NY chicken lover!!!!

[Pyxis]

Had some babies hatch out yesterday and today!

 

[Lynzi777]

Had some babies hatch out yesterday and today!

Awww what breed are they?

 

[Pyxis]

Awww what breed are they?

They are BBS Copper Marans

 

[horsekeeper]

Sorry about the dirty floor. I haven't vacuumed/mopped in a couple days. Fredo crows and we believe that he's definitely a rooster. The black silkie though? It doesn't have a crest of waddles but it's only 17 weeks old!

The poor thing is just about blind.

Seriously! My first chicks were 17 TSC silkies and they lived in panic and would huddle down or run into things until I trimmed their crests back from their eyes. Since these are not show birds, try trimming the fluff around her eyes so she can see what the other birds are doing and you will probably see a remarkable difference in attitude. She is probably retreating to the box and huddling down to protect herself from all the things she can't see.

If the little roo is attempting to breed her it must be terrifying. She can't see him coming and suddenly something is grabbing her from above and behind just like a predator.

You may find that she gets better at eating, too.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

Pyxis, are you close to the Fingerlakes/Geneva/Canandaigua/Watkins area? If so, are you selling any of your BBS Maran chicks? I might consider purchasing a couple to throw in with my group hatching on Tuesday, of which only two of my Marans eggs survived to this point in incubation (and who knows if they'll make it through hatching). I'd probably like to buy about six.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Sorry about the dirty floor. I haven't vacuumed/mopped in a couple days. Fredo crows and we believe that he's definitely a rooster. The black silkie though? It doesn't have a crest of waddles but it's only 17 weeks old!

They are getting so big and beautiful. I know that you are scared that something will get to them when they are outside. You could have something that you can fence them in and you could be outside with them if it made you feel better. Maybe a small fenced in area or if you aren't ready for that, you could take their big crate outside and put it out in the grass without the bottom pan. That way they can get to the grass for a little while and they would be safe for a little bit. I wouldn't leave them out like that over night, but they could be out there for a little while. They also make the small runs that you could buy to put them out in the sun on nice days. I know that they are you pet chickens, I'm sure if my husband would let me I would have one too, but I'm sure that they would enjoy a little time in sun on the grass.

They sell this for $80.99 at Tractor Supply.

 

[Pyxis]

Pyxis, are you close to the Fingerlakes/Geneva/Canandaigua/Watkins area?  If so, are you selling any of your BBS Maran chicks?  I might consider purchasing a couple to throw in with my group hatching on Tuesday, of which only two of my Marans eggs survived to this point in incubation (and who knows if they'll make it through hatching).  I'd probably like to buy about six.  

I'm actually closer the the Glens Falls area, which is quite a ways from you. I also only had seven hatch Of course, only eight eggs were fertile and these were shipped eggs so no complaints from me on that. I do have an older breeding trio though and if they ever start laying I will have eggs for sale if you wanted to give hatching them a try.

 

[why do birds]

Had some babies hatch out yesterday and today!

Oh they are so pretty! Love love love the backdrop you used for these pics!

Horsekeeper, yes, it could be seriously visually impaired. Do you use scissors to clip the feathers around the eyes? Is there a special technique? Does it hurt the bird to cut a feather? Or is it like a hair cut for humans? When I wash the silkie and the feathers are more out of it's eyes, it still doesn't move too much.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

I'm actually closer the the Glens Falls area, which is quite a ways from you. I also only had seven hatch

Of course, only eight eggs were fertile and these were shipped eggs so no complaints from me on that. I do have an older breeding trio though and if they ever start laying I will have eggs for sale if you wanted to give hatching them a try.

Bummer. I'm looking for some to add in that's close in age to this coming hatch.

I may end up having to do a mid-Summer hatch afterall. I'll keep you in mind, if so.

 

[horsekeeper]

Horsekeeper, yes, it could be seriously visually impaired. Do you use scissors to clip the feathers around the eyes? Is there a special technique? Does it hurt the bird to cut a feather? Or is it like a hair cut for humans? When I wash the silkie and the feathers are more out of it's eyes, it still doesn't move too much.

I used small sewing scissors (like you use in embroidery) with sharp points so I could trim precisely. Just watch out for any blood shafts and you should be okay. Yes, it is like cutting hair. I found that if I laid the bird on my lap on its side and pinned it down with my arm I could hold the head still so it wasn't endangering its eyes by flailing around. Just start trimming and take a little at a time until you have cleared a good visual field. It made such a difference in behavior when I trimmed the half of the flock that could hardly see. They crowded right in with the rest to eat and stopped crying all the time when the others attacked. Let me tell you, there were some rude surprises for the bullies when the victims could see well enough to fight back!

I cleared out the bantam tub at TSC because I felt bad leaving anyone behind. Ended up with 11 roos, 5 pullets, and one that died the first night. Pinky was the favorite because he was the only one with a little pink comb. He was handled more and grew up to be very sweet tempered. 9 out of 10 of the rest were evil little sh*ts that would attack whenever they could. They have made excellent soup. As someone else said, nothing tastes as good as mean roo.