Okies in the BYC The Original

[GracefulBantams]

Betsy, I have been to Shawnee the past three years, but have not shown there because of problems with it being a two-day show.
I hope I will be better setup here (meaning that I will have sold my extra birds), and then maybe I can finally get more Silkies!

 

[GracefulBantams]

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I was well on the way home, when I set up and said "Oh no, the DE!"

. I even had your money neatly put in an envelope........and left at the bottom of a box in the truck!

I may be able to still get it sometime... will you be at Newcatle or Idable's shows?

 

[FunChick]

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Cammie,

Thank YOU for sitting next to me. I really enjoyed visiting with such a fine young lady! On my other side was Grace, another fine young lady! How lucky can one be?

Well, you could have been lucky enough to sit by the Chickendale Dancers!! LOL!

 

[HennyPennies2007]

Looks like a grand time was had by all....

Mike saw the picture of the Chickendales and said, "Thank God I had to work'"

Y'all would make a train take a dirt road!

You guys knocked yourselves out....If I know Al, he's conked out in beddie-bye, recovering. I hope there will be more pix for those of us who missed out.

 

[TheBarnSwallow]

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Oh I hope you know I was just playfully teasing, I thought about how you and I were talking how we should not let everyone in on the raffle any more so we had more chances to win the blanket..lol

 

[BetsyOK]

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Betsy,
As I was trying to decide where to put various birds last night, I thought to myself, "pretty sure the partridge silkie that Jaxon got from Betsy is from a NPIP flock and won't need to be tested."

It was nice to meet you. When you have some time, would you mind explaining the curved spine/sleep deprived connection? I only caught part of the discussion and it made me wonder later whether I am harming my birds physically by keeping a light on all night in the winter, to keep them laying.

I also enjoyed meeting you. I wish I'd had more time and energy for ust plain visiting!

This is just one theory on the possible cause of the curved spine and wry tail. When I noticed it in one of my otherwise gorgeous young black roos, I did a bit of internet research.

I found a paper regarding the use of scoliosis in chickens in regard to possible causes of scoliosis in humans. The prevalent thought (though I think not conclusively proven) was that sleep deprivation, causing a lack of melatonin was one cause of scoliosis. I think it was related to the period of bone growth in young birds, rather than causing problems in adult birds where bone growth has stopped.

I'd long been concerned about the amount of supplementary light that goes into raising chicks, from some of the incubators with light bulbs as a heat source, to brooders and even coops that use white incandescent bulbs.

I can understand using these lights for warmth and to improve laying and hasten growth, but was concerned about the effect on my own small flock.

I've gotten rid of the 'bator with the light bulb, and now use blue or red lights in my main brooder, and 75 watt reptile lights in my smaller brooders. They are more expensive, but the chicks seem to sleep much more normally. I'd noticed that chicks and keets that had the bright lights seemed to grow faster than hen raised chicks, but both ultimately reached about the same size. I've never used lights in my regular pens, partly because they are fairly close to a security light across the gulley. Their pens have light from it, but their individual houses do not.

To me, it stands to reason that we're better off duplicating natural conditions as much as possible. When you think of it, chicks spend a great deal of time in the dark--even in the daytime under their Moms. I would think that the rest period of shorter daylight and less egg-laying might be one of nature's way of allowing hens to recover from the stress of egg laying. I don't mean this as criticism in any way, just my random thoughts.

The other two theories I've read of and heard discussed regarding the curved spines and wry tails, are that of a recessive gene and/or too rich feed, causing "over growth," especially as breeders work toward shorter backs to improve conformation. I think the prevalent theory is the genetic connection. It is also the one I feel is most likely.

I've also been more careful about overfeeding youngsters, and have introduced more and more different bloodlines into my flock.

I wish there were definitive information about this condition, but haven't yet found it. I have learned it is a condition that is widely present in many flocks.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[okcarla]

I want to say a big thank you to the teens & pre-teens that worked so hard to make the event special. The vast majority of the younger members of the event were absolutely terrific and major participants in the activities. I watched several times when chickens accidentally escaped and many of the youthful members would gather together to catch the escapees. It was remarkable and delightfully entertaining to watch them work together to surround the bird and skillfully make the catch. The young-un's were great to help clean up last night, too.

 

[Buckguy20]

Na-Na,
Thanks for the pie. Tell Kendra I couldn't figure out what she was smiling about last night. I didn't realize she had made the pie switch. I had a lot on my mind though, like trying to figure out how I was gonna to get the lipstick out of my facial hair.

 

[okcarla]

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Wow, That is very interesting information you've provided. Thanks for educating us on these theories and research.

I think I can relate to the sleep deprivation theory for myself! I've even heard that lack of sleep can accelerate dementia and alzheimer's symptoms in people.

OK folks ... get more sleep ... and let your chickies sleep more too. Now, how can we get those roosters to stop crowing in the middle of the night?

 

[okcarla]

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I'm glad you embarassed Gerald ... that was SO FUNNY!

But, who told you it was my birthday? It's another month away .... that was TOTALLY EMBARRASING! I hate to say this, but Somebody lied!