Surviving Minnesota!

[lvie]

Good Morning Chickeners . . . . . Yes! Ralphie! You did it - First! You don't have to wait too long in the morning for participation. Have you still got that barn 'hawk' in the house that you and Judy found? Is it possible to show that one?

Bantiesrule and Cluckies - thanks for looking at spider pictures for me. I am afraid that the laptop will need to go back to the dr. if I look again. When I type in a message here sometimes the message turns out with kiddywompus markings and so the harddrive must still have a low-grade temperature.

Welcome MFH (MoosenFthills - wow! that is a fingerfull!

Wow! I started this at 10:30 a.m. and kept getting interrupted. So I have ten posts ahead of this to read.

 

[lvie]

I was (jokingly) going to tell you Ralphie and Holm, that spider is under the roof on the coop. Its too hard to get my foot that high to squish it.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

http://countrysidenetwork.com/daily...backyard-chickens-5-common-mistakes-to-avoid/

This was a good little article. And sort of ironic that it came up today as I suspect Ralphie's customers may be dealing with Nutritional issues with their pullets leg problems. Some briefness to to the article but it makes really really good simple points on feeding your flock.

 

[Minniechickmama]

They are only about a month old. I know I have to wait for final coloring but was just wondering if anyone else ever raised this color and how soon I could expect speckles or if they should have them right away.
Thanks
I think its a black and yellow garden spider. They usually don't have orange legs but it might have just molted and the color will change.




.....Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Fooled ya.....just read it on the internet.

I have only had Porcelain Silkies to compare for color, but I am thinking you may not see the spotting until they are older.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Pullet or Cockerel?

Not all breeds can be feather sexed.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I have a chicken question.

A person I sold chicks to a few months back is saying a couple of the chicks (now 8 weeks old are becoming paralyzed. Anyone have an idea what could do that?

She says they eat and drink and all but their legs do not work..

I was also going to say Mareks. If it were a toxin problem, they would not be eating and acting fine otherwise. There are two strains of Mareks too, from what I understand, one that passes vertically (from parents to offspring), and one that passes horizontally(within the flock). The first sign is leg weakness, appears that they have injured themselves. It attacks the neurological system, so it will have coordination symptoms. The other thing is that they emaciate pretty quickly too. Look at thinness in the legs and muscle dystrophy in the breast with the keel feeling tighter and sharper.
There are claims from some that it curable, but I see it as a waste of time and effort and only keeping around a virus that can spread one way or another.
Eventually, if they are left to 'wait and see', they do stop eating and acting as they should, plus they can't get to their food and water very easily and other birds may even attack them for being weak.
During certain growth times, Mareks becomes prevalent in birds carrying it, and 2-4 months is one of those times.

 

[I Love Layers]

Not all breeds can be feather sexed.

These are barred rock chantecler crosses

 

[Minniechickmama]

I'm thinking of showing in Junior. Can I show a trio in open too??

Edited!!!!!
Yes, you can show in both. The birds you use in Jr. cannot be shown in Open also. I will send you a photo of the part of the entry stuff about it.

 

[Minniechickmama]

These are barred rock chantecler crosses

I would think they would be able to feather sex, but BC is right, get a full side view of them to show us. You should be able to see the wing difference, but also combs and legs should tell you something at that age.

 

[I Love Layers]

I would think they would be able to feather sex, but BC is right, get a full side view of them to show us.  You should be able to see the wing difference, but also combs and legs should tell you something at that age.

Ok thanks! I am just on the bus home so I'll get some pics soon