***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[bardies]

Today I caponized the 3 Dark Brahma cockerels I got from Dusti last Saturday-THEY ALL LIVED!! Dusti-all 3 are alive!!! I'm so glad! I didn't get every bit of the testicles on any one chick though so it's possible they'll all 3 not be full capons. At this point I don't care. I have 3 Dark Brahma babies and they're alive lol
I screwed up and forgot the most important tool, which is why there's going to be slips/not fully castrated. I don't know if I'll do it again in the future or not. I was just too dang scared they were going to die. I guess I have 3 more roosters probably, but there's worse things in life

 

[bardies]

Reading all this talk about incubating eggs makes me really want to buy an incubator. Then I could order some eggs of chickens I've yet to find locally. (Hello frizzle bantam cochin) But, my husband (the voice of reason in our home) insists that's taking it to far given our time and size constraints! Oh well! It's on my "when my human children are bigger" list.
Also I have to get all these babies healed before I take on any more!

And I'm really hoping its not another dry year. I can't even bear to think about that. Summer is not exactly my favorite time of year.

After the last hatch I had, I couldn't believe that teachers hatch eggs for classrooms. I did not let my children see the chicks I was having issues with. It is a disturbing thing (and heartbreaking) to see that little chick finally make it out (the last three days are at least 2 years long) just to find that his guts are pouring out of him. Then, you have to figure out a way to kill it because to just let it die on its own after a number of days somehow is worse. Sorry for being so graphic and blunt.

..I guess I am still feeling the sting.

Hatching is way cool - but be sure to protect your kids (especially if they are sensitive), and be ready to do what needs to be done.

 

[bardies]

ive been a reader for quite a while and just joined a few days ago. I had chickens when i was younger and got out of it for years. last year i decided to build a coop and get a few chickens so my kids could enjoy them. everyone ended up loving them a lot more than expected, but most of all my wife. our anniversary is coming up next month and i would like to get her a polish. romantic, i know. i would really like to find her a frizzle in black and white. im in central Oklahoma and am willing to drive an hour or so. i also love to trade and have a pair of buff silkies that started laying if anyone wants to swap any eggs. and also have a partridge colored bantam cochin roo if anyone would be interested in it. and hopefully our white bantam cochins will be laying soon. thanks, you guys are the best people on the web

Don't have any of what you are looking for but

! That's really sweet of you to think chicken for your anniversary. Wish you the best of luck!

 

[brandy00]

ive been a reader for quite a while and just joined a few days ago. I had chickens when i was younger and got out of it for years. last year i decided to build a coop and get a few chickens so my kids could enjoy them. everyone ended up loving them a lot more than expected, but most of all my wife. our anniversary is coming up next month and i would like to get her a polish. romantic, i know. i would really like to find her a frizzle in black and white. im in central Oklahoma and am willing to drive an hour or so. i also love to trade and have a pair of buff silkies that started laying if anyone wants to swap any eggs. and also have a partridge colored bantam cochin roo if anyone would be interested in it. and hopefully our white bantam cochins will be laying soon. thanks, you guys are the best people on the web

I have my silver spangled spitzhauben roo over two white crested black polish girls. I just hatched three of their chicks and they look like they are going to be cuties. I lost a black silkie pair a few months ago If you are interested in swapping some eggs let me know. I live in southern oklahoma, but I'm frequently in the Norman/okc area. I'm wanting some Polish frizzles myself. We will have to keep in touch and maybe soon we will have polish frizzle eggs to trade!

 

[ashtree]

After the last hatch I had, I couldn't believe that teachers hatch eggs for classrooms. I did not let my children see the chicks I was having issues with. It is a disturbing thing (and heartbreaking) to see that little chick finally make it out (the last three days are at least 2 years long) just to find that his guts are pouring out of him. Then, you have to figure out a way to kill it because to just let it die on its own after a number of days somehow is worse. Sorry for being so graphic and blunt.

..I guess I am still feeling the sting.

Hatching is way cool - but be sure to protect your kids (especially if they are sensitive), and be ready to do what needs to be done.

EEK. That would definitely be hard. My husband has no problem with that kind of stuff but my oldest son and I are definitely the sensitive type.

Im feeling pretty down right now. We just lost our last bantam cochin chick. BLAH. And I just stood by the cage and cried for awhile, the first time I've cried during all this. It was as much defeat as sadness. I still have one silkie chick that I bought from the seller but I promised her to a friend thats been eyeing my silkies and I am taking care of it until it gets bigger, and I obviously wouldn't give it to her now knowing its sick, or contagious.

So, maybe it seems insensitive to ask this, but after all this is over how soon can I try again with new chicks? Im really dreaming of my flock of banty cochins. Also Im guessing I need to do some heavy duty cleaning on this cage. And any tips on buying new ones? Is it ok to check for mites or offensive to the seller? I already feel guilty enough eyeing the combs so heavily. I do have an idea of what a chick infected with cocci looks like, a pretty good idea I think.

Thanks everyone for making me feel like this stuff just kinda happens sometime. Its reassuring to read and makes all this a little easier to bear.

 

[brandy00]

EEK. That would definitely be hard. My husband has no problem with that kind of stuff but my oldest son and I are definitely the sensitive type. 

Im feeling pretty down right now. We just lost our last bantam cochin chick. BLAH. And I just stood by the cage and cried for awhile, the first time I've cried during all this. It was as much defeat as sadness.  I still have one silkie chick that I bought from the seller but I promised her to a friend thats been eyeing my silkies and I am taking care of it until it gets bigger, and I obviously wouldn't give it to her now knowing its sick, or contagious. 

So, maybe it seems insensitive to ask this, but after all this is over how soon can I try again with new chicks? Im really dreaming of my flock of banty cochins. Also Im guessing I need to do some heavy duty cleaning on this cage. And any tips on buying new ones? Is it ok to check for mites or offensive to the seller? I already feel guilty enough eyeing the combs so heavily. I do have an idea of what a chick infected with cocci looks like, a pretty good idea I think.

Thanks everyone for making me feel like this stuff just kinda happens sometime. Its reassuring to read and makes all this a little easier to bear.

So sorry for your loss. I don't have any sound advice as far as sanitizing goes. But, if I can ever make a decision on a dang incubator bantam frizzle Cochins are high on my to-hatch list! I'll keep you posted on the incubator search, and maybe soon I can hatch a few frizzles for us both!

 

[ashtree]

So sorry for your loss.

I don't have any sound advice as far as sanitizing goes. But, if I can ever make a decision on a dang incubator bantam frizzle Cochins are high on my to-hatch list! I'll keep you posted on the incubator search, and maybe soon I can hatch a few frizzles for us both!

You're too sweet. Ill be fine! Im sure the perfect chicks will come along! And if I have to I might order some online tho I have no experience with that!

 

[Poco Pollo]

EEK. That would definitely be hard. My husband has no problem with that kind of stuff but my oldest son and I are definitely the sensitive type.

Im feeling pretty down right now. We just lost our last bantam cochin chick. BLAH. And I just stood by the cage and cried for awhile, the first time I've cried during all this. It was as much defeat as sadness. I still have one silkie chick that I bought from the seller but I promised her to a friend thats been eyeing my silkies and I am taking care of it until it gets bigger, and I obviously wouldn't give it to her now knowing its sick, or contagious.

So, maybe it seems insensitive to ask this, but after all this is over how soon can I try again with new chicks? Im really dreaming of my flock of banty cochins. Also Im guessing I need to do some heavy duty cleaning on this cage. And any tips on buying new ones? Is it ok to check for mites or offensive to the seller? I already feel guilty enough eyeing the combs so heavily. I do have an idea of what a chick infected with cocci looks like, a pretty good idea I think.

Thanks everyone for making me feel like this stuff just kinda happens sometime. Its reassuring to read and makes all this a little easier to bear.

I use bleach water for sanitizing. It's inexpensive and it works well. Wear gloves to prevent skin irritation. Some folks swear by Oxine. I've never used it, but those who do report good results. Oxine has a wide range of uses and benefits. It's worth reading about...

if you have time. If you have problems with lice on birds in the future, consider bathing each bird with Adams flea and tick shampoo. The next day, you can use 1/2cc Ivermectin pour on for lactating cattle. Get a wash basin from Wal-Mart (under $2.00) and add some wood shavings or sand to make a bathing box. Playground sand is a favorite bathing material, and it's inexpensive, but it needs to be in an area where your barn cats can't get to it. You can sprinkle DE or poultry dust in the bathing box a couple times each month.

You're the buyer, so you're entitled to check for creepy crawlers. Check around the vent, under the wings, and along the back of the neck. Then go back and check around the vent one more time.

If I think a chick is male, and I only need females, I take one that I know is male in one hand and the bird I'm considering in the other, and then I hold them close together to compare combs and wattles. You're the buyer. You don't need to apologize for being thorough. Take some hand sanitizer with you and use it before and after holding birds. You want to discourage unwanted passengers (both seen and unseen).

A lot of people will have chicks and juvenile birds at P.O.O.P.S. It means waiting until June 14th, but in the mean time you could construct some awesome chicken pens : )

 

[clintgil]

I have my silver spangled spitzhauben roo over two white crested black polish girls. I just hatched three of their chicks and they look like they are going to be cuties. I lost a black silkie pair a few months ago If you are interested in swapping some eggs let me know. I live in southern oklahoma, but I'm frequently in the Norman/okc area. I'm wanting some Polish frizzles myself. We will have to keep in touch and maybe soon we will have polish frizzle eggs to trade!

I live in north east oklahoma county, so just let me know when you are headed this way and we can swap eggs. I am ordering my wife a bator today.

After the last hatch I had, I couldn't believe that teachers hatch eggs for classrooms. I did not let my children see the chicks I was having issues with. It is a disturbing thing (and heartbreaking) to see that little chick finally make it out (the last three days are at least 2 years long) just to find that his guts are pouring out of him. Then, you have to figure out a way to kill it because to just let it die on its own after a number of days somehow is worse.   Sorry for being so graphic and blunt. ..I guess I am still feeling the sting.

Hatching is way cool - but be sure to protect your kids (especially if they are sensitive), and be ready to do what needs to be done.

My daughters 2nd grade class just hatched about 60 eggs. My wife teaches 4th grade and I am ordering her a brinsea later today. Prepare the class for what could happen, and if a child is sensitive they have the option to not watch. But I've been told I'm desensitized. I disagree, but can compartmentalize. I don't expect 4th graders to.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

EEK. That would definitely be hard. My husband has no problem with that kind of stuff but my oldest son and I are definitely the sensitive type.

Im feeling pretty down right now. We just lost our last bantam cochin chick. BLAH. And I just stood by the cage and cried for awhile, the first time I've cried during all this. It was as much defeat as sadness. I still have one silkie chick that I bought from the seller but I promised her to a friend thats been eyeing my silkies and I am taking care of it until it gets bigger, and I obviously wouldn't give it to her now knowing its sick, or contagious.

So, maybe it seems insensitive to ask this, but after all this is over how soon can I try again with new chicks? Im really dreaming of my flock of banty cochins. Also Im guessing I need to do some heavy duty cleaning on this cage. And any tips on buying new ones? Is it ok to check for mites or offensive to the seller? I already feel guilty enough eyeing the combs so heavily. I do have an idea of what a chick infected with cocci looks like, a pretty good idea I think.

Thanks everyone for making me feel like this stuff just kinda happens sometime. Its reassuring to read and makes all this a little easier to bear.

I use bleach water for sanitizing. It's inexpensive and it works well. Wear gloves to prevent skin irritation. Some folks swear by Oxine. I've never used it, but those who do report good results. Oxine has a wide range of uses and benefits. It's worth reading about...

if you have time. If you have problems with lice on birds in the future, consider bathing each bird with Adams flea and tick shampoo. The next day, you can use 1/2cc Ivermectin pour on for lactating cattle. Get a wash basin from Wal-Mart (under $2.00) and add some wood shavings or sand to make a bathing box. Playground sand is a favorite bathing material, and it's inexpensive, but it needs to be in an area where your barn cats can't get to it. You can sprinkle DE or poultry dust in the bathing box a couple times each month.

You're the buyer, so you're entitled to check for creepy crawlers. Check around the vent, under the wings, and along the back of the neck. Then go back and check around the vent one more time.

If I think a chick is male, and I only need females, I take one that I know is male in one hand and the bird I'm considering in the other, and then I hold them close together to compare combs and wattles. You're the buyer. You don't need to apologize for being thorough. Take some hand sanitizer with you and use it before and after holding birds. You want to discourage unwanted passengers (both seen and unseen).

A lot of people will have chicks and juvenile birds at P.O.O.P.S. It means waiting until June 14th, but in the mean time you could construct some awesome chicken pens : )

X2 Good advice! I have and love Oxine, because it can disinfect porous surfaces like wood (bleach cannot) and it is safe to put in the waterers to control slime growth, but bleach is a good alternative for cleaning just use common sense cleaning processes (gloves, mask if you are sensitive, don't mix chemicals). Fresh air and sunlight, too- after you scrub out the brooder leave it in the sun for a few hours. Oxine will also last a LONG time because you mix it at 10% concentration.

I have 4 or 5 Cochin-mix chicks that are going to be frizzle- Bought some hatching eggs that had a chance at frizzle gene and they are about 2 weeks old now, the feathers on the frizzle chicks are popping out! Dad was a frizzle Cochin mom was a RIR according to the seller. I don't know what they will look like when grown, they are black right now, but if anyone wants some I was asking $8 each. $5 each for the Cochin mixes that are not frizzle. I'm SE of Tulsa by about 20 minnutes. I will try to get a picture later today.