Utah!

[Lilwanis]

Hello all

Today, DH drove me up to see Pawtraitart for the Black Orps.  I've been so tired, just knew I couldn't handle another long road trip, being behind the wheel.  They are beautiful and it was so nice seeing her again.  Just love what she has!!  Couldn't see everything, as DH was trying to keep us on a schedule so that we didn't get back home too late.  Thanks so much for the gorgeous pair!!

Liliwanis.... Thanks for Sissy, she's wonderful!!  I worried about the Houdan all the way home, with all the problems everybody else has been having with them.  She is such a drama queen...lol.  I kept hearing all sorts of noise and each time I checked she was puffing away.  As soon as I'd take her out, to check her closer, she would be fine.  Maybe she's claustrophobic...lol.  Thanks again!!

I need to go out and feed horses, now that I've rested from the drive.  Kinda like the walking dead .

Hope everyone has a great evening!!!:yiipchick

 

I am so glad she will work for you! She is such a sweetheart. As for the houdan, they are attention hogs. Not really cuddly, but always next to me and following me around. The three that were here, survived a drenching downpour while outside with a not so good shelter, so I think their hardiness trial passed

I'm glad they both made it. I always feel like a traitor when I sell my birds. I sure hope I get over that soon! I feel so sad when they leave! You are only the second person, so it is new to me.

Yay for baby turkeys Red! Sorry about the dud egg and the icelandics eggs though.! Christina, glad your trip went well and you got back home safe. Silly, glad the oxine cleaning went ok. My turn is next. I bought a 4 1/2 foot X 8 foot run that is solid wood and heavy wire, very nice, and want to make sure it is really disinfected before I put my chicks in there, it was a dog run before. Kyle, an EE roo? I have one you can have...but he is only 7 weeks old...he is really pretty.

There are three that are free for anyone wanting them....the EE male ( I think!), and EE female (pretty sure!) , and a black turken that is so so pretty. A huge bowtie and some brown highlights in her feathers. I just need to find homes for them quick so will give them away....all three very nice, very pretty, just the ones left in this age group after selling the others and I cannot put them in the run yet. They are 7-9 weeks old, the Turken is 9 and the EE's are 7. I tried the run, and they just are not ready yet, squawking so much and too scared, and I had already cleaned their brooder out and gotten ready for my hatch this next week....so if anyone is interested and can get them quick let me know! I need to make room fast. I really thought they would be ok, but they have another couple weeks they need to be separated.

Lil if you DO decide to rehome/sell the remaining Houdans let me know I do want to get one more female, I am loving my rooster so much I think I really lucked out with him. Of course, he has some maturing to do so crossing fingers he stays as great as he has been so far. I would make a trip down to your place for one.

Hey Silly, where did you get your Houdan? Just curious...mine have been super friendly and not skittish at all, so I am wondering if it is because they are from different flocks/places or if it is just a fluke and they are from the same place....So far so good with the three I have had. So far! I am hoping to get some cute babies from the pair I have left next Spring. I sure hope my remaining two stay healthy, just because I love this boy so much I am afraid something will happen. We got them their own run today, and making a separate house for them. About the eggs--I had a hen I got from Blujems that had been with her rooster, and I kept eggs from her for two full weeks, and then incubated them and they all were fertile (still!) The last egg I collected was Day 15 of being here without her roo. I was surprised I thought the last few eggs would be duds.

Cynthia, I am so sad for you that your baby is not improving! Keep with it, maybe things will look up soon!

I have one that has more of a polish body and one that is fatter. So I can imagine that would be the one you would want, lol. I have a few openings in my layer flock, but would rather keep those slots open for culls from my breeding program. Also I have that EE chick that I will have to keep. Anyway, the houdans are available.

So, here is my thoughts on the houdan breed. As i had planned on starting a program myself, i have spent many hours reading about the breed. i am not an expert, but this is my take away: They are currently a neglected breed. The breeders that had quality stock have retired, moved on, or lost interest. What we have left is hatchery stock and a few breeder lines out there. Because hatcheries don't have the ability to focus on quality of their lines, they tend to breed problems into their lines. The houdans have two main problems: first is the hardiness issue that many of you have noticed. The second is "type". Houdans should be a blocky, BIG breed with a crest. They have been bred to polish, for whatever reason I cannot imagine, but they now have more of a polish type than a houdan type. So, a breeding program with them would work toward size and hardiness. I would also breed toward temperament (preference given to more friendly birds though, size and hardiness would trump temperament in my book). The only reason that I have decided to cancel my own program is that I want other breeds too. Other breeds I have a reasonable starting point with and can therefor use fewer birds. With the houdans, I feel that I would need to dedicate my entire operation to them. If I ever get that dream home with land, I will be adding the houdans back in. I do feel that if you get one that is relatively hardy, you should give it a go PS when I say big, the boys should be 8lbs and hens 6.5. This is the same size as a dorking, Sussex, Delaware, rocks, RIR, marans etc, they are supposed to be a full two pounds heavier than polish. Orpingtons and Cochins are a full two pounds bigger than that, so if you look at your Orpington next to one of the above dual purpose breeds you get the size issue. At least my Orpington girl looks huge next to my other breeds. I was going to include Dominique's, but they are a pound lighter.

Back to Casa, if you want, I can photo copy the Houdan section of my SOP for you.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I am so glad she will work for you! She is such a sweetheart. As for the houdan, they are attention hogs. Not really cuddly, but always next to me and following me around. The three that were here, survived a drenching downpour while outside with a not so good shelter, so I think their hardiness trial passed

I'm glad they both made it. I always feel like a traitor when I sell my birds. I sure hope I get over that soon! I feel so sad when they leave! You are only the second person, so it is new to me.
I have one that has more of a polish body and one that is fatter. So I can imagine that would be the one you would want, lol. I have a few openings in my layer flock, but would rather keep those slots open for culls from my breeding program. Also I have that EE chick that I will have to keep. Anyway, the houdans are available.

So, here is my thoughts on the houdan breed. As i had planned on starting a program myself, i have spent many hours reading about the breed. i am not an expert, but this is my take away: They are currently a neglected breed. The breeders that had quality stock have retired, moved on, or lost interest. What we have left is hatchery stock and a few breeder lines out there. Because hatcheries don't have the ability to focus on quality of their lines, they tend to breed problems into their lines. The houdans have two main problems: first is the hardiness issue that many of you have noticed. The second is "type". Houdans should be a blocky, BIG breed with a crest. They have been bred to polish, for whatever reason I cannot imagine, but they now have more of a polish type than a houdan type. So, a breeding program with them would work toward size and hardiness. I would also breed toward temperament (preference given to more friendly birds though, size and hardiness would trump temperament in my book). The only reason that I have decided to cancel my own program is that I want other breeds too. Other breeds I have a reasonable starting point with and can therefor use fewer birds. With the houdans, I feel that I would need to dedicate my entire operation to them. If I ever get that dream home with land, I will be adding the houdans back in. I do feel that if you get one that is relatively hardy, you should give it a go PS when I say big, the boys should be 8lbs and hens 6.5. This is the same size as a dorking, Sussex, Delaware, rocks, RIR, marans etc, they are supposed to be a full two pounds heavier than polish. Orpingtons and Cochins are a full two pounds bigger than that, so if you look at your Orpington next to one of the above dual purpose breeds you get the size issue. At least my Orpington girl looks huge next to my other breeds. I was going to include Dominique's, but they are a pound lighter.

Back to Casa, if you want, I can photo copy the Houdan section of my SOP for you.

That would be awesome thank you! I also want to get the fatter ones going. The girl I had was so good! Urgh! The other two are def more polish body type. My roo is ok, but I want to work with them.

Anybody going from SLC to Logan this week? If not, I will check with my kids and see what nights we have to make a drive to you Lilwanis Save the fatter one for me ok

 

[sillycmoy]

My Houdan is bigger then my Polish, and is heavier, so maybe that is a good sign. She wasn't as flighty today, she just looked at me, "Yup, its time for this crazy lady to pick me up"

 

[sillycmoy]

Casa if I decide to re-home my Houdan I will have to let you know. I'm not really sure if I want to keep her with all the issues everyone has had. I'm so new to chickens that I don't know if I really want a delicate breed right now.

 

[Cynthia12]

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Casa if I decide to re-home my Houdan I will have to let you know.  I'm not really sure if I want to keep her with all the issues everyone has had.  I'm so new to chickens that I don't know if I really want a delicate breed right now.  

Definitely let me know!

Cynthia, why the sad face......

 

[Lilwanis]

X 2?

 

[sillycmoy]

Cynthia... I hope you didn't loose your little Houdan. I'm so very sorry if you did.

Casa I PM'd you on the Houdan. Maybe we can trade for your EE's.

 

[Cynthia12]

Houdan just wasn't going to make it. She is gone now.

As for my other chicks and chickens..good news. They are doing great. Not even one sign of sneezing, coughing, chest sounds. I just don't know what was up with the Houdan. Everyone has been getting yogurt to replace the good biotic in their bodies after having the Denagard. They love that of course. Another nice thing about the Denagard. You don't have a waiting period for eating eggs once given.

My mama hen is sooo cute. I love her with the babies. Such a good mama. Fun to watch. I just lean down there and watch her with them. Especially if I have thrown some food in there for them. She will peck it to pieces for them to eat. Scrambled egg being a favorite of theirs.

 

[Desert Springs]

My Houdan is 5 weeks old, and she is such a cry baby, if someone is crying, its her. Its like she is singing a song, because she will go on for an hour straight sometimes, for no reason at all. And she is so flighty. She hates being handled, but I think it could have been from how she was housed before I got her, she was crammed in with 100 plus other chicks in a small tub, there was no room for them to move. And I have no idea how long they were like that. But I'm terrified that something is going to happen to her since everyone else has had issues with theirs. I've had her for almost 2 weeks with no issues. So knocking on wood I won't.

I did spray out everything out today with Oxine I got brave. I couldn't get the DE from the local guy this week, but I'm going to try and get it tomorrow morning. But there is shavings back in the coop with PZ Sweet or whatever it is called sprinkled on the floor before the shavings. I can mix the DE in with that tomorrow right? And if I do try the deep litter method, can you still spray weekly the Oxine without changing out the bedding, like on the perches and walls?

Thanks for the answer on the eggs. That makes sense. I will probably ask a million questions once they start laying too. LOL

I don't know if you can mix the PZ Sweet, Oxine AND the DE (I'm not familiar with the PZ Sweet and what it has in it).... maybe someone else has more knowledge. I spray the Oxine on everything and even on older shavings.

I just checked the eggs under my broodies. One of the turkey eggs has quit. The other may still hatch, but I'm not seeing any movement. And all three of my precious Icelandic eggs are infertile

Oh Red... that is heart breaking

!! I need to check mine again tonight. I've been so exhausted lately that keeps slipping my mind

.

Silly, if they're sexed pullets, maybe you should keep them around, with your rooster luck.

Desert, are you still wanting one of the cockerels? I think I've found someone who wants two, but I want to give your first dibs if you're interested. I'll take pics of them in the morning and post for you if you want me to.

Sphinx, if you have someone who wants them... great

!! Thanks for asking; I appreciate it. I have yours still in the inc plus had ordered some through Ebay. When I candled about half looked unfertile or stopped. Have to check them again!!!! (NOTE TO SELF: Check eggs again!!!!!) I have to wait until darker for my candling to work better!! My little chick shed has two windows that let in way too much light!! I didn't take any 'maybes' out until I can tell better.

Can you put Oxine in the water with 5 week old chicks? I'm going to get a Gallon Fountain to put outside with the babies today since yesterday it was so hot that they went through almost 3 quarts of water. I just didn't know with them being outside now if I should be putting the Oxine in their water now too. The big girls love it, I think they are drinking way more water then they did before, or it could be the heat.

Thanks

I put Oxine in the water of everything!!! Unless I'm giving any preventative meds.

I've been freezing three liter bottles and putting them in with my girls when is gets to be 80. my RIR should be laying soon, the first pullet I've raised from a chick to lay

I'm excited.

silly, i am so jealous

, they are so cute!

Rykel... great idea with the freezing bottles!! Only my big chick shed/brooder is air conditioned, but not the coops.

That would be awesome thank you! I also want to get the fatter ones going. The girl I had was so good! Urgh! The other two are def more polish body type. My roo is ok, but I want to work with them.

Anybody going from SLC to Logan this week? If not, I will check with my kids and see what nights we have to make a drive to you Lilwanis

Save the fatter one for me ok

Sorry Casa... think my chicken train days are all used up for a while...lol.

Houdan just wasn't going to make it. She is gone now.

As for my other chicks and chickens..good news. They are doing great. Not even one sign of sneezing, coughing, chest sounds. I just don't know what was up with the Houdan. Everyone has been getting yogurt to replace the good biotic in their bodies after having the Denagard. They love that of course. Another nice thing about the Denagard. You don't have a waiting period for eating eggs once given.

My mama hen is sooo cute. I love her with the babies. Such a good mama. Fun to watch. I just lean down there and watch her with them. Especially if I have thrown some food in there for them. She will peck it to pieces for them to eat. Scrambled egg being a favorite of theirs.

Cynthia... so sorry about your Houdan!!

So happy to hear everybody else is doing great!! Maybe just a freak incident.

Thank you for mentioning the yogurt... I had forgotten that part about getting them back on track.

Yes, my flocks LOVE

scrambled egg!!!