South Carolina

[WestKnollAmy]

Yes, I like to make mash balls and to help them stick together I put Wheat Germ Oil with Vit E in the mix (found at TSC). They will only eat it now once or twice a week but used to gobble it up every day. I have had one Silkie with wry neck (hatched from someone's eggs) and she got better once I started doing this.

I do believe some bloodlines are more prone to it than others. My Silkies mostly come from Fluff N Stuff in NY. I have bred from those originals and added one or two since then but in 4 years I have not had any problems with this bloodline. She had just put everyone together and all I wanted was pets anyhow so she sold me eggs from mixed colored pens. I got some awesome birds but kept only a few that I liked.

 

[epitman2]

Quote:
Hello hello everyone..... hi snick I was just wondering where you was

Well John nah I haven t replaced the roo just waiting for the first batch of chickies to show me whos a roo and whos a hen. They are getting big the last batch is a little over a week old and they are growing like weeds. Ok I have a question for all you chicken experts......when can I put my first hatch with the big girls? The first hatch is 8 weeks old this sat. It would be so much easier if they was with the big girls.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Quote:
Hello hello everyone..... hi snick I was just wondering where you was

Well John nah I haven t replaced the roo just waiting for the first batch of chickies to show me whos a roo and whos a hen. They are getting big the last batch is a little over a week old and they are growing like weeds. Ok I have a question for all you chicken experts......when can I put my first hatch with the big girls? The first hatch is 8 weeks old this sat. It would be so much easier if they was with the big girls.

I think it depends on your big girls. I've always put my babies in way before that with no problem. But I have a lot of chickens and a lot of different breeds and the babies can always run under the coop if they need to. I don't have aggressive hens either. I usually just put the babies in one of the coops and they eventually start wandering out. No one ever really notices.

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

Sus,
Thanks for that response because I was wondering the same thing. I've kept 1 out of that first batch that that is 6 weeks old and I think she (or he) is DYING to get outta the grow out pen and into the coop with the big flock.

I've also got 4 BO (2 pullets for sure) that are 2 & 4 weeks old that will be needing to get out of the house and into the grow out pen as soon as they get more feathers. AND I've got a quad of Delawares (3hens, 1 roo), 2 EE pullets, 2 SLW pullets, & 2 Speckled Sussex pullets all in the brooder. Their pens are all up and ready waiting for them to get feathers so they can go to their new home.

Going to put the Dels in their own coop with a 250 sqft run. The EE, SLW, & SS are going into a coop with a 125 sqft. run. Can't wait!!!

 

[huckleberryfarm]

My limited experience is that if the baby has a place to escape, they'll be fine. I've put a lot of babies in over the last 18 months and haven't lost a one! If I see they're hiding under the coop a lot, I'll put a feeder and waterer near the edge of the coop. Once they grow a bit more, they're fine. On the other hand, I've had little ones just roaming around like they own the place!

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

I have a rough silkie pullet (obviously) - she is top and hates newcomers until she puts them in their place a couple of times. Then she is fine with the new chicks. I keep mine separate until around same size. Yes that is hard considering I don't have that many coops/runs!
I did get some of my chicks moved out into a little grow out tractor thingy DH built me. The Marans are still in the brooder in the basement. And ducklings are in the house still.

 

[Moonchild]

Thanks Snick the babies are growing great.!!! And the weather should be great this weekend!I ordered it for my la Bday!!!
SO happy Horsein'!!!

OK so you know I always have QUESTIONS!!!! so...I think it's time to deworm, right? WHat's the best to use and HOW on earth do ya do it!!!! I gave them their first cantiloupe and WOW. They picked it til it was a perfect shell (looked like a little hat) So do ya soak the meds into the fruit or bread??? and Can I mix DE in with the pine shaves to help keep lice/mites down/gone??? Always A Big Thanks!!!

Susanne- Good luck with the chick!!!

Amy- how's the little/big cochins coming along? Colors yet? and I'm missin my babies in da house can't wait til u get those SWL SS BlueWyandottes!!!

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
Kimberly - just let me know when you're ready and what you want. I have eggs running out of my ears right now!!

Whatcha Got?

Well...just off the top of my head - Millies, millies and more millies.

Also, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Cuckoo Marans, Silver Sebrights, Silver Duckwing, Barred Plymouth Rock, Buff Orpington and I have small amounts of Serama, Jersey Giants, Blue Cochins. I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody. How is your horse doing? I hope she's better.

Oh yea, White Leghorns and Polish Crested.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Quote:
Worming? Geez.... these chickens are more trouble than kids.

I'm curious to what the answer is on that. You can definitely use DE (food grade) in the nest boxes, runs, coops, on the chickens. I put a little in their food every now and then ( and the livestock too). Figure it can't hurt!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I deworm mine with red pepper flakes in a wet mash. Chickens do mind the heat of the pepper but the internal worms hate it. I do it very heavily and every 3 months. I also add garlic and apple cider vinegar to their water a few times a week. That probably helps the immune system fight off internal parasites and keeps the organs doing what they are supposed to.

You can use Wazine in the water or Eprinex (ivermectin) on the body, too. Eprinex will do internal parasites as well as external when applied to the body with a drop on the back of the neck/body and under each wing. I prefer to stay as close to natural as possible until I absolutely have to use something stronger. As my boss, the vet, used to say, no use to bring out the big guns until needed.