What did you do with your flock today?

[PopoMyers]

So on top of everything….I got some horrible news today. My friend who’s Call ducks I’m helping her hatch, lost 3/4 breeding pens. She lost so many and completely devastated. So once these guys I have hatch and are ready to go into the brooder, I’m cleaning it up and getting some more Call eggs for her. At least it’s during breeding season and she has their babies. But to go through all of that is so hard. My husband and I had volunteered to help her build a new enclosure for them when we picked up these guys I have in now. The weasel got into their barn where she had them. My heart is just breaking for her right now. You all don’t have to pray for these hatches but I would appreciate at least positive thoughts for these guys!

Sending prayers.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Glad Bambi is improving. Pepper laid an egg this morning, no blood on it. The prolapse shrank some more. Never thought I'd be so happy to see more poop, but there was more. Noticed she is not straining to poop at all. This is a light at the end of this tunnel. Still going to keep on with the Prep H. She's eating and drinking normally, although she didn't eat straight away this morning, her food was nearly gone by the time I check on her at 1:00. Been giving her wet food so she doesn't flick it everywhere.

My broody breaking: 1 wire cage, raised off the ground in the sheltered run area. 1 2x4 piece of lumber that fits inside it, for a roost. Food and water. 1 broody gal. 3 days. More if not broken. ( Let her out. If she goes and sits back in the nesting box, put her back in jail. Repeat test each 24 hours..)
I happen to have a rabbit hutch to use for this, and for Pepper's hospital room. I have repeat offenders. One Welsummer Ginger, and Xena, a barnyard mix, whom successfully brooded and raised 4 chicks for a month until a coyote got her.

Have successfully broken them multiple times using this. Always in the summer, so made sure they were in the shade.

Yeah she's sitting anywhere and everywhere! I completely blocked off the nest box and she crawled all around it all to sit beside the nest box on nothing.
She's a silkie! Now I know where the phrase "they can hatch an rock" comes from!!!
I don't have a small wire cage...may need to go find one since she is so determined.
The ice bag sure had zero effect on her! I thought bringing her outside with the others would help but she went right back to it when we got back in the run.
Glad Pepper is improving! Does the prep H go orally or otherwise? Never understood that part.

@FBMcrazy8 sure hope these all hatch healthy! So sorry bout your friend's loss!!!

 

[kurby22]

Level and sound are what really matters . Mine are sound but probably not level, and definitely erm..."rustic". I'd really love something sharp and pretty like what @kurby22 built. But I'm happy enough with them. Someday I want to build pretty though.

Your adults are gorgeous... I think it won't be too hard to find someone who wants him.

First hatch is so much fun...enjoy your little ones

WTG Ducky and Ruby! That must have been a lot of competition!
So many gorgeous birds! It's a good thing I've never done shows or I'd end up with a hundred coops and no time for anything but chickens . Those fluffy tops especially
That sounds like an awesome day... congratulations!

Thank you! It is really hard to leave without more birds It’s also hard not to feel inadequate when you see so many better birds We are finally home and so exhausted

 

[kurby22]

Hearty congratulations! This is a whole other level of chicken keeping. Lots of work to get ready for show. What a sweet picture or your daughter and chicken.

Thank you!

 

[PopoMyers]

Does the prep H go orally or otherwise? Never understood that part.

Not orally. I have to put it on and in her vent prolapsed tissue. After either an Epsom salt soak, or a vent shower just to wash off any yuckies. Urates constantly leak out, so her bum gets rather messy.

 

[PopoMyers]

Thank you! It is really hard to leave without more birds It’s also hard not to feel inadequate when you see so many better birds We are finally home and so exhausted

Take a few good rest days. So sorry that this makes you feel inadequate. Not to downplay these shows, but my take on fair type entrances/shows to be judged by human rules had never been something that I have done, though people have said I should enter such and such to the fair.
You are such a wonderful chicken keeper, and all yours are just gorgeous, God-made perfect. He doesn't make any less. Don't be so hard on yourself.

 

[ChicksnMore]

So on top of everything….I got some horrible news today. My friend who’s Call ducks I’m helping her hatch, lost 3/4 breeding pens. She lost so many and completely devastated. So once these guys I have hatch and are ready to go into the brooder, I’m cleaning it up and getting some more Call eggs for her. At least it’s during breeding season and she has their babies. But to go through all of that is so hard. My husband and I had volunteered to help her build a new enclosure for them when we picked up these guys I have in now. The weasel got into their barn where she had them. My heart is just breaking for her right now. You all don’t have to pray for these hatches but I would appreciate at least positive thoughts for these guys!

O that's so . Prayers and good thoughts

Yes, but what if I want to end up keeping him, and let Hawkeye go? Or start a second flock? I have these from several states now to try to be able to broaden the gene pool that I have going.

Love that you're trying to broaden the gene pool . Have you ever tried integrating a young roo with Hawkeye? With my dwarfs, yokos and oegb it works. I've never tried it with any other breed...I used to keep just one roo.

I put all the babies in an escape cage in the coop before the boys are crowing...the younger the better. The adult roos learn to accept them pretty quick and seem fine with them as adults. They don't tear each other up and happily roost together/act friendly as adults. All my breeds are pretty mellow, calm birds though. Might be worth trying? The other way is to get roos you raise together...they grow up and stay good together. At least mine do.

MY FIRST ONE HATCHED!!! Not even the one who pipped first. It still has some yolk attached to it but so far it’s the only one out of its shell. It’s lively and chirping away.

Yay! A beautiful puddle of blackness

Nice! My eggs still have 11 days to go until they hatch but im exited

Congrats on the coming littles! First hatch for you or...?

I am self taught, have loved cooking and baking since my mom turned me loose in the kitchen at 8, she helped teach me.

Well you certainly learned well! You're an artist with those cakes . They're so pretty I thought you might have learned professionally.

Question ya all. I’m not 100% worried but slightly. The one to first pip hasn’t moved much. Partially zipped, still breathing, and there really isn’t mouth movements that I’m seeing. After seeing this one hatch I’m wondering if she just wore herself out because instead of just breaking the shell and “zipping”, she broke the shell and took out the membrane too.

The first external pip happened around 5am give or take on Saturday morning. She started “zipping” about 11:10am. She got as far as she did about 6:20pm. I’m attaching pictures…the first is last night about 6:20. The second is right now. When should I help her or what should I do? It’s now 1:32pm on Sunday.

If it hasn't hatched yet, I'd definitely assist. Did it make it?

Glad Bambi is improving. Pepper laid an egg this morning, no blood on it. The prolapse shrank some more. Never thought I'd be so happy to see more poop, but there was more. Noticed she is not straining to poop at all. This is a light at the end of this tunnel. Still going to keep on with the Prep H. She's eating and drinking normally, although she didn't eat straight away this morning, her food was nearly gone by the time I check on her at 1:00. Been giving her wet food so she doesn't flick it everywhere.

My broody breaking: 1 wire cage, raised off the ground in the sheltered run area. 1 2x4 piece of lumber that fits inside it, for a roost. Food and water. 1 broody gal. 3 days. More if not broken. ( Let her out. If she goes and sits back in the nesting box, put her back in jail. Repeat test each 24 hours..)
I happen to have a rabbit hutch to use for this, and for Pepper's hospital room. I have repeat offenders. One Welsummer Ginger, and Xena, a barnyard mix, whom successfully brooded and raised 4 chicks for a month until a coyote got her.

Have successfully broken them multiple times using this. Always in the summer, so made sure they were in the shade.

So glad for Pepper! Sounds like she's making real progress. Bet she's starting to feel a bit better too... can't imagine how much that must have hurt.

 

[BlueBaby]

Love that you're trying to broaden the gene pool . Have you ever tried integrating a young roo with Hawkeye? With my dwarfs, yokos and oegb it works. I've never tried it with any other breed...I used to keep just one roo.

I put all the babies in an escape cage in the coop before the boys are crowing...the younger the better. The adult roos learn to accept them pretty quick and seem fine with them as adults. They don't tear each other up and happily roost together/act friendly. All my breeds are pretty mellow, calm birds though. Might be worth trying? The other way is to get roos you raise together...they grow up and stay good together. At least mine do.

Yes, I had the boy that @Happy Novogens just got from me recently. They were getting along, but the younger boy was at the point where he was getting interested in the hen's. I figured that he needed a flock where he could have his own girl's. So, I let him go with 2 of the unrelated to him Bielefelder pullet's. She will be able to breed them over there too. I had also let some go last year to @CaroleW so that she can do some breeding up there.

 

[ChicksnMore]

It was a cold, wet, sleepy feeling day today. But I did make it to Home Depot and picked up roofing supplies for the coops I'm working on. First time I've ever bought wood for a coop . But I needed wood for the support beams and didn't have enough scrap for it. Cold here for the next week still, but sounds like it might warm up enough to use my asphalt emulsion the following week. I'm excited!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Yes, I had the boy that @Happy Novogens just got from me recently. They were getting along, but the younger boy was at the point where he was getting interested in the hen's. I figured that he needed a flock where he could have his own girl's. So, I let him go with 2 of the unrelated to him Bielefelder pullet's. She will be able to breed them over there too. I had also let some go last year to @CaroleW so that she can do some breeding up there.

That's exciting. It's fun when you know birds you bred with love are scattered around and thriving.