Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[FrenchToast]

You will see how rewarding it is to watch Mama raise the babies herself. I have noticed quite a difference between hen raised chicks vs bator hatched chicks. It is so cute to see them peek out from underneath Mama.

Speaking of hatching. The egg that was pipping was chirping and chirping tonight so I looked at it and noticed that the pip wasn't all the way thru so I decided to help out. (Now DrHa and CC do not try this at home, most of the time it does more harm then good. Espcially for eager beginners) lol

Anyway, there is an adorable real black silkie chick in my bator now. I think it is out of my Lavender Split pen. One of the reasons I helped it is because the Lavender chicks have a hard time hatching for some reason.

When are your chicks due CC?

 

[Celtic Chick]

I think you have to consider that the production reds have a even shorter life span than some others. It happens...heck you would be amazed how many classmates have passed already. I've lost plenty of 3 year olds. I know how you feel...really I do. First thing one thinks is castrophroe on my hands....while the whole time your mangement practices were trying to prevent that from happening all along.

I know you are hands on all the time, and keep a closer eye on things than most.

If all goes well with the flock in the days to come...then what? Keep the faith....you're the best.

bigz

No Bigz, you're the best. You're the calm amidst my storm. You & FT.

So many crazy ideas have gone through our heads in the past 24 hours. Did we do something wrong? Did we bring something in? Didn't we clean often enough, or thoroughly enough?
I try to clean out the coop every week, the carport every 2 or 3. I use the deep litter method in the winter, esp. if they forecast crappy weather. I scrub out their waterers every day. I sit outside with them for at least an hour every day just watching & observing their behavior for any signs of abnormalities. I even have cameras out there so I can watch them on my TV at any moment. (My own private chicken channel).

I did think it was just that the reds had bad genes, meant to produce a lot & early, then be in freezer camp. But after Henny died right after one of the reds, it got me scared bad. I just needed to hear what you all thought. I'm kinda new at this, compared to most of you, and value your opinions greatly. I am so glad I found you all.

 

[Celtic Chick]

You will see how rewarding it is to watch Mama raise the babies herself. I have noticed quite a difference between hen raised chicks vs bator hatched chicks. It is so cute to see them peek out from underneath Mama.

Speaking of hatching. The egg that was pipping was chirping and chirping tonight so I looked at it and noticed that the pip wasn't all the way thru so I decided to help out. (Now DrHa and CC do not try this at home, most of the time it does more harm then good. Espcially for eager beginners) lol

Anyway, there is an adorable real black silkie chick in my bator now. I think it is out of my Lavender Split pen. One of the reasons I helped it is because the Lavender chicks have a hard time hatching for some reason.

When are your chicks due CC?

They should start on the 20th through about the 24th or so. Her sisters were helping her. Evidently they didn't think she had enough eggs to sit on. She has 10, BTW. I candled 2 & they both had growth in them, so I left it at that.

Thank you, Raim!

 

[FrenchToast]

Quote:

Thanks CC, You're the Bestest !!

You know even if you had an necropsy done it may not show anything. Then you would really be confused. I went to a chicken talk that a local guy in Rhinelander held at the Library a few years ago. There was allot I agreed with that he said and then there were things I didn't because I was "reading all of the Chicken books and On line stuff".
One of the things he said that I didn't agree with was "Sometimes they just wake up Dead ! " I thought that was just plain old ridiculous.

Well, after a few years of having chickens I have to eat my words and say that you know that actually is true. Of course there is a reason but we will never know. Even the standard Necropsy won't show every cause of death.
You are doing a wonderful job with your chickens so don't beat yourselves up over this. It happens and we may never know why. I would say to keep a chicken around for 9 years is proof that you know what you are doing !!!

 

[bigzio]

I'm really happy we all have become friends in only a few years of being strangers before that.
Doc said it best awhile ago...you remember what he said. We all do!

Yep, getting old isn't for the weak..we don't tolerate any woosies...and it sure beats the alternative, eh!

Spell check is telling me I spelled woosies wrong.... ya, right, it's wrong.

bigz

 

[FrenchToast]

I'm really happy we all have become friends in only a few years of being strangers before that.
Doc said it best awhile ago...you remember what he said. We all do!

Yep, getting old isn't for the weak..we don't tolerate any woosies...and it sure beats the alternative, eh!

Spell check is telling me I spelled woosies wrong.... ya, right, it's wrong.

bigz

You got that right !!! And I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be here at this age !!! There also must some truth to "Only the Good Dying Young" !!! At least in my case !!!

PS I"m very happy that I have met all of you too !! And to think the chickens are what brought us all together !!! Silly birds !!

Did you guys notice that when you spell check it will spell check the original posters post as well. I don't feel right correcting their spelling mistakes !!!
The spell checker is having a heck of a time with all of our user names !!!

 

[raimnel]

ok I think I got it

YAY! I did it! ok this is last years bash tshirt. CC i would be complicated to change what the bubble says. it could be done but it would be complicated lol
ok now for what it looks like on a white tshirt

with out the tshirt lol! wish they would be smaller, I feel like I'm taking up the whole thread lol
any who, I had to watch the video to figure it out. later

ETA HOLY MOSES! the pics are HUGE!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Thanks for your kind words, FT. I'm trying to do the best I can. We both are. We don't have a lot of birds. We're not out to make any profits. We just have them because we wanted them They are our pets, and we want them to be happy & healthy. It has been a learning experience over the years, and we have been very lucky that Jack & Henny were so healthy for so many years. I'd like to think we gave them a good life. I just hope Jack will hang in there for a little while longer.

Guess I've whined your eyes & ears off for long enough. Thank you all for your kind words and wisdom. Sweet dreams, all!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Raim, they look great to me! I'll take a size small in black, please!

 

[bigzio]

Nothing but the best wishes for your flock CC!

Thanks for the large print raim..they should make it standard print and allow folks with eagle eyes to tone er down! The tee's look great.

I love being able to spell all my words wright....

off to beddie... bigz