Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Chickielady]

You know, my cockerel, who started crowing about 6 weeks ago, stopped. And the young guy that should be crowing, isn't either. I have put it down to the cold too. Oh, Sinbad did crow Friday morning, 2 crows!

Mine here are crowing a bit less than normal....when one does crow, it is answered, but that is all.

 

[Chickielady]

I just went out and put her in the sleeping part of the coop. She was not to happy about being moved, but I feel better! Thanks for your help

Beautiful Cock Bird in your avatar !

 

[Chickielady]

you might need to just lock her in a couple nights and let her out in the day, she could freeze if you dont!

I have an idiot Blue Ameraucana hen, who has her own way...........................she makes HUGE BLUE eggs and the best Olive eggers, so she is in the Blue copper marans coop, and this old girl (2 years old now) will NOT go inside at night.
She goes under the coop as it is off the ground with space beneath.....................that said
She is undergoing the hardest molt I have ever seen her go through....................at this point in time she looks like a porcupine bird...........with alot of skin showing.
This is her last year after a molt:

She is gorgeous !

To the right of the Cock~~


He's purty too !
But anyways...that hen, is something to think about.
She has been outside in 16 degree temps, for days now...with no nest material around her.
And she is fine.

 

[Chickielady]

I went out and tucked her into the hen house part. She was not happy, but has stayed in. I dont know who was more scared, her or me. Pitch black outside. I must say, her body felt nice and warm though. Makes me feel better to know she is warm under all those feathers

 

[Chickielady]

Well, I'm not so sure about the fertility of my barnyard eggs. :/

We are going to be in the Seattle area tomorrow. Anyone have a dozen or so fertile eggs I could grab while I'm there tomorrow? I'll be in Monroe, WA overnight on the 10th. I'd like to throw a few more 'chances' in my incubator if I could!

OK, learning time here~
The Cock's comb, constantly 'feels' temperatures, and when the temps get profoundly lower tahn Mother Nature feels it is possible for reproducing......................cocks go sterile.
The comb on his head sends a signal to his testes, that it is NO GO.
He should not even "want" to mount a hen.
He should show just an interest in the hen as a group...................but not mating.
The standard comb breeds will go """sterile""" first, and be resterile last and the cushion comb closer to the head which is warmer most..................will go sterile last.
This is common knowledge to those who raise various breeds in such weather, such as myself:
I open & let loose the chanteclers and Olive eggers first, and leave my standard comb breeds inside their coop until non-frostbite temps come about ........................

Case in point:
Today it was warming, but still 26 degrees F when we were at 10 AM, and I left the birds ALL LOcked in their coops, but understand they all have ample room inside, lovely coop flooring and a water bucket,,, oh, and lights !

 

[fosterson]

OK, learning time here~
The Cock's comb, constantly 'feels' temperatures, and when the temps get profoundly lower tahn Mother Nature feels it is possible for reproducing......................cocks go sterile.

Thanks CL.

My big Leghorn cross has certainly had a rough time of it. Despite my best efforts, he still got a frostbitten comb. But the other three roos are all small combed and they're spending plenty of time chasin' the ladies and doin' the rooly duties. I'm just surprised at how few fertile eggs I'm coming across when I check em. They were fine 2 weeks ago

 

[Chickielady]

Thanks CL.

My big Leghorn cross has certainly had a rough time of it. Despite my best efforts, he still got a frostbitten comb. But the other three roos are all small combed and they're spending plenty of time chasin' the ladies and doin' the rooly duties. I'm just surprised at how few fertile eggs I'm coming across when I check em. They were fine 2 weeks ago

This is why you need to really take the birds IN...or as I would advise, get a good layer with a cushion comb for your area......................I used ta live on Aneas Valley...UP on the bluff over Round Lake & the General Store........................YES t got cold.
Not near as cold as it got in IDAHO, north area about Elmira...
Goodnight guys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***** If you do see a cock bird (or even a hen) with a blackened comb...get the bleed stop out & a good pair of sharp scissors, and cut the dead meat off the bird before it is infected with sepsis.

 

[BGMatt]

Most of the frostbitten combs I've seen have been result of insufficient ventilation in coop space at night. I'm not in the coldest area (the lowest I've had during this cold spell is 3* F overnight) but all my birds are in pens that are entirely open on at least one side with wire, no heat lamps or anything else. All birds combs and birds themselves are happy healthy and thriving despite the temperatures.

 

[Manningjw]

People are talking about getting 50% hatch rates on Trader Joes fertile eggs (white Leghorn), if no one on BYC has any. I'm tempted to try that myself after I get an incubator. Still not sure what to get though. I do know I want 12-20 egg capacity, temp and humidity control, and auto turner.

I have heard that from the California TJ's but I was under the impression none of the trader joes stores in Washington carried fertile eggs? I have checked stores in Edmonds, Seattle and Olympia without seeing any labeled as "fertile."

 

[fosterson]

To be fair, his frostbitten comb was my fault. I didn't notice how low the windchill had gotten the first day the wind really kicked up, and thus didn't get the flock inside in time. The girls had all gone into the coop, but Mr Rooster decided to stay out in the wind. I felt awful about it. Beginner's mistake and it's my poor roo who paid the price for it.