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Barnyard Buddies:  Question about one of my hens  |
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Kelly Wall
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Kelly
Apison
TN
USA
430 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 11 2010 : 04:44:33 AM
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One of my precious hens seems different, she is thinner, and her comb is a slight reddish pink, almost white. She is eating and hanging around with the others, I wonder if she is moulting? I hope the cold isn't getting to her. I just noticed the difference in her the last couple of days. It has been very cold here, but I think Barred Rocks are cold hardy. Any suggestions?
Kelly
Farmgirl #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2010 : 04:47:25 AM
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that happens to my girls in the winter too....i'm not sure, but I think it might have something to do with the cold
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2010 : 05:45:02 AM
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Kelly, try some warm water with electrlytes mixed in. You can get that at a feed store. Also give them cracked corn at night. It's supposed to help keep their little bodies warm. I do that and some of mine roost in the trees. They are all fine. Just a little slow in the morning til the sun comes up. Then they're back to normal.
Also warm water with apple cider vinegar, too. If it was summer and she was so pale I'd think anemia. Also hens that have pale combs aren't laying eggs. But maybe she's just cold and needs a little boost from the electrolytes.
Good luck. Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2010 : 07:46:33 AM
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| kelly, how old is she. there combs are where most color comes from for yolk color. when they get older the comb color fades. just a thought sherrye |
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Kelly Wall
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Kelly
Apison
TN
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2010 : 4:20:08 PM
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Thanks, I will get the electrolytes in the morning,
Sherry they are only 9 months old, she may not be laying, I only collected 3 eggs today.
She seem active, I did notice her tail feathers are shorted too.
Kelly
Farmgirl #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2010 : 4:31:18 PM
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Kelly, she might be getting picked on by the others, and is not getting enough to eat or drink, if thats so, seperate her until she is back up to pare.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Kelly Wall
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Kelly
Apison
TN
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 5:41:52 PM
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Thanks Teresa,
Kris I got the electolytes and the package makes 55 GALLONS! Now what do I do??? Just sprinkle a little bit in the water?
Kelly
Farmgirl #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 5:57:31 PM
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Yes, just sprinkle alittle in the water
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 7:44:40 PM
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Kelly, it's always good to have a pack of that around. Never know when ya might need some. I always just mix about a 1/4 teaspoon in about a half gallon of water. I hope that helps her.
I'm up to 8-10 eggs a day now! I have 4 dozen on the counter in cartons and 10 more in my egg basket. I have traded 2 dozen for a gallon of my friends raw milk. And I have more sold. It feels so good to be rolling in eggs again. It's been a long time.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Kelly Wall
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Kelly
Apison
TN
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2010 : 08:34:13 AM
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Thanks Kris, and Congrats on the bounty of eggs thats just fabulous!
So you don't store them in the fridge? Why not? I keep mine in the fridge, figured they need to stay cold. I have 3 doz. in there now! I can't use them quick enough, I think they last longer though right?
Kelly
Farmgirl #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2010 : 08:49:05 AM
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Eggs need to be kept at a cool , steady temp, so leaving them out with the temp changeing constantly, especially in a kitchen, can be a problem. Refrigerating them is fine.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2010 : 08:50:20 AM
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i keep mine in my back pantry....it is quite cool back there, I hope this is ok
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2010 : 1:29:50 PM
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I never refrigerate mine unless they've been washed. I never wash them unless they are filthy, muddy or poopy. Even in summer. They have a protective coating on them that keeps them preserved. Once washed they do need to kept in a fridge. I have never gotten sick and no one's ever complained. That's just the way I've always done it here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2010 : 5:52:41 PM
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Kristin is correct... Once they are washed they must be refrigerated. I read that the farmer has 30 days to get the eggs to the market , the market has 30 days to sell them & conumer has 30 days to use them up.. I leave mine on the counter too.. No problem with getting sick or ever had a bad egg.
Cheryl
Farmgirl #309
Klamath Falls "Charming Chicks Chapter" Mother Hen
Be sure to check us out
http://www.Klamathfallscharmingchicks.blogspot.com and my personal
Almost daily posts at:
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Grandmas are mom's with more icing. |
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Kelly Wall
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Kelly
Apison
TN
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2010 : 06:16:36 AM
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Wow, I am glad I have fresh eggs, I can't believe I used to eat eggs 90+ days old!
Thank you all for your egg knowledge, this really helps with me being a first time hen owner~
Kelly
Farmgirl #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
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katevc
Farmgirl in Training
17 Posts
Kate
Hutchinson
KS
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2010 : 12:28:45 AM
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I need some good chicken advice. We seem to have a Barred rock chicken who is suddenly a rooster and we already have one rooster. Are barred rock known for being late bloomers? And does anyone recomend a good resource for identifying chickens? Our first set of chickens were hatched from eggs of a free range group of birds from a friend of a friend and we don't know what we have nor their exact age...What about yolky looking substance in the nesting box? No evidence of a broken egg...we only have 5 birds..1 1/2 roosters (depending on what is going on with the barred rock) and three hens....two we know are laying - the araucanas who are older than the others...I have been looking for info on-line for several days and I just seem to be confused....
To plant a thing and watch it grow... that is to nurture a miracle. |
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rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2010 : 06:39:14 AM
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Kate--Do you have or get any hatchery magazines? Meyer Hatchery has a good colorful magazine with pictures of the adult rooster and hen as well as what they look like as chicks and what the eggs look like. You might be able to view online too. meyerhatchery.com
The yolky substance could really be a yolk. The chickens might have eaten the shell. Are you giving them oyster shells or anything to help with calcium? You definately do not want them to start the habit of breaking and eating eggs. It's extremely hard to break. Also, I had some chickens that would occasionally lay an egg without a shell. It just had a soft membrane around it. As for the barred rock, mine are actually ahead of the others in size. They are just starting to lay, so I'm not sure what eggs are coming from who yet. Hope this helds
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!" |
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Downhome CountryGirl
Farmgirl in Training
42 Posts
Sam
Klondike
Texas
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2010 : 07:41:54 AM
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Kelly if you still think that your hen could be molting add some parsley to her feed just the regular old parsley that is in you spice cabnet if she is molting this will give her what she needs to come out of it and go on cheep and works well.
Also girls I have just learned something from some local farmgirls on the storing of your extra eggs. crack you eggs in a bowl and beat them as though you where going to scramble them, then get out the ice trays pour your beaten eggs into the trays and freeze then you take them out & individually wrap them in plastic wrap 2 cubes equal 1 egg place them into a ziplock bag and they will keep for 1 year. NOTE: spray very little cooking spray into the ice trays or you'll have a time getting them out. |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2010 : 07:51:21 AM
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Might have been a soft-shell, I agree. Every once in a while a hen will lay an egg with no outer shell, just the membrane. They usually break the second they hit something solid, hay, nest box bottom, etc. Calcium supplements are always a good idea for the girls. It also helps to have a dark nestbox. If there's alot of daylight, rig up curtains made from old towels, etc. Hens won't eat what doesn't sparkle, and egg white is shiny in the light. That's what will attract them in the first place.
As for the half-roo, he's probably a very late-bloomer. When we had them in our commercial house, we wrung their neck. Don't be tempted to keep him as a replacement, he will never mature into a robust roo. We called them geeks or Ichabod, because they were tall and skinny, like Ichabod Crane.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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katevc
Farmgirl in Training
17 Posts
Kate
Hutchinson
KS
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2010 : 09:51:36 AM
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Great advice and info farm sisters! Thank you so much.
Glad to know I'm not crazy to think that was a yolk in the nesting box. Our boxes are good and dark and I will double check on the calcium issue. I thougt we had that covered but the DH has been in charge of feed lately, so maybe something has changed. Is it possible that the soft-shell is from our little hen that hasn't started laying yet?
I am sad to be losing the Barred Rock - I really like her personality. But s/he is headed to the chicken auction on Friday. We discovered that there is a little chicken auction once a month in the Amish community south of us. I am excited to go and see about trading or picking up a new hen.
Thanks for the recomendation about the hatchery catalogue. We don't get any as we have been lucky to have been given all of our birds.
For the reccomendation about the parsley - I have been giving my chikens parsley out of the garden until the hard freeze got it. My neighbor grows comfrey for his chickens. He hangs it in the chicken yard or hen house if there's been a alot of snow and he says they will jump up to get it and that's how they get their exercise in the dead of winter. The image of those jumping chickens makes me smile.
To plant a thing and watch it grow... that is to nurture a miracle. |
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Kelly Wall
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Kelly
Apison
TN
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2010 : 06:29:19 AM
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Humm, Parsley is interesting, I will sprinkle some out there today. Kate, wish you were closer to me, I am looking for a barred rooster! I am going to wait a few more weeks to get one. I have a confused hen who has been sitting on 5 unfertilized eggs! i found her in a flower pot in my barn, I felt so bad taking the eggs from her, she just looked at me with her sad eyes. I told her I was getting her a rooster. My mother wants some chicks this spring, so maybe we this hen will sit and hatch them. I am rather new to the world of hens, but so far so good! I love each one and all their personalities!
Kelly
Farmgirl #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
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Barnyard Buddies: Question about one of my hens |
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Question about one of my hens
