Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[joletabey]

YAY BASSLEG!!!!

More Del babies.

Cetawin - can ya blame me for trying???? I am Orp poor, only having the one, even if he is pretty perfect.

Scott - honestly? Mine was in pain. He couldn't get around very well, the others stomped all over him, and I sent him home to heaven, via my very kind and understanding vet. His toes were curled, and he couldn't walk well. He sounded like he hurt,even when no one was walking on him, his eyes looked like he was hurting, and I couldn't let it go on. Still kills me to think about it, but I feel I did the best thing. You could fix the hernia, but the rest of it, especially if her toes are starting to curl, will still be there. I know I have not got the resources, time, or space at this point - too many mouths to feed and routine vet things like shots and worming to pay for. And I firmly believe in the Rainbow Bridge. So I do NOT think you sound cruel. On the other hand, if she isn't in pain, and you have the space, give her the chance to heal and see what happens. Maybe if she is just quiet. . . . and ask Cyn for the rest of her Superglue.

 

[speckledhen]

You're not cruel at all. If I had one of those here, I'd cull it, though if it was one of the other type dwarves, I may let it stay. Those just seem to have short legs, but no actual deformities.

 

[Cetawin]

Scott, I am so sorry to hear Sweet Pea is not doing well. It sounds like it is time to cull her dear man. Do not let her suffer and die on her own...no matter how hard it is for you to do, do it for her. I hate the thought of doing it worse than you can imagine, but letting her slowly fade is not fair to her. I will say a prayer for little Sweet Pea.

Well Dr. R has come and gone...wow what fun this experience was. I have been consoling birds since he left half an hour ago. Thor is beyond ticked OFF! Fattie bit the snot out of Dr. R (she drew blood on the poor man's hand) and Cannonball is seriously considering me to be definition of Evil. Athena dislikes me anyway so nothing changed there except a glint in her eye that so heavily reads "Turn your back just once and you are MINE!"

Thor was a very good boy until the needle prick and then he looked to see what was happening, flared up a little then when the draw started it turned nasty. It took both a firm grip, rubbing him and talking to him to keep him calm...he was not impressed with the whole thing. Cannonball screamed so loudly she put tears in my eyes and Fattie just bit andd bit harder and continued biting until he let go of her. She was MAD! Athena screamed like a banshee just picking her up but she got very still and silent during the blood draw, I admit this behavior scared me. I suspect she is plotting my slow painful death right about now.

I am glad that is over and glad Thor does not have spurs yet.

The EEs did pretty well except for Sirius. I had to put a towel around him for the blood draw. He was having none of it. Little Penelope looked like she was going to faint...she got very still and dropped her head backwards onto my arm then just cried softly, it was truly pathetic. Dr. R was chuckling and saying "It is okay Drama Princess, I am almost done".

But, the good news is...he said the birds all look and feel very chunky and healthy. He gave them a treat of apple after he was done with them. He did say that Fattie and Cannonball still feel thin through the keel but he did not see a problem with it at their age...to look for them to start filling out soon as they have plenty of food available and water plus healthy treats. He said I should know the results of the DNA profiles within 3 weeks but that outwardly neither Dellie showed any dwarf characteristics and Cannonball is just petite.

He wants me to go ahead an worm them as he has seen tons of roundworms out in our county with all this rain. I had picked up the ivermectin the other day to worm everyone when the rain slowed down, so we are good to go there. I woke up around 5 this morning worried about these blood draws and now that it is over and everyone is thoroughly ticked off with me.... I need a nap.

 

[joletabey]

Cetawin hugs for you AND the kids!

(Don't tell them I am laffing like mad over your descriptions!) That is good to hear your girl is simply petite!

 

[Laney]

Whew LadyHawk you have been through a lot this morning. I don't envy you blood draws on that many Chickens! I think you had better enter the coop baring gifts this evening! Something really good like pumpkin! Otherwise, I would sleep with one eye open!

Yay on all the chicks!!! That is really great! I can't wait to see pictures!

While I was out I was able to grab 4 java eggs at the Whole Foods, unfortunately I broke one in my kitchen. I'll put in a couple of Helen's eggs too.



Laney

 

[kathyinmo]

Cetawin, So glad all the drama is finished (for awhile!) .... Give all those special birds treats tonight!

Laney, What kind of incubator do you use? Is it keeping heat and stabilized?

Scott, Poor Jennifer .... that is a tough job, to downsize and cull!

Bassleg, Congrats on the new chicks, and best wishes for more!

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, wow, what a wild afternoon you've had, sweetie! They'll forget all about it by tomorrow, I'm sure. I'm very interested to see what happens with the DNA testing.

Speaking of being thin, I picked up Phoebe today and Maxie and they are gaining weight. I was really puzzled by how thin they both got at their 9mth-1yr molt time and wormed the Delawares just to be safe a few weeks ago. Anyway, I hope they'll start laying again soon. Kira still doesn't feel well and hasn't laid in a few days, but we are leaving a heatlamp on in the Del coop just because of her.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Ok...well, I did it. Sweet Pea is now amongst our other feathered friends in chicken heaven.

Cyn....thank Tom "thank you" for me, for teaching me the humane way to euthanize one. It was tough (grown men aren't supposed to cry...and Jennifer says I'm too soft-hearted about critters in general anyway, oh well) but like LadyHawk said, she is the better for it and I couldn't stand to see her suffering any longer.

Tomorrow is Day 18 for my EEs (finally hatching something for me!!) so I'm hoping that will take my mind off of losing one.

Everyone have a great evening

 

[speckledhen]

I'm sorry, my friend. You did the best thing for Sweet Pea, but it is never easy, ever.

 

[Laney]

Kathy,

I just spoiled myself with a R-com Suro King 20. It does digital temp and humidity control. Plus has humidity reservior outside of the incubator so you don't have to open the incubator to add water. That is my favorite part.

I also like the fact that the floor of the incubator is non-slip even though the entire incubator is plastic. The Incubator goes into a rocker, so the whole incubator is rocked instead of the eggs being in a turner. You never really have to touch the eggs at all during the whole incubation if you don't want to. I like to candle, so I'll be doing that. What I like is the steadiness of the Temp and the Humidity that I find I have trouble getting with the Hovabator. Maybe I'm just clueless when it comes to operating the Hovabator I don't know.

I figure, I'll keep using the Hovabator, as both a Hatcher/brooder type thing, for an emergency backup and for my own/cheap eggs.

For the expensive and special ones, I'll use the R-com. I also really like that the R-Com is all plastic, it will make cleaning and sterilizing it much easier. With the Styrofoam the best you can hope for really is clean enough. (Did I mention that it is currently half the price of the Brinsea Advanced EX with all the features?)

Laney