Self Blue (Lavender) Silkie Thread

[destiny_56085]

I have another method that works for me. I use those small cage cups like we use in the show coops. Cut a slit in the Horizon box and mount the cup on there. Fill the cup with regular chick starter mash. Pour in as much water as you can and poke it around. Make it into a soupy mush. Get it as wet as you can without water floating on the top. It stays in the cup even if the box tips or is jostled around. The chicks love it and it really holds the moisture if the box gets held up for 3 days enroute. Fruit works well on older bird but chicks really don't pick at it much. I ship alot of the 2-3 week old chicks this way and rarely loose any enroute. I also put it in with the day olds even though they really don't need it. It does add to the overall weight of the box. Personally I'd rather absorb a $5 difference in the express mail and have them all arrive alive.

 

[geosheets]

Don't they already have something to put in with chicks? Here's a link to gro-gel from cutler supply... I've never used the stuff but sounds like it was designed to go into shipping boxes.

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_78&products_id=442

 

[cityslickers]

Quote:
Here's my chicks that arrived from Destiny all happy and still eating when I opened the box..

 

[joe17]

Cute chicks! Destiny's method works really well even in the heat. Oldtimegator, have you ever shipped using those water bottles yet? Do they leak? Thats a really good idea!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

No, it's too hot to ship right now. But I have tried putting water in them and shaking them around quite a bit and they don't leak. The bird has to move the little stainless steel rod at the bottom and then the water comes out.

 

[le neige homme]

Okay, I'm sold. Who's got hatching eggs available for these Lavender Sillies?

(well, in the Fall that is...too hot right now)

 

[fowlrus]

Hi everyone, I'm in-n-out of BYC, it took me Nealy all night to catch up on this thread,

Very interesting to know that so many people are fascinated in Lavenders. Thanks Bren, you have really open our eyes on this beautiful variety.
When I show them (the lav roo & hen from you) at New Braunfels Texas 2010 Fancy Feather Show, we've got a lots of people drooling... Thanks to you, they got best of variety too. There were a lot of silkies at that show this year, and we are very proud of YOURS(our) birds.

Any one who purchase your bird(s) will be very happy with them, I will vouch for that. :lov
After reading on the splits, I think I'll remove my two blacks from the breeding program, so that people buy eggs from me don't get confused, they will get 100% lavender. Personally, I think lav should stay pure by not crossing with any thing else, after all, they are stunning just the way they are.
I also love your tip on spraying them during the lock down, that's something I didn't know - being hatching for Nealy 10 years - guess you live you learn.
Batsy, congrats on your hatching of lav silkie & showgirls, I so loved those little buggers. You have any photo to share?

Cheers, Angie

 

[Smoky73]

I do not have lavenders but want to comment on shipping birds. I buy the plastic gladware containers and fill that FULL of watermelon, other melons and feed crumbles on top of it AND attach the container to the inside fot eh horizon box with a zip tie.. Then I also put feed crumbles in the bottom of the box in the litter. They have the moisture and some food as well.

 

[fowlrus]

Has anybody had any luck shipping or receiving chicks in this kind of weather/temperature? We are above 90 here in Texas.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

USPS is not suppose to allow shipping of "lives" if the temp is above 85 degrees on either end of the transaction. I'm sure most of them don't do a temp check.

I saw a big truck leaving my PO a few days ago and on the side it said "Contracted with US Post Office". It was definitely not an air-conditioned box!! I don't see how anything live could have survived in it. Surely the temps inside must have been over 150 degrees.