Stella's Social Club

[lonnyandrinda]

Kathy, I will pray for you, too.....

I know several of you have Isbars, and many of you have years of chicken experience. A little advice please? I am pulling my hair out with my Isbars. At first they were young and there were fertility issues- I did some feather trimming and solved that. I've been hatching every week for two months and do you know how many chicks have survived the first week? I'm down to 5 from last Sunday's hatch of 7. Everything that has hatched previously has passed, usually before 1 week but as late as 2 weeks.

I don't know what to do. None of my other breeds are having problems. The Isbar eggs are ALWAYS the last to hatch- today I took out 80% of the chicks from today's hatch and I have one Isbar pipped out of 7 or 8 eggs. They will hatch probably tomorrow. That's the ONLY thing different. Feed is the same, eggs are collected, stored, and incubated the same. Is this a genetic problem with my rooster? If it was a problem with one hen I would still be getting half the chicks to survive. The chicks do hatch late but once out seem fine- healthy, perky, I show them the food and the water. Then after about 3 or 4 days one at a time they stop eating and drinking and start gasping as they breath. That lasts for about 2 days and then they pass. I've brought them in the house, given them vitamins, force feed them warm mash, even tried using Gallymicin in water and mixed with feed for this last one that died in my hands today.

Any suggestions? They go in a box in the house with paper towels for the first two days, then to a wire brooder in the garage. None of them have made it to being put outdoors. Feed is fresh and in date, unmedicated. That's the only thing I can think to change but I'm not sure it would matter. Oh, and I do usually have a few that fail to hatch, out of ten eggs I might have 1 early death and 2 or 3 that are fully formed but do not pip.

My rooster comes from hatching eggs from Sheriff Mary, the two pullets come from hatching eggs from Richard Jordan in GA. I have two pullets up and coming from a later batch of eggs from Mary. I am getting really frustrated trying to get started with this breed.

 

[1muttsfan]

Rinda, so sort to hear about your problems - anyone on the isbar thread able to help you out?

I handed over all the excess chicks from my recent hatches to a local family - Chuck brought out his 2 youngsters and 2 of their friends, and they ran around the farm chasing - and being chased - by my friendlier birds. My Speckled Sussex hen was fascinated by the youngest boy, who was a riot (but a little hooligan too!) He presented me with a bouquet of dandilions before they left. One of the other boys offered his expertise with my horses anytime I needed him (he rode a horse once). I think they wanted to load my pony up in the truck too.

Hope Kathy and family are OK...

 

[chiqita]

Oh Kathy, I am so sorry. I hope and pray that she is okay.

X3

 

[The Sheriff]

Checked back in for news but I guess there isn't anything yet. I keep logging on to see if Kathy has posted. Worried.

In chicken news:

I identified my Isbar egg eater and she will be leaving. It was the older of the splash hens. She has been in the layer coop and I found a nest box full of nastiness today. There hasn't been anything else broken in the Isbar coop since she left. That is enough evidence for me.

I did find something else of interest in the Icelandic coop though.




Hmmm, I lifted her up and found this.




I have been wondering how long Lukka could watch the broody and baby next door without wanting babies of her own! I guess I have my answer.

My other project broody is off the nest. That works for me!

The babies that I moved are doing well on their first day.






Guess who is obsessed with them?




Guess what Michael noticed on the wall next to the broody house tonight?






I'll be back to check for news about Brittney.

and praying.

 

[debs_flock]

Guess what Michael noticed on the wall next to the broody house tonight?

Dang raccoons, but they do have cute footprints.

The one that came in my kitty door, I left it's print on my laundry room wall for ages, because I thought it was so cute.

 

[The Sheriff]

I haven't experienced that with my Isbars Rinda. I don't try to hatch very many though.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Thanks everybody, I will try on the Isbar thread but it is pretty quiet.

 

[The Sheriff]

 

[NotAFarm]

Rinda, Try feeding them only boiled or scrambled eggs until they are a few days old and see if it makes any difference.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Really?? Really? I can hardly believe this.

A girlfriend of Brittney's just called. She went to Brittney's and said she found her having a seizure, "and foaming at the mouth." She called an ambulance. Next report was that she could not answer any questions, did not know her name, the date, her age, the president, etc. Nothing. She is at the hospital now. We still have the 2 year old, Kayson. Cylis, the baby, is with his dad at his apartment.

Ohhhh - just got a phone call from the hospital.They are transferring her to Kansas City.

If you pray, please pray for Brittney and my family.

Dang raccoons, but they do have cute footprints.

The one that came in my kitty door, I left it's print on my laundry room wall for ages, because I thought it was so cute.

I had those same prints on my windshield