***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[bardies]

OK, Im exhausted after this weekend and my brains not really working but Ill get in touch with her when I can make sense of my calendar, definitely within a few days. Thank you again for vent sexing her, I am excited, just exhausted tonight.

So nice to meet @NanaKat today. I absolutely love this funny pair! Were keeping them in a small A-frame until they get used to us. Hoping the pullet warms up to us soon. Is she laying yet? I meant to ask but forgot. The drive was harder than usual for me. Getting lost 4 times was a lot, even for me. I love those set ups, especially the coops in the cochin/wynadotte runs. And my oh my, Big Blue was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Thats the biggest boy Ive ever seen. I love that you have a Big Blue and Arlo has a Little Blue. Thanks again for the pair and for showing us around your lovely place, I wish I could have stayed longer to check out the gardens but I just knew I was gonna come home to a list of things to do and I know you were busy as well. And I came home to a pretty large list, but also a husband that put the finishing touches on two of our city coops that we were making more secure.

So maybe Ill leave more often. Ha!

@artsyrobin I hope you heal up fast. I too have discovered shorts and yard work do not mix. But does that stop me??? No, not often enough.

If you look at it this way, your skin will heal, and at least you do not have to go buy a new pair of jeans! I am pretty bad myself working around cattle in shorts and crocs. (although when I know that I will be in close contact with unwilling animals, I do wear boots) The thing is, I don't always know ahead of time and have in the past, wound up with 'substandard' clothing - but luckily, nothing substantially bad has happened.

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

My hatch ended up at 4 large fowl Cochins and one bantam. I don't think I ended up with any frizzled, which makes me sad. I've been researching and don't believe Cochins are feather-sexable. Anyone have experience with that and Cochins? I have the space to grow them out, but I am impatient and want to KNOW.

BTW, I am now NPIP-official! I found the DOA to be very quick to respond to my test request and enjoyed the visit with the tester. He admitted to not liking chickens much-lol! I asked him if he had EVER tested a bird that was positive. He had not. Makes me wonder why they continue to test. It can't be $$. The $5 would never cover his time and travel.

 

[Ksane]

My hatch ended up at 4 large fowl Cochins and one bantam. I don't think I ended up with any frizzled, which makes me sad. I've been researching and don't believe Cochins are feather-sexable. Anyone have experience with that and Cochins? I have the space to grow them out, but I am impatient and want to KNOW.

BTW, I am now NPIP-official! I found the DOA to be very quick to respond to my test request and enjoyed the visit with the tester. He admitted to not liking chickens much-lol! I asked him if he had EVER tested a bird that was positive. He had not. Makes me wonder why they continue to test. It can't be $$. The $5 would never cover his time and travel.

You can't tell if they're frizzles until they lose their chick fuzz and start growing their next set of feathers. No, Cochins aren't feather sexable but you can usually tell by about 4 wks by their comb color and size.

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

You can't tell if they're frizzles until they lose their chick fuzz and start growing their next set of feathers. No, Cochins aren't feather sexable but you can usually tell by about 4 wks by their comb color and size.

They're almost a week old, so they have a few feathers coming in. I'll try to post pics later. I'd love it if a few turned out frizzled, but from what I see, they're not going to be.

I guess I'll be anxiously waiting for another 3 weeks to see what I've got. In the mean time, I may try them out on sand. Their little feet are DIRTY.

 

[SharkmanDan]

My very sweet RIR pullet, Little Red, turned 18 weeks, yesterday. Her comb is beginning to get reddish. How soon should we expect her to start laying?
Also, any idea on time frame, for Jersey Giants, Delawares and Delaware/Hampshire crosses to begin laying? I have a few that are getting pretty good sized, around the 15 week stage, but not seeing any red in the combs, yet.
These photos are less than a week old.

 

[Ksane]

They're almost a week old, so they have a few feathers coming in. I'll try to post pics later. I'd love it if a few turned out frizzled, but from what I see, they're not going to be.
I guess I'll be anxiously waiting for another 3 weeks to see what I've got. In the mean time, I may try them out on sand. Their little feet are DIRTY.

Sand works best on the little ones like that. I used to just layer it about an inch and dump it all out in the yard once a day and put more in. Sand is cheap.
@SharkmanDan It's possible they won't lay til spring if it starts getting colder, just depends on the bird.

 

[ashtree]

Sand works best on the little ones like that. I used to just layer it about an inch and dump it all out in the yard once a day and put more in. Sand is cheap.
@SharkmanDan It's possible they won't lay til spring if it starts getting colder, just depends on the bird.

So sand as the coop floor and in the run space? I'm trying to find a good option for my silkies. Would sand on dirt work or would I need a wood floor base?

Ok duck experts, I can't figure my girls out. We bring them to the pond every day and they've never really gone for a swim in it. They just sit on the bank all day. Now they won't even stay in that area and insist on spending their day chatting around the house. It's not a problem really, except they are not chicken friendly. I just don't understand why they won't go in the pond. I think they've only ever had kiddie pools before so maybe it's just new and strange. I was hoping they'd get used to it instead of give up. So should I bring in a duck that swims to teach them? I'm hoping the goose will jump right in. I'm at a total loss of what I should do. Maybe they need a smart boy?

 

[SharkmanDan]

Thank you. We've been hoping to get her started, before winter hits, but, who knows. With this recent cold spell, it's difficult to say.

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

@lonnyandrinda I MUST get a Langshan from you eventually. Amazing.

@ashtree I don't know how to help you, but my ducks are jealous.

@Ksane I'm switching them to sand TODAY.

 

[Harriettcl]

I am not new at raising chickens but I am new at talking to anyone on the internet about them. I have some questions I need answers to. First, I ordered 5 Americana hens in the mail. Two turned out to be roosters. The hatchery said they would send me two new babies next hatch season to replace my roosters. (I don't have to send the roosters back.) My concern is this years chickens will not accept babies into their pen. I think I would like to find two grown Lt. Brahma hens to add to the flock. I feel they can protect themselves. They seem to be good at setting. I also would like mix the Brahamas and the Americanas. I need to know someone who raises Brahmas near Greenwood, Ar. or Ft. Smith, Ar.

I would welcome any help I can get..

Harriett in Arkansas