***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

Yup, I'm in trouble. The auctioneer said this guy is Araucana, although I have my doubts about the pureness of that statement. Nobody wanted him, so I got him as the last bird on auction, while everybody was in line to pay, for $4.50. He's so easygoing I sat down with him to look him over and we ended up just sitting here, watching tv and chilling for a while. He lets me pet him and he makes little growly noises, like a chicken purr.

The problem is, he's definitely all roo, and I don't know where to keep him until the big pen is finished. I'll have to build another temp pen to hold him.

I would say no on the araucana, ksane is right you can get tailed (though they are not showable w/ a tail and your not likely to convince a breeder that is actually what you have) but in addition he has muff and beard, not tufts. If I were a betting person I would say a pretty handsome EE.

 

[mjgigax]

Oh poor girl! It seems crazy that they molt so late in the fall. It worries me with my girls because the cold days/nights we have been getting...

One of my lavender cochin girls did that too. She hardly looks like a Cochin. I can really tell how small the just really are under all those feathers. It is late in the season. Jack's birds molted late this year too.

 

[Kyzmette]

@cathiesue I'm baking chookies for you! Cross your fingers. The eggs were sold as Ameraucanas, which they obviously aren't, although they are EE. They could be ages old or infertile, but we'll find out!

 

[artsyrobin]

i have heard they grow their feathers back faster in the colder weather- my RIR Donna did that, i thought she was sick, put her in the tub to bathe her, that was her first molt a few years ago, well, i think she lost the rest of them in the bath! She was one pathetic looking girl

 

[sadieh]

Look at this FACE! I pulled him out of the cage and this guy has the saddest face I've ever seen on a roo. I immediately promised him the sun, the moon, the sky, fermented grain, a whole flock of hens and a bed of DE all to himself! Who could abuse and neglect such a sweet baby?!


Those are Buff Brahma Bantams I believe. Here are mine

Look at this FACE! I pulled him out of the cage and this guy has the saddest face I've ever seen on a roo. I immediately promised him the sun, the moon, the sky, fermented grain, a whole flock of hens and a bed of DE all to himself! Who could abuse and neglect such a sweet baby?!

 

[Kyzmette]

That's exactly what they look like! Thank you!

 

[Critterwoman]

Ksanes, what is the butterfly patch on the back of the white hen?

As freezing weather is starting here, I remembered reading somewhere about adding mineral oil to a waterer to keep the water from freezing in them. Does anyone do this or heard of doing it? I have a 7 gallon waterer and wondered how much to put in?

Thanks for the input.

 

[artsyrobin]

i don't know about mineral oil, but i use vegetable glycerine in the water- the kind found in the baking section, food grade- it lowers the temp the water will freeze at


had a wonderful visit with Coral, Shelbydog, your faverolles are on the way!

 

[Ksane]

Ksanes, what is the butterfly patch on the back of the white hen?

That's one of my Lavender Ameraucana girls, hard to see her color in the picture. She's wearing one of those aprons for hens so the rooster doesn't break her feathers
I should probably put one on my Brahma girl so she doesn't freeze during her molt lol

 

[Kyzmette]

Oil and water don't mix, so while adding oil might stave off freezing by altering the freezing point of the surface of the water, it won't alter the freezing point of the remaining body of water. Unless you have a large amount of water, the water will freeze, altering its density, and the ice will float to the top.

If you want to add oil, I would really suggest using a vegetable based oil instead of a petroleum product. Also, adding sugar to water will lower the freezing point and give additional calories, which are good for keeping warm.