The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[farmerfogg]

No pips. Day 21. First time EVER  I sat a batch of eggs in a still air LG and not one pip on day 21. 10 fully formed embryos went into lockdown. I had 63% humidity, and a steady 100 degree air temp reading until that weird high spike at 3:30 pm yesterday. It happened while I was standing there. The temp rapidly climbed to 105 degrees and the humidity jumped to 70%! I have no idea why. I logged the temp and humidity every single hour I was awake. I don't know if this has happened before while I was sleeping. I haven't opened the bator or messed with the adjuster at all. I got the temp and humidity back on track as fast as I could by opening my back door in the same room as the bator  to let cold air in the room and added cold water drop by drop through tubing and a syringe through ventilation holes onto sponges. I find it completely weird that that lowered the humidity back to 63% and brought the temp back exactly where it was before at 100 degrees. I don't know what else I could have done to incubate these eggs. I'm not giving up on them for a couple more days. If I have lost this batch, it was by no faulty process of mine. I will blame it on an anomaly of incubator malfunction. My still air LG was new.

I ordered the Genesis 1588 this morning. Free shipping. It should arrive in time for the Catdance eggs.

Found it here.   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genesis-Hov...285?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7dea6c2d

Looks like an awesome deal. I hope it works better for you than your current one. I'm sorry for the troubles you've run into.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Sorry Delisha

Yay Mumsy

LM, I would think it to be from a comb injury. One of my hens with a floppy comb just got s chunk torn when she tried to pull away from my rooster that wasn't quit done yet. They bleed a lot.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

So those of you that read I put my aggressive Production Red into a week long "time-out". Well it really worked. In the run today, I was watching from the window to see if she would chase the teens around like she did before. Nope, nothing of the such. She still is higher than them in the pecking order, which I am ok with those corrective pecks, but she would flat out target these 3 anytime they were in her eyesight. Not anymore. She lets them come around and they all forage together now like one big happy(as can be with chickens) family. So I would suggest trying this method before culling out.

 

[Bulldogma]

Delisha -
So sorry about your Silkies!

Mumsy -
Best of both worlds. Chicks AND a new incubator on the way! Congrats!

Haven't been on much today - been out sanding and de-rusting my horse trailer.

 

[Leahs Mom]

So those of you that read I put my aggressive Production Red into a week long "time-out". Well it really worked. In the run today, I was watching from the window to see if she would chase the teens around like she did before. Nope, nothing of the such. She still is higher than them in the pecking order, which I am ok with those corrective pecks, but she would flat out target these 3 anytime they were in her eyesight. Not anymore. She lets them come around and they all forage together now like one big happy(as can be with chickens) family. So I would suggest trying this method before culling out.

Thank you for letting us know the results. I may end up trying that sometime. Sounds like you put her where she couldn't see the others at all?

Haven't been on much today - been out sanding and de-rusting my horse trailer.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: Correct, she was in the 3x4 brooder box inside the shed in the yard. She could hear the birds, but could not see them. And I limited my interaction with her to just collecting her egg. No long chats, no treats, no petting. She was in trouble, and I think she got the point.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well...I still don't know about the blood on the roosts. Your suggestions about a bleeding comb are a good thought. I know that there is a bit of scuffling in there with the broody mom on the watch - not to mention Atilla the Black who grabs anyone that goes by from time to time.


But since I found the bad feet on one of the girls, I decided to try the least invasive bumblefoot fix to see if that will take care of it. One of the feet is just swollen without the dark center. Made me think of Aoxa's chicken with the frost bite. Not sure what I'm dealing with there, but treated it the same.

So...some photos!

Some Epsome salt for soaking; Vet Wrap was 3" wide so I cut it into 3 thinner strips; and a piece of regular bandage gauze. Also had NuStock but it didn't get in the photo. I chose black vetwrap thinking it would blend in and not draw attention of the others to peck at. However... when I first put her back, Big Red went right over and gave her foot a peck.

First, the spa. Soaking in epsom salt. I have to say that I really don't think she appreciated it! Please note that she looks pretty scruffy because she's right in the middle of molting.



Dried w/a hair drier on low. Had her head covered w/a towel so she would be calmer. Here - taking a peak out! (Check out that old striped towel from my dad's "rag towel" collection.)



Left foot - Looks like bumblefoot?



Right foot: Just very swollen.



Put some nustock on the foot.


Then placed a small piece of gauze over to keep the NuStock on.



Then wrapped it up w/the vetwrap strip I cut to keep it all in place.







Here she is showing off her new shoes.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well...I still don't know about the blood on the roosts. Your suggestions about a bleeding comb are a good thought. I know that there is a bit of scuffling in there with the broody mom on the watch - not to mention Atilla the Black who grabs anyone that goes by from time to time.


But since I found the bad feet on one of the girls, I decided to try the least invasive bumblefoot fix to see if that will take care of it. One of the feet is just swollen without the dark center. Made me think of Aoxa's chicken with the frost bite. Not sure what I'm dealing with there, but treated it the same.

So...some photos!

Some Epsome salt for soaking; Vet Wrap was 3" wide so I cut it into 3 thinner strips; and a piece of regular bandage gauze. Also had NuStock but it didn't get in the photo. I chose black vetwrap thinking it would blend in and not draw attention of the others to peck at. However... when I first put her back, Big Red went right over and gave her foot a peck.

First, the spa. Soaking in epsom salt. I have to say that I really don't think she appreciated it! Please note that she looks pretty scruffy because she's right in the middle of molting.



Dried w/a hair drier on low. Had her head covered w/a towel so she would be calmer. Here - taking a peak out! (Check out that old striped towel from my dad's "rag towel" collection.)



Left foot - Looks like bumblefoot?



Right foot: Just very swollen.



Put some nustock on the foot.


Then placed a small piece of gauze over to keep the NuStock on.



Then wrapped it up w/the vetwrap strip I cut to keep it all in place.







Here she is showing off her new shoes.

Nicely done

 

[Leahs Mom]

Couldn't leave out the NuStock. Here's the little canning jar I put it in. Scraped it out of the tube and store it in there. Lots easier to access and don't lose any inside the tube.

 

[Melabella]

Leah,

What a great and thorough job! I don't think she looks scruffy at all, she's rather pretty! Love the booties you made her, they should do an excellent job keeping them clean, and the Nustock on there. I am hoping that you see the feet respond, and no "surgery" is needed. I am sure she is going to be much more comfortable. I wanted to ask if you had noticed any lameness in her before. Funny you found it just by inspecting each one for the blood. Makes me want to go out and look at all my girls feet. Keep us posted, and great job! PS, the after pick of the foot almost looked like the bubble of swelling had opened up, and there is a hole, did anything come out, or is it just the way it looked?

MB