Smoky Mtn East TN

[laughingdog]

Littlechicklet,
thank you a lot, looking for good Americana type looking layers. i got four eggs left that guy gave me, when he brought the gsd. and popped them in bator as too dark to see anything but maybe movement in two. My mail man brought some giant bobwhite quail eggs for me to try to hatch out half for him, from neighbor who has pair. first scovy duckling hatched yesterday and was so cute as it came right out to look at and squeak at me.. mamma scovy wasn't too happy but tolerated me letting me have it play with my fingers till it got sleepy and cuddled back up to momma. today she was much more protective of the six to eight others that hatched last night or this morn. about a half dozen eggs still to hatch, but she seems to not be caring for them really and they were pushed aside, one was cold.. another had pipped but beak seemed stuck out, and not able to manuver, so i carefully peeled off first shell then membrane that were both bone dry, and its seeming tired and thin, but got to drink and seemed some better when pulled out and put in warmest spot under mamma and next to one cluster of five or six (there was another cluster of four or five). One un pipped egg is tapping and another chirping, so hope tomorrow they're all hatched finally, and i don't have to pop any in bator to try to save.

 

[laughingdog]

I poured some hot water around the nest crate, assume trouble with one was humidity lack, as tiniest duckling hatched first a full day ahead of rest that hatched so far, and i was out there all day today and yesterday checking and cleaning nest of all leftover egg shells and goo. hoping I'm doing right thing as first time hatching ducks for me and mamma. anyone keep or breed mealworms close to morristown (i want to work with these baby scovy ducks, and need to work with some bantam poult Americana)? also

anyone have an extra dutch bantam, rosecomb bantam, or even OEGB, cockerel/roo that doesn't mind it going to home to free range during day and hopefully go to roost to be locked up at night? earlobes whitening and shapes changing ect.. showing my thought three OEGB hens are in fact dutch bantams (show bantam breeder confirmed that was over, didn't believe they could be from TSC hatchery chicks (all kinds they had my buddy got were really rare now knowing: sultans, D'uccles, dutch. Must have been rare bantam assortment). i knew a guy who keeps a few in morristown, but haven't seen him around since got back to area. i gave some dutch i know away when needed to, and just wondered if any were with members still..???

 

[littlechicklet]

My Orp BB has 2 eggs that are getting really close to hatching (the rest were either early quitters or not fertile). I can't remember but I think they should hatch any day now. She has 1 Orp egg and 1 Orp/Marans egg). If she has any to hatch I will try to post pics.

laughingdog- good luck with your hatches.

 

[RedRidge]

anyone have an extra dutch bantam, rosecomb bantam, or even OEGB, cockerel/roo that doesn't mind it going to home to free range during day and hopefully go to roost to be locked up at night?

I have a bunch of extra cockerels right now... RC HRIR (I haven't picked my keepers for the RC HRIR yet), I have a couple of SC HRIR, several Rhodebars, a Buff Orp, a Buff Orp x production Red,
The only bantam I have are a Mille Fleur d'Uccle and a black/blue cochin.

 

[laughingdog]

Redridge,
Any pics of your d'uccles (if different from gorgeous one shown before), and your bantam cochins? I just love the bantams, as they seem more self sufficient, and eat more small pests let out to roam but stay close (except my Americana bantams, as they are as flighty as can be).

I had one scovy duckling hatch day before yesterday, i think. then yesterday, i think, had about five hatch, had to help one that was stuck out of egg. today had about five hatch, had to help another out of egg, this one in incubator cause was to weak wet and cold to follow mamma and rest of duclings. one duckling dead in shell, smashed in little at air cell like new mamma was trying to help. Three eggs were today and yesterday some not looking cared for and left when mamma duck took ducklings out, so popped them in bator too. baby in bator eating some tonite, and drank two or three times, made two or three poos, and friendly as other one i had helped get out of egg. hoping its dried fluffed out and strong /rested enough to go join others to make dozen, if other three don't hatch. mamma duck oddly now very friendly preening me ect, maybe hormones. daddy is more protective than ever, as went after a curious cat that got to close to duck pen, and now chasing pigeons away also, and giving me warning displays and mock attacks.

 

[RedRidge]

I haven't taken any recent pics but can get some at some point over the next few days. The d'Uccle is crowing but I don't think the cochin is yet

 

[RedRidge]

Here are the two cockerels who are available... born in April...

 

[laughingdog]

here is a cuddle pile of my twelve choco scovy ducklings.

I think my female D'uccle is getting ready to lay (?), as she is digging and making grass nests under five of ten bushes, and under trees. last time i went to check on her she didn't scamper away and just shrieked at me, fluffed and hunkered down.. her roo is territorial as all heck and attacking the pigeons and daring my bantam Americana roo to fight him (but if fence isn't between he runs like a little girl wearing pigtails and snow shoes).

Was too excited after not hatching chicks in so long, and "helped" my large size Americana chicks hatch.. three seem fine and bouncing around attacking anything they set eyes on, one seeming severely anemic from lots of blood loss.. but perking up and after some gatorade even more for now.

 

[cws451]

hello everyone from sevierville..im glad i found the thread..Does anyone know where i can find some feed stores? im tired of paying 18$ a bag for layer...

 

[RedRidge]

hello everyone from sevierville..im glad i found the thread..Does anyone know where i can find some feed stores? im tired of paying 18$ a bag for layer...

Welcome to the thread.
I grind, mix, and ferment my own... much cheaper that way. Plus I can avoid soy and gmo's.
I grind for several other poultry folks too since I have a grinder, but I'm about an hour away from you so don't think that would help you out at all.