Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[wingstone]

Aurora, I would be adding supplements to the feed to help keep the feet from becoming infected
I have always stayed way from chemical antibiotics and used natural herbs instead, in this case I would add a little oregano oil and cinnamon to the feed, especially the cinnamon. just as a precaution.... this is also what I give new chicks instead of medicated feed and I very seldom lose any to cocci.

 

[stake]

Is there anything that can be done to either prevent or correct cross beak? It looks like my little splash ameraucana chick has it. Right now, it's very slight but if there's anything I can do to keep it from getting any worse or to correct it, I want to do it. She my favorite chick of the bunch!

I also need a couple extra opinions on a name for this little guy. He's the little Rhodebar cockerel that I had to help hatch. He's still smaller than the rest but he's feisty and energetic. I'm thinking either Rosco or Link (Zelda would be the little rhodebar pullet lol)


Wynter was relaxing in the living room today after his foot soak. I feel bad for him. When he chooses to walk (usually only to come to me when I have food) he stomps like his feet are made of plastic and don't move. The good news is, it seems like the super glue has plugged the hole in his crop. I'm only giving him scrambled eggs and yogurt for now and I'm not letting him gorge on it. Just a little at a time.


his poor little toes!

Auro:

Lisa Y has one cross beak that seems to do OK...I think you can shave/trim the upper or lower beak to allow them to 'get a better fitting' beak....

 

[stake]

slight dilemma.....
I need to remove quite a few drakes from the khaki campbell pen....
here's the problem, I have always had more customers than birds when it comes to duck, so I have never cooked one myself...little guidance needed, maybe roast like a chicken..
this looks good

Wing:

There's got to be hundreds of recipes with a google search....the few I have done have been roasted like a chicken and had an orange glaze supplied in a package....(store bought)....there will be lots of fat in bottom of the roasting pan....sometimes thought, I should not use the glaze and save the fat for other uses...my two cents.....

 

[wingstone]

Quote: there is hundreds of them, that's the problem...so I figured personal experience might be better.

did you like the orange glaze or is it just to crisp the skin

 

[SilkieSensation]

His feet don't look bad at all. Looks like he will lose the nail & tip of a couple toes & should heal up within a few days after. Blu-kote the stubs once the toes fall off & he will be fine.

No advice for the crop. Haven't dealt with that 1.

For the crossbeak, typically nothing you can do. It usually gets worse as they grow. A pic would help me tell how bad it is & be able to give advice from there. I've had a couple do really well & others there was just nothing I could do.

I just walked into the bathroom and he was up and moving and chasing me around lol. I think he's slowly starting to feel better

here are a couple pictures of the possible cross beak baby. She was NOT cooperative about it.

Aurora, there is a cross beak support group (should be in my signature). When it gets worse, use dog nail clippers or a Pedipaw to clip off the tip of the top beak. It has a quick like a nail, so be careful.
You will see when deep feeders and waterers are needed. Fermented feed is awesome for cross beaks! It makes it easy for them to eat, and the water in it ensures that they are getting fluids. Crossbeak hens can lay and brood.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm on mobile right now so I don't see the signatures. I already do fermented feed and I'm going to introduce a nipple waterer to them soon. I wanted to see if there was any way to correct it because I was hoping to show her someday if I could. At least (if she's a she) I'll get some beautiful eggs

The beak really does not look bad at this point. I would just give moist food & keep an eye on it for now to make sure it's eating & growing. As long as it's able to get enough food in to keep it growing & healthy it will be fine. Moist feed is easier to pick up because it sticks together in clumps. Eventually you may need to separate the chick for feeding just to make sure it gets it's fill without interference from the other birds.

 

[stake]

there is hundreds of them, that's the problem...so I figured personal experience might be better.

did you like the orange glaze or is it just to crisp the skin

Wing:

Unless you are cooking at lower temps, the skin will crisp....I usually did two coating of glaze once about 1/2 done and one about 15mins before complete...the orange is ok in the gravy but if you want to save the duck fat for other cooking (frying an egg) the orange isn't what you may want....I also filled the body cavity with an apple/celery....and roasted potatoes and carrots, onions, celery, and a green pepper in the pan..

Some folks say roast breast side down,,,there's many opinions on these things....I like it alot, but its pricey when you are buying one from a butcher....I'v only done 3-4 over the years...(much better than goose)......

try this link http://eat.epicurious.com/

 

[stake]

Just ran across this and thought it a good read....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/meet-10-rare-breeds-you-should-consider-keeping

 

[dheltzel]

Just ran across this and thought it a good read....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/meet-10-rare-breeds-you-should-consider-keeping

msladyhawk and I both have Barred Hollands and can vouch for the fact that they are calm and good layers. We want to get the breed more available, so if you are interested, just ask.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

I just walked into the bathroom and he was up and moving and chasing me around lol. I think he's slowly starting to feel better

here are a couple pictures of the possible cross beak baby. She was NOT cooperative about it.



Thanks, I'll check it out. I'm on mobile right now so I don't see the signatures. I already do fermented feed and I'm going to introduce a nipple waterer to them soon. I wanted to see if there was any way to correct it because I was hoping to show her someday if I could. At least (if she's a she) I'll get some beautiful eggs

I have a cross beak chicken............I noticed it when she was around 10 weeks old. Its a pretty bad crossed beak...........but she is a great chicken and has done super well. I was so worried originally............but she was able to eat very well and drink............and has held her own overall. She has a great leader like temperament and is always the first one at the food bowl.................so my feeling and this is what everyone on here told me too.............as long as the cross beak chick eats and drinks well.............there is no problem

i did not do any trimming or filing down..............i couldnt really decide what parts to trim etc...........and she was eating fine so I didnt want to make things worse.

sticky wet food might be easier .........and the deep bowls.............


hoping she will just thrive with slightly different beak!

 

[emorems0]

Just ran across this and thought it a good read....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/meet-10-rare-breeds-you-should-consider-keeping

Thanks for sharing... it got me thinking about meat birds. DH wants to do some meat birds this year and I figured we'd just get Cornish Cross since that is the 'standard'. But after reading this I maybe might start thinking about the Delaware, they were described as 'king of the meat birds' for a short while before Cornish Cross took over. And the Delawares are beautiful. Anyone have any experience with other meat birds? We plan to have a tractor that we move around the yard so they can forage a little in addition to their feed. This will be our first year with meat birds, so any advice is greatly appreciated!
Also, for those who do meat birds, when do you usually start them? And how long do you keep them in the brooder before moving them out?