were God. We bought 3 production hens and they went and got them and brought them out to us in a box. When we unpacked them at home, 2 looked pretty scraggly, 1 VERY scraggly. Also just got a bad "vibe" from them.

 

[Lapeerian]

No white eggs here in almost a week, only one blue egg a day when I should be getting a second blue on occasion. I am not impressed with those three hens.

I broke Luna of the broodiness (tossed her in the Eglu with some eggs, left her there 2 days and she never once sat on the eggs), but she is not back to laying yet. So that leaves 6 hens laying 4 eggs a day, still meets the quota of 2 dozen a week to my one customer. Have not found the hidden nest of white eggs...
Did check out the neighbor Amish chickens this weekend, couple were out ranging and the door was open. The last sickly rooster is gone and the hens actually looked decent. Maybe some new ones? Hmmm, wonder if I can cross my GLW roo with his White Leghorn girls.... Genetics test: The comb gene comes from which parent? And the feathering? I really like my GLW mix girl, she is an everyday large brown egg layer and would like to re-create her using the GLW boys. She is feathered like a GLW, but has a straight comb that flops over to one side. The boys do have rose combs.
Time to head off to do the bath & bed time routine around here. Any suggestions on reading up chicken genetics? I'm sure there are hundreds of threads on here, but sometimes makes it hard to know where to start.

 

[Cass]

ROFL.. Is it another D'uccle? =)

My Java broody is quite happy on her fake egg that I move to another box each night. I waited out two other broodies and they both gave up. /whew. I MAY hatch on NYD, but I am not setting up new waterers etc for babies in the coop. I have my nice heated dog bowls that scream 'chick drowners' and so no chicks in there! =)

No, it's a Chanteclear from Annie. And her sister stopped laying too. All I get are green eggs any more. Now I don't mind green eggs, but other people think they are kinda weird. I have little chicks in that coop already. And I mean little, I think one of them hatched from a Sumantra egg. And I got a 1.5 gallon heated waterer for that side, cuz of the number of chickens in there. Soooooo Now I have to find a way to keep the chicks from drowning in it...am thinking bricks for a month or so, until they get tall enough to get out, if they fall in. Right now I am just happy waterers aren't freezing yet (except one night and they pecked through the ice to the water below in the morning.)

I am sad to report that I am down to just 2 D'uccles. One was the victim of the raccoon and eventually just wandered off and not one single feather of her was ever seen again. Another was the victim of the hawk. I don't let them out during the day any more, only when I am home. Their coop isn't overcrowded, the big girls coop is.

 

[featherz]

No, it's a Chanteclear from Annie. And her sister stopped laying too. All I get are green eggs any more. Now I don't mind green eggs, but other people think they are kinda weird. I have little chicks in that coop already. And I mean little, I think one of them hatched from a Sumantra egg. And I got a 1.5 gallon heated waterer for that side, cuz of the number of chickens in there. Soooooo Now I have to find a way to keep the chicks from drowning in it...am thinking bricks for a month or so, until they get tall enough to get out, if they fall in. Right now I am just happy waterers aren't freezing yet (except one night and they pecked through the ice to the water below in the morning.)

I am sad to report that I am down to just 2 D'uccles. One was the victim of the raccoon and eventually just wandered off and not one single feather of her was ever seen again. Another was the victim of the hawk. I don't let them out during the day any more, only when I am home. Their coop isn't overcrowded, the big girls coop is.

Aww, so sorry to hear that. They had a great life with you! Hawk got one of my smaller birds too - just small enough to take but not so small she could fly off like my little leghorns.

I have two of annie's chanteclers also (from eggs) - they seem to start laying pretty late. They were easter hatch - one just started laying, the other I think isn't there yet.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Okay I need some advice. It appears that we have a mite infestation in our big girls coop as my husband just found them 2 days ago. We move the coop last week and did not see anything at that time. I checked when I came home and pulled out one of the girls (it was dark) and sure enough, see them running on her. So after some research, it appears poultry dust with permethryn is the best. There is also a liquid permethryn that can be made into a spray. I am going to war on thursday and dh just sprayed down the outside of the coop with insect killer. It is suggested that I either burn or bag the litter from the coop to get rid of any mites in there as well. So what do any of you think or have done in a similar situation? I do use de in the coops but apparently it hasnt worked. My girls are also molting. I have ivermectin and was going to wait till january to treat them but should I just do it now? This is my first experience and I think all the rain we have had has led to this as I am very fastidious about keeping the coops clean, which is why its weird that all of a sudden I have mites. I know that the big coop will also have to be treated as a couple of those girls got into the infested coop a couple days ago when they were out freeranging. I figure I am just going to nuke everything and everyone. Please weigh in with what you have done and used.

 

[rancher hicks]

Never send a man to do a woman's job. Sigh.

That broody in the top nest box that I didn't want to give eggs to this late in the season? Well, Ray collected eggs for me the past couple of days, cuz he has been home (the State owes him ooddles of time off after long stint in Emergency Command Center). I figured, "hey, he's an adult , he knows what an egg looks like", so I did NOT double check for stray eggs. Mistake on my part. I also forgot that he is afraid of the chickens. Well, not "afraid", but not willing to touch them or catch them or move them or hold them. Ok, afraid. LOL

So I go down tonight to do my thing in the coop and lift the broody wannabe and Whoa, there are THREE eggs under her. Now mind you , these are not HER eggs, cuz all three are green and hers are brown. So, I have NO idea how long they have been there, could have been 3 - 4 days....she gets her wish. To raise babies in the middle of the winter. I am NOT amused.

Now don't be to hard. I've learned to let who ever collects eggs know that NO HEN gets to keep her eggs. DW is not a chickens person either but she's come around at taking care of them. No cleaning mind you but she will collect eggs.

But I've also made the mistake of NOT letting them know WHO gets to keep her eggs. I've taken to letting the Marans hatch light brown or EE eggs since I can tell if a Maran hen lays her egg in with the mix and letting the EE's or brown egg layer have the Marans eggs. Thereby allowing me to see if any EE or light brown eggs have been laid in with that mix.

If I'm unsure when an egg has been laid I mark it with a marker. When I go to use it crack it into a bowl and check it. I never sell these eggs but reserve them for myself.

hi featherz,
Trish here (Schuylerville, work at Skidmore. You put me in touch with a friend a couple of yrs. ago who gave us 3 replacements for our last, lone girl. Except for one who turned out to be an aggressive roo, they are doing great). I have a question for you
- and any other locals you may know or who might read this-
we have a friend in Saratoga who has a hen being badly pecked. He is looking for a home for her.
If I recall, you aren't big on taking newcomers as they might bring in new/nasty who-knows-what to the flock. We have same concerns, but also can't really fit another now.
Do you know anyone around here who might be interested? i don't know the breed/age but can find out easily.
Hope all is well in your part of town.

Now if you have a place to quarantine birds it's ok to take a new bird. If not then it's not advised. There is only one person I would take birds from and she knows who she is. I do however quarantine even chicks. Quarantined birds don't need a great deal of space. A large dog crate away from other birds should suffice.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Okay I need some advice. It appears that we have a mite infestation in our big girls coop as my husband just found them 2 days ago. We move the coop last week and did not see anything at that time. I checked when I came home and pulled out one of the girls (it was dark) and sure enough, see them running on her. So after some research, it appears poultry dust with permethryn is the best. There is also a liquid permethryn that can be made into a spray. I am going to war on thursday and dh just sprayed down the outside of the coop with insect killer. It is suggested that I either burn or bag the litter from the coop to get rid of any mites in there as well. So what do any of you think or have done in a similar situation? I do use de in the coops but apparently it hasnt worked. My girls are also molting. I have ivermectin and was going to wait till january to treat them but should I just do it now? This is my first experience and I think all the rain we have had has led to this as I am very fastidious about keeping the coops clean, which is why its weird that all of a sudden I have mites. I know that the big coop will also have to be treated as a couple of those girls got into the infested coop a couple days ago when they were out freeranging. I figure I am just going to nuke everything and everyone. Please weigh in with what you have done and used.

You could try putting seven dust in the litter. That would kill the bugs.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Does anybody have decent quality bantam cochins they are selling? I was really stupid and sold my best rooster back in July and regret it. Now I'm on the search for one as nice as him or better! Here is a pic of him.

I think Jamie Matt has good bantam cochins. He judges chicken shows. I don't have his contact info, but I could get it.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Okay I need some advice. It appears that we have a mite infestation in our big girls coop as my husband just found them 2 days ago. We move the coop last week and did not see anything at that time. I checked when I came home and pulled out one of the girls (it was dark) and sure enough, see them running on her. So after some research, it appears poultry dust with permethryn is the best. There is also a liquid permethryn that can be made into a spray. I am going to war on thursday and dh just sprayed down the outside of the coop with insect killer. It is suggested that I either burn or bag the litter from the coop to get rid of any mites in there as well. So what do any of you think or have done in a similar situation? I do use de in the coops but apparently it hasnt worked. My girls are also molting. I have ivermectin and was going to wait till january to treat them but should I just do it now? This is my first experience and I think all the rain we have had has led to this as I am very fastidious about keeping the coops clean, which is why its weird that all of a sudden I have mites. I know that the big coop will also have to be treated as a couple of those girls got into the infested coop a couple days ago when they were out freeranging. I figure I am just going to nuke everything and everyone. Please weigh in with what you have done and used.

Amy, Do you have mites or lice? Will mites run? I had lice( well, not me, the birds). When i picked up a bird my arm was covered with little grey crawlies. I believe that was my first purchase from you..being eprinex. I had used DE...didn't work. Used 7 dust on the birds and cleaned the coop with bleach, then dusted with 7. They came back(must not have eradicated the eggs in coop).

So I 7 dusted and cleaned again, To no avail. The I used the eprinex, Cleaned litter out of coop,bleached, then put 7 in the cracks and crevices, refilled lightly with bedding because I knew I would be doing it again in 2-3 weeks. At 2-3 weeks there were no sign of bugs, but everyone got their second dose of eprinex, and I rebleached and redusted and refilled with fresh bedding. This was last year and I have been lice free, though I did (I mean my birds!) had round worms, so I gave them 2 doses of eprinex mid summer., which may have kept the lice at bay(or not! who knows?). Winter coop is almost ready. When the birds make their move, everyone will be dosed with eprinex.

So,even though I hate using toxins with the birds, I would go straight to eprinex, topically. Use again in 2-3 weeks as eggs are not receptive to be killed by eprinex, so you need to re apply after 2-3 weeks. I think 2 is optimal, but you should check.

I do not know if you could use the same protocol if you have mites. Now if we could only keep the wild birds away from our birds!!

Oh! by the way, have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ginny

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I have eprinex also. 7 was the first thing that popped into my mind. Silly me.