Sdwd

[Serrin]

Cyn, so sorry to hear about Tom's brother in law. I hope it was of natural causes and that he didn't suffer.

Here's a reality break for those of you enjoying all that nice warm sunshine down south. It's raining and 41 here today.

Nick, in light of that weather report, you can pretty much guess that I won't be taking any pictures of the coops and the kids until probably Monday, when it it forecasted to be sunny and 20F !

We'll be checking in to the Hotel Fridgerolla once again tomorrow, with lows around 6 with a windchill around -8. Oh, how I wish I had that brooder ready to go for GeeGee before the thermometer takes a nose dive. It's gonna be real tough for her to keep the eggs warm in those kinds of temps. Maybe I'll lower the heat lamp down and point it right at her nest box somehow. Or, I may just pack her up, nest and all and bring her into the pump house. I'm sure I have a box of some sort that I could set up in a pinch that she'd find acceptable. Any suggestions on how to handle this one folks? Ya know I'm open to hearing them!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Cyn, so sorry to hear about your family member.

Well I did it, took me 2 hours and I hauled 5 large wheelbarrel loads but the coop is clean.

It really was not bad odor wise. There was one small area that had some amonia smell. I will put the welsummers in the breeder area tomorrow. I was to tired to get the feeder and waterer hung up today. It got up to 30 today. We got another 5 inches of snow last night.

 

[speckledhen]

One of the six Del chicks isn't getting its feet under it well. It's thumping around on its hocks and chirps loudly when another chick bumps it. I hope it is going to be up and running by tomorrow morning otherwise we may have to cull the poor little sweetie. I've had them take 24 hours to get their legs working right (not just Dels) after the hatch so it may be fine by tomorrow. These are the friendliest, bravest little critters, just like all Dels we've hatched here. I'm selling the chicks for $3 each and hopefully, someone will want all of them together to grow out and make their choices of the keepers.


Zane was out in the sunshine today and I let Nugget and her babies out of the pen. Tasha, the Delaware, ran up to Zane, who she'd never seen, and was beak to beak with him. When he looked her square in the eye, she ran back to mama. Those Dels are fearless!

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Yay Uncle Zane is on duty again! I must say of all the chicks I have had, the Del babies are by far the friendliest, most curious and fearless babies I have ever seen. Do not be dissing Zane's cute ghetto disco style dance...I saw the boy dance for his lady love in his cage...he can dance...Impressively.


Cyn I am sorry to hear of the loss of a family member and very sorry to hear Tom fell. Gosh this snow and ice has made everything slick. I hope he is up and about soon.


Well update from around here...Sarah has her birds back with her. The sad note...weeks ago I told Sarah they were not eating right and just sitting around huddled up. The camper was normally 14 - 20 degree colder inside than my coop or even the barn. We ended up losing half of them to the cold (3 of hers and one of mine were lost to a predator two nights ago). Sarah was not happy with this particular group because they were not very hardy from hatch...tiny preemie like chicks, they were smaller than the rest of her birds by far. I had wormed them all, fed them goodies....mackeral, scrambled eggs, bake sweet potatoes, leftover meat and such...brought them in the house a couple at a time for special care but they were just weak non-hardy birds. I had even let them free range a couple of days. So she has 2 HUGE beautiful cockerels....Mr. Sexy II who carries the lavender gene and Baize, son of Suede, 2 cockerels she will have to dispatch (extras), a pair of lavenders and I believe 5 black pullets. Sarah was POd about the birds being so non-hardy and the ridiculous amount of good money she paid for the eggs, their poor hatch rate and poor hatch condition...she knew I was doing everything I could but still makes me feel like crap. I had no way to get electric out there and I had thought of putting them in my coop but without pens in there, it would have been a blood bath with all her boys and my two boys. It just sucked.

Here is Baize in the crate headed home today with his companions. He and Mr. Sexy II run the flock. Sarah is giving Baize all the Blue and splash girls and Mr. Sexy II gets the black girls.

On the note of my sister. She finished her last gamma radiation treatment Friday and is now back in her home. she returns to the Mayo clinic in one month for a test to make sure all the steroids and medication have left her system. she then returns two months later for testing to see if the treatments worked. Meanwhile, she is going to try to return to her job on Feb. 14th, they had not found a replacement for her yet so they are letting her return to try it. She is scared to death because she fears she may not be able to do her job anymore. I think she will be fine once she faces her fears...makes adjustments for her double vision on one side and gets back in the swing of things.

So please pray these treatments worked and this tumor growth has been stopped. I really cannot face burying my little sister this year or next.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
That's what I would do Amy...give her some heat source in the pump house...she will be fine and dandy in there. This cold is tough as heck on them. Trust me I know.

 

[speckledhen]

Prayers said for your sister, of course! She has to beat this.


LH, I candled the Suede eggs that are on Day 7. Sadly, not one was fertile. What a bummer! He's mating the girls daily, too. The two Del eggs from my Ellie and the June egg are developing perfectly. June's eggs are humongous! I had a 4 ouncer from her day before yesterday-it was HUGE! I hope this is Hedwig's little sister in that egg in the bator.

There are five Del eggs due to hatch Feb 7, June and Ellie's eggs due Feb 13 and the last batch is due Feb 17, containing 6 Dels, 7 BBS Orps plus one from Meg, and 2 Del/Lt. Brahmas (16 in the last batch).


I'm setting up my March hatch for the week of March 14th, which is the day I'm requesting the eggs be mailed out. Nice quality BRs, BBS Rocks, BW Ameraucanas and porcelain D'Anvers. Will be building a new coop for the D'Anvers very soon and I think we've decided on 6x8. We already have enough 4x4's for the skids here.



I hate that those birds were so weak, LH! Has to be genetics with all the loving care you lavish on all your birds, and Sarah's since they've been with you.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

LH, continued prayers for your sister [and you also]. So sorry to hear about Sarah's birds, that's a real bummer.

Cyn, are you going to try to set more eggs from Suede since he is being so loving with the girls?

 

[Cetawin]

It was so weird Cyn...the lavender male is clearly stupid...Sarah will agree...you put fresh water in there and he sticks his head and in and nearly drowns himself...them walks around wobbly and snorting water everywhere from out of his nostrils...and then will do it again 5 minutes later. Beautiful bird but stupid as a rock. And you and Kathy know where these eggs came from. Ahem.

But they would get so cold they would sit all poofed up and not get down to eat...I would take food up to them and they ignored it. It was like watching a hunger strike...they did eat the mackeral when I held it for them.

The one of my Aussies got put up with them 2 nights ago and something small came in through a window I am guessing by the ripped screen, and killed 3 of hers and my Aussie.

I am suspecting Rat, possum or the stray cat I shot off the tongue of the camper last night.

I was going to take them home to her today but she got a ride to come get them...I just could not stand to watch them commit suicide anymore. Stupid stupid stupid. I mean get down ad eat for god's sake stupid birds if you won't eat...guess what...you die.


YAY A hedwig sister yes. As for the orps...your girls are defective Cyn I hate to say it but they must be becuase well...they are in with Suede....the Blue Studmuffin so it has to be them. Because we all know SUEDE IS PERFECT! *snicker*

 

[Cetawin]

I have to tell the truth...I abuse my birds, really I do. Cheyenne got pictures to prove it. They say the first step towards stopping an addiction is to admit it so there you have it.



Spike being abused and forced to read BYC's sdwd thread *hangs her head in shame*

He was enjoying himself though:

 

[PepsNick]

LH I am SO sorry about your sis and am praying for you both. But it's good to know that she's doing a little better. Also, Sarah has some stupid chickens, that's just incredible.

I just watched your video, that is hilar!

Cyn, I hope Tom gets back on his feet and I am sorry to hear about Suede... He's what, three? Good luck on the March hatch though, I can't wait to see the new coop.

Once I get my new incubator, I will be looking into ICELANDICS!!

How exciting. I've done a ton of research on them today and it a PM from a very nice member with some great info. Kathy, do you sell Icelandic hatching eggs??