Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[nchls school]

Anyone out there that raises or is interested in serama bantams? I'll soon be culling some chicks. They're nice, heathy birds with some potential.

I'm located in Ladysmith.

 

[chickendreams24]

Where is Ladysmith? I'm in south central WI by Janesville and I would love some serama pullets as pets.

 

[nchls school]

Where is Ladysmith? I'm in south central WI by Janesville and I would love some serama pullets as pets.

Ladysmith is an hour north of Eau Claire on Hwy 27. It's a bit early to be sure, but I think those to be culled are pullets. They are 3 1/2 weeks old now.

In another week I will know for sure.

 

[bigzio]

Afternoon To Everyone....

back at you Angiebubs...good to see you again too. Hope all is well up North! I leave the spurs, unless they are causing problems too.

Maybe wait till the combs heal some more before using the Vaselene..the blu-kote helps with the healing and wouldn't cover that up for now. They are prolly still figuring things out in regards to their pecking order and should roost again if they did before....plenty of warm bedding is necessary if they are sleeping on the floor....I have some that always huddle together instead of roosting...silly birds.

bigz

 

[chickendreams24]

Glad to know mine aren't the only crazy birds that don't want to roost and they have quite a good layer of shavings and more to be added again this weekend. They're all out with our 39 degree weather today and they're really enjoying it with the sun being out a small part of the yard has even become bare from the sun and heat so there is some foraging opportunities available.

I did end up putting some Vaseline on the part of Mickey's comb that did not have blue kote on it as that seems to be the part that is most pale its on the opposite side of the injuries as well as lower and also kind of swollen which could be from frost bite or the injuries. I hope I didn't make the wrong call. Thanks big Z I hadn't heard from anyone and felt like I should do something.


I am glad to say that the groups at night are mingled and not each age group separate I hope some day Minnie and Mickey will fit in as good with everyone else. I also saw Mickey dance for one of my silkies for the first time ever today and I'm proud to say he was a gentleman and did not try to force her.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Idk if anyone will have any insights but I just thought about it and decided to ask: since moving to the cooler all 30 of our birds have stopped using the roosts, now the silkies have never roosted and their two hatch mates seldom have but I still thought it odd that only accounts for 8 of the 30 anyone have any insights? It's just such a funny sight walking in and all 30 are in three or four huddles or piles around the room has anyone else ever encountered this?

Are there any windows in your cooler? Maybe it gets dark real fast in there & they can't see too well to get on the roosts? Or are the roosts at a different height then they were before?

The only other thing I can think of is they are still uneasy about their new surroundings. At roost time, you could try putting them up on the roosts. Once they get used to something, they usually stick with it.

You could try putting neosporin without the pain killer on your roos comb instead of vaseline. It will help with the healing and provide somewhat of a protective coating against frostbite.

Just an FYI, once the chickens see another bird bleeding, they will peck the heck out of it. They really like the taste of blood. I'd keep a close eye on his bleeding if you have someone in with him.

I think pecking order is why your 2 smallest ones have comb damage. I had the same issue with my 2 smallest birds. You will really want to watch them come spring if you have other roosters. They love to brawl in spring for the ladies.

 

[irishrovr]

Hey all...CS love that bunny set up. still hoping we can try bunnies again someday. I know dd would love them. We got some when they were around 4 and with just starting chickens, angora mix breeds that took alot care and 2, 4 year olds...too much. Hope we can talk DH into trying again.
Chickens seem to be doing fine. Keep checking on my three bantams in the coop, but they are fine. Even the old 5 year old bantam brown leghorn. Lots of eggs right now so that is a plus. We do supplement light but not heat. Just the heated water bowls. the trick is getting the eggs out before they freeze while working.
Life is busy... still have a somewhat unhealthy mom , now father in law is not healthy... 2 kids in basketball and want a social life so we are running around alot.
Trying to find the right diet for me right now. I love veggies and eat tons of them...it is cutting out the cheese and carbs I love too. Trying to get health to go major hiking in yellowstone this summer.

Also in spring will be looking for hatching eggs for: cream crested Isbar, cochin(frizzle?), chantecler, amaracauna, old English, olive eggers( i got my first one after trying for years and I am hooked!)

otherwise trying to keep myself healthy, although curling up in a warm bed when I get home from work and pick up kids sounds good. Ah well a few more hours of work and then just have to figure out what to make for dinner. Might be a pork chop night.

I have some baby bunns that are ready for a new home as of today. They are part Dutch and Dutch mix - kits of two of my gentlest and friendliest bunnies. Super sweet!

 

[irishrovr]

Hey strangers! I haven't been on here in awhile (talk to my BYC peeps on FB though) and wanted to say Hi-and catch up

BigZio

ETA: How many of you remove your roos spurs? trim them? or just leave them alone?

I used pliers to twist them off of a mean rooster (they grow back) but I mostly leave them alone.

 

[chickendreams24]

Yeah Celtic Chick thanks for all the advice. Yes there are windows not the best or biggest but the do get some natural light but we also do have lights we find out twice when we go out there at night. The roosts are about the same height maybe an inch or two higher so idk. We have put them on the roosts several time but they just get down and I guess they're not hurting anything so it doesn't matter much to me so long as its okay just kinda odd that all our birds that have always roosted have been snuggling on the floor.

Yeah thank you I know they tend to go at the one who is bleeding that's why they're separate the bird that's in with him is his half sister and hatch mate. They were the only to in that hatch and they're very well bonded they don't interact much with the other birds yet. I'm hoping that will change. We have been checking on them a lot to be sure that they aren't causing problems but Minnie never pecked him once while he was bleeding. We even had to bring her in the house with him when we patched him up BC they're lost without each other, hence both being put in the crate together. We have not seen him bleed at all since initially stopping the bleeding which makes me feel a lot better and thankfully(knock on wood) we have never had a problem with our birds canabalizing an injured bird but this is also still our first year.

We keep a close eye on them all but especially the "littles" as we call them which is basically our silkies and their two bantam hatch mates and then Minnie and Mickey. We do have too many roos right now and we are trying to remedy that situation. We also plan on building a couple chicken tractors so that we can separate out a couple breeding groups but also so they can be placed in the garden to help with weeding as needed. I'm hoping with that and the pullets we plan on adding this year we will be able to keep between 3-4 roosters. But if we can't manage the three we will rehome one of the two oegb roos we have. So far mostly we have had problems with the silkie roos and one oegb(not Mickey) who is sweet but is overcompensating and thinks he's a large fowl. he likes his ladies big even though they don't usually let him try to breed them. Lol

I also agree that Mickey got injured in pecking order disputes and I think it was by a dominant hen not a roo. It was after all the first night that all 30 birds slept together. They're much better with the disputes now and they seem to be greatly reduced although I still plan on a couple more nights for Minnie and Mickey in their crate in with the rest of the flock to be sure Mickey has healed well.

 

[irishrovr]

Thinking about dinner.....