South Carolina

[itsjustjen]

We are under a watch but so far nothing. I can see the storm but the sun is still shining and the wind is the normal wind. I think we just might get passed again.....got to love Mother Nature's lake side protection!

 

[phoneman]

hope it goes around you up here. in sumter on the north east side we did not get much wind or rain



nadine that is a first. i have never heard anyone putting a wet rag under a hen. but it might work.

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
Guinea eggs are much thicker, but since guineas don't swim I've never added humidity for the guinea eggs like I do the duck eggs. Just wondering what your hen thinks about sitting on a wet nest?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Gee, nobody heard of being mad as a wet hen?

I know the picture you all may have gotten from my description but I swear, the wet dishrag was only damp and laid down flat with the eggs on that and then the hen. I doubt she felt like she had wet panties.

That hen did not blink an eye! She jumped back on those big eggs and willed them to hatch. However, once she saw them she had to remark about how ugly their daddy was. She is still confused as to why they look and sound funny but she is doing her best to mother them. She is not sure why they like to dunk their whole face in a container of water but she tolerates it. They haven't drowned yet.

 

[Cpntherfan]

one of our 5 week old hens has a bad limp. is there anything i can do to help her. Her foot stays closed up

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Has it always been closed up? Like a fist? Is she walking on the knuckles?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I just had the best time playing with the baby ducklings yesterday. Not only the ones I got Wed. from Holderreads but the ones that hatched here under my chickens.
I put the GLW, Unihorn, out in the tractor with her kids and they seemed to enjoy that and were totally fine and dandy this morning.

The Silkie hens are happy as clams with any babies! And their ducklings are a good bit smaller in size. Beautiful little somethings. Once I turned their box around so the babies could come out Miss Muffet took them out and showed them food but then had an itching and off down the ramp she went with the little tykes running and chirping trying to keep up. Fancy met them at the bottom of the ramp and proceeded to show the little ones where the water is located. Miss Muffet is actually being a better mom with these two than she has ever been with chicks. Fancy is the one not doing her usual cuddling. But they always hatch and raise the babies together even though I have several other hens in that pen.

Forgive the paint stained fingers. I got tons done yesterday with painting and building. Finally!

I have absolutely no idea what breed these babies are. The only one I am really sure about is the big yellow one. It has to be from my Pekins. The others are probably mixes but I will let them grow up and see. Girls stay, boys go to camp. Once I start hatching a bit more I will probably sell pairs or trios but I don't want to have too many ducks. (Is there such a thing???)

 

[Cpntherfan]

Quote:
no it hasnt always walked like that. She has feathers on her feet so i cant really tell what she is walking on

 

[carolinagirl58]

It's nice to see so many here from South Carolina! I live in the middle of the state. I think we are going chicken crazy. I already have speckled sussex (and getting more on Saturday from Nadine), Blue Lace Red Wyandottes and Delawares. And I may be getting some Buff Orpingtons because the guy we get our hay has some for $1.50. I do NOT know where I am going to put all of these chickens when they get bigger!! Am I crazy?? probably.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
no it hasnt always walked like that. She has feathers on her feet so i cant really tell what she is walking on

What breed is she? How old is she? Is she in general population with birds older and bigger than her? How many roos is she in with? How do you know she is keeping it closed when she walks? Is she just limping and then when you pick her up she just curls it up?

Maybe cut the feathers back on her foot, see if you can see any broken feathers causing some pain, check the foot and leg for swelling.
And move her to isolation so the others won't start torturing her because a weak bird is a dead flock so they get rid of any weaker ones themselves. And roos will take advantage of a hen that isn't able to easily escape and they can kill her.