NY chicken lover!!!!

[ChickPrincess]

OMG can we drop the ruined thing! By ruined I was refering to diaper wearing chickens, not starting a 4 page session. good lord

LOL At least we can keep it lighthearted!

I shut my mouth when I need to. If not, something always comes out the wrong way.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

A wise old farmer told someone that "if you're gonna keep livestock, you're gonna have dead stock". (One of my birds ran across the yard and dropped dead. Heart attack. And he looked so healthy. LOL)

(did we meantion "Build BIG"?? LOL)

As always, Cass, your wit and humor are appreciated. (And yeah, I think you've mentioned the "build BIG" a time or two, LOL!)

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and for the reminder to keep things in perspective. I've had animals my whole life, from fish, gerbils and parakeets on up to cats, my beloved dogs and a couple of horses. I hate to see anything die, but nothing's worse than seeing something suffer.

I'll be committed to keeping my birds happy and healthy, but realize that sooner or later, their time will come. Just hope it's later rather than sooner!

Great post, again, and thanks.


TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Now, now that's just normal. I've had chickens die for no reason and gotten so discouraged I wanted to get rid of them all. I'm just being too sensitive. If you avoid the pitfall of buying from emotion at auctions you'll be fine.

If you practice good flock management you can keep troubles to a minimum. Know what to look for in healthy birds. Know what to look for in the signs of sick or not so well kept birds. If you aren't going to hatch then buy only from your personally selected individuals.

There are plenty of folks here who keep a diverse flock or flocks. If they have the breed or breeds you like stick with them to buy replacements. Don't be afraid to refuse a bird or birds if you don't like what you see. Just say I need to think about it then call and say you've changed your mind. Lots of times I'll tell folks who are trying to sell me something, I need to talk to my wife.

If you remember three things you'll be fine. Clean house, clean food and clean water.

Remember we're here for you,

Rancher

Awww, thanks Rancher! You're all teaching me buckets full here at BYC!

(And I also have learned from your earlier post that if I'm ever reincarnated as a squirrel, to stay off your property!

)

By the way, I don't think I see the appeal of auctions and doubt I'll ever patronize any. Have always felt this about the horse auctions, as well. Plain old depressing -- much of the time, anyway.

TOB

 

[Pyxis]

Goodness it was busy in here today! I had lots of pages to read to catch up! It's too cold over here, and the birds are having none of it. Well, the brahmas don't care, but the others aren't too happy.

And I posted this a couple days ago but it kind of got buried: anyone have any easter eggers or blue/green egg layers they're looking to unload? I'm down to one girl who lays blue eggs and I miss the fun colors

 

[rancher hicks]

Many many things can cause death in a chicken. But usually they live on and on and on. Right folks? IF your coop and run are predator proof and you supply food and water they will be fine. Please don't let us scare you. I guess we are all trying to give you a peek into the things that we found challenging or "what the heck" moments.

I LOVE my birds. BUT they are birds. They can't hug me or kiss me or even bring me a gift on Mother's Day. I save that love for people. IF one of my birds dies, I get 2 more. (cuz you should never add just one bird to the flock. Now do you see how I got from a planned flock of 6 to a high of 37 and now 27) Now we have talked about the risks of adding adult birds....sooooo I add chicks. Of course I have to raise them in the house if I don't hatch them myself. There is very little risk to your flock if you bring home day old chicks and raise them to fully feathered and then add them to the flock. (better yet, have a hen hatch them for you so you don't have to deal with integration)

Now don't get me wrong, I cried the first time I had to kill a chick that just wasn't going to make it and couldn't get to the food and water. I kept saying "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry", crying as I killed it, wrapped it in a bag and dug a hole to bury it. (I don't bury them any more....they go to the dump. So I guess you do get used to the loss) The first time I found a chick squished by a non-mother hen I cried and kept it in my hand hoping it wasn't really dead. The last time I found a dead chick I put it in the egg basket and threw it in the basket when I got to the house. You get to where it bothers you, but only until it is out of sight.

A wise old farmer told someone that "if you're gonna keep livestock, you're gonna have dead stock". (One of my birds ran across the yard and dropped dead. Heart attack. And he looked so healthy. LOL)

I don't think you will find anyone on here that hasn't lost their favorite bird, their only rooster or had birds just dissappear off the face of the planet. The kids usually handle it better than the adults, cuz kids just think "we'll get another one"....so take that attitude....we'll get another one or two or three....and the pain of loss goes away pretty quickly. (did we meantion "Build BIG"?? LOL)

Who says? I do know my chickens know me and are more relax when I'm around. They sure can tell one person from another. One thing I've read is stress can bring on underlying problems. Which is why I don't let folks or strangers mess with my chickens. I don't like to make sudden changes in the coop.If I do, I spend more time with my chickens cuz it calms them down. DON'T YOU THINK FOR A MINUTE YOUR CHICKENS DON'T GET IMPRINTED ON YOU. If you spend enough time with them they will. I have to say there are times I'd like to stick the cot out there and sleep in the run just so they're ok. Of course not on a night like this.

Now my Frenchy has been with me since the beginning. I think she may be broody too. I hope not but she gets to sleep in the nest box of her choice. Plus one of the EE's is taken to staying in a box too, and I found the Sussex sleeping in her usual egg laying area. I put her up on the roost. I do hope she's not broody. Lord have mercy it's freezing out. How could a bird want to have chicks?

Frenchy. She stays with the Dels. She and her daughter Buckwheat. She's a little bantam but she seems ok. I wouldn't think of moving her to another flock. If I could I'd move her into the house but DW won't allow it.

 

[Henicillin]

Edited because I triple-posted, so I'll give you a photo of my Banties instead.

I love the pocket-sized things.

 

[Henicillin]

Who ordered this weather? This is horrible. The ducks went out this morning, took a bath in their hot water pan, and then ran for the coop, while the majority of the chooks said "yeah, we're good" and stayed inside. Ugh.

 

[Henicillin]

For our new peeps, if you'd like some really nice birds get Delawares from Rancher. I have two pullets (the big one and one from my hatching eggs) and one cockerel (one of the chicks), and they're all big, healthy, and gorgeous. I'll have to make a road trip when I get a broody to buy some Del hatching eggs!

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Rancher The ruined chicken discussion ruined (BURIED ) My pic of my red for you to look at ..LOL So here she is again .
Would she be a full red from a hatchery or not ? she was not sexed ..but was in a mixed bin of boys & girls

 

[Gramma Chick]

For our new peeps, if you'd like some really nice birds get Delawares from Rancher. I have two pullets (the big one and one from my hatching eggs) and one cockerel (one of the chicks), and they're all big, healthy, and gorgeous. I'll have to make a road trip when I get a broody to buy some Del hatching eggs!

His are Pretty ...maybe one ...? or two ? our coop is so small