tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21482456130233688722024-03-13T04:51:13.723-04:00The Chicken DiariesTechnodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-48372780535918684642012-01-07T14:30:00.000-05:002012-01-07T14:30:39.937-05:00the mystery egg<div style="text-align: center;">One of my young barred rock hens laid a monster of an egg the other day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was sure it was a double-yolker!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Imagine my surprise when I cracked it open and found this...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH-uKprGvoN4n_Vj12YUTwIpDP7ojCqXWr7XVqrqXvBerj8RFvDP29aUSxX9ObgMWfrIeCYsyT8MKAXmaCFxOS6QtjHbG3kMRlTM_ZVy0GosENxXejSKXEqiMBRhLmnQBfiKo1sXQ0iKk/s1600/PC290014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH-uKprGvoN4n_Vj12YUTwIpDP7ojCqXWr7XVqrqXvBerj8RFvDP29aUSxX9ObgMWfrIeCYsyT8MKAXmaCFxOS6QtjHbG3kMRlTM_ZVy0GosENxXejSKXEqiMBRhLmnQBfiKo1sXQ0iKk/s400/PC290014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...an egg within an egg!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was rubbery and pretty disgusting - the stuff horror stories are made of!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to open it up, of course...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ5wn9ODYdulrYd_OCzm1anBHJ2WYPjpaw4oRS1MZcKOL_JTAODFa5AcD_asT7xJDD65sqpldVd9bU2VHfJ1iY0OKfQSVrnofusdD2tOgS03i3-x4qpjz3JuMQH4OqgIRELV4i1-lm2Uk/s1600/DSC_5699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ5wn9ODYdulrYd_OCzm1anBHJ2WYPjpaw4oRS1MZcKOL_JTAODFa5AcD_asT7xJDD65sqpldVd9bU2VHfJ1iY0OKfQSVrnofusdD2tOgS03i3-x4qpjz3JuMQH4OqgIRELV4i1-lm2Uk/s400/DSC_5699.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I didn't think it could get any worse and then realised how wrong I was!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How awful is this shit? LOL!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That hen has some s'plainin' to do!</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-20302098125524908052011-11-05T11:07:00.000-04:002011-11-05T11:07:27.895-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">Yey! Silkie babies on the way... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the top condo Blossom is sitting on 8 developing eggs, due in 2 weeks. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In the bottom condo Angie is sitting on 3 developing eggs, due next week. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to see the cute fuzzbutts! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6SWhlJVklq93w-_YQPstlgzxf7Sfi8a2UuYgujH8-75FI9M-snTCWyaiD0ktP9pcH58eJtm6-kcH2HJKO7-iXlWSVEs4Vx3HL7oj3SMSN89xL4YeCqC1FmfTgt8ibdj4xlelT6s1jR9T/s1600/DSC_5151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6SWhlJVklq93w-_YQPstlgzxf7Sfi8a2UuYgujH8-75FI9M-snTCWyaiD0ktP9pcH58eJtm6-kcH2HJKO7-iXlWSVEs4Vx3HL7oj3SMSN89xL4YeCqC1FmfTgt8ibdj4xlelT6s1jR9T/s400/DSC_5151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Angie on her three eggs...</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is her first time being a momma, she sure is determined!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCj3qv94-XCQbKAuiOr9TBhl97i9FOsQSvd2r3IoGL5tY63OhKdYJUUB690NgLzZ4f4LeSQILUhdl-I68Vzi3XBlPXoH3zxBfy8m1K5VyjC5xBQuJ3nnuZi6Jnl4eY0PjmI0as3c_sYMQ/s1600/DSC_5149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCj3qv94-XCQbKAuiOr9TBhl97i9FOsQSvd2r3IoGL5tY63OhKdYJUUB690NgLzZ4f4LeSQILUhdl-I68Vzi3XBlPXoH3zxBfy8m1K5VyjC5xBQuJ3nnuZi6Jnl4eY0PjmI0as3c_sYMQ/s400/DSC_5149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Blossom on her 8 eggs, she's a pro -</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think this is her 4th hatch in 2 years :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_D9aY01Lx7hXaW-n4Ffnbjo2pTDN_doQogfdrZmHVYgfR0JD7lhyphenhyphenwOHwNLyiYbIkOzN8qcbgE5WNTkXReJidt17vWsDXeRaw9hrHxqc6V9zzLMAERJEg7cQAty4yKHi2XJnmDw0e3-WY/s1600/DSC_5150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_D9aY01Lx7hXaW-n4Ffnbjo2pTDN_doQogfdrZmHVYgfR0JD7lhyphenhyphenwOHwNLyiYbIkOzN8qcbgE5WNTkXReJidt17vWsDXeRaw9hrHxqc6V9zzLMAERJEg7cQAty4yKHi2XJnmDw0e3-WY/s400/DSC_5150.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I'll post pics when the babies arrive!</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-13389153628051620262011-10-24T12:41:00.002-04:002011-10-24T12:41:43.308-04:00how about this for a Halloween costume!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF6U8VEyDUvGNq1Me5mstgf1pbe9EcQyCamF_nHZp0Fz-PTt5FQir65n3A1xNVurO299dk9wLLaFauE4GbOe-m5HdaBiSbq5NimR617VurPT96EXLfcJmz8KojoeyUDhMVCvkARB5nDDX/s1600/berry-break-69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF6U8VEyDUvGNq1Me5mstgf1pbe9EcQyCamF_nHZp0Fz-PTt5FQir65n3A1xNVurO299dk9wLLaFauE4GbOe-m5HdaBiSbq5NimR617VurPT96EXLfcJmz8KojoeyUDhMVCvkARB5nDDX/s400/berry-break-69.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">OK... maybe not! LOL!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-28044394725450613012011-10-12T21:53:00.000-04:002011-10-12T21:53:34.430-04:00I keep forgetting to post!<div style="text-align: center;">Ack! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time flies like a chicken running towards the treat bucket!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's fast - LOL!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Almost everyone's in deep molt right now,</div><div style="text-align: center;">there are feathers everywhere and prickly-looking chooks</div><div style="text-align: center;">not laying any eggs...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know, a necessary evil - but I still don't like it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brrrr winter's on the way.<br />
<br />
Here's the flock of banties this morning -<br />
I have been very fortunate to find a super awesome loving home<br />
for Moose, our 5 month old white Jersey Giant cockerel.<br />
<br />
He leaves Sunday...<br />
<br />
I'm sad and will miss him a lot, but 4 roosters in one pen is just too much :(</div><br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TPsyduXgiFE" width="510"></iframe></center><center><br />
</center><center>I hope to get lots of news and maybe someday</center><center>some fertile eggs from my friend who's taking him -</center><center>that way I can hatch Moose chicks and </center><center>hopefully keep some Moose daughters!</center><center><br />
</center><center>How's everyone coping with fall so far?</center><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-38963574914197015262011-09-18T10:27:00.002-04:002011-09-18T10:27:40.263-04:00Good morning!It's warm, it's sunny, it's the weekend - w00t!<br />
<br />
The flocks are all sunbathing outside (bar two hens that have leg sprains and are still confined...), we are entering molt season and thus very few eggs are going in the daily basket but that's all right - life is good!<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you all a lovely day!</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-74048676654070747622011-09-15T21:05:00.000-04:002011-09-15T21:05:34.757-04:00lookin' good!Crossing fingers and knock on wood, it looks like all of my sick banties have recovered from the terrible illnesses that suddenly plagued them two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
If I had gotten home from my vacation on time, I could have saved my poor sweet Una (the only hen that died) but alas, it was not to be... I don't feel safe leaving them for a whole week anymore :-(<br />
<br />
I have to thank this miracle product called <a href="http://www.bio-cide.com/uploads/OxineAH.pdf"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Oxine (AH)</span></b></a> for clearing up some of the nastiest lung gurglies ever, and Tylan-200 injectable for the other infection.<br />
<br />
A friend of mine recommended the Oxine, I had never heard of it before.<br />
<br />
Did some research online and flock owners are raving about it left and right - I knew it was my last chance to save my babies so I called the company HQ in the States who pointed me to their Canadian distributor, who then called me after business hours as my message was quite desperate. Lovely man, awesome service. The next morning they put a bottle on the UPS truck for me and I had it in my hands 24 hours later.<br />
<br />
The treatment for "percolator lung" is to put your sick bird in a small, enclosed space (I used a small plastic pet carrier and draped a towel over it to cover the holes) and fog the inside for a good hour or so once a day using a cool mist air humidifier - or an ultrasonic one if you can afford it.<br />
<br />
The bird is forced to breath in the the gently misted air which contains the spore-killing Oxine, plus it gives them a nice "spa" treatment between bouts of quarantaine. Keep them warm and offer Sulmet in their drinking water, protein-rich wet foods and their grains.<br />
<br />
Now if only there was a miracle product to treat sprained legs...<br />
<br />
Yep, a hen from one coop and a pullet from the other both suffered leg injuries the same day last week, it's a never-ending run of bad luck. One has a sprained ankle and the other has something wrong with her hip.<br />
<br />
Besides quarantine in tight quarters and twice-daily doses of Arnica (a homeopathic treatment), any advice on treating such injuries? I gave them small doses of aspirin the first few days but don't want to damage their tummies so I stopped... Still no improvement after a week. :-/<br />
<br />
My poor babies! <br><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-48152912135653689232011-09-06T20:13:00.000-04:002011-09-06T20:13:27.774-04:00if you can spare some good joojoo...My flock of banties, never sick a day in their lives before, got struck down with a terrible virus a few days ago.<br />
<br />
I can't seem to get it under control, they are falling sick one after the other at a terrible speed. One of my sweet hens died two days after she started having difficulty breathing (liquid in the lungs, turned to bloody phlegm - she died choking...), three more are struggling to stay alive and nothing I give them is working.<br />
<br />
There are two different strains hitting at once.<br />
<br />
One I can control with Tylan-200 injectable, the other isn't responding to anything (Tylan-200, Procaine Penicillin, Sulmet) - even when I catch it early, isolate and keep the pullet warm. They stop eating and drinking, lose weight quickly, exhibit feverish chills and oh, the thick mucous bloody coughs are horrible :-(<br />
<br />
Please have a good thought for my poor babies...<br />
<br />
I love them all so damn much, this is breaking my heart :-(Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-49793327317030938062011-09-01T13:52:00.000-04:002011-09-01T13:52:23.664-04:00Moooooose!<div style="text-align: center;">Our big boy Moose is already 3.5 months old now!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqCwSr2fnygC9lvQXKcnEP5V-8rg9o9Zt5DLCuY3FhC6ISurgm7Db0DysjH1AjPCL_MyVNiyoNpurZWKu93ugDel6n1hOzn4HTWoLvFgRyMx8BTNZbl6xo6fNM1UY6WYFPTi3FCSzZz-F/s1600/DSC_4429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqCwSr2fnygC9lvQXKcnEP5V-8rg9o9Zt5DLCuY3FhC6ISurgm7Db0DysjH1AjPCL_MyVNiyoNpurZWKu93ugDel6n1hOzn4HTWoLvFgRyMx8BTNZbl6xo6fNM1UY6WYFPTi3FCSzZz-F/s400/DSC_4429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He's a Jersey Giant but I don't think</div><div style="text-align: center;">he will attain "giant" size as he's from a hatchery.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We still find him hot stuff though ;-)</div><br />
Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-51714767765102029312011-08-16T11:21:00.000-04:002011-08-16T11:21:18.782-04:00hangin' out on the front porch<div style="text-align: center;">I didn't know the video would turn out so narrow, LOL!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Next time I'll film in landscape mode and not in portrait mode.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iTyq3lvstng" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But still, it gives you an idea of the dirty faces</div><div style="text-align: center;">we have to live with on muddy days like these!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gotta love 'em :-)</div><br><br />
Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-86068050336596974702011-08-13T10:52:00.000-04:002011-08-13T10:52:43.987-04:00TidbitsI love receiving my weekly<i> <a href="http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/healthy-chickens-bulletin.html"><b>Healthy Chickens Bulletin</b></a></i> - go check it out, it's free and super easy to sign up for! Each e-issue delivered to your email inbox contains valuable information, tip and tricks, answers to common questions we chicken hobbyists face every day, jokes and cartoons.<br />
<br />
Love it :-)<br />
<br />
In other news my total flock is now reduced to 53 and seems to be holding steady for now...<br />
<br />
Except that I'm pretty sure one of my two 6-week old bantam white cochins, Storm, is a boy... which means I'll have to rehome him before winter... huge sniff :-(<br />
<br />
And Oh My Goodness - is it already mid-August?!<br><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-33349629036903059262011-08-03T20:31:00.001-04:002011-08-03T20:31:49.478-04:00who came first...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLAXTbCNEJrtZOjqwyw5F0gogYa4th8sLotFCrM4ZU_xv_C8_tKpi5mwXVKy2hh0jGd9j7ftMZiapVd0mV5ATSGxIaCQPFRmz-26HeJMCaNqidN7zN-ljVrKI4eX_uDNIWBjJf60JfFiJ/s1600/ChickenBeforeEgg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLAXTbCNEJrtZOjqwyw5F0gogYa4th8sLotFCrM4ZU_xv_C8_tKpi5mwXVKy2hh0jGd9j7ftMZiapVd0mV5ATSGxIaCQPFRmz-26HeJMCaNqidN7zN-ljVrKI4eX_uDNIWBjJf60JfFiJ/s400/ChickenBeforeEgg.jpg" width="389" /></a></div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-10792990369215142562011-07-26T14:19:00.000-04:002011-07-26T14:19:37.093-04:00better days :-)Well, we survived last week's red mite nightmare, coop relocations, flock integrations, chook rehomings and a massive heat wave + a mini-hurricane, so I guess we can survive just about anything!<br />
<br />
I now have only two flocks - the sleeping quarters are a bit tight but they're at least dry and bug-free so the birds will just have to endure. They are outside all day anyways, it's not so bad.<br />
<br />
24 birds in one coop, 30 in the other - and that's it.<br />
<br />
No more for a long time, my flocks are closed.<br />
<br />
Every day I inspect for mites and so far so good, only had about two dozen under one sleeping plank a couple days ago, I squashed them then sprayed with permethrin so hoping I got them all. They were probably left-over eggs that hatched and had a first feeding, hah! Dead now. Fuckers.<br />
<br />
Lovely breeze out today - can't wait to let the big girls free-range again...<br />
<br />
Does anyone know how long it takes to reprogram a chicken's GPS?<br />
<br />
I don't want them to wander around lost at bed-time since the coop where they used to live has been locked up and condemned... I want them to head to their new coop.<br />
<br />
Guess we'll have to test it at some point...<br><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-12484794939737937162011-07-22T22:01:00.000-04:002011-07-22T22:01:16.179-04:00Coco<div style="text-align: center;">That's my girl! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKCTiddJh295ZaBu2JwKW3_S6BbE4mQcoEiOIS7j3hgpGCGQoBj9o23Yj_KbBkAOITMiHVhKu0tJfnvHyNal1TqX81kFBu1tyrZTZ6hVeK62nJkRugwgeFeijcDdFalpkw8icyvYqQxjj/s1600/coco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKCTiddJh295ZaBu2JwKW3_S6BbE4mQcoEiOIS7j3hgpGCGQoBj9o23Yj_KbBkAOITMiHVhKu0tJfnvHyNal1TqX81kFBu1tyrZTZ6hVeK62nJkRugwgeFeijcDdFalpkw8icyvYqQxjj/s400/coco.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She makes me smile every day :-)</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-58347439941468802522011-07-21T08:03:00.000-04:002011-07-21T08:03:00.213-04:00the year of CRAPName 15 awful things that can happen to a chicken owner, with red mites in the coop being the Worst Thing Possible, and I've been hit with absolutely everything the past year.<br />
<br />
I'm so fed up.<br />
<br />
Exhausted physically, mentally and financially.<br />
<br />
It's not much fun anymore, even if I love those chooks with all my heart.<br />
<br />
Death #4 since the beginning of July in progress this morning, my Sweetie is in a coma and will cross the bridge today after weeks of declining health. I'm thinking liver failure as her face is yellow, but for sure she is anemic from the blood-sucking vampire mites.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure I even want to go on being a chicken mama, since I obviously stink at it.<br />
<br />
So. Tired. <br><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-11606998499693564292011-07-14T16:57:00.000-04:002011-07-14T16:57:55.407-04:00Oliver Mongfoot<div style="text-align: center;">Isn't he just the most handsome roo? :-)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8vWmD6mzXTRasVP_82PgQ95doTtsXwzcs0Sl-12whmhiiag_wJJF9IIxl5KZm1iVdg_hzOStpk6y6fXLFQG9dl3tsYz94xuhMtwfqqB_MV0EhCpZCK10L8yy1QmPz8bxz4-4CD_FYmHC/s1600/DSC_3613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8vWmD6mzXTRasVP_82PgQ95doTtsXwzcs0Sl-12whmhiiag_wJJF9IIxl5KZm1iVdg_hzOStpk6y6fXLFQG9dl3tsYz94xuhMtwfqqB_MV0EhCpZCK10L8yy1QmPz8bxz4-4CD_FYmHC/s400/DSC_3613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoBtOQmQZfgVObte-QMcR_4l6CRqDUFvXpEX7WHBZ-xaofniWf3t4nHcgcWqCIPO5XuhZtUP0Re8ptAj-Xwlq99-HIaKgSNgbiRiWZzqMu9y0zkbxsUU6NHXim54uGH8sCCyNKEAoFREO/s1600/DSC_3614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoBtOQmQZfgVObte-QMcR_4l6CRqDUFvXpEX7WHBZ-xaofniWf3t4nHcgcWqCIPO5XuhZtUP0Re8ptAj-Xwlq99-HIaKgSNgbiRiWZzqMu9y0zkbxsUU6NHXim54uGH8sCCyNKEAoFREO/s400/DSC_3614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oliver will turn 6 months old on July 20th</div><div style="text-align: center;">and he's still growing -</div><div style="text-align: center;">hims gonna be a big boy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">His mom is a pure white silkie</div><div style="text-align: center;">and his dad is a partride frizzled silkie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to get babies from him one day :-)</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-74962767118030667442011-07-05T10:34:00.001-04:002011-07-05T10:36:39.218-04:00hot chickens!<div style="text-align: center;">Yep, the dog days of summer are here - HOT!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you do to help keep your flocks cool in this weather?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mine free-range so have plenty of access to shade and cool dirt, the ones penned up all have the same in their giant runs. I put out bowls of fresh cold water and offer them treats of fresh fruit, but mostly that's all I can do. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't trust fans in the coops, too scared of a fire risk :-/</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They pant, they hold their wings off their body and mutter but so far<br />
knock on wood, everyone's still accounted for...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Miss Daisy, my latest white leghorn addition:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_oJPMcGuGp6Yi-AVVnyX6b1BQpD9PReElNbrbm79q-gwX-0r7kEAB9pBkeQsL1M7kR6LmCTj_2_hBIXNykd84khhhVRXYIF-QnfXilHlbJrS1cviG42JB8Gc6P2exjmftw87xeixMB6O/s1600/DSC_3340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_oJPMcGuGp6Yi-AVVnyX6b1BQpD9PReElNbrbm79q-gwX-0r7kEAB9pBkeQsL1M7kR6LmCTj_2_hBIXNykd84khhhVRXYIF-QnfXilHlbJrS1cviG42JB8Gc6P2exjmftw87xeixMB6O/s400/DSC_3340.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She's 6 months old and lays like a dream :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lucky she's white, it's my big fat black hens that are suffering</div><div style="text-align: center;">through this summer - although they are all affected.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">At least it's not freezing!</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-39867996137017764172011-06-29T17:20:00.000-04:002011-06-29T17:20:27.742-04:00hilarious! football chickens!<div style="text-align: center;">I should totally get a ball for my chooks :-D</div><br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n-MreyjPISI" width="400"></iframe></center><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-17143239231063239142011-06-25T11:30:00.000-04:002011-06-25T11:30:11.603-04:00caption this!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHBuHqiyvLRjLwVV8G2rfLsiycyLvfSUPgPsBl_OQGAdW24-0XczNcM7vHeQYrY4WZ0yC-QB0gRcVKg6zkrKaYIhYYig8fhcC-fjNSDgvq7ogi3AOAGPmSojxM4vFWUXsrcCA1xteJjW-/s1600/how-easter-eggs-are-made-rabbit-and-chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHBuHqiyvLRjLwVV8G2rfLsiycyLvfSUPgPsBl_OQGAdW24-0XczNcM7vHeQYrY4WZ0yC-QB0gRcVKg6zkrKaYIhYYig8fhcC-fjNSDgvq7ogi3AOAGPmSojxM4vFWUXsrcCA1xteJjW-/s400/how-easter-eggs-are-made-rabbit-and-chicken.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I wonder what that hen is thinking... LOL!</div><br><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-45930733810531895322011-06-22T11:01:00.000-04:002011-06-22T11:01:38.593-04:00more losses :-(RIP Dizzy, our awesome white leghorn girl... just a year and a half old, found her cold and stiff on the coop floor Sunday morning - no idea why she died, she seemed fine the day before. Her skin was almost purple, her legs stretched out straight from her body, wings tight on her side, neck bent towards her chest and eyes closed. No broken neck, no signs bodily damage.<br />
<br />
Any idea what could have caused her death?<br />
<br />
RIP sweet Holly, our gorgeous buff orpington hen (July 18, 2010 - June 22, 2011). <br />
<br />
Holly got sick this spring along with quite a few other hens, some sort of pneumonia. Three girls died before I got my hands on penicillin, which didn't eradicate the illness but allowed a return to normal life for the survivors.<br />
<br />
Except Holly fell sick again about 3 weeks ago and this time meds didn't do a thing - she stopped eating and drinking and never managed to shake it. After 10 days in isolation I stopped treatment and put her back with her flock so she could have a few nice last days in the sun...<br />
<br />
Three days ago she crawled under our back deck and never left.<br />
<br />
She was waiting for death, which came and took her away sometime during the night.<br />
<br />
Even an expected and in this case a welcomed death for a sick and suffering creature strikes a blow. Holly was our big silly fluffernutter, the cartoon of the flock, gentle as a feather duster but three times cuter.<br />
<br />
Not a happy day :-(<br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-21097114196988864182011-06-19T22:33:00.000-04:002011-06-19T22:33:21.807-04:00i can haz chicks!<div style="text-align: center;">Fourteen chicks, in fact :-D</div><br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NoMKpl4oD0c" width="500"></iframe></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love these little stinkers!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the breeds? </div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-66042747593812843112011-06-16T21:11:00.000-04:002011-06-16T21:11:08.459-04:00spicy chicken?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip2UowB-LsqZ5XxjALtGmNOwv69eaoAk_TNQai8Ie6fW5LiXfa_0uFHpbMba7-deeZZKrGMtCJNPjhg2gNXlYIBs2TTFIX1aNLEvldY751MCt2KkHJqrJm3m7hRLEyd4twupdC20uyT99/s1600/mbcn308l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip2UowB-LsqZ5XxjALtGmNOwv69eaoAk_TNQai8Ie6fW5LiXfa_0uFHpbMba7-deeZZKrGMtCJNPjhg2gNXlYIBs2TTFIX1aNLEvldY751MCt2KkHJqrJm3m7hRLEyd4twupdC20uyT99/s400/mbcn308l.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-42356550270729419732011-06-13T19:48:00.000-04:002011-06-13T19:48:03.342-04:00Annabelle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xUseY2L89VHr7ZASbM4KxMuGmfCMV15tjuNCG3cLoZBB3n6rcXZLCactsiptVjmTm3PJ5PtCG6ZHxM9Do09rsNJVuwCtELKQrzrRZ59IxEMgXZ7s3AeldrRG8Sm_xRR_95YdnGfPh4WA/s1600/DSC_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xUseY2L89VHr7ZASbM4KxMuGmfCMV15tjuNCG3cLoZBB3n6rcXZLCactsiptVjmTm3PJ5PtCG6ZHxM9Do09rsNJVuwCtELKQrzrRZ59IxEMgXZ7s3AeldrRG8Sm_xRR_95YdnGfPh4WA/s400/DSC_3193.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I came <i>thisclose </i>to rehoming this little brat...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Put her up for sale,</div><div style="text-align: center;">had a guy call and he say he was coming the next morning</div><div style="text-align: center;">to pick her up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I waited all day, phoned but there was no answer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can I tell you how relieved I was for the no-show?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Had a bad, creepy feeling about the guy - </div><div style="text-align: center;">and I was right.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Took her for sale ads off the innernets</div><div style="text-align: center;">and what do you know -</div><div style="text-align: center;">the jerk showed up on our doorstep</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>a whole day later</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">without calling, without apologizing, nothing -</div><div style="text-align: center;">wanting to"pick up his bird".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Like, seriously?! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I told him to get lost!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She's my baby, my responsibility, she's a good healthy girl</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I have to endure her big personality, that's all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have one too, I should know better ;-)</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-15546116483434049732011-06-09T10:36:00.001-04:002011-06-09T10:37:55.179-04:00my chickens are frying!Anyone else's flocks suffering in the brutal wet summer heat?<br />
<br />
My poor birds... panting like dogs with wings outstretched, even in the shade buried in cool dirt. I try to keep them supplied with fresh cool water, I put a fan in the main coop at night to get some air moving around but still, it's HOT.<br />
<br />
I'm collecting hard-boiled eggs from the nesting boxes, LOL!<br />
<br />
OK not really, but you get the idea.<br />
<br />
A few girls have had a relapse with the lung issue thanks to the heat, one is isolated and on penicillin since she stopped eating and was acting really downbeaten (my sweet buff orpington Holly). The others are still laying and acting fine so I'm leaving them alone.<br />
<br />
Gotta get the coop ready for two new girls tomorrow, a white leghorn and a red production hen - both at POL (point of lay). I've gotten hens twice from this breeder before and they're awesome so I'm hoping all goes well this time too.<br />
<br />
Yes I have a lot of chickens but not many are regular layers, I'm getting between 14 and 20 eggs a day for almost 60 birds - bad, eh? Yes OK I have baby chicks, pullets too young to lay, old hens past their prime and a handful of roosters, hens in molt and others who just don't lay much at all no matter what.<br />
<br />
I have to stress the point that these are my pets, eggs are a side-benefit!<br />
<br />
But... people want those pastured (free range) eggs real bad so... I gotta get me more young, ambitious and reliable layers, no? <br />
<br />
*grin*<br><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-48417615913704544662011-06-05T20:53:00.002-04:002011-06-05T20:54:48.255-04:00the most logical explanation!<div style="text-align: center;">(click to enlarge pic)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz0YJf909rIUMZSAlJfmAemgpCm5g_b2IeiXb0010bC_eCwqdeg6Xp9ngu6yVNjatFDwl23bE72mi9iGipCkAKvWaQOj7DtzCsvTdgMNdUaVfJ1n4_VSZWqX5sRkq-YBsi4ZzmJgoK8sv/s1600/intersection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz0YJf909rIUMZSAlJfmAemgpCm5g_b2IeiXb0010bC_eCwqdeg6Xp9ngu6yVNjatFDwl23bE72mi9iGipCkAKvWaQOj7DtzCsvTdgMNdUaVfJ1n4_VSZWqX5sRkq-YBsi4ZzmJgoK8sv/s400/intersection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148245613023368872.post-32188730003066770372011-06-02T11:24:00.000-04:002011-06-02T11:24:15.182-04:00Meet the peepers!<div style="text-align: center;">It's so hard to take good pics of the wee ones</div><div style="text-align: center;">when they're under a heat lamp!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">60W yellow bulb here, hence the yellow hue:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQuiG9XA33deN1GPgdTP92yu4ucBAUD6MRZ_jQBcCsOfxORY-PITBIvZnRqr27iA696nodSbGFTIPDBUXaZumEUBpLr8IXCsXaDydQwnt6aGccfMqU4yrhEuj9QkX2UcV9UFkhNw2Z9KR/s1600/DSC_3015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQuiG9XA33deN1GPgdTP92yu4ucBAUD6MRZ_jQBcCsOfxORY-PITBIvZnRqr27iA696nodSbGFTIPDBUXaZumEUBpLr8IXCsXaDydQwnt6aGccfMqU4yrhEuj9QkX2UcV9UFkhNw2Z9KR/s400/DSC_3015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I gave the white crested polish back to my friend</div><div style="text-align: center;">as I was 90% sure he was a roo, and to be honest</div><div style="text-align: center;">we just didn't "click".</div><div style="text-align: center;">So in all there are now 14 babies:</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 three week old white jersey giant, named Doudounne</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 easter eggers</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 salmon faverolles (which are roos according to wing feather... damn!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 barred plymouth rocks</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 blue orpingtons</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 splash orpington</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to see them grow up and be part of the flock!</div><br>Technodollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06651690556059895831noreply@blogger.com2