The Legbar Thread!

[starlingdaly]

5) I am really not sure on this.  My wife was sure that one particular cockerel was near sighted but observing him over the past year he seems to have unimpaired visions to me.  Others could be in the same category.  I don't really know how to administer the chicken vision sight test. 

Obviously you need to purchase the chicken eye exam poster which has pictures of various insects that get progressively smaller and see how far down the line the chicken can identify from a reasonable distance.

 

[Sonia]

May I join in? I'm getting 2 male and three female ccl cchicks between the 17th and the 20th. Probably going to buy some hatching eggs as well.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Is this the yellowish chick in post 4417?

It is the blackish one from post 4092. The yellowish chick from that post is also going to the swap, she has a solid white breast with weird pattern on her back

 

[lonnyandrinda]

This is the only one I've managed to hatch, and he has slightly curled feet. Other than that do you think he looks ok? He's about 8 weeks old now.

You meant "she," right? That's a girl. She has gold hackles instead of the proper cream, but she will lay pretty blue eggs for you!

I'm so sorry! :-(

Question about "not right" chicks: What have you all experienced for a general hatch percentage of "not right" chicks? (Not including dead-in-shell or other pre-hatch mishaps.)

I'm defining "not right" as any of these:

1. needs assistance to hatch (if you have assisted in hatching)
2. physical deformity
3. leg problems (slipped tendon, curled toes, etc.)
4. neurological problems (lack of balance, etc.)
5. vision problems

This is my first year hatching (mostly not CLs). Out of about 30 that made it to hatch, I (or my daughter) assisted two (not CLs). We put both down: one had progressively bad neurological problems, and the other was lacking a foot. Hands off for us from now on.

This year I have hatched between 40 and 60 chicks per week since early February. I am slowing down to about half that now split into twice per month hatches.
1. The only time I assist is if I cause a humidity drop by opening the door while chicks were still hatching. I only help out ones that seem stuck to their shell. I notice a much higher % of chicks that need leg braces/booties from assisted-hatch chicks.
2. Physical deformities- this year I have hatched two with physical deformities. One had intestines outside its body, the other had something wrong with its skull that caused its eyes to bulge. I put the intestine chick (Cream Legbar X White Leghorn) down immediately and the bulgy eye chick (Ameraucana) passed naturally after about 4 days.
3. Leg problems- I have to put booties for curled toes on about one chick out of 60. I don't see one breed needing it more than another, but shipped eggs or hatching eggs bought at auction I have probably 2-3 times as many chicks needing booties. I assume it is either mail handling or vitamin deficiencies in the parent stock. Booties and baby vitamins are successful probably 75 or 80% of the time with those chicks. I have had a few splay-legged chicks, probably 3 or 4 total, can't remember the breed but most didn't make it.
4. Neurological problems- haven't hatched any this year. One Cream Legbar from Curtis last year had severe neurological problems (hand delivered eggs), and one Isbar from Jordan Farms (shipped eggs). Curtis' chick lasted about a week, the Jordan Farms chick lasted until about 10 weeks but she was wrong from birth. Even named her Screamer because she was constantly peeping. I was surprised she lasted as long as she did, but once she stared going downhill I put her down.
5. vision problems- besides the skull deformed chick I have not had any hatch with obvious vision problems. However several of my adult Cream Legbars have different size pupils so I assume they have some degree of vision problems.

Obviously you need to purchase the chicken eye exam poster which has pictures of various insects that get progressively smaller and see how far down the line the chicken can identify from a reasonable distance.

May I join in? I'm getting 2 male and three female ccl cchicks between the 17th and the 20th. Probably going to buy some hatching eggs as well.

Welcome! Share pictures when they arrive!

 

[elliechooks]

Ok I give up! The welsummers I thought were girls are not and now the legbar I thought was a boy..... oh well, must say I'm quite pleased about that! From now on I'm not even going to try to guess - I'll just post them all on here!!!

 

[ChicKat]

May I join in? I'm getting 2 male and three female ccl cchicks between the 17th and the 20th. Probably going to buy some hatching eggs as well.

Please do. Looking forward to hearing about your chicks.

 

[ChicKat]

Obviously you need to purchase the chicken eye exam poster which has pictures of various insects that get progressively smaller and see how far down the line the chicken can identify from a reasonable distance.

LOL

 

[ChicKat]

I don't really know how to administer the chicken vision sight test.

Here's my chick eye-test. Take 1 freeze-dried meal worm between the thumb and index finger. Hold within striking distance of chick. If chick misses meal worm -- chick has bad eyesight.

I actually did have some with bad eyesight --- and some with normal/good eyesight. The bad-eyesight one(s) seemed to be adapting, and I was working with one who would jump up the sticks to the top of the brooder, then on my arm for her meal-worm therapy -- sadly she was one of the ones killed last year by racoons...so I never found out if the therapy would have helped/worked.

I was thinking of chick eye-glasses....

 

[GaryDean26]

Here's my chick eye-test. Take 1 freeze-dried meal worm between the thumb and index finger. Hold within striking distance of chick. If chick misses meal worm -- chick has bad eyesight.

I actually did have some with bad eyesight --- and some with normal/good eyesight. The bad-eyesight one(s) seemed to be adapting, and I was working with one who would jump up the sticks to the top of the brooder, then on my arm for her meal-worm therapy -- sadly she was one of the ones killed last year by racoons...so I never found out if the therapy would have helped/worked.

I was thinking of chick eye-glasses....

Hmm...I don't know if I like the idea of the cockerel that my wife thought had vision problems to be with in striking range of me. He has already proved his ability to claw my thins and peck my hand and arm. I think I will at least try this on all the hens when I am culling this summer to make sure any potential 2014 breeders have good eye sight.

Star, I love your advice on this too. It made me smile.

 

[starlingdaly]

Hmm...I don't know if I like the idea of the cockerel that my wife thought had vision problems to be with in striking range of me. He has already proved his ability to claw my thins and peck my hand and arm. I think I will at least try this on all the hens when I am culling this summer to make sure any potential 2014 breeders have good eye sight.

Star, I love your advice on this too. It made me smile.

Hehehee, thanks. I'm glad you guys found it funny! If I ever were a veterinarian I think I would have to make a poster like that and hang it in an exam room.