***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Grace'sDad]

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Junebug has some of the best seramas around!

 

[artsyrobin]

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Robin, my wife raises smooth and silkied seramas, although it will be next year before she has any for sale. Glad to see the little modern hen is doing well. Remember if u ever get to where u cant keep her or dragon they can come back here.

hi matt- had dragon and company out for a bit of free ranging yesterday, we got a kick out of her- she was so happy to be dusting!

 

[jcatblum]

Thanks for the link kassandra. Dh was talking of culling the bird again last night. He agreed to give her another week

The new found dog slept in the house last night & did well. But after breakfast I found her up on the table-- all the chairs were pushed in, bt she is so small she managed to find her way up there! Afterwards she went somewhere out in the woods exploring. Honestly have no idea where she was, so I can see how she got lost! Asked dh what happens if no body claims her. He said she won't add any to our feed bill since she is so small. Not the words I was looking for.

Think I going to make some bread this afternoon & get ready to do a large batch of apple pie filling. We use the fiing for cobbler, crumbles, and even eat it alone. Always nice to have when apples are in season.

 

[Sooner]

As much as I hated to I had to go with the Walmart tires because of the cost. I don't like the looks but hope they will grow on me but either way they were a hundred cheaper than where I normally go.

I do layer for cold weather but unless I am working I can't stay warm & just a side note wool is not my friend. I do plan to get new covies this year & I get a new carhart coat too. Threatened everyone with their life if they took my water proof gloves. LOL.

 

[Ksane]

Jcatblum, I was reading last night where Newcastle disease can cause their neck to do that also. You might consider that, maybe. There's some info at:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/203702.htm
It says it manifests itself as respiratory, digestive, or nervous system. Sounds pretty common and easy to get, too, unfortunately.

Faery, Put me on the bench with the sunbathers. I was loving our weather this summer up until about 110 degrees. Even then I stayed out in it building the chicken's pens. I can't take the cold. Matter of fact I can't take it under about 85 degrees.

Robin, the little bird in the lake is adorable. Good for you. I hope he hooks up with others like him soon. I wonder if wild birds just wander around until they find their own kind?
Seramas are cool looking and come in a bazillion colors. I hope you find you some.

My little Cochin girl who was so sick slept out in the coop with her hatch-mates last night. She's still not 100%, about 65%. Not eating as much as I'd like while outside either. I brought her inside an hour ago and hand-fed her eggs and wheat bread and she gobbled it down. I hate to put her outside if she's not quite recovered yet since it's going to start getting cold and she'll need to get used to the cold weather or be inside all winter. She's 1/2 the size of the others now since she was so sick, the runt is even quite a bit bigger than her. I suspect I'm not out of the woods with her yet, I'm still worried. I saw how fast the other one went downhill and that still concerns me with this one since she's been gradually getting sick for 2 wks now. The vet gave her another long acting antibiotic injection Saturday plus she's on the L-S 50 antibiotic water like the others are.
I know most of you don't go for the 'indoor chicken' idea.....but let's say she was a 2 lb dog or cat instead of a 1 lb chicken and wasn't quite recovered. Would you keep her inside? I've got the 30' RV that has a fridge, stove, heater, AC, shower, the works, even a microwave. It's where every bit of my computer stuff and all my computers are (I'm one of those computer geeks lol) There's plenty of room in here where I could put a nice cage/bedroom for her to sleep in and put sand at the bottom & scoop it out every AM. Heck, I've even got 2 chicken diapers-her and Chicken Larry the Silkie could even be roomies if she needs another chicken for company....I'm thinking. Then maybe in the spring she could go back outside full time. Maybe because she doesn't feel good, but she seems perfectly content to sit here with me and be hand-fed. Shoot, maybe I just spoiled her too much. Should I force her outside? Or wait? Obviously I'm going to go with my gut instincts but still would welcome opinions.

 

[artsyrobin]

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you know- if it were me, she'd have an inside cage and only go outside when it is warm- this is Red aka cinibun- she was outside, but is half the size of the others and i gave in and brought her in, she is a hatchery cochin and about half the size of the others- i see nothing wrong with a house chicken- no different than a parrot of other house bird-

i also have emily the one legged modern game and her chick, they sleep in a hutch at nite and are outside during the day. I know a serama breeder in oregon that has a 'bird room' for her seramas, a collection of cages for them with outdoor lights- so it is feasable- i like the idea of larry being her friend

 

[NanaKat]

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Sounds like you have already decided to keep her in the computer annex. How handy is your hubby with plywood? You could have him make you a low wooden box about the same dimensions as a baby crib and make simple walls and a lift off top. Both the silkie and the pullet could stay in there. With sand or wood shavings in the floor, you could still sift it out and they would have an area to "play". The sides could be simple screen with wire mesh and then you wire the four together to make the walls secure. That way you would dismantle it in the spring with they go outside. It would be available for another bird or chicks if needed later. Did I say my middle name was enabler...

 

[artsyrobin]

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Sounds like you have already decided to keep her in the computer annex. How handy is your hubby with plywood? You could have him make you a low wooden box about the same dimensions as a baby crib and make simple walls and a lift off top. Both the silkie and the pullet could stay in there. With sand or wood shavings in the floor, you could still sift it out and they would have an area to "play". The sides could be simple screen with wire mesh and then you wire the four together to make the walls secure. That way you would dismantle it in the spring with they go outside. It would be available for another bird or chicks if needed later. Did I say my middle name was enabler...

wow, i like that set up!! hmmmmmmm

 

[jcatblum]

Thanks ksane -- I looked at the info-- the only symptom she has is the neck. It is so odd to see her neck move like it is. I am becoming skeptical for a recovery.

As far as inside birds go I will bring them in for a day or 2 but honestly the dust & smell isn't something I enjoy in my house. If you were to keep the bird in the rv wouldnt the computer stuff suffer from the extra dust??? It is hard when you has worked to nurse the bird & you do desire them to get better. I you put the other bird with the flock is t getting picked on? Or just not being as active?

Dh thinks any sick bird should be culled. We can hatch more anyday. I have only had a few sick birds & do my best to nurse them. I am sure in time I will be quick to cull sick birds. I have hatched so much over the past yr that I will no longer try to help a chick if it isn't making progress. The ones that I helped in the past either died or didn't thrive as well as the others. I know it sounds cruel, but the ones that hatch on their own are the strongest, so I don't assist. Wonder how many sick birds it will take before I instantly cull??

One of my in-laws culls to the extreme. he brought home some birds, I think they prob had crd. He culled all of them plus his others! No signs of illness in his original flock, but he didn't want any chances!! I said I won't be letting him bird sit for me!

 

[faerielady]

People who complain about the dust from chicken feathers might not know that it's just about as much as a conure's feather dust, and people keep those inside all the time! I miss my indoor birds

I can't function well in the heat. As the years pass, I do less and less well the hotter it gets. This year, I was pretty much worthless over 90 degrees. I end up living inside under the a/c. I just can't handle it.

Ksane, just keep the little chook in the RV using Nanakat's suggestion. That enabler.