Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[chiques chicks]

Here's a quick shot of chick #3

Leaning toward that coming from one of my Orpington eggs. Will grow in to a mixed blue and yellow bird. Pure Orpington/ nonstandard color.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Ok seriously, why am I having ALL the chicken drama?! It has only been 3 weeks today since we brought the girls home and so far we have experienced molt (stress related or otherwise), lice and now... wait for it... SOUR CROP

!!!


Three of the girls are laying for us now, we average 2 eggs per day and even have had 2 days in a row with 3 eggs. So, the postulated theory that they were past laying age and thus up for auction no longer applies. Sorry, I tend to use big words and obnoxiously "proper" english when frustrated, which is my attempt at sarcasm/humor

. I am frustrated and beginning to feel like this may have been a bad idea, but how could it be a bad idea when so many of you here are doing this so successfully and enjoying it to boot?! I actually really like my chickens and want to keep them, get more and make this a part of my life... which of course it already is lol.

I have researched the crap out of all these "issues" and have a pretty good idea how to deal with the sour crop in my flock, so that isn't what I need advice about. What I need is some encouragement, a little bit of "you can do it" would go a long way right about now. But really?! Who has this many issues in the first 3 weeks?!

That would be me

.

I am having this very same issue with one of my hens right now..at least that is what i am treating for mostly...I did give her a de-wormer, because I thought maybe this would help also(her poo is "off"), ..the entire flock was wormed not-1 month ago...so only wanted to dose her...not waiting another two weeks for eggs...
Anyway..what I have done for this particular hen is, with a syringe ,(needle removed)..I give her a "dose" of Olive Oil, then gently massage her crop...I did ..at the beginning make her regurgitate....only water was expelled, she wasn't eating at that point, now she is... since doing all this she is improving, slowly...i keep giving her the olive oil and massaging.

Good luck with your girl....buying anything from auctions is always a risk, try to keep these experiences as just that..."what can happen when having birds"....all a learning experience!
I try anymore to go directly to that mind set, it helps to keep me from feeling too over whelmed.

One of these days you will start with brand new chicks, or young poults and you will have the experience to manage a great deal, if the situation should arise. Keep your head up, you are doing the best you can and your birds are being well cared for.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

so we are just in from the Penn State main campus. Happy to say that after much preparation, the kids did really well at the Poultry Judging competition and I couldn't be any prouder.

....congrats! The kids have a very good mentor!!

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I know I am way behind on Welcoming all the new Peeps..so, Hello and Welcome

....

Going to enjoying this DRY weather!!! Hanging laundry ASAP!!!...Have been enjoying the garden already..leaf lettuces, new potatoes..(leaving some plants for winter harvest, also going to plant extras), have a small head of cauliflower that will be cooked up soon!!

..oh, and the strawberries...definitely going to be enlarging that bed!!

Fingers are crossed the runs dry a bit so i can get them raked a bit!! Also going to "deal" with my broody girl..finally!!
Good Luck to all those hatching...

..keep those cutie- chick pics coming!!!!
Have a great Day to all!!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Wow, where did you get that?

Aldi's, it was the last one!

LOL. My daughter named one Hershey and wanted to name the others but I told her to not name anything that you aren't sure that Daddy isn't going to eat. Funny story, we named one of our first round of chicks Dottie because it had a dot on its face. Also, it is my mom's name. Dottie has turned into a beautiful Black Austrolorp, who for some reason, makes the most horrible screeching noise. Almost like a crow, but more like a RARRRRAEHEAHAHEAHHEEERRRRRR. It is so loud. You can hear it in the house. In the neighbor's house! Anyway, now my husband wants to kill her and she's named after my mom. We think it is kind of hilarious.

So I'm already planning my next hatch. Does anyone near York have muscovy hatching eggs? Oh, and if you sell hatching eggs in York or Lancaster, can you send me a PM with what you sell. I want to make a list of who has what. I think I might be addicted.

The true stories are always the best!

Ok seriously, why am I having ALL the chicken drama?! It has only been 3 weeks today since we brought the girls home and so far we have experienced molt (stress related or otherwise), lice and now... wait for it... SOUR CROP !!!


Three of the girls are laying for us now, we average 2 eggs per day and even have had 2 days in a row with 3 eggs. So, the postulated theory that they were past laying age and thus up for auction no longer applies. Sorry, I tend to use big words and obnoxiously "proper" english when frustrated, which is my attempt at sarcasm/humor . I am frustrated and beginning to feel like this may have been a bad idea, but how could it be a bad idea when so many of you here are doing this so successfully and enjoying it to boot?! I actually really like my chickens and want to keep them, get more and make this a part of my life... which of course it already is lol.

I have researched the crap out of all these "issues" and have a pretty good idea how to deal with the sour crop in my flock, so that isn't what I need advice about. What I need is some encouragement, a little bit of "you can do it" would go a long way right about now. But really?! Who has this many issues in the first 3 weeks?!  That would be me .

Sorry to hear about the problems, but I'm glsdvyou figured out the cause! Good luck! We are all right behind you!

so we are just in from the Penn State main campus. Happy to say that after much preparation, the kids did really well at the Poultry Judging competition and I couldn't be any prouder.

Congrats! You must be one proud Mama!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Good morning everyone! I know we will all enjoying the sunshine and drying up! Another question.... Do you guys leave the feeder in the coop at night? Obviously clean fresh water should always be available. My girls free range and have access to food all day and only go into the coop to sleep. Should I put food in there with them? I usually do and they do seem to eat it in the morning before I let them out.

 

[stake]

Good morning everyone! I know we will all enjoying the sunshine and drying up! Another question.... Do you guys leave the feeder in the coop at night? Obviously clean fresh water should always be available. My girls free range and have access to food all day and only go into the coop to sleep. Should I put food in there with them? I usually do and they do seem to eat it in the morning before I let them out.

Hey Annie:

I always keep food and water available in the runs. Mine free range the backyard and show a preference for bugs and grass....so, only sometimes do they come back to the food bowl for a feast..(then a nap).....and they all get a bit of scratch in the morning and the evening...

 

[jmayday]

My roo just started crowing @13wks. It is hilarious!!

 

[Jemmie]

AnneInTheBurbs:

My girls free-range also. I always leave food in the coop and water for a few reasons:

1. I never want my girls to go hungry and possibly peck at each other out of hunger.

2. I might be delayed in the morning getting to them because I work full-time from home and can have some very early online meetings.

3. If there is some kind of emergency and I have to leave, at least they have food until someone can get to them.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Chickens..........and chicken caregiving.....................well why do we do this?

Its a lot of work ---------sometimes more than others...........when all things are going well I find that I am just
open the door in the morning
add food and water
come home in the evening
check on them and
at around 8 pm
make sure they are all in and close door
repeat

that is the minimum


when I have more time on the weekends
I LOVE to watch them and
let them out into the yard...........instead of their run
I LOVE to give them some special treat .........fed from my hand...........

I also do the cleaning stuff..........

When they are sick or odd behavior happens........or signs of predators are around
THOSE ARE the BIG WORRIES day and lots of time thinking and wondering what is going on, what do I do etc.

But all things considered...............its fun.
We who raise chickens are animal lovers and usually nature lovers and
we have an important job/hobby with our galsn
Its educational and mentally stimulating
Its fun and emotionally satisfyinrg............the range of emotions are not just the positive ones but the FULL range from joy , humor, contentment, sadness, worry ........etc

I think if I didn't have chickens in my yard...............I would feel a big void.
I would also feel like I have greater time and less on my to do list................but my yard would not be as much fun.

so bottom line...............I am glad to have them.

I don't like the hard work and worry part...............but its all a part of it