The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's what I meant, did the bad cold spell kill her because of whatever was already going on. Cold by itself rarely kills a bird, unless you are like Ladyhawk's disgusting neighbor and leaves them out in a dog kennel with zero shelter and they freeze on the roost stick. Geez.

I guess it could have been the final thing to do her in. She was teetering on the edge yesterday, still following me around but definitely hunched up. For some reason she has been craving whole corn during her last few weeks. I have always feed the birds a bit everyday. She was running back and forth to eat that corn for some reason. I wonder if there's something in whole corn she was craving.

I guess it didn't occur to that chickens would be out in the open during winter, so I guess the cold could kill them without proper shelter. I had forgotten about your neighbor last year. I always forget how some people are cruel or ignorant of their animals care. I always assume everyone does what they need to.

 

[speckledhen]

I guess it could have been the final thing to do her in. She was teetering on the edge yesterday, still following me around but definitely hunched up. For some reason she has been craving whole corn during her last few weeks. I have always feed the birds a bit everyday. She was running back and forth to eat that corn for some reason. I wonder if there's something in whole corn she was craving.

I guess it didn't occur to that chickens would be out in the open during winter, so I guess the cold could kill them without proper shelter. I had forgotten about your neighbor last year. I always forget how some people are cruel or ignorant of their animals care. I always assume everyone does what they need to.

About the corn, I use a 13 grain mix, sometimes go for the 12 grain if they don't have the other that day. Some birds will not eat the whole kernel corn, some crave it. And seems like when a hen is broody, she eats differently than when she isn't. So, she may eat the corn when she isn't, but leave it when she is, or vice versa. I never have been able to make a definite statement about what a bird will do when, but only observed this from time to time.

Betsy's crop is very pliable and now is soured from the food sitting too long. At least, it's not hard anymore. And she seems to have more energy, not just sleeping all day. I have the baking soda in her water and will keep her on water only for a day or so to see if it goes down any. Maybe in a couple of days, her crop will right itself. I feel like in these cases, it's a race to see if the crop will recover before she loses too much weight to get better.

 

[speckledhen]

Finally, after some issues with my video program, it uploaded. I did not stabilize it, but it's not that bad anyway.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, someone just well, spoke insultingly to me on another thread where I was trying to impart some common sense and information. So, I had to give it another go. His quote is in my answer to him. I swear, why must folks be so darn snarky?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/getting-testing-done-next-week.1202946/page-9#post-19176949



But, on a brighter note, I am making a crocheted mandala throw. Supposed to be 50" in diameter when done, but not sure I'll go that big. It's only 18" so far. Haven't crocheted in awhile, but it's cold enough now. I didn't exactly follow their color diagram because the yarn it's done with was only available in very limited colors at Walmart so I'm trying a new Walmart Mainstays basic yarn, which is pretty soft, though inconsistent in yarn diameter, that and other yarns I have here already.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, Zara has blown almost all her feathers, just in time for our current cold snap. Geez.

Betsy's crop is still bloaty, but at least, not impacted. Things are not moving out of it properly, though-it's doughy and will not completely empty no matter how much we push stuff through and massage it. I refilled her waterer and switched it up with a pinch of copper sulfate to see if that helps. It seemed to help Dusty on her only crop issue she ever had not long before she died-that again shows me that the crop issues are almost always a sign of something going wrong inside, not just a crop issue alone. She died suddenly not long after she recovered from that; I mean, she was going on 10 years old so could be her systems were beginning to falter. What would be wrong with Betsy other than her hard first molt coupled with maybe eating some mystery culprit somewhere, I have no clue.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh, someone just well, spoke insultingly to me on another thread where I was trying to impart some common sense and information. So, I had to give it another go. His quote is in my answer to him. I swear, why must folks be so darn snarky?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/getting-testing-done-next-week.1202946/page-9#post-19176949



But, on a brighter note, I am making a crocheted mandala throw. Supposed to be 50" in diameter when done, but not sure I'll go that big. It's only 18" so far. Haven't crocheted in awhile, but it's cold enough now. I didn't exactly follow their color diagram because the yarn it's done with was only available in very limited colors at Walmart so I'm trying a new Walmart Mainstays basic yarn, which is pretty soft, though inconsistent in yarn diameter, that and other yarns I have here already.

View attachment 1184162

I am familiar with that individual. He's the main reason I don't talk turkey any more, and is one I consider very rude, but apparently everyone thinks he's grand. I liked your answer.

You crochet too? I always wanted to but my hands won't allow it. That's cool.

Sorry your hen still is having crop problems, it isn't a good sign for her is it?

 

[speckledhen]

I am familiar with that individual. He's the main reason I don't talk turkey any more, and is one I consider very rude, but apparently everyone thinks he's grand. I liked your answer.

You crochet too? I always wanted to but my hands won't allow it. That's cool.

Sorry your hen still is having crop problems, it isn't a good sign for her is it?

oh, not everyone thinks he's grand. I got a PM from someone on the thread who also does not appreciate bullies.

Yes, my SIL taught me a couple of basic stitches a few years ago and I went from there. Folks don't buy crocheted stuff so I rarely make anything anymore, but I like to make couch throws and such on occasion. Gives me a break from quilting, something else to do so I don't get bored.

I have no idea why a very young hen like Betsy would have a crop issue like this, even with her first hard molt. If she is not better in a day or so, I may let her go back with her group like we did Dusty, but absolutely so scratch grains until I see that she's getting better, only their layer feed. Dusty's crop was slightly better when we quit treating her, but she'd been in the cage a week and she was so old, we just thought it better if she went back to Xander where she was comfortable. In a day or two, her crop was completely back to normal, no explanation for it. I'm hoping that will be the case with Betsy.

 

[speckledhen]

Ooops, I probably "triggered" someone now! Hahaha! Geez, someone really needs a chill pill and it ain't me.
As far as I'm concerned, it's my God-given right to feed my family as I see fit, to raise chickens for eggs and meat so I know what my family is eating. Big agri-biz doesn't like that. They can KISS MY GRITS! If this state instituted a flock registration law, I would disregard it. My flock has no bearing on commercial flocks. They are for my family's use only and I only sell extra chicks on rare occasions because I don't incubate unless I'm doing a large batch to bring in new blood. If a bird is contagious, I would euthanize it. It won't leave here. There is no reason for the gov't to be in my barnyard. That was what that animal registration was for, the NAIS program they keep repackaging to make it swallow better.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ooops, I probably "triggered" someone now! Hahaha! Geez, someone really needs a chill pill and it ain't me.
As far as I'm concerned, it's my God-given right to feed my family as I see fit, to raise chickens for eggs and meat so I know what my family is eating. Big agri-biz doesn't like that. They can KISS MY GRITS! If this state instituted a flock registration law, I would disregard it. My flock has no bearing on commercial flocks. They are for my family's use only and I only sell extra chicks on rare occasions because I don't incubate unless I'm doing a large batch to bring in new blood. If a bird is contagious, I would euthanize it. It won't leave here. There is no reason for the gov't to be in my barnyard. That was what that animal registration was for, the NAIS program they keep repackaging to make it swallow better.

I read that last reply. Likes to talk down to folks and makes sure he gets the last word. Needs to be right, even if the truth needs to be twisted to fit the answer. I agree 100% with you there. Here in Wisconsin we are required to have an identification number to keep livestock. We must report what we have. It is an invasion of privacy, but the state says it's for disease control and prevention.

 

[speckledhen]

You also have cattle, though, so the Scrappie numbers have been in play for a very long time, right? Did I get the name right? Yes, I recall that Wisconsin was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon with that livestock registration stuff.

Its over the top for a few chickens to be registered with the gov't. I won't do it. I don't care if I am bucking the system. I do believe it's a case where citizens should sit in judgement of the law, like jury nullification when the jury says that a defendant is technically guilty of a crime, but they find him not guilty because the law is unjust in his case. I feel that way about the NAIS. If you are a commercial person who takes cattle to market, I get you have to do it. If you have 25 chickens for your family, no way.