NY chicken lover!!!!

[Aria]

Lyn, When we were in the CALL DUCK thing.....they NEVER recognized breeding different
:"kinds" of Call Ducks. White with White Pastels with Pastels. We got our Call Duck info
from Blue Ribbon breeders.

There are many different COLORS of Call Ducks. If you were interested in seriousCALL DUCK breeding....I think this still applies.

We were members of the CALL DUCKS Association and following their rules and we sold\
our Blue Ribbon Call Ducks across the U.S. There are FEW Breeders around. Regards, Aria

 

[Lapeerian]

I use Sweet PDZ, it is an element called ziolote, it dries the area and neutralizes ammonium and is a godsend. It is nothing like DE. I also use wood ashes, i bathe and blow dry chickens, and when necessary I use Eprinex to keep them from the itchies. You are all right, if it works for you, fine. There is no one perfect way to raise chickens.

We cooked one of the roosters, and roasting was not a good choice. Will try to use the other half in soup...think I will can the other two, cause the pressure cooking will make it more tender. He was young, maybe 6-8 months old, and had not been walking around too much as no one like to walk in the snow.

Sweet PDZ (or Stall Dry, depending on brand) is wonderful. We have been using lots in the kitty litter box mixed with the regular kitty litter, because our 2 boys stink. I also sprinkle a little in the chick brooder under the shavings when they are being real pigs. Thankfully this batch seems less pig-ish, but just like to destroy the shavings. I still sprinkle DE in the nest boxes and when the chicks progress to the Eglu to keep cooties at bay.

Half of the Valentine's chicks are in a stock tank in the garage with heat lamp, other half still in the house brooder. Going to build a large brooder in the corner of the garage this weekend and move them all into one big pen. I have one BO that is very timid compared to the rough & tough PRocks and has fallen behind in growth. Going to keep that little one inside along with the BO/EE that seems to be very kind to it. Becoming very obvious who is a boy in this batch and I see many freezer residents in my future, some of those PRocks are jerks already at only 5 weeks old. I'd like to attempt the canning, but hubby says no canned meat.

 

[Beer can]

I have a small pressure cooker for the tough birds but found slow cooking in a crock pot gets them just as tender, and easier to moniter. I over did one in the pressure cooker once, little bones everywhere, it was a mess.
I'm going to try something new with some cockerels I have in the freezer. I'm going to debone them and give them a few day soak in Salamida state fair chicken sauce. That should tenderize them some. Wrap them up with butcher string and slow grill them. Just waiting for a nicer day.
One thing I never thought of is I heard the birds should be refrigerated for a couple days so the muscles relax before freezing. I have always just tossed them in the freezer.
I always hang my deer to 'age' for a week if the weather is right, if not I quarter them up put in garbage bags and put them in our extra fridge.

 

[rancher hicks]

I wonder if it's the Rochester hub. I had eggs shipped up here from KY. Tracking said they arrived in Rochester yesterday & left there for my PO that same morning. When I visited my PO yesterday to pick them up, they did not have my package. And they did not have any explanation today why the package was delayed in Rochester yesterday. No damage shown on the outside of the box & no cracked eggs, but the air cells are quite wonky. Fingers crossed they recover & develop.

Yes it is. I worked for the PO. You send priority mail to someone in Syracuse and it goes out to Roch and back to Syracuse I think. Anyhow Albany to Syracuse and it goes right by and then back.

Crazy system.

I got my Eggs from VA today. Left VA on Weds AM I think and arrived today in the AM.

 

[cutipatooti]

I got shipped eggs from Washington today. They shipped out Wednesday and were here at my door by 11:00. This is going to be my first time hatching, so wish me luck.

 

[rancher hicks]

I'll have to look up PDZ just cuz.

Iv'e used DE since I first learned of it and that it's organic.

I dust the entire floor after cleaning out old shavings. Then dump shavings and spread some more DE.

I dust roosts and nest boxes too. AND dust the birds.

Cooties don't just appear on the birds they live in the dark and damp.

The coarseness of DE is like little knives that cut into soft bodied cooties and dries them up.

Vaseline on the legs of birds smothers scaley mites. It does the same when brushing oil on the roosts.

IMO folks need to learn to prevent problems before they occur, but also be safe in doing so.

When something is called a carcinogen that's not a good thing. No matter what it kills, because it will kill you too! It's just common sense.

Even with DE, and both kinds of Grit you must wear a mask.

 

[rancher hicks]

I got shipped eggs from Washington today. They shipped out Wednesday and were here at my door by 11:00. This is going to be my first time hatching, so wish me luck.

You keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll keep mine crossed for you.

I got Delaware eggs. What'd you get.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

My first chick hatched last night! It is doing good. The second chick hatched this afternoon, but it still had some of it's insides that didn't suck back in. It passed a little bit ago.

Egg#3 has a pip in it. I had to take Chick #1 out so that it would stop running into the others. It is not happy that it is all by itself. I have put in a mirror and also took some of my feathers that I have been collecting and made a little duster type thing for it to hid under if it wants. I go out and check on it when it gets to loud. Earlier it was asleep on my chest while I was reading. Hopefully the next chick hatches soon so little "Teeny Tiny" Can have a buddy. If nothing else hatches I will take the single chick and give it to my broody and take her eggs and toss them in the incubator to finish up.

How long should it usually take from when there is a pip in the egg till the chick is out. It seems like mine are taking a really long time. Chick #1 took over 12 hours before it was out after the first pip. I first saw the pip at 8:30am and it finally was out when I went up to bed last night at 11:30pm. Humidity is steadyish at 70%

Chick #1 "Teeny Tiny" A sizzle of some sort. May possibly be from the birds I got from "Why Do Birds" (Fredo and Chicken Nugget) Not sure, but looks more blue then my black ones did when they first hatched.

 

[cutipatooti]

You keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll keep mine crossed for you. 

I got Delaware eggs. What'd you get. 

Sounds good. I got wheaten Ameraucana, but with really nice blue eggs. I have a few now but the eggs are not very blue. They go in the bator tomorrow.

 

[Beer can]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...=9Ug2qQZT-8vShY4fhfifag&bvm=bv.88528373,d.cWc