Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[Goin Quackrrs]

Jaz...here you go sista! Believe that!


My little subjects were not so cooperative, so my photo shoot didn't go as planned, lol. But I still got some cute pics.



Son's Runner Drake, Indy. He is such a cool drake, and the feathers coming in are beautiful!




The new buff girl....

Simon's big ole butt!


Marcel....I love up-close head shots. I see their personalities in their faces.

The crew....From left to right: Simone, Marceau, Maddie, Simon, Marcel



Simon is huge!



Simon and Marcel...love those headshots!

Tiny babies...


Such a cute wittle face!


Butters on the right...he was a bit stressed, and didn't seem like he felt very well. Went promptly back to the hospital ward.


Grey baby....hollering like I'm killing him!


A splash, and a blue Silkie doing the hokey pokey, got her right foot in....lol


Filthy buff Silkies


Butterscotch Calls, BF Call, Grey Call, and Silkies


And my favorite pic of the week....Blue Fawn to the left, Grey to the right, Butterscotch up front. The butter looks bigger due to the angle, he's actually a bit smaller. Cute, Cute, Cute!

Too cute!

Love the pics, Quackers and Dutch!! Dutch, it is wild to see the different sizes. Simon really dwarfs them all. He's a chunky monkey!

Quackers, how are your bday silkie eggs doing??

Dutch, I don't think flattening Spirit's foot would do any good, as her ankle is curved the wrong way. But, her toes were stiff to the touch before and now there is some flexion, so hoping that there may be a way to provide better surface area on her club foot. However, since she motors around like she is not a gimp and seems happy, I would hate to interfere and make it worse when clearly she is still internally fixing it herself. I'll take an updated pic of her feet on Sunday (day 14), and show you the self-correction she has done from day 1 - day 7 - day 14.

Cayuga egg seems to be quitting on me. I think it is stuck in membrane and cannot push into air cell. Strength in movement getting slower and slower. I am not assisting it. I feel bad, but am very relieved to not have any more day old babies, much less a solo one. I am looking forward to having my house empty again and enjoying watching my 3 dozen babies grow up this summer. I imagine I'll be itching to hatch again this fall, but for now I'm going to be a happy camper once my bators and brooding lamps get turned off.

I guess it's time to candle the birthday silkies. I've got a vengeful head cold which is making it hard for me to do anything. Went home early from work today, which I never, ever do. I've got to get a hatcher cleaned tomorrow because I have a large quantity of eggs locking down.

I have a silkie duckling pipped in my little hatcher.

SO...... I woke up to problems in my brooder room. A piece of thread on edge of fleece blanket had been caught in Spirit's feet and she was on her back (scared me half to death) and it appears that Handful (my grey dewlap) has also ingested a piece of thread. I can see it inside nare, but cannot get it out. He has been trying to work it out, but can't. He is not in major distress, but I think he needs to see the vet. I have an appt in 2 hours (am waiting for hubby to return from a meeting to go with me). I will definitely take all 4 greys, get them vent sexed and Spirit checked out. Will probably also take Barley too so I can find out if girl or boy.

In better news, my bachelor flock in pasture are all doing well this morning. They are loving living on the pond. They swam to me and greeted me when I brought them food, but had no interest in leaving the water, even for the food. My coop looks so very empty now. Bet the keepers are happy with all the extra space.

I hope your goose babies are okay! I bet your bachelors are having a great time!

Update: Handful is acting totally normal now and I no longer see anything in nare. Probably will still go to vet appt for Spirit follow up, vent sexing, and have all my babies given a quick check.

ETA: Talked to vet. My appointment has been rescheduled to afternoon for regular office visit (instead of emergency price) to get Spirit re-checked. They also said no problem with me bringing all my dewlaps (and Barley's toulouse companion) in for vent sexing. This should be an experience.

You must have the world's second most excellent avian vet! Our Dr. Ford up here is something else!

I know what yah mean! I have nothing in the brooder right now that can't be outside when my hubby vacation starts. Even though we are now just doing some 2-3 day trips, I still need them outside! Just shoot me a holla when you want some, I only have 1 hen so I could only collect a little under a dozen to ship you if you want

I am not lettig any go out for a while cause I want to hatch & check fertility, and eat some too!

Indeed! You should always sample first!

I need to try my hand at molesting, er, vent sexing my ducklings

They are so tiny!

I haven't tried vent sexing again recently. I only try to sex potential keepers. On that note, I'm getting ready to possibly send off a few four weekers that I had planned to keep. I've added some unexpected new blood lately, so I have to manage space carefully.

I had to go back & look!! YEPPERS I saw them! CUTE, I don't know why but sometimes I don't see posts right away when I am reading.... Has that happened to anyone else? Like Eye

will ask if I saw her post of her babes & I hadn't ~ then I go back & they are there... wierd. maybe when to many posts, post at the same time there is a delay or something
I will let ya know! Do you want to come & pick up or do you want to meet me in Oly some time? I make trips up there to Freddies, and Cash n Carry.

Bad baies!! Look how they muddied their pool!

If you let me know when you have ducklings, I can send you peeps... I am constantly turning people away right now because I quit hatching there this last month.

Jaz... someone came up from Oly last night! I'm expecting my next hatch to be on the 31st. I'm oversold for the last couple weeks. Feast or famine, it seems. But if you know anyone who wants a brown runner and a runner/something mallardy mix (4 weeks), let me know!

I'd love to meet you for some cayuga eggs. I'm so done with shipped eggs. I think I'm going to stop until fall though. I'm so tired of brooding and flaky buyers. Most of my 'lings are leaving tomorrow with the possible exception of the new hatchling (only survivor out of 11).

Dutch, great pictures. Is that the grey you mentioned to me? Nice head and bill on that little bugger.
Iain, sorry about the new gosling drama. They are nibbles and chewers for sure. We sweep the yard and brooder house for loose strings, twine ect constantly to make sure the little darlins are eatting anything they shouldn't. Found one attempting to eat my broom, had to move it away. No towels, no stuffed animals, just parrot toys and their food/water. Less I have to watch out for that way.
92! 92 friggen degrees out today.

just emptied and refilled every pool. Mama goat and the baby are doing great. The little one likes to play and we put the, in the garden with the middle aged goslings. Let's of grass, shade, water and we can keep an eye on them. Had a blue laced red wyandotte go broody on us. She hatched three black copper marans and now some EE's are hatching. Did I mention 92 friggen degrees? It's ok though, won't be complaining when we are swimming at Christmas and New Years. Neither will our birds when they have pasture all year.

92!!! Dang, we get to 92 for about five minutes in August. It was a warm, beautiful 70 here today. Too bad I'm too sick to enjoy it.

******* Bastards ******* Bastards .... hee heee that was fun

1- we all miss you too

2- hope you get your turkeys soon!
3-

no waterfowl get into your pool! and the girls have fun with it!

That sounds cool!

wish they had that kind of deal around here!

not sure about color, but they sure are cute!!!!!!

very cute!

that is ridiculous!

so cute, barley is getting so big!

hope she feels better soon!

waiting for pics, did the people want the car?

very cute!, is that a cross?

i love the first pic! they are all so cute! i will have to get another card for my camera so i can post a pic of my silkie, i thought it was blue and now i am pretty sure it is black

I have a grandfather and granddaughter coming for the car tomorrow. I'm selling it a little lower than I had wanted to, but I was struck by sentimentality since my grandfather bought my first two cars for me.

Celtic, I've raised up a few dozen birds now with no problems, but this last set of grey dewlaps will be the death of me. Glad I am done hatching!

Hey Bakin, hope all is well with you. And impressive mega multi quote! I don't know how you (and Quackers) do it!

Patience, grasshopper.

Thanks, Jaz. Glad to hear they are ok with each other. Squeak seems to only have eyes for his cayuga lady and Hershey, my ancona drake, doesn't seem interested in anyone yet. But I'm not around to watch them very much, so I figured I'd make sure there was no threat of my juvenile drakes raping minors in the coop.

Ouch to the hot weather. It is 50 and raining here. I have not even turned my garage babies outside yet. At least it is better than last year's memorial day weekend, when we had a bad snowstorm.

50 and raining was our weather earlier in the week. Glad it's drying up now.

Well here are my two dark Goslings !!! ONe is a Wild Canadian crossed with a Chinese/Toulouse female & the other is a MYSTERY to me!!! Any ideas what the other is???

Here they are in comaprison !! I JUST LUV these 2..... My fave's in my flock

Beautiful. And I definitely think I see some blue in the feathers!

My ducklings are 4 weeks old now, and aren't getting adult feathers yet... Normal? They have ITTY bitty feathers on their sides, but not much more then that... Should I start worrieing?!

My four weekers have their underbelly and most of their backs and wings aren't quite there yet. If you're feeding a balanced diet, I wouldn't stress too much.

DG, be more concerned with cleaning the brooder constantly, and keeping fresh food and water available. Even if the water is half full still, it should be dumped twice a day and refilled. They will feather in soon enough.

My ONE legged goose ! J/K


My wing pics (these are not all the same goose!)

Jaz, you take the most amazing photos! I need to get my SLR out and sit with my flock for a while this weekend! My little pocket camera takes decent pics, but it doesn't catch things as well as the SLR.

They get fresh water every hour. They don't like it if they can't get in it and play. So it gets dirty fast, so if I don't use a bowl, they cry all day. Spoiled little brats

. The ducklings are in a playpen outside during the day BTW. Not the goslings yet. I don't have anything proper,so I let them play with supervision 5 or 6 times a day, for about 10 to 15 minutes each time. They like grass, but not their baby food....

Have you looked into mobile poultry netting as a "playpen" for them? It's pricey new, but you might be able to find it used on CL...

I use puppy exercise pens as playpens for my feather kids. I spent $30 for one and $10 for the other. They work well.

Celt I did my best to capture it.... IT REALLY is this iridescent purplish blue, reminds me of lacing on chickens. In the sun it is amazing. I have no idea what it will look like as an adult!

Indeed!

Okay time for CHEEZ

I love having animals, they are a joy & a privelege to have, but what I enjoy more than having them, IS seeing them happy.... (warned you!)






& the last pic for those of you who likes a nice tail !

You know I like some tail! LOL. More great photos!

Ok, my last post didn't post and I'm not trying again. Great pics everyone! Lol

Here's mine.
My sizzle/silkie babies.

My canada, who has some long long legs, lol.

Call babies with Chuckie

Turkey camera hog

That gosling does have really long legs!

ok thank dont suppose you can make them lay sooner could give the drakes a copy of Playdrake Magazine get the mood started

I will let you know

I'll ask my drakes if they have an extra they can send you. They're ridiculously active since the sun's been out the last couple days.

We have returned from the vet with all sorts of good news.

Most important, Spirit is doing very well... better than vet expected. Hips and legs look great and she was very pleased to see the correction with the one good foot. Plan is to maintain status quo and re-check in 2-3 weeks. She did say that when time to move to garage, she cannot be on the concrete and will need puzzle boards under the shavings (which I fortunately already have). She also cannot be turned out without supervision, but hubby is already coming up with a few different brilliant ideas for her own special turnout area that would be safe.

I also had everyone vent sexed and given a once over. Everyone is in perfect health/weight. As totally expected, Barley is a GIRL! I also have (again as totally expected) 2 boys/2 girls for greys... and to my surprise, Chicory (my Erin utility toulouse) is also a girl!

And the best news of all.... total price for entire visit: $34. Can you believe it?!?!?!


Thanks, DG!! I love Barley too!! I may have eggs next spring... but I am told it may take 2 years to get fertile eggs. However, the lady that I got my eggs/goslings from will definitely have plenty of eggs & babies next spring!!

Great news, great ratio!

HI everyone.

I had 5 bourbon red turkeys hatch out today.

All goslings are doing well, and I've got to find a better wrap for the gray sebbie, cause everyone helps with its removal. I'm think ace bandage and duct tape.

My Anconas, Indian Runners, and Khakis are growing like the worlds smelliest weeds. My lone Jumbo Peking is still the same size as the sebastopols from Celtic. S/He is freaking HUGE!

We set up our pool, and the girls have mastered the water "duck walk" and Julia likes to put a ball between her knees in the pool, and pretend shes waterfowl. Shes on my case about wanting more birds. Hmmm.... Wonder where she got that from. Shes six, y'all.

Great news! Here's to a "waterfoul-free" swimming pool!

I love the buffs so cute!!

I have a game tomorrow! (Basket ball!) Cross your fingers we do well. Usually we loose. But We have all gotten better at shooting, so hopfully we can work together and have a good time.... I'm the point guard BTW

Good luck with your game! It's nice to win, but it's the teamwork that makes the game worth playing. Ever been on a team with one superstar kid who gets all the scores and hogs the ball? Not fun.

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

So I got one live hatchling out of 11 eggs. It's either blue or black. Tuckered out too, it came out the wrong end with a tiny bit of help from hubby. The eggs were all from BYC'ers too, so chalking up another bad hatch to my croppie post office.

I've got about 30 locking down tomorrow night.

I've got two silkie duck eggs in the little hatcher. One pipped and living, the other one... eh...?

Hubby's not impressed with the bantams I have so far. He's complaining that the little boogers are bullies. I'm sure they'll grow on him eventually. But right now they have terrible attitude problems.

I'll try and get a fluffed photo of singleton before I send him/her to a new home. The lady has other ducklings that are a few days older.

The farm ducklings are doing good. The oldest six are integrating with the flock. DG (duck goose) is watching over them like a good papa. The other five are hanging out with the Cuckoo Marans chicks for another week or so before going to spend their days in the tractor. The easter egger chick joined them today and what? One of the ducklings is looking after the little one!
On that note, I think I'm going to go fill waters, put critters to bed and go to bed early. My head is killing me from all the sinus pressure. I think I've lost three pounds in snot today!

 

[Iain Utah]

Hey Quackers, sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Fingers crossed for your silkie hatching!!! Look forward to candling report on bday eggs.

 

[Kevin565]

Hey Everyone

.

DC I found us a meme!

 

[DutchChic]

Hey Quackers, sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Fingers crossed for your silkie hatching!!! Look forward to candling report on bday eggs.

x2!

 

[DutchChic]

Hey Everyone

.

DC I found us a meme!

You rock Kevin!!!

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

Hey Quackers, sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Fingers crossed for your silkie hatching!!! Look forward to candling report on bday eggs.

I'll keep everyone posted.

The other half of my birthday eggs (white runners) went into the bator yesterday.

I need someone who's good with runner color genetics. White on white = ? Do I need to worry about recessive genes?

Also Blue on Blue? I need to get a photo of my super-straight, super-tall free blue runner drake this weekend. I'm thinking I might put blue runners in one breeding pen and khaki campbells in the other for a fall hatch. I sold four ducklings and got three adult and teenage ducks for free. Status quo?

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

Hey Everyone

.

DC I found us a meme!

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

Alright, think I'm motivated enough to put all the feather kids to bed now. Going to make a throat coat tea and go sit in a bath with cold and allergy relief bath crystals! Weeeeeeeeekend!

 

[DutchChic]

Reminds me of a joke I've heard.....

Wife and hubby sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast.
Wife says, "I really wish I had larger breasts".
Hubby says, "Why don't you try rubbing toilet paper between your boobs?"
Wife says, "Do you really think that will help?"
Hubby says, "I don't know, but it sure helped your butt!"