Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[EmSteele]

Just about everyone in my tiny town keeps chickens! Wish I could spread it to my family though! My brother, sister-in-law and 3 nieces will be home in under 3weeks (serving in Army in Alaska), maybe I can get them hooked!

 

[NovaAman]

Now that I have chickens, can't imagine not having them...

 

[EmSteele]

I've had mine for 15 days...love every minute of it so far! Seems like I've had them much longer.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I just started to do some research on Splash colouring out of curiosity, stumbled across "what wrong with mt feathers" there's 236 pages of mind bending gene talk!

Awesome splash coloured 'silkied' Americana's. Some random accident that sparked a breeding project. Other than how good looking these birds were went over my head lol.

All set Nova? What rig are you incubating in?

 

[ozexpat]

I just found your thread Ben - well a few a hours and many pages ago

What an ordeal. You are the epitome of an Aussie Battler.

Love the coop, brooder, chicks and mostly your determination

May you have many many eggs.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Thanks a heap Oz! Welcome to stop in anytime. We do the best we can. With a bit of luck and good homework, the dirty "M" word is behind us.

Looking forward to the day when the eggs start to roll in from our very own home grown eggs!

You know where to find us if you need a emu hunter

 

[Bens-Hens]

Things were going well, just a little too well evidently!

Alicia this afternoon noticed a BV with a curled toe. Just a single toe on a single chick.




It is on the right foot, and curls to the right. I know this pic looks like it is just holding on, but it's not the best image.

We jumped on to BYC and looked for the 'band aid splint' We found a few things, some people have left it and the bird turns out fine, but since 'she' is only a week old we thought we would have a go at home splinting.

Due to size, and it only being one toe, I didn't go for the fully booty style, we just used some clear second skin bandage. It wrapped around the toe and straightened it out. Little bird does not seem keen on it, but better to sort it now while they are flexible and growing so fast. Hopefully just a couple of days should have the issue straightened out!

 

[NovaAman]

glad you caught that. I have a hen, Criptoe, who I got at 2 week that was very bad on the curled toes. I tried booting her, she kept pulling them off. Now she is going on 18 months. Has had 2 clutches. She roosts, fights with the other moms, and lays me big eggs. I keep an eye on her feet though. Way to easy for bumble toe. She's a new Hampshire.

 

[NovaAman]

HI OZ!

Ben, you should check out Oz's thread. Its called, getting the flock out of here. Diary of a crazy chicken man. Its long!quite a following there.

 

[Spikes Chooks]

Hey, Ben. Just read all of your story. What great determination and perseverance you show. Go, chicken dude!!!

I look forward to keeping up with all your news.

Best
Katrina