Texas

[showbarnmom]

My 2 cents on worming -

I try not to bring outside hens into my place, if I do, I deworm them prior to releasing them into the flock. Other than that I don't deworm except once a year. My property in general does not have a high parasite load. But I deworm and dust once a year as a practice. Unless I see someone going down hill, I don't worry over it. But that's just my general practice, and unless I traveled with my birds or bought a bunch of new birds all the time, I wouldn't worry more than I do.

That being said, I think it's still smart to deworm in general 1-2 times a year. I personally do not believe in things like pumpkin seeds or DE being a dewormer. I think they make good preventions, and if used regularly, can decrease your use of other dewormers. But I have been in veterinary medicine too long and have seen proof those practices don't "work" beSides as preventions.

*steps down from soap box*

 

[showbarnmom]

Really???  The leghorns are obvious.  How can you tell about the maran.  I'm just going by appearance...little comb...uneducated experience.
That being the case ...I have no idea what I have then.  Thought I was pretty lucky to get only 2 roo out of 10 chicks. 

Cuckoo maran Roos are light colored, almost grey but typically have yellow barring on the head area. Pullets are darker black, with the yellow color.

Sigh...I now owe 4 cents.

 

[magpiesing]

When we were first setting up our coop, I had asked about different water systems. Someone told me they didn't like the little cups because they get dirty...whoever that was, was right. Not only that but my birds don't seem to be able to peck the float right to refill the cups so they drink them dry. Still using the jug waterers because I never trusted the cups. Don't like them...don't recommend them...live and learn.

Bought nipples to try but not going to rely only on them. Still going to use jugs, but I'm going to the hanging ones like my feeders. I think maybe if the birds grew up using the nipples I'd feel more comfortable, but my big birds were using the jugs when I got them and I think that's all some of them know how to use. I just don't want my birds to ever want for water. So will always have multiple sources especially this summer.

 

[ClovisMan]

I've been using 2 of my "Chicken Stick" waterers for about a month now and I have yet to lose a chicken from thirst or dehydration. In fact, I have yet to lose a chicken at all. I think its beginners luck!

***If you are wondering what a Chicken Stick is.....***
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/867233/step-by-step-chicken-stick-nipple-waterer

 

[Brookshire11]

Pasty butt often occurs because the chick is too warm. You can blowdry them on low, always moving the dryer and keeping it away - if your hand is getting pretty warm holding the chick, then you know it's too hot for them so you can move the dryer farther away to keep it comfortable.

I always appreciate hearing your advice

. Sincerely, lol, thanks!
Unfortunately she didn't make it. None of the others had that issue..its puzzling..but she was much smaller than the others from the start. Nature's course I suppose. I've still got 4 big, healthy active chicks left.
And you really don't want a chicken that's going to have constant health issues..

Really??? The leghorns are obvious. How can you tell about the maran. I'm just going by appearance...little comb...uneducated experience.
That being the case ...I have no idea what I have then. Thought I was pretty lucky to get only 2 roo out of 10 chicks.

I was kinda going off the barring, like I did my barred rock....
I READ that males have the more distinct barring where females are a little darker and "blurry"
BUT..thats for Barred Rocks..I don't know if it applies.
I DO know that I was worried about her being a he, because she started developing a comb before my others..but she was quickly overtaken by the EE Roo...lol

 

[TexasLisa]

Today should be hatch day for the chicks in our incubator. I'm trying not to get to excited... We did hear a few chirps on Saturday when we would tap the incubator. I think I heard a tapping this morning but it might just be me being excited. I candled yesterday but didn't notice any internal pips. I was hoping that since we put 3 bantam eggs in that they would hatch early, but they didn't...

I wish I had something to keep me busy today!!!

Good luck with the hatch!

Nice looking couple in that picture!!

Lisa

 

[SlipsWife]

Good luck with the hatch!

Nice looking couple in that picture!!

Lisa

Thank you!

Still...nothing...

I thought that if we've heard chicks peep, that meant they had internally pipped. I candled our eggs and I don't see any signs of pips. I also didn't see any signs of movement and all of the eggs seem to have the same amount of space at the bottom as they did on Friday. There are a couple of eggs that 'might' be full but they are dark and really hard to tell.

I really thought we would have had something going on by now...

 

[Roosting Robin]

I've been using 2 of my "Chicken Stick" waterers for about a month now and I have yet to lose a chicken from thirst or dehydration. In fact, I have yet to lose a chicken at all. I think its beginners luck!

***If you are wondering what a Chicken Stick is.....***
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/867233/step-by-step-chicken-stick-nipple-waterer

ClovisMan, thanks for such a detailed instruction and parts list. My husband plans to make one as soon as i order the nipples.

It has taken me 5 hours to get caught up on all the posts! We have no internet here in the woods until we decide to get satellite, and last weekend i "baptized" my new IPhone in the dog's waterdish! I can only sign on when I can pry my DH's phone out of his hands! Love all the information and chicken math issues, especially wondering how many mote chicks Harley will get!

My six 7 week old gals love outside and my four 2 wk old silkies are growing fast. I have 10 more red stars and six more black stars coming May 20, then no more chicken math for me, until the silkies grow up and get broody.

 

[RustedOak]

Newbie question... I plan on feeding eggshells back to my girls for calcium. I will wash them and crush them of course, but there seems to be debate on whether to bake them or not. Do any of you use this process, and if so, what are your thoughts and practices?

 

[orumpoultry]

Magpie, as the others stated. He's a lighter color, shows some gold look in his head. I say male. But... I have been known to be wrong haha!!

Well this lady just picked up two part time jobs and ditched the full time in order to complete my move back to east Texas. Still in management though, and I'll be making the same at the end of the week. So it works out great.