Texas

[SlipsWife]

I have one of my chicks with a bit of dirty butt. I cleaned it up and made sure the vent was clear but still has a little dry poop stuck on the feathers. I didn't want to rub hard and irritate the vent. Is there something like a bit of vasiline or something I can put on it to get it off so it doesn't build up again?

You can trim the little fuzz around the vent with a small pair of sewing type scissors. Olive oil can also be applied, or Vaseline. Under normal, healthy chick circumstances, I've never had to deal with it after the second day. I've personally found with healthy chicks if I give them plain, warm water when we first get them without anything extra, I feel like we don't have as much issue with pasty butt. I also don't keep the brooder as warm as some and just watch the chicks. As crazy as it sounds, the more you brood, the easier for the first couple of weeks. I would much rather have a group of 25 than 6. We've moved our chicks out at 2 weeks without heat this year, even with the cold fronts (we are in Odessa, so no rain) and no losses (other than from our dog...entire different issue...)

Sorry, that was pretty wordy for 'Yes, you can use Vaseline'

 

[magpiesing]

You can trim the little fuzz around the vent with a small pair of sewing type scissors. Olive oil can also be applied, or Vaseline. Under normal, healthy chick circumstances, I've never had to deal with it after the second day. I've personally found with healthy chicks if I give them plain, warm water when we first get them without anything extra, I feel like we don't have as much issue with pasty butt. I also don't keep the brooder as warm as some and just watch the chicks. As crazy as it sounds, the more you brood, the easier for the first couple of weeks. I would much rather have a group of 25 than 6. We've moved our chicks out at 2 weeks without heat this year, even with the cold fronts (we are in Odessa, so no rain) and no losses (other than from our dog...entire different issue...)

Sorry, that was pretty wordy for 'Yes, you can use Vaseline'

No that's ok. All info is useful. Will use olive oiI I think that is better. I don't know how old the chicks were when I got them from TS on Thursday, small and fuzzy, now showing a few new wing feathers. I started them out on warm water with a little sugar, like a Tbsp per qt. All the others are fine. They are getting chick feed only right now. They had a bowl of scrambled egg and oatmeal friday. So gonna wait a day or so before giving them any more, it might have been too much for that one. Thanks Magpie

 

[showbarnmom]

Anyone here ever heard of Diamond T Poultry near Seguin? http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/grd/4321598962.html Im getting some orpingtons from them and was wondering what yall thought about there orpingtons?

I have dealt with Jeff several times, and use him as my go to for questions. He calls my frizzles "feather defects" lol. I really like him. I've only ever seen his australorps though. And they are gorgeous.

 

[AussieGirl]

I have dealt with Jeff several times, and use him as my go to for questions. He calls my frizzles "feather defects" lol. I really like him. I've only ever seen his australorps though. And they are gorgeous.

Hes been very informative in my talks with him. I just hadnt heard very much about him.

 

[tjo804]

I am thinking about adding an *in coop* Dust bath
Does anyone have one of these for if rain?
What dimensions should I be looking at?

I have 7 pullet chicks from TSC I was going to section off part of the coop and put in another run off the coop for them. I am wondering if by using Sulfur in the coop I would be endangering The new ladies When time comes to put them out side. Does Sulfur Dust or Spray have a negative effect on Chicks? It will be aprox 2 weeks before I put them out.

 

[henless]

I am thinking about adding an *in coop* Dust bath
Does anyone have one of these for if rain?
What dimensions should I be looking at?

I have 7 pullet chicks from TSC I was going to section off part of the coop and put in another run off the coop for them. I am wondering if by using Sulfur in the coop I would be endangering The new ladies When time comes to put them out side. Does Sulfur Dust or Spray have a negative effect on Chicks? It will be aprox 2 weeks before I put them out.

I was just thinking about a dusting container yesterday. I plan on using a plastic barrel that has been cut in thirds. It was one of my horse feeders. I have an old water hose that I'm going to splice and put along the edge to give them something to stand on. It should be big enough for 2 or 3 to dust bathe at the same time.

I had thought about just framing one up using wood. Since I plan on using deep litter, I would have to put a bottom on it or else make sure the sides are high enough to hold the sand in. With the barrel, it can just sit on top of the litter.

I don't know about the sulfur and chicks.

 

[A1momof3]

I didn't mean to sound negative about shows. Like I said it is more about me not thinking it was something I could do.

I don't think you were negative at all. That was a very good point. I would love to go to a show and check it all out. I think that was good advice. One should know exactly what they are getting into before taking something like this on. I was trying to find out where a show was around me last night but I didn't have any luck looking. Lol

 

[A1momof3]

Good grief it's cold again!!! Lol

 

[A1momof3]

My babies are 3 weeks old today! Lol it's funny how much joy these little bits of Gods creation light up my day! I worry over them like a old mother hen! Lol I think I need to add onto their brooder bix again. They have enough room on paper but with my eyes I just feel they need more. Lol
I listened to the elders who raised chickens way back when and I just used a big box and I have added on to it as needed but next time I'm getting my hubby to build me a box inside our brooder room that will be well insulated and temp controled before I get another big goup like this again! Lol 20 babies in the house is a lot! LolToday my little peeps are 3 weeks old!
This is Lulabelle ]and she is the most curious and brave of my girls. She always runs up to me when I put my hand in their box and is right behind me no matter what I'm doing!

My little red friend here has gone from being Miss Peeps to being The Colonel! He also comes up to me to see what I'm doing but he also likes to get his chest scratched! He will stand there for ever as long as I scratch him.

They are just two of my flock in the KFC Safe House Coop!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Well that's not as many vaccines as I thought you had gotten them. I remembered you talking about it and some inspector?? Too much for me. I once thought I would enjoy showing, but like I said I don't think I could do it. Love that people do. Loved seeing the chickens. I would not have wanted to go to the expense and then find out I wasn't cut out for it. If that makes sense.

It is really not expensive. You don't need to buy grown show-quality birds from a breeder and have them sent from far away. Entry fees are about $3. You need to make sure your bird is clean with nails and beak trimmed. They must be disease and parasite free. You need to have have the state representative come to your property and inspect and test your birds for Pullorum and Typhoid. That is free and they give you a certificate on the spot which you copy and send to the show secretary with your entries. That's about all you really need to spend on the bird. Lots of people have won prizes with hatchery birds, and in Texas, all the shows are restricted to birds owned by Texas residents so you won't have to deal with out-of-state exhibitors..

One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of breeders selling purebred stock are not selling stock that fits the standard for their breed. For example, a lot of people have what they believe to be purebred Ameraucanas when in fact they have crossbreds that lay a blue egg. Marans are another breed I suspect have a lot of birds that don't conform to the standard.