***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Tony O]

. . . . . . The one I helped last night is out and drying and another was pipped this morning!! I don't know if either will make it but it's pretty amazing. I wrote everything down and I *didn't set any of those eggs days later. I don't know why I might get 2 out of them 3 days late :-0
So keep praying for Lillith's babies!

Your thermometer may be off.

If the incubator was a little to cool, they take longer to develop and are usually weak to start out.

 

[Kyzmette]

I love the vegetable oil and DE idea, very green. I also have some frontline for the dogs, so I may go that route, too. I'm not planning on eating their eggs any time soon, so it shouldn't be an issue.

The reference to DE made me think of something... Winter would have to be a difficult time for birds, especially since they can't get out and roll around in the dirt. What do you guys think about setting out a clean pan (or unused kiddie pool) of dirt/DE under a breeding lamp? Would that help to keep parasites under control? It would definitely have to be removed after a short time, so it might not work very well in expansive flock situations, but in small flocks, maybe?

 

[NanaKat]

Quote: a photo would be good, I am always a softy for special needs birds - cross beaks can be good layers and brooders- so i have heard- she is oblivious to her differences- i have heard both sides of the argument on whether it is genetic, i just figure in this case both hatches were under a broody so possibly she didn't cover them all during development- i just decided if there is a tendancy in the breed, not one i want to deal with- favs are pretty birds though.

Here you go Robin...
I need to trim the tips again on both the upper and lower beak sections. She is the same size as others hatched at the same time. She is a Wyandotte from a test pen from my Blue Birchen rooster over a Blue hen and a Birchen hen. She ended up party colored.

 

[Kyzmette]

Cathie Sue, I picked up some Silver Grey Dorking eggs to try again, and I bought four beautiful smokey grey silkie mixes in Tahlequah. They have crests and only one has the leg tufts. As soon as I saw them, I thought they would make excellent hens for my SFH, Orlando. I definitely want to get more SFHs, but the lavender/blue color of these silkies would look gorgeous with Orlando's flowering.

I have half a dozen Isbar eggs arriving this week, as well. I know I'll be lucky to get any of them to hatch, but I thought I would at least give it a shot.

 

[bardies]

Cathie Sue, I picked up some Silver Grey Dorking eggs to try again, and I bought four beautiful smokey grey silkie mixes in Tahlequah. They have crests and only one has the leg tufts. As soon as I saw them, I thought they would make excellent hens for my SFH, Orlando. I definitely want to get more SFHs, but the lavender/blue color of these silkies would look gorgeous with Orlando's flowering.

I have half a dozen Isbar eggs arriving this week, as well. I know I'll be lucky to get any of them to hatch, but I thought I would at least give it a shot.

SFH's? Since silkie is recessive and must be homozygous to show - how do you get mixes? And, if they have both crests, beards and leg feathers, how would you tell that they are mixes?

Rainy day today, but we need it again...

Is anyone going to the Newcastle show? We will be bringing one silkie for the youth competition.

Hope that everyone has a happy productive day today!

 

[NanaKat]

Didn't take a video, but here is the thundering flock when I go out with a scrap bucket or make a trip to the barn with anything in my hand. The freerangers begin coming from all over the property.....

From the front yard


From the barn...following me back to the barn



From out of the pens to the barn making a nice crowd.


It is nice to be so loved by my chickens

 

[shelbydog]

^^^. I agree. Same here.

 

[NanaKat]

I love the vegetable oil and DE idea, very green. I also have some frontline for the dogs, so I may go that route, too. I'm not planning on eating their eggs any time soon, so it shouldn't be an issue.

The reference to DE made me think of something... Winter would have to be a difficult time for birds, especially since they can't get out and roll around in the dirt. What do you guys think about setting out a clean pan (or unused kiddie pool) of dirt/DE under a breeding lamp? Would that help to keep parasites under control? It would definitely have to be removed after a short time, so it might not work very well in expansive flock situations, but in small flocks, maybe?

Instead of Ivomec you can let her stand in Adams Flea dip to help kill the mites and soften the grunge under the scales. Use a soft brush to clean off some of the crunge. NuStock is good on her legs too. It helps to soften the old scales and helps the replacement scales grow. The old scales need to fall off and news ones complete hardening. Atwoods carries NuStock...medicated cream.

I have a 2 foot by 30 inch floor box in the layer room that holds fine sand, sifted dirt, wood ash and poultry dust. I have to replenish the mix about once a month, The birds love it because they can dust even when it is rainy or snowy.

 

[NanaKat]

And just for fun///here is a very determined broody. Dottie has been sitting on a golf ball. To get her to come out for exercise, I remove her from the nest. This morning I set her golf ball on the ground. She was not going to let me near it. But once I picked it up again she did her business, ate and drank a little and then climbed back into her nest box, talking to her golf ball.

 

[NanaKat]

Rainy day today, but we need it again...

Is anyone going to the Newcastle show? We will be bringing one silkie for the youth competition.

Hope that everyone has a happy productive day today!

I know Don Gibson is taking birds...he was washing 16. And possibly Carl Jarvis...although I haven't talked with Carl, he usually does the Newcastle show.