The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

Ok I have a quick question for silkie owners. I have been looking a Mumsys pics of her beautiful birds. At first I couldnt see a comb on her females but on Fluffy Dragon it looks like he has a pea comb? Do the pullets not get combs? And I dont see wattles either. Do Silkies not get those either or are they so small they are hidden by the fluff? In some pictures of others Silkies I find it hard to distnguish which end is which with all those fluffy feathers

Just curios and trying to broaden my chicken knowledge.

Thanks
Jenn

 

[aoxa]

Ok I have a quick question for silkie owners. I have been looking a Mumsys pics of her beautiful birds. At first I couldnt see a comb on her females but on Fluffy Dragon it looks like he has a pea comb? Do the pullets not get combs? And I dont see wattles either. Do Silkies not get those either or are they so small they are hidden by the fluff? In some pictures of others Silkies I find it hard to distnguish which end is which with all those fluffy feathers

Just curios and trying to broaden my chicken knowledge.

Thanks
Jenn

They both get combs and they are called Walnut Combs

They shouldn't have much of a comb. Males do have bigger combs than females, and most times with good quality birds you can't even see a comb on the females.

 

[aoxa]

I've already placed orders on chicks for April. Our baby barn is ordered. 10 x 12. It's beautiful. Even has a nice window in the back.

We're going to use Clementine's old kennel unless we are home to supervise. Without any protection - I am afraid to free range. :/

Frost bitten hen (named Margaret) is going to lose her toes any day. She was so happy to interact with us. She is way friendly for a chicken. I feel bad that she doesn't have any friends right now. She'll be integrated in with the chicks this Friday when the baby barn arrives.

She would find a perfect friend in Mumsy's disabled silkie. She needs a slow paced friend like that. I had a white silkie cockerel with a twisted foot hatched last May that I placed in a nice home. He gets around no problem (all be it, slow), but I didn't want to accidentally hatch offspring from him in case it was genetic - though I think it was incubator related - I wouldn't have taken the chance. I think if you have the facilities to care for these birds, why not. Especially if they are not in pain or not going to be bred (if genetic and not injury). I would probably continue breeding this frost bitten foot Margaret, but no roosters left.

 

[delisha]

Morning Aoxa!

The sun is out this morning!! I need to get my butt going this morning.

 

[aoxa]

Morning Aoxa!

The sun is out this morning!! I need to get my butt going this morning.

I'm dragging this morning as well. Feels like a sleep in morning

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
What are ya talking about, I haven't gone to bed yet. Just got home from work a bit ago, took the chickens FF out to them. I am ready for bed now. See y'all this afternoon

 

[Leahs Mom]

I've already placed orders on chicks for April. Our baby barn is ordered. 10 x 12. It's beautiful. Even has a nice window in the back.

Whoops...Edited..... I didn't see that it was a baby barn!!!!!

 

[delisha]

Are you going to have several buildings Aoxa? I like having several..I use the three however I have access to two more and DH is building me a feed shed this spring..I am pretty excited about that. He has all that free brick dumped in my yard, it better be a really nice one!! I am so lazy today..DH just left and is gone till Sunday. Miss him already..

 

[Sally8]

. Can I toss the Silkie eggs that haven't started veining or doing anything? It's been 13 days. I just candled 2 NV eggs from5-7 days ago and they have not changed. An update on introducing my new roo. After dark, I got him out of his cage and placed in on a roost. This morning I beat feet outto open the door just before daybreak and all is well so far. They are not mingling but not fighting either.

I posted this 2 days ago and yesterday Peckies mingled in the yard but not near anyone else. Last night I snuck out and peeked in the hen house and he was roosting with the rest of them. This morning he was hiding when I opened the door but all was well. Went much better than expected.

After 2 weeks in the incubator, shouldn't there be definite growth in the egg? The few that are growing nearly take up the whole egg. I'd like to toss them.

I'm feeling out of sorts this morning. I just learned that the woman that got me into the BCM has sold all her chickens and turkeys and moved upstate. She used to show and sell. She was/is a great mentor. I hope all is ok with her. Not sure why but it really saddens me.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Toss them..