The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

AFL - first time around that Charlie's sister quit laying it didn't look like a molt. Didn't act different. Just quit laying. For way too long.

Kass - Interesting on the weak heart. Was this one related to any of your other birds? Just curious if you know anything about the parents and siblings and if there is anything similar.

 

[armorfirelady]

AFL - first time around that Charlie's sister quit laying it didn't look like a molt.  Didn't act different.  Just quit laying.  For way too long.

Kass - Interesting on the weak heart.  Was this one related to any of your other birds?  Just curious if you know anything about the parents and siblings and if there is anything similar.

Huh well she better get a job to support herself lol

Kass- thanks for sharing

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's what I was thinking too. It was exactly this time of year last year. And it seems like at least 6 weeks without an egg. I told my husband that I thought she was a dud 'cuz she had only laid eggs for about 3-4 weeks before quitting.

Interesting that her eggs were always the largest of all the pullets that year. Absolutely HUGE for her age. And Charlie's egg was about half the size.

After she started again she kept laying until last week. That was from about January to current and still the largest eggs in the place. (And she's the one that had the worn back from "Mister" up there.)

 

[Kassaundra]

AFL - first time around that Charlie's sister quit laying it didn't look like a molt. Didn't act different. Just quit laying. For way too long.

Kass - Interesting on the weak heart. Was this one related to any of your other birds? Just curious if you know anything about the parents and siblings and if there is anything similar.

I believe so. I believe it is the mom. How long before setting does a broody stop laying eggs? The one boy who went lame in the last batch had tumor growth, if I am thinking right they had the same mom. If it is who I am thinking her male "littermates" all died similar deaths to her son, but this would be the first female offspring or sibling to be affected. She is on my cull list for the fall/winter

 

[lalaland]

I just have to share my silly white Silkies ... They love to play chicken & have stare downs!

thats adorable, hard to believe little fluffballs could be so fierce!

 

[delisha]

Had one of my 5 week old chicks go weak. Nothing seemed to be wrong, everything worked, eyes bright, absolutely nothing infectious looking or respiratory looking or sounding. I almost never treat a chicken for illness or even injury unless they can be treated and left w/ the other chickens. I don't have the space or patience for isolation and special treatment. Anyway even if I was disposed to treat I just had a feeling it was pointless. I put her down and did a necropsy. Everything internal looked good and normal, except her heart, and it looked good, the right size and right color and right amount of fat (very little) except it didn't feel right, it was mushy, not firm like it should feel. I suspect she had a congenital heart problem.

I need to start doing more necropsy's on chicks. I have always skipped it with my poor working hands and poor eye sight. Do you use any special equipment?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
Sure are

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's a pretty little kiddo.

Did he ship hatching eggs? I have had about zero luck with shipped eggs from anywhere.

 

[delisha]

That's a pretty little kiddo.

Did he ship hatching eggs? I have had about zero luck with shipped eggs from anywhere.

One of these day I need to ship you some eggs..you will do fine with them. Let me know when you have a broody..we will do an experiment..I will send you meaties to hatch.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I was thinking that they might do better if they were in an incubator so they'd be less jostled around by momma after having been shipped.