Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Apyl]

Aypl, don't get me wrong you can get some nice silkies from hatcheries. One of the things that is nice about them is often times they don't have as big of a crest or topknot which is actually better for pets. They make nicer pets iMHO because they don't have as many visions problems because of a huge crest blocking their vision.
That is one of the reasons silkies are nice for children is because of their limited vision from their fluffy heads they are easier for the children to catch. On the other hand if it is to big they don't see anything coming ie predators, dogs, cats, children and don't get out of the way in time to avoid danger. The silkies that are bred for show sometimes have huge huge crest and just sit around looking pretty.
You will have fun no matter where you get them from, silkies are cool. Just beware, they are addicting !! LOL

lol Yeah I have to watch myself. Last night DH was like "um just how many chickens are we getting now?" lol Luckily he is a push over , well lucky for me that is

 

[Apyl]

Does anyone else has sand soil? I was told by a repair guy that came here it's only Necedah thats like this, but that seemed weird to me. Anyway, I asking because since my soil is mainly sand, so much so I have to get dirt in order to grow my garden, I was wondering if I still needed to give grit to the chickens. I am going this weekend to buy feed and stuff and if I need grit obviously that too, but I dont want to have to get a bunch of it if I dont need it. Also, do you use medicated or unmedicated chick starter. I was just going to go with medicated but these forums are addciting and there are so many different opinions as to which to do.

 

[Angiebubs]

Still home with a DD12 sick....My SO decided to install a new wireless router 2 nights ago and now Im unable to log into my work VPN. I have been on the phone with IS Helpdesk in India, local internet provider etc.....this really sux. And today I am suppossed to be backing up 3 co workers as well!!!

 

[Angiebubs]

I have 2 roos in with 11 hens (2 bantys and 9 LF)..a couple of the hens backs are getting pretty ragged, as well as bare spots on their heads. I am adding 8 chicks in June (won't help much till late fall)....and am re homing one roo in the next few weeks-month. Is there anything I can do meanwhile to help the girls? Im especially concerned with the bare spots on their heds-is this normal? There is also those saddles-however, by the time I order and get those-the other roo will be gone....any thoughts?

 

[raimnel]

apyl, do you have older birds? chicks don't need grit, that's mainly for birds that free range. I use medicated feed for the first bag then go to unmedicated.

angie I have the same problem with bare back, that's why some are making/buying the aprons/saddles. If your getting rid of one of the roos I wouldn't worry about it.
I have 1 roo in with 10 girls and he likes it lol

my sparkles (silkie hen) is getting better (she was all crooked neck) I dusted all the silkies and the coop and gave them save a chick, chicken vitamins (at fleet farm). she's atleast got her head up. until you pick her up, then she tucks it under??
still waiting on those 3 eggs to hatch. I heard peeps this morning but still no external pips. Im thinking of pipping this afternoon. finally dusted in the big coop today. crap still didn't get the goats 'wormed.

We're taking the kids to the movies tonight or tomorrow, talk about expensive! WOW!
anywho time for homeschool
later all

 

[Apyl]

apyl, do you have older birds? chicks don't need grit, that's mainly for birds that free range. I use medicated feed for the first bag then go to unmedicated.

angie I have the same problem with bare back, that's why some are making/buying the aprons/saddles. If your getting rid of one of the roos I wouldn't worry about it.
I have 1 roo in with 10 girls and he likes it lol

my sparkles (silkie hen) is getting better (she was all crooked neck) I dusted all the silkies and the coop and gave them save a chick, chicken vitamins (at fleet farm). she's atleast got her head up. until you pick her up, then she tucks it under??
still waiting on those 3 eggs to hatch. I heard peeps this morning but still no external pips. Im thinking of pipping this afternoon. finally dusted in the big coop today. crap still didn't get the goats 'wormed.

We're taking the kids to the movies tonight or tomorrow, talk about expensive! WOW!
anywho time for homeschool
later all

No older birds here. I am getting my first chics Feb 28 - Mar 1 from Meyer and the silkies from Ideal Feb 29. So they will all be the same age. I do plan to free range when they get bigger.

 

[ElaineS585]

I'm always an enabler! (Sorry no time to read or write, but I'll be back!) Elaine

from: http://madison.craigslist.org/grd/2856056827.html

madison craigslist > for sale / wanted > farm & garden
Banty chickens and pigeons (Livingston)

Date: 2012-02-17, 9:30AM CST
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

Four banty roosters, 16 hens and three fantailed pigeons. All free, located in the Livingston area. Please reply here and put chickens in the subject line, thanks!

• Location: Livingston
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

​

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PostingID: 2856056827

 

[MustLoveHens]

Morning All!
Whew! Finally all caught up on reading! You people are chatty!
Not much here SG is still broody. I'm going to pick up chick from Abendroth's next week for a chick seminar so I think I pester Rick for some baloots to stick under SG. I figure she's been on the nest long enough I'd let her have some almost instant gratification. I think I'll ask for sex links. Then I can tell the boys from the girls.
I also think one of the Orloffs is thinking on going broody too. She's making grumpy hen noises but not dedicated to the nest....we'll see...

Well.......at 2:08 this morning I was awoken to a chick screaming it's head off in the incubator. So far 1 has hatched and I'm praying real hard I get at least one more out of an egg. This one is a little goopy so I need to get out my Dawn dish detergent and strategically un-goop HIM. Yes CC and FT I said HIM! I can't even believe these words are being uttered but if I get only one chick to hatch I need it to be a rooster not a hen.

On the sex vs. temp issue, I have to say that I once asked Ron Keene, UW Chicken Guru about this very subject. He just laughed at me. He said that chickens are not reptiles and that it's a matter of genetics. Jim, FT, CC, and BL4 are right on the money......
DH was talking about this issue (in reference to Game Birds) to some nice Game Keepers for the Royal Game Reserve in England. They were at a Game Bird seminar the McFarlands had last year. Anyway, the head Game Keeper said that the technology is there to have only one sex or another be born, since they already to this with bulls. The male carries the "sex" gene and in bulls they will separate X's from Y's and will artificially inseminate the cow according to what the farm is needing. He imagined that you could so the same with a rooster but it is very very expensive and just not worth the time and cash to do it.

DrH- I'm with FT! Tell your DD to go into Large Animal/Livestock practice, There is a big shortage of L.A. vets and the fields keeps getting smaller.

TO-I'm sorry to hear the the kid is not doing well....poor thing...

Elaine and Tiki- Good to see you again!!

FT-Super cute piggy pics!!

Ok, got to go stir my stew and grab a quick bite before I go walk the Lab. Laundry is done too...time to fold towels....oh yeah gotta go de-goopify the chickie....
Later

 

[FrenchToast]

Does anyone else has sand soil? I was told by a repair guy that came here it's only Necedah thats like this, but that seemed weird to me. Anyway, I asking because since my soil is mainly sand, so much so I have to get dirt in order to grow my garden, I was wondering if I still needed to give grit to the chickens. I am going this weekend to buy feed and stuff and if I need grit obviously that too, but I dont want to have to get a bunch of it if I dont need it. Also, do you use medicated or unmedicated chick starter. I was just going to go with medicated but these forums are addciting and there are so many different opinions as to which to do.

You don't need to get any grit when they are young. As long as they are eating crumbles or pellets they don't need grit. It is when they eat real grains that they need the grit to help them break it down etc.
So if you always feed pellets you don't need grit. Calcium yes. Free choice.
I feed grains and I actually have the feed mill ad a small amount of grit. In Summer when they free range they get their grit while free ranging.
Btw, babies don't need the extra calcium until they start laying. I also have my feed mill put extra oyster shells in my feed for the layers.

As far as aprons go. I'll know if you need them if your rooster decides he has his favorite hens. The best thing to do if they are getting to rough with some of them, like ripping their head feathers is to get that hen out of their or remove the rooster. Last year I lost a lot of Ameraucana hens because the roos grabbed so hard on their heads that it sliced the skin and the actual skull was exposed. They are very agressive when they breed. They were young roosters full of themselves. Hopefully this year they will not be so agressive. We are thinking of putting all of the hens in one coop and just letting the roos free range. Maybe the fox will just have roos for dinner this year !!

Angie, that suxs about the internet problems. Nice that you can work from home though. Wish that would have been available years ago when i was working.

 

[FrenchToast]

Raim, Glad to hear the wry neck silkie is doing better. It is suggested that they get extra Vitamin E, selenium and B complex vitamins.
I fed mine scrambled eggs. It is high in the vitamin E and selenium. Not sure about the B's thought, can't remember.
I also broke off a small piece of chewable childrens vitamins instead of using the polyvisol baby vitamins.
just sayin ! as Bigz would say !! lol

Here is a new ad for the guy in Amherst with chicks http://wausau.craigslist.org/grd/2833447740.html
http://wausau.craigslist.org/grd/2833451739.html


http://wausau.craigslist.org/grd/2856042601.html