Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[MsKay]

 

[Devonviolet2]

BEAUTIFUL BIRDS!

 

[katsdar]

We moved to our homestead last January. We had a Rhode Island Red Roo, a RIR hen and Turkey hen, included in the sale of the property (5 acres with a cute 2 year old house). The Roo got sick and died shortly after we move here. So that left us with the hen and turkey - neither of which was laying. Both have since started laying.

A month later, when we got four wether Nigerian Dwarf Goats, I bought two of their 1 year old Buff Orpington hens and got a Buff Roo (CoCo) for free.

Here they are coming out of the coop for the first time, when we first got them.



The RIR didn't like one of the Buffs, so was picking fights with her. CoCo was such a gentleman! He just sqawked and walked between them. It didn't take too long for Red to get the message.

Now, Red is part of his harem, and roosts next to CoCo at night.

Here is one of my favorite photos of CoCo and the two Buff hens.


Here is another favorite shot of mine. I call it "Fluffy Butts". If you look closely, you can see hearts.

One of the Buff hens seems to be CoCo's favorite. She had a bare spot on her back that was getting raw. So, I decided to make a chicken saddle. The first time I put it on her she freaked out and ran squawking around the chicken yard, with CoCo close behind. He finally caught up to her and snatched the perceived threat off her back. It was so cool to see him protect her like that! I had used Velcro on the straps, but it didn't hold, so I stitched it down and added an elastic strap, for her butt. It was harder to put back on, but is working better that way.

She was so stressed after that, we waited until after dark, and got her off the roost. When I put her down she didn't freak out, and actually jumped back on the roost.

So far So good. This is day 2 and the saddle is still in place.

can you post how you made the saddle, I have a hen that could benefit from one.

 

[katsdar]

Also anyone interested in a month shipping some BO hatching eggs to me? at a reasonable price of course?

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

My mottled is not doing well. Not sure what happened. I came out to find the mamma hen attacking it the other day so I took her out of the picture. Now it is sick and I think she new...

 

[OnlyOrps]

My mottled is not doing well.  Not sure what happened.  I came out to find the mamma hen attacking it the other day so I took her out of the picture.  Now it is sick and I think she new...

Awe so sad! How old? What are her symptoms? What a huge bummer!

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

Awe so sad! How old? What are her symptoms? What a huge bummer!

Seems like a respiratory issue. I took them from the Momma who had attacked it and brought them into the house. It was just so dang cold to leave them under a light out there! I will be home in 3 hours and know its fate. I was dipping its beak to hydrate it before I left, but it was so out of it and sounded raspy.

 

[OnlyOrps]

Seems like a respiratory issue.  I took them from the Momma who had attacked it and brought them into the house.  It was just so dang cold to leave them under a light out there!  I will be home in 3 hours and know its fate.  I was dipping its beak to hydrate it before I left, but it was so out of it and sounded raspy.

Argh! That doesn't sound good! Respiratory is aways so touch and go, especially in chicks. I am sending you well wishes, I hope they manage a miraculous recovery!

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

The chick passed. I figured. You just know. All the rest seem fine. I hope there is no infection from it. I sterilized the brooder box and put everyone back in.

 

[Devonviolet2]

@katsdar - I made mine, after looking at this thread here on BYC:

I found this free pattern on http://www.homesteadingtoday.com, from "Wisconsin Ann".

It has come to my attention that the thread we usually point to with the pattern for a chicken apron/saddle has broken links in it now so, I found the pattern on my harddrive, and here it is! I think. I know this one works, 'cuz I've used it. Cut on the fold (the narrow "neck" end is the fold) and turn thru the unstitched area on the butt.

Add either an elastic or a 1/3"ish wide twilltape/belting/whatever you have as armholes...attached at the foldline/neck, and the other end to the wide area. Most hens will wear them quite happily. They seem to adjust them a bit when you first put them on, then forget about them.

I'll keep trying to find more on the pattern.

From the looks of the pattern piece, it appears, the fabric may be cut into one piece and hemmed. Mine has fabric on both sides with padding between the two layers. So, I put the 3-1\2" edge on the fold, which meant I had a 17-1/2" length of fabric and folded right sides together. So there is no seam there, where the elastic is threaded through, for the wing holding elastic strap.

Here is a picture of mine, using the Velcro. It could be, that now that she is used to it, the Velcro would keep it in place, without having to stitch it down.

.

I also cut an old wash cloth the same shape as the pattern, except I cut it off, at the top, so it was not in the channel, for the elastic. I then hand basted the wash cloth to the inside of one of the halves.

Once the 1/4" seams are stitched and I turned it right side out, i stiched across the 3-1/2" end, to complete the elastic channel, and then edge stiched around the entire saddle. To keep it from puckering, I clipped the curves, almost up to the stitching, before I turned it right side out.

For the quilted effect, I started a row of straight stitching on the diagonal and eyeballed the next rows about an inch apart. I then turned it so I had a set of 1" rows going diagonal to that, creating a diamond pattern.

As I said, when CoCo was able to snatch it off his girl, I stiched a piece of elastic (maybe 5" long) about 2" up from the bottom, and slid it over her rear, so she couldn't poop on it, but so it held the tail end in place. It seemed to work, because it is still in place, doing its job.

I hope this helps and I didn't confuse you too much.