Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

Why don't you like the Chanteclers?

I kind of specialize in unusual egg colors and they lay plain brown eggs. I have Rhodebars for those. it's not that I don't like them as much as I have to be selective about what I keep and they just don't interest me as much.

 

[TillyPeeps]

She should not have any barring at all. Now I'm worried that she is a he. That would certainly explain the "cockiness".

Maybe I shouldn't call it barring? It's just some slightly lighter brown stripes, but not as light as other chicks' barring. I can post a picture later, but it's hard to see from the photo because it's dark color. I really think Brownie is a girl though. She has small legs and feathered out quickly. Even she did chest bumping, but she doesn't really show too much boy posts.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I got it two months ago! I've been clear since then though, thank god   it sucks so much

It does suck, but I'm getting over it fast. No fever today and I can feel my strength returning, yay! I'll be out cleaning my coop tomorrow! That's actually exciting considering the alternative I've been dealing with.

Argh, we had that junk in our house a couple months ago. Bleh. Hope you feel better soon!
Congrats! They really took their time didn't they?

Thanks! I'm just glad I'm not working full time now and don't have young kids. I could barely lift my head off the pillow..

yep its going around and it's mean SOB,,,,,,long time to go away...you should get some antibiotics asap imho.....lots of coughs, and sinus issues....two cents from Dr stake.....

Thanks Stake, I had the true flu, with body aches, headache, high fever etc. since that's a virus, the antibiotics won't do a darn thing. I so don't want to take antibiotics unless I'm near death.

Well folks:

Kicked my young ones out side this afternoon....they were totally overwhelmed
(and loving it) ...stayed close as I've had fox issues and young chicks are fox bait....well at 6:30 the dog alerted and I set him loose.....he went out with his ears back...and he hasn't returned yet, but I am sure he's chased the fox for a few miles.... went down to pen #2 and gathered the sleeping chicks up and locked them in the coop...day one is looking pretty good....nothing like a good pooch.....

Glad you have a great watch dog! It's so helpful.

We've had a run of odd chicken ailments.... one hen with egg peritonitis, found another hen today with a gaping wound in her side, she is now in the hospital pen since I cleaned out the wound, receiving treats and some peace and quiet to see if it will be able to close from the inside out...and an 11lb rooster with bumble foot, post surgery, in another hospital cage. When it rains it pours!

That's terrible. Hope things clear up. Has anyone ever tried a drawing salve for bumble foot? My husband and a nasty large boil on his tush a few years ago and we were amazed how effective it was at getting the "core" out quickly. I would try it if one my girls developed the condition. How did you tell your chicken had it? Was it acting differently or was it just a routine check?

Hi All

Noob checking in from Schuylkill County (Tamaqua).

We're considering setting up for 6 hens, and looking for local connections for gear, and birds, if anyone knows of any.

Welcome! There are lots here with a lot of helpful advice, and as someone else has said, Dheltzel should be your first choice for great stock.

Just curious: what is reason that you are interested in Chanteclers? I heard that they are flighty and not good layers.

Did you really ask the PA poultry pusher why he ordered an additional breed?

 

[TillyPeeps]

It does suck, but I'm getting over it fast. No fever today and I can feel my strength returning, yay! I'll be out cleaning my coop tomorrow! That's actually exciting considering the alternative I've been dealing with.

Thanks Stake, I had the true flu, with body aches, headache, high fever etc. since that's a virus, the antibiotics won't do a darn thing. I so don't want to take antibiotics unless I'm near death.

That's terrible. Hope things clear up. Has anyone ever tried a drawing salve for bumble foot? My husband and a nasty large boil on his tush a few years ago and we were amazed how effective it was at getting the "core" out quickly. I would try it if one my girls developed the condition. How did you tell your chicken had it? Was it acting differently or was it just a routine check?

I'm having a stomach flu myself now. It's sure not fun, but I feel much better today.

That's a great idea about using drawing salve. I need to remember in case one of my chickens develop bumble foot.

 

[BullChick]

Duckling and I had the flu about a week ago. Actually, it hit a week ago. Today is the first day I feel okay.
I felt wretched when I realized just how sick she was! I kept excusing her behavior as being a toddler, until I realized what was going on with me was actually the flu. Even then, I thought that she just had a stomachache. I was on another thread when someone said something and I realized that she also had the flu and I was too stupid to realize it. I swear I cried the entire day feeling guilty.

 

[TillyPeeps]

Duckling and I had the flu about a week ago. Actually, it hit a week ago. Today is the first day I feel okay.
I felt wretched when I realized just how sick she was! I kept excusing her behavior as being a toddler, until I realized what was going on with me was actually the flu. Even then, I thought that she just had a stomachache. I was on another thread when someone said something and I realized that she also had the flu and I was too stupid to realize it. I swear I cried the entire day feeling guilty.

Don't blame yourself. It's difficult to tell why a toddler is fussy. Luckily, it's just a short period time. My son is 2.5 year old now and is older than Duckling, he already can tell me that he is sick. He actually got the flu first and then gave to me and DH. It is sure really hard to see a little one suffers.

 

[BullChick]

Yes, she had it first. I didn't think much of her diapers. She has bowel problems, and I was glad she was going! She refused to eat even her favorite foods, but I thought she was being picky! She ate Cheerios and drank a cow (sucked it down to leather and bones!

).
The logical Abi knows that I couldn't have easily known. The parental Abi wonders how I missed allllll of the signs? Live and learn (then get Luvs!

)

 

[TillyPeeps]

Yes, she had it first. I didn't think much of her diapers. She has bowel problems, and I was glad she was going! She refused to eat even her favorite foods, but I thought she was being picky! She ate Cheerios and drank a cow (sucked it down to leather and bones!

).
The logical Abi knows that I couldn't have easily known. The parental Abi wonders how I missed allllll of the signs? Live and learn (then get Luvs!

)

Between my son dropping and picking foods on the ground and hiding foods in secret spots, he has diarrhea 80% of the time. And yes, he is very picky too and refuses to eat many times. So if he doesn't tell me, I never really know that he is sick or not if he doesn't have fever. So, see, that's not just you.

 

[npilston]

We just want 'em for pets, and organic eggs. We've been considering it off and on for years, but there is an upcoming Q&A session on the subject being presented by a Purina rep. at a local feed store, so the Wife and I are going to check it out Friday, after work. We will hopefully get some questions answered, but we also understand the speaker's "motivation" . . . . .

We just want to find a nice, hearty breed to start with. A friend has raised a bunch of different breeds, has had no trouble with any of them, but prefers the Americaunas (sp?). He said they are pretty sturdy and healthy - and lay blue eggs! From what I've read on my own - they are difficult to sex, though. Our neighbors are close enough that it wouldn't be cool for us to have any roosters.

I understand that, as long as there is more than one - they won't freeze to death in the winter, but I wonder how to maintain drinking water for them without it freezing - unless what they can get each day before it freezes is enough?

We are trying to eat healthy and organic, and avoid chemicals and GMOs in our food. This will be an important factor in selecting food and supplies for our feathered friends, as well. The folks at our local feed store are very friendly, and helpful, but it is great to gather intel from a broader group.

Thank you all very much for your replies, and input - it sure seems like I joined the right group!

 

[Chaos18]

I kind of specialize in unusual egg colors and they lay plain brown eggs. I have Rhodebars for those. it's not that I don't like them as much as I have to be selective about what I keep and they just don't interest me as much.

So if a person doesn't care about unusual egg colors they are a decent breed?