***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[shelbydog]

Robin- that's a nice tractor. Having bantam coop envy over here.

Kathryn- love the blue laced lemon. More of her please! Will you breed her this year?

I mailed my order in for 10 BLRW from Mr Strawn. Pretty sure it's Foley stock. It's straight run so everyone cross their fingers I luck out with alot of pullets.

Speaking of straight run....saw ad on Facebook group for straight run cream legbar chicks....uh huh...how can you 'straight run' an auto sexing breed.

 

[shelbydog]

I finally opened my bottle of oxine. Due my math ignorance I put 2 ml in 32 fl oz spray bottle. Too much? Just right? Should have just done .5 ml??
I sprayed over everyone in big coop, sprayed the feed and water bowls and added some into big water containers the ducks dirty up but chickens insist on drinking out of. I sprayed a bit on the roosts and over the bedding and nesting box. I lightly sprayed the ground, roosts, and juvie occupants in the tractor. I sprayed over my 3 crates/brooder boxes of juvies in house and my 3 occupants in the sick ward.

For oxine users...how often should I do this?


And I am worn out from caring for different pens and have let the 5 roosters (2 going to freezer) into the flock. I'm looking out the window and see Uno the guinea chasing a columbian dotte roo. I wish I could stay home and watch what is on chicken TV today b/c it looks like I'm going to miss some good stuff.

 

[Kyzmette]

Dusti, I wondered the same thing... but that's why I asked. I wasn't sure if she was going to price based on gender or by a split ratio. Notice she still didn't give prices. I'm one of those people that figures if Wal-Mart doesn't put a price on something, they don't want to sell it. If these people won't give us prices on their stock, I'm not going to chase them for it.

 

[shelbydog]

Dusti, I wondered the same thing... but that's why I asked. I wasn't sure if she was going to price based on gender or by a split ratio. Notice she still didn't give prices. I'm one of those people that figures if Wal-Mart doesn't put a price on something, they don't want to sell it. If these people won't give us prices on their stock, I'm not going to chase them for it.

Oh, I didn't see you asked that seller. I didn't read any of the comments but this is one from Arizona isn't it?

 

[Jeansrie]

My wheaten Marans started laying 2-3 weeks ago and she's been laying really odd eggs. They have a chalky-white tint and also a rough chalky feel to the shell. The first few were very soft also. I would think something is missing from her diet but I have 3 others laying perfectly normal eggs. I feed 16% layer pellets, a separate feeder of chick starter pellets (I have a few younger pullets in the coop) and quite a bit of fermented scratch, plus they have free range of the backyard a few hours a day. What could be going on? Will it fix itself the longer she lays? I have been wanting to sell her but not if she's laying funky eggs. Here is a pic of my black Marans egg on the bottom and the wheaten's on the top.

 

[SimplyMe_AngieD]

Poor girls! I had the same on one of my hens. Someone on here gave me the link to make aprons https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/424354/free-chicken-apron-saddle-pattern
If you arnt very sewing machine savvy just get you some fleece material and cut it to cover the back of their neck to the very spot that the tail and back meet. Then cut it so it can have some material that goes down the sides as you will need this part to go under the wing. Cut a small hole on each side about an inch and half to fit the wing where you know the wing will enter to fit this like a little vest or jacket per say. That pretty quick and easy and I have never tried the fleece. There are a lot of cute fleece patterns available too. You can also find the aprons on ebay if you shop there. Might check their backs under the feathers to see if there are any cuts that arnt rearing their ugly heads. Might treat the cuts so they don't get infected or pecked if any of the flock mates find them and decide to peck at them. Good luck!

Is anyone here on Facebook? If your ever on there look me up! I'm under "Cheryl True". I might have my maiden name listed as well which is "Holliday" so that might make it easier to find me.

I have a few facebook pages I can recommend that have people post with chickens or chicken related things for sale. Some talk about upcoming auctions or swaps. So if you would like the list that I have let me know!

I love the pattern for the aprons. I will have to make some banty size. I found you on FB.. I think. It has a Cheryl True from California? If that is you I just sent you a friend request. I am Angela Childress

That's a very difficult question for me. Hatcheries are inspected by the USDA where puppy mills are not. We don't know how much line breeding or inbreeding they do , however. If that happens I'd have to do more research. I would always prefer to buy from a reputable breeder. I wouldn't personally, think at this time, I couldn't adopt from a shelter unless the birds were tested and vaccinated for MG, and that would be pretty pricey. I guess since I'm such a nut case, I'd be leary of Fowl Typhoid and Pullorum. Both have been eradicated in commercial flocks, but backyard flocks could still have carriers. NPIP tests for these diseases and they are the ones that scare me the most since they can be carried in the eggs, if u can get them to hatch, on then to the chick. Some states such as Florida require testing before showing or sale on Pullorum.
I do believe in shelters for other animals. We have 6 large house dogs and all but one are rescue dogs.

They do make test kits we can buy for these diseases, but they are really pricey.

All in all, I'd just have to get over it. Nothing is ever for sure as I've come to find out with all the wild birds and other animals out there that carry diseases. If we'd start to vaccinate our birds like we do our dogs, horses, cats, cattle etc. I believe we could help to start to eradacate the bad diseases. As I said, the ones that scare me the most are these because they can ruin your breding programs and be carried by birds to others. I don't mean to sound like doom. Good responsible breeders are must in the poultry industry.

Very good question. It's one of those that makes u think.

These are very valid points. However. I really think that a lot of diseases can be avoided from responsible care and handling of the birds. A lot of these diseases became rampant in industrial chicken houses. They are unsanitary and are impossible to keep disease from brooding there. The disease gets spread from the chicken houses to backyard flocks by birds. And then back to chicken houses from backyard flocks by birds.

Those chicken houses deal with disease by medicating when disease really could be delt with by not overcrowding their chickens. But they do and here we are.

Hey, guys...

What if poultry hatcheries were like puppy mills? Like, illegal? And it was advised that you either purchased from a responsible breeder or adopted from a shelter?

While the thought is nice. A responsible breeder or a responsible pet owner really requires a breeder and owner that has ethics and morals. You really can not regulate and legislate to make some one moral. If you make something illegal, the irresponsible breeder will find a loophole and find a way to breed and sell their stock under the table.

The other issue is that as fun and personable as chickens are, chickens are still livestock and are mainly raised for food, in one form or another. Yes they can be pets and yes some do keep them indoors as a housepet, but that does not change the role chickens play in our world.

The best thing to do is not to give business to irresponsible breeders. And educate your freinds who become interested in raising chickens. And when they lose interest in their chickens give them a good home or make a good chicken stock out of them. Buy chickens from breeders you trust. Buy your food chickens from farmers/growers you know treat their birds well. The more money we get to the good guys, the irresponsible guys won't be making as much profit.

You can also start to bug your senators/congressman/representatives about laws to make it easier for non industrial food growers to raise good food for us!

 

[SimplyMe_AngieD]

I've had several requests to post pictures of the Wyandotte/Cochin cross hens I have been raising. A Columbian Wyandotte rooster over Blue Cochin hens.
They are nice and fluffy like the Cochin and lay earlier and thru the winter like the Wyandotte. They make great mothers and don't go broody as often as the Cochin although Wyandotte do go broody. The feathers on their feet are not as full as the full Cochin, yet are attractive and stay cleaner. Yes, the extra cockerels make nice dinners as they plump up like the Wyandotte and the meat is tender.

 

[SimplyMe_AngieD]

Robin- that's a nice tractor. Having bantam coop envy over here.

Kathryn- love the blue laced lemon. More of her please! Will you breed her this year?

I mailed my order in for 10 BLRW from Mr Strawn. Pretty sure it's Foley stock. It's straight run so everyone cross their fingers I luck out with alot of pullets.

Speaking of straight run....saw ad on Facebook group for straight run cream legbar chicks....uh huh...how can you 'straight run' an auto sexing breed.

@shelbydog .... can you give me a link or website. My daughter wants BLRW too.

 

[SimplyMe_AngieD]

Greeting fellow Okies!

I haven't posted much since hubs and I first got our chickies last Spring, but. I hope to become more active here on BYC from now on. My name is Leah and. I'm a 30-something married, mother of three in Cache, OK (Lawton area). I have 8 hens and this year, want to add 7 more to our existing flock. I've been scouring local craigslist adds, searching old posts here on BYC and watching local flyers at my Atwoods and TSC... Hoping someone has some laying hens for sale. Was kind of hoping to find some pullets or young hens already laying.... Have not been lucky as of yet though, so I suppose I'll be ordering chicks in the coming weeks. I'm specifically looking for some EE's, some of the new Olive eggers, a white leghorn and maybe a few rare heavies. If anyone in the Lawton, Ok area has any for sale or knows of anyone looking to sell, will you please let me know? I'd prefer not to buy day old chicks from the hatchery if I can avoid it.

WELCOME BACK!!!!

 

[i-love-my-honey]

You could possibly make a decorative portable fences that would go around the tractor as a screen...

I like that thought. If it looked like a fence no one would bother...