NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

Pharm I am sorry about your chickens and am hoping you don't have to put down your whole flock.

I ended up with 6 baby chicks from that hatch the 3 eggs that were left were no good I cracked them open and they had black small blobs in them that didn't even come close to resembling a baby chick. Next batch in another bator are pipping and cheeping so should have some more fluffy butts soon. Tried putting some pictures all night of the fluffy butts all dried and fluffy but for some reason it is just not working.

I finally have a Broody hen my Splash Maran who hasn't been laying and I thought might have something wrong with her as she would just stay in the coop on the floor (she usually doesn't go on the roost) unless I booted her out of the coop and closed the door then it dawned on me tonight that she keeps making herself a nice little pile of wood chips and when I checked her chest is plucked so I gave her some of the other girls eggs to hatch and she settled right down on those eggs.

Have an appointment Wednesday to see what happened to the arm that was doing so well until I went to therapy and they pushed too much because they couldn't believe I wasn't in pain so now it is messed up worse than what it was before the surgery.

good luck with your Dr appointment ...I would switch therapists...would not go back to that one ..

 

[Lapeerian]

Best of luck Pharm, hope it is something you can manage and cure without culling the whole flock. I know you have been working and breeding to get the exact birds you want and won't be easy to replace that.
Found another crushed dead chick this morning, one of the PRocks.

I had 2 of each breed. So this morning Luna was not so kindly taken out of the bucket (and chicks carefully moved) and the bucket removed. I tossed a pile of hay on the floor instead, see if that provides enough of a nest without her crushing any more chicks. I still have her locked in the coop, as I know the chicks won't be able to navigate the ramp quite yet.

 

[Lynzi777]

Have either of you tried a pet waterer ? A bottle that has a ball bearing at the tip of a metal tube ?
My chickens will peck at ours for a drink . I put it up with a bowl under it as it drips .

I've tried this with the silkies, none of them ever used it. So I removed it. I can't hang a water bottle in this pen with mama and chicks because of the wooden walls, no wire to hang it on. I can try to jig something together I suppose. Worth a try before I leave.

Can't quote your other post for some reason...Regarding the laying, sounds like they may be a week older than expected. I mean unless you were given an exact hatch date, then yea maybe you have some early layers. I don't know what the earliest a chicken can start laying is. Mine all started laying around 20wks, the silkies a little bit longer.

 

[ChickPrincess]

Gramma,
What breed of chickens are your teens? I have white ones from TSC that were sold as tetra tints, but they are ALL pure white, except for one that has a small amount of brown on her wings. I have 15 of them, if I'm remembering correctly. I lost track counting, but they are 12 to 14 weeks, definitely no older than 14 weeks. My one roo has been crowing already for 2 weeks. The pullets are still making baby cheep sounds, but their combs are beginning to darken a little. But that darn young roo is already crowing, dancing and mating with the older hens. I'll bet the pullets won't be too much longer to mature. Some breeds just mature quickly... that's what they are bred to do!

Lapeerian, Sorry for your hen loss.

Pharm, What can I say? I am so sorry to hear about your flock. I would be devastated at just the THOUGHT of putting my flock down. I truly hope it does not come to that. I'll be thinking about you and keeping my fingers (and toes!) crossed.

I candled Blondie's eggs last night. I have just a small flashlight, so it didn't work too well. I don't want to use my million candle power light and fry them! lol I see a dark blob in all the eggs but I don't know what I'm seeing. I did see veins in one egg. It's day 8 today. Stupid question, but will the dark blob move around inside the egg as you turn it? Or does that mean the egg has gone bad? When I turned the egg, the dark spot on some would slowly float to a different part of the egg. Is that normal?
Blondie is being such a good girl. She never used to be very friendly, but suddenly it's like I'm her BFF. As soon as I step in to the garage she's making Gizmo noises. All I have to do is scratch her back and she'll get right off her nest so I can check her eggs. She just stands there watching me. Seems to love attention. I hope she's as good of a momma!

Good idea with ice in the water to help keep them cool (Gramma?). I don't know why I didn't think of that. I may try freezing some yogurt also for a treat. That would be funny to watch.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Have either of you tried a pet waterer ? A bottle that has a ball bearing at the tip of a metal tube ?
My chickens will peck at ours for a drink . I put it up with a bowl under it as it drips .

When we get back from our long weekend, I am going to see if hubby and I can construct one of those nipple water buckets that most people seem to recommend. I could try the pet-type waterer, but I don't think they make them in a large enough size to where I'd feel comfortable with that as their water source for 3 or 4 days. Again, it comes down to having a friend / neighbor look in on things, change water, etc., to give me peace of mind, but even then I worry. And of course I worry I'll take advantage of the friend / neighbor. I just worry too much, obviously, but how to change your hard wiring.

Sorry about the crushed chick, Lapeerian. Ugh. Too many sad stories. We all need some good luck.


TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I...can't...stand...this......HEAT !!!!

TOB

edited by staff

 

[Nuttyfrom6kids]

Is it possible they are Delawares those according to everything I have read start laying at 12-16 weeks

 

[Lynzi777]

TOB - I hear ya! Loud and Clear!! My kids are inside playing video games and you know what? I don't care! It is way too hot and humid out there.

Well I think the day has finally come...I'm waiting to get a phone call from my boss saying I'm out of a job next week. My co-worker was just pulled into the office and told that she's out of one if she can't find something by next week. I'm on vacation next week so I'm not sure what this means for me. Not sure if they'll hold onto me a little while longer during this "bridging" process of these vendors taking over this project we work on or if they'll let me go too. Either way I'm having my 1x1 with her tomorrow so I'll find out eventually. As much as I want to be let go, I'm still nervous about this phone call. It's finally sinking in. LOL I just want a good package for being there 12 years and if I don't get one - THAT'S what will upset me more than anything! The fact that I wasted 12 years of my life for this company! UGH Wish me luck!

 

[marquisella]

Quote: I use the buckets with the nipples, best invention ever. I hang them from the ceiling and adjust the height as needed. or you can put the nipples on the sides about an inch from the bottom & place it on a slightly raised board. You'd be surprized at how high those chicks and scramble. Or, put the waterer on something that is about 3 ft in diameter, that will keep the shavings away.

With Silkies I've bought those "soda" bottle waterers, they have a small well, you screw them into the 16oz or up to 2 liter soda bottles. My Silkies have used them, but again, you need something to hang them on.I use them when I"m away. They also keep their heads cleaner cause they can't dunk their crests into them as easily.

 

[Breella]

24 hours in NYC and way too many pages of posts to read. Good Morning!