Pipd's Peeps!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Someone on another thread requested a few pictures of Crash, so I got some of him this morning. He is very uncooperative for side profile pictures, but he was being super cute while standing in my hand.

He looks so chubby!

Standing awkwardly because he can't pose when I want him to.

And this is a lousy, out of focus picture, but look at his pretty feathers!

'He' honked a few more times today... Getting hopeful!




This morning, we had a storm and, of course, more rain! I get a little freaked out by storms, so when it started rolling in, I made a run for the shelter of the front porch. Well, the rain came in and everything seemed to be settling down, so I thought I would just rush out and get things done real quick. And then it began to hail. The poor girls were stuck in their coop until 10:45-ish while I waited for the weather to pass. Not that they would have done anything if I had let them out, but I did feel bad that they were stuck in there so late!

I'm not sure what to think with Betty as she's behaving the same way she did a few months ago. If anyone from the previous thread remembers, I had some winter refugees for various reasons, and Betty was one of them. Back then, she was kind of out of it, and then fine in intermittent bursts. I tried a few things then, but she just kind of came out of it on her own, so I ended up putting her back with the flock. She's doing the same thing now. She did eat more this morning than she did yesterday when I brought her in. She's awfully skinny, though. :/ I had to weigh her to dose her wormer, and she only weighs a hair more than 3 pounds. Not much for a large fowl hen... But her slightly increased appetite is a good sign, at least.



It looks like I'll be picking up the SFH on Wednesday. Just need to finish her quarantine pen and I'm all set for her. I would have finished it earlier, but mom and I ran some errands--and along with that, I finally got some boots to wear! Yay! Bring on the rain now!! Anyway, I'll be sure to get pictures once she's here and settled in for her quarantine period.

 

[itspebbl]

Crashie is getting big! How big is she/he compared to her/his parents? Do you have any name ideas for the new hen?

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Wow. So Crashie doesn't have any baby fuzz left? It doesn't look like it. And sorry to hear about your sick hen. Maybe she has something internally wrong? Losing weight can be dangerous.
And yes, what do you plan on naming her?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Crashie is getting big! How big is she/he compared to her/his parents? Do you have any name ideas for the new hen?

He's smaller than his parents still by quite a bit. Probably about half their size. It's hard to compare because I haven't had them side by side yet. The hens kind of laid claim to the area around the duck pen, so it's not a safe place for a li'l ducky to be!

Wow. So Crashie doesn't have any baby fuzz left? It doesn't look like it. And sorry to hear about your sick hen. Maybe she has something internally wrong? Losing weight can be dangerous.
And yes, what do you plan on naming her?

He has a patch of baby fuzz on his back still, but his wings cover it completely.

And Betty, I'm afraid you might be right. She is the only one that is showing any indication that something's wrong, and you'd think if it was something external that at least someone else would be off as well... :/






The current owner of the SFH named her Emma, and I don't have any intentions of changing it. I may call her Em or Emmy for short, though, because we know an Emma and that might get weird.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Aw. That's cute though.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

As of this morning, I'm about 90% sure that Crash is a girl! She has been honking and 'WAT-WAT'ing, and that's just not a male duckling thing to do. 90% because, well, she is still young and my first duckling and I can't really be 100% sure without any experience to back it up. All signs are pointing to girlyhood right now, though!

Yay, Crashie duck!! e



We had another downpour this morning, which of course happened while I was walking away from the Guinea area and had about 50 feet to go to the chicken coop. UGH! It's not funny anymore!! Right now, thank goodness, it's partly cloudy and we're getting some sunshine! We've got storms projected tonight and pretty much through to the weekend, but we're supposed to have a sunny week next week! We'll see, anyway. :/ I promised my niece I would let her camp out with me on my annual camp out in the yard--hoping the weather eventually cooperates with the idea!

For now, the girls seem to have accepted their marine lifestyle. I'm still trying to convince Margie to give up brooding! She seems to be straying, as she ran to a dust bath instead of directly to the nest when I opened up the gate for her the other day, but she did eventually end up in the nest again. Sigh! And now Poppy's brooding, too! Broodies!



Betty, meanwhile, seems a bit perkier and a little more talkative as of this morning. She's still awfully thin, but has not lost weight. In fact, she's gained just a tiny bit. I'm pushing fluids and am thinking I might have to start filling her crop with food for her one way or another once she's more hydrated. Gosh, I hope she pulls through...

 

[TheChickenQueen]

Yay with Crashie!

Hopefully it stops raining over there soon...

Poor Betty

Hoping for the best for her.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Okay, I'm 100% sure now! I was filling up the tub for her bath and Crash heard the water running. She got all excited like she always does, and then she let out a, "QUACK!"

It's a girl!!

e

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Betty seems more herself this morning, I think because I've been keeping plenty of water in her system. She isn't 100% and she seems awfully skinny still, but she's more interested in food and I had a heck of a time getting her dose of wormer in her because she wanted to peck at the syringe--and didn't want me to pull her beak open! This is both frustrating and encouraging.

I'm starting to think maybe she has a partial blockage or something, as her crop had a little food in it still this morning. It seemed to be moving through after I got water in her, and she has been pooping, so it can't be a complete blockage. I think I may give her an Epsom salt flush after her wormer treatment is done, or maybe some Dulcolax as per this page's instructions.



We have a sunny day at the moment! I'm getting ready to go pick up the Swedish Flower Hen this afternoon. Will post pictures of her when I return!

 

[TheChickenQueen]

C'mon Betty! You can do this!

I can't wait, she sounds beautiful!



Question for ya'll. When do you guys think a hen is ready to be allowed brood? I have a mix breed that I hatched who has decided she want to try to hatch non-fertile eggs

She'll be 7 months old in about 10 days so personally I think she is too young. But she is growling at the other hens who try to come in the nesting box. The tiny thing is all puffed up... it's kinda cute.
If she keeps it up long enough, I might see if someone in my area has hatching eggs(all nine roos are still little), then get the 'bator together just in case.