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Congrats on you newbies.. cute cute cute..
Congrats on you newbies.. cute cute cute..
South Carolina
- Thread starter enola
- Start date
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Hi Susanne I have their brother now.. hes beautiful and I was glad I was able to be a re-home for him now to get 2 hens and let the experiments begin...
)O(
Pink
Hi Susanne I have their brother now.. hes beautiful and I was glad I was able to be a re-home for him now to get 2 hens and let the experiments begin...
)O(
Pink
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Sooo cute! Congrats!
Sooo cute! Congrats!
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I am so glad to be reading this. I am sure he will love being a spoiled chicken. He was pretty spoiled with his daily veggies and watermelon, but he is going to really love the cuddling. Oh, by the way, he LOVES oatmeal. Just put some dry oatmeal in your hand and watch him go crazy. All he has to do is see a little bag of it and he knows what it is!
I am so glad to be reading this. I am sure he will love being a spoiled chicken. He was pretty spoiled with his daily veggies and watermelon, but he is going to really love the cuddling. Oh, by the way, he LOVES oatmeal. Just put some dry oatmeal in your hand and watch him go crazy. All he has to do is see a little bag of it and he knows what it is!
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I tell you, it may not look pretty but I went to Dollar General and bought the $1.50 2 gallon plastic pans and am using those now for water. I am sick of buying those poultry plastic ones that have broke each and every week this summer. I have even beat a few into tiny little pieces because they made me so very angry at leaking after only a month after purchase. It is hard enough to fill waters and keep it cool all day without going out later and seeing all the water soaked into the ground and panting birds. I have a few bruises from the fight but I feel much better now!
They work so very well! They are cheaper, hold more, easier to clean and my birds are STANDING in them!
Still, super easy to dump and refill. I have to use the containers in the brooder room but that is okay.
I also have started cutting out a part of the top of a milk jug and making waterers. I see no reason to throw them all away. I keep all the ones with screw on tops for water storage but those snap on top ones can be recycled.
Well, what my long winded self was getting at was that after you are in the chickens owning business for a while you will see, it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it is functional! Chickens don't care!
They don't need a fancy coop, even though I love them. They don't need fancy nest boxes, even if it makes me happy. They don't need pretty bowls and dishes or anything expensive other than predator control. So what I want to say to anyone getting into chickens is put your money with protection from varmints and save on the other stuff.
Amy - I think we have something else in common!
You also beat the broken drinkers into tiny pieces? It makes me feel so much better. Just more chicken therapy.
I agree that it doesn't have to be fancy to make the chickens happy. As a matter of fact, I've added quite a few gallon buckets to the runs this summer just to make sure that everybody has extra water. Can't have anyone running out of water in this heat. The buckets are so much easier to clean and refill. The only thing I will say is to be careful what you use wherever there might be chicks. Those little chicks can fly higher than you think, sooner than you think and they can drown in open drinkers. I also lost 2 silkies this summer to a 5 gallon bucket of water. They fell in and drowned, so no big buckets anymore. Not even for the ducks, unless I put a clay pot or something down inside it so the poor chickens can get back out.
I tell you, it may not look pretty but I went to Dollar General and bought the $1.50 2 gallon plastic pans and am using those now for water. I am sick of buying those poultry plastic ones that have broke each and every week this summer. I have even beat a few into tiny little pieces because they made me so very angry at leaking after only a month after purchase. It is hard enough to fill waters and keep it cool all day without going out later and seeing all the water soaked into the ground and panting birds. I have a few bruises from the fight but I feel much better now!
They work so very well! They are cheaper, hold more, easier to clean and my birds are STANDING in them!
I also have started cutting out a part of the top of a milk jug and making waterers. I see no reason to throw them all away. I keep all the ones with screw on tops for water storage but those snap on top ones can be recycled.
Well, what my long winded self was getting at was that after you are in the chickens owning business for a while you will see, it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it is functional! Chickens don't care!
I agree that it doesn't have to be fancy to make the chickens happy. As a matter of fact, I've added quite a few gallon buckets to the runs this summer just to make sure that everybody has extra water. Can't have anyone running out of water in this heat. The buckets are so much easier to clean and refill. The only thing I will say is to be careful what you use wherever there might be chicks. Those little chicks can fly higher than you think, sooner than you think and they can drown in open drinkers. I also lost 2 silkies this summer to a 5 gallon bucket of water. They fell in and drowned, so no big buckets anymore. Not even for the ducks, unless I put a clay pot or something down inside it so the poor chickens can get back out.
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sounds good
why arent they laying.. ? why arnt my girls laying???? they were hatched on march 17th any ideas?
Pink - if your layers are buff orps they won't lay until between 6 and 8 months of age. They mature much slower than production birds. As a matter of fact, I've had 9 month old buff orps that I thought were pullets and they turned into roos overnight!
I didn't have any hens to compare them to at the time so that is my excuse for not knowing. I love my buff orps, but they haven't done well in this heat at all.
sounds good
why arent they laying.. ? why arnt my girls laying???? they were hatched on march 17th any ideas?
Pink - if your layers are buff orps they won't lay until between 6 and 8 months of age. They mature much slower than production birds. As a matter of fact, I've had 9 month old buff orps that I thought were pullets and they turned into roos overnight!
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sounds good
why arent they laying.. ? why arnt my girls laying???? they were hatched on march 17th any ideas?
Pink - if your layers are buff orps they won't lay until between 6 and 8 months of age. They mature much slower than production birds. As a matter of fact, I've had 9 month old buff orps that I thought were pullets and they turned into roos overnight!
I didn't have any hens to compare them to at the time so that is my excuse for not knowing. I love my buff orps, but they haven't done well in this heat at all.
Oh my goodness they just up and changed on you.
. yup that would be my luck.
. I think I need to pen them up and keep them up for a while, they are all getting ready.. I guess ill just take fan down there till I get some eggs, so they know to come back to the run everyday to lay.. my one BR who started out Joan Jet.. then became Jett Lee,, well... hummmm he doesn't crow, he is constantly at my feet . gets along with both flocks. not aggressive except a peck now and then at the feed bowl.. but now.. he is squatting for me , I go to pet him and down he goes and starts coooing..... hummm Im thinking maybe hes still Joan jet?
Im not going to complain is he is a she.. but odd...
has everyone seen the moon tonight.. she is gorgeous.
. I went out to check my girls and didn't even need a flash light.
)O(
Pink
sounds good
why arent they laying.. ? why arnt my girls laying???? they were hatched on march 17th any ideas?
Pink - if your layers are buff orps they won't lay until between 6 and 8 months of age. They mature much slower than production birds. As a matter of fact, I've had 9 month old buff orps that I thought were pullets and they turned into roos overnight!
Oh my goodness they just up and changed on you.
. I think I need to pen them up and keep them up for a while, they are all getting ready.. I guess ill just take fan down there till I get some eggs, so they know to come back to the run everyday to lay.. my one BR who started out Joan Jet.. then became Jett Lee,, well... hummmm he doesn't crow, he is constantly at my feet . gets along with both flocks. not aggressive except a peck now and then at the feed bowl.. but now.. he is squatting for me , I go to pet him and down he goes and starts coooing..... hummm Im thinking maybe hes still Joan jet?
has everyone seen the moon tonight.. she is gorgeous.
)O(
Pink
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your right about money and chicken coops etc.. but ya know what I dont have that kind of money my coop is inside a 12x4 dog run thier safe and sound and they dont know its not fancy smancy,,, their happy and thats all that matters. I do use the gal chicken water'ers, but their feed is in buckets and their next box is a dog house.. they go in it I know because there are little fuzzy feathers in it.. now if they would just lay..
. ahhhhhh I m like you though when I get my first egg.. Im blowing it and putting that modge podge on it to keep it from breaking and making a special egg shrine...
)O(
pink
your right about money and chicken coops etc.. but ya know what I dont have that kind of money my coop is inside a 12x4 dog run thier safe and sound and they dont know its not fancy smancy,,, their happy and thats all that matters. I do use the gal chicken water'ers, but their feed is in buckets and their next box is a dog house.. they go in it I know because there are little fuzzy feathers in it.. now if they would just lay..
)O(
pink
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Droopy birds? If they live, fine. If not, fine. I do not go out of my way to save any of them. If they seem distressed, I do what I can to make them comfortable and give them time to heal. I do not want to breed birds and get chicks that I have to continually have to work on. I want them to be hardy birds.
I have lost 1 bird to the heat. I do not do the whole ice in water thing either. I do have fans on the silkies. I do give everyone fresh cold water from the hose twice a day. Three if possible. I almost lost a second one, but DD saved her.
All I can say is:
I rarely medicate my birds other than ivermectin under the wings for prevention of lice/mites, and wormer when needed.
I don't feed birds yogurt. Makes no sense to me.... Why feed yogurt? No way can the thingys in yogurt be doing any good in the gizzard. Birds process and grind food there, not gain anything from it until it moves through the system, and by then
. Just makes no sense to me
Besides, one of the Doctors on the Chicken Whisperer talk show says not to & I cannot remember why, but it was nice to know I was not the only one to NOT do this.
I used steam rolled oats in my silkie feed mix. They eat it like rest of food. I tried warm oatmeal once. They did not touch it.
I do use ACV in the water once a week. Mainly to keep waterers cleaner, also with my show birds, I know if they have a little ACV in the water, when we go to shows I can take water from home with a little in it & they recognize it and drink it.
Well....I've been doing this a long time and I guess I still do not have a farmer's heart. I want all of my babies to live. And yes, I must admit that I have actually taken a chicken (and once a guinea) to the vet. I do all I can to save my birds if they get sick. My regular routine treatments are first DE - in the food, the the nest boxes, in the dust bath holes, on the coop floor, on the ground, on me.....
I've also seen feather mites in the past couple of weeks and I've never seen those before so I went through at night with a sieve full of DE and dusted everybody while on the roost. I put ACV in the drinkers a couple of times a week and worming is with each change of seasons. I am not using Wazine anymore as I cannot afford to withhold eggs and lose all my egg money. I am trying different kinds of natural wormers. I used Verm-X for awhile. I also keep some sort of antibiotic on hand for any sickly bird. I keep Sulmet on hand but have never used it yet. I do not feed medicated chick starter, I have ducks and they can't have it. I also prefer the chicks to gain the natural immunities and it seems to me they are healthier on unmed feed. At least that is my experience. I also have Oxine that I use for cleaning coops and such and it can be used to fog the birds if they have a respiratory problem. I also don't cull. I have 2 handicapped pens with birds that have leg or foot problems. Right now, they're all roosters. But they seem happy enough, they are safe and well fed and it makes me happier to keep them alive if possible.
Redbug - I'm very glad you found something that worked for the peachicks and I will remember that myself. This year my peachicks have all seemed healthy. Haven't lost one yet, fingers crossed I'm not cursing myself by saying that outloud. My oldest peachicks are starting to show some color. It's so exciting! I can't wait to see what I have, color and gender. My 2 smallest ones are still in my house (yes, baby chicks are in my house) and I love hearing them call everynight when the lights go out. They are so sweet.
I forgot to mention that I do not feed yogurt. I read somewhere that it can actually cause them to lose weight. My chickens get all kinds of veggie scraps and bread scraps but I don't feed them any extra grains in the summer. They do get a scratch feed as a treat in the winter. The corn helps them produce extra heat which they need in the winter but not in the summer. One more thing, last year I did give my chickens Calf Manna as extra protein and they loved it. I mixed it into the layer feed but you could smell it and the birds went crazy for it. I had a problem with the layers last year, the food I fed them caused them to stop laying. The calf manna seemed to help them and they loved it.
Droopy birds? If they live, fine. If not, fine. I do not go out of my way to save any of them. If they seem distressed, I do what I can to make them comfortable and give them time to heal. I do not want to breed birds and get chicks that I have to continually have to work on. I want them to be hardy birds.
I have lost 1 bird to the heat. I do not do the whole ice in water thing either. I do have fans on the silkies. I do give everyone fresh cold water from the hose twice a day. Three if possible. I almost lost a second one, but DD saved her.
All I can say is:
I rarely medicate my birds other than ivermectin under the wings for prevention of lice/mites, and wormer when needed.
I don't feed birds yogurt. Makes no sense to me.... Why feed yogurt? No way can the thingys in yogurt be doing any good in the gizzard. Birds process and grind food there, not gain anything from it until it moves through the system, and by then
Besides, one of the Doctors on the Chicken Whisperer talk show says not to & I cannot remember why, but it was nice to know I was not the only one to NOT do this.
I used steam rolled oats in my silkie feed mix. They eat it like rest of food. I tried warm oatmeal once. They did not touch it.
I do use ACV in the water once a week. Mainly to keep waterers cleaner, also with my show birds, I know if they have a little ACV in the water, when we go to shows I can take water from home with a little in it & they recognize it and drink it.
Well....I've been doing this a long time and I guess I still do not have a farmer's heart. I want all of my babies to live. And yes, I must admit that I have actually taken a chicken (and once a guinea) to the vet. I do all I can to save my birds if they get sick. My regular routine treatments are first DE - in the food, the the nest boxes, in the dust bath holes, on the coop floor, on the ground, on me.....
Redbug - I'm very glad you found something that worked for the peachicks and I will remember that myself. This year my peachicks have all seemed healthy. Haven't lost one yet, fingers crossed I'm not cursing myself by saying that outloud. My oldest peachicks are starting to show some color. It's so exciting! I can't wait to see what I have, color and gender. My 2 smallest ones are still in my house (yes, baby chicks are in my house) and I love hearing them call everynight when the lights go out. They are so sweet.
I forgot to mention that I do not feed yogurt. I read somewhere that it can actually cause them to lose weight. My chickens get all kinds of veggie scraps and bread scraps but I don't feed them any extra grains in the summer. They do get a scratch feed as a treat in the winter. The corn helps them produce extra heat which they need in the winter but not in the summer. One more thing, last year I did give my chickens Calf Manna as extra protein and they loved it. I mixed it into the layer feed but you could smell it and the birds went crazy for it. I had a problem with the layers last year, the food I fed them caused them to stop laying. The calf manna seemed to help them and they loved it.
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Susanne will you let me know when you have 2 Americauna girls available.. for the kids project. they have to be americaunas not EEs or I would let them use my 2 EE girls..
have a great one..
)O(
Pink
Susanne will you let me know when you have 2 Americauna girls available.. for the kids project. they have to be americaunas not EEs or I would let them use my 2 EE girls..
have a great one..
)O(
Pink
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