Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

Good evening everyone

How are you? Week shaping up ok?

 

[Grammy60]

How are you? Week shaping up ok?

Doing pretty good My week should be fun since its Fall break for the school, so less kids for me . Another observation this week and our open house. Busy but that's a good thing.

 

[BY Bob]

Hello all!

The molt is still going strong with Goldie and now Livi as well. The poor girls look a mess right now.

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Poor Livi has 1 tail feather left and a big bald spot with pin feathers, she's a sight to see!

I took this picture out of the window at work. We had had a very rainy, windy day and this was just as the sun was peeking through.

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I love that 1 feather look. They are always so sad looking when they molt. Poor babies.

 

[BY Bob]

What are you implying? Is my writing that bad?
I used to read a lot; two or three books a week sort of consumption. Something I found difficult when I moved here was having to leave the bulk of my book collection behind.
I read academic papers and news on line these days, but not much in the way of books for entertainment, or even education.
I'll check out "The Age Of Surveillance Capitalism."

I'm going to read that one too. It sounds fascinating.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

I love that 1 feather look. They are always so sad looking when they molt. Poor babies.

I honestly tried to pull it, she just looks so pittiful, but it was still firmly attached so it stayed. I certainly didn't want to hurt her, she just looks so silly!

 

[BY Bob]

Today's treat for spending the day on the mainland:
a couple of hours baby cuddling!​

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One of the things I wanted to do while we were picking up chook food was chat to our local produce people about my girls. We all know there's nothing quite like sharing with another fanatic but I did have some specific questions because a couple of the girls have quite pronounced keelbones ~ so much so I wasn't happy. I went over their diet in my head & came to the conclusion it was probably one of 2 things: worms or a deficiency. So my feed is top quality & my wormer is considered a really good one. Probably the only reason I noticed is that I mostly have pairs so I have a good way of comparing individual chooks & when 1 out of 2 has a pronounced keelbone I start asking questions.

So, the ADVICE ~ in case you ever have this issue: selenium. It can be bought over the counter @ the chemist, 1 tablet mixed in with their feed once a month to aide in vitamin & mineral absorption rates. Apparently they don't need a lot, but some birds do need a little help in this area.

Our produce store was out of whatever their product is so I ordered from our chemist & it will be here tomorrow. I will let you all know how we go.

Excellent tip. I will get some as well.

 

[BY Bob]

If only we could speak chickenese. Life would be so much easier.

Where is Doctor Doolittle when you need him?

 

[Shadrach]

Today's treat for spending the day on the mainland:
a couple of hours baby cuddling!​

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.

Rather you than me.

 

[Shadrach]

I'll update in a week or so. Lottie is round & plump but Suyin is a big bird who weighs light ~ a lot lighter than her sister ~& her keelbone is very prominent. Hopefully everyone will soon be plumper. And as everyone knows: those darn birds look & act healthy as!

I think the keel bone estimate when used as a guide to a hens health can be very misleading. I would expect meat birds to carry that sort of weight, but not fit and active chickens.

 

[Kris5902]

Today's treat for spending the day on the mainland:
a couple of hours baby cuddling!​

View attachment 1940908
One of the things I wanted to do while we were picking up chook food was chat to our local produce people about my girls. We all know there's nothing quite like sharing with another fanatic but I did have some specific questions because a couple of the girls have quite pronounced keelbones ~ so much so I wasn't happy. I went over their diet in my head & came to the conclusion it was probably one of 2 things: worms or a deficiency. So my feed is top quality & my wormer is considered a really good one. Probably the only reason I noticed is that I mostly have pairs so I have a good way of comparing individual chooks & when 1 out of 2 has a pronounced keelbone I start asking questions.

So, the ADVICE ~ in case you ever have this issue: selenium. It can be bought over the counter @ the chemist, 1 tablet mixed in with their feed once a month to aide in vitamin & mineral absorption rates. Apparently they don't need a lot, but some birds do need a little help in this area.

Our produce store was out of whatever their product is so I ordered from our chemist & it will be here tomorrow. I will let you all know how we go.

So adorable! And the egg basket is just beautiful as well! It’s so nice to have functional and beautiful things around. Thanks for sharing it with us.

As for the Selenium, do be very careful with it. It is necessary and deficiencies are bad, but overdosing with it is very easy and lethal. We live in a notoriously selenium poor environment, so much so that until last year (when it became unavailable due to new regulations) we would give the sheep an injectable supplement of it a month prior to lambing as it prevents common leg deformities. Wrestling and giving sub-cutaneous injections to 150 wiggly, woolly 100 lb beasties in the rain is unpleasant, and challenging. If unsure if the shot got in, we never make a second attempt, because even a 1/2 dose more is fatal, and it’s better to have to splint the Lambs than to lose both the ewe and lamb. Orally it is probably less drastic, but it is something to use with caution.