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Post by mnjrutherford on Oct 18, 2010 9:51:38 GMT -5
My "white leghorn" turned out to be a white rock. They look very similar. Hey brown eggs sell for more money. When pullets first start laying, sometimes they lay a huge one after 2 days instead of a tiny one every day. But still examine her. You also might see double yolks in some eggs now. Thanks for that Lynn! That's a good suggestion. These are the "free" chicks we got from the county. They get the eggs donated to various classes who then have a curriculum in place to hatch them. Once hatched, they give the babies away to interested parties. I love the brown eggs but the speckled are my favorites. We have had 1 double yolker so far, but I think it was from the Rock/RIR coop. It was HUGE! I've given 2 dozen eggs away, but so far I'm managing to keep pace, using what we get. Last week we had angel food cake (12 whites) with strawberries and zabaglione (8 yolks). Then I made eclairs and cream puffs (4 whole in the pastry and the leftover yolks for the custard filling). Yesterday I made a chocolate chiffon cake (7 whole) and filled it with the custard left over from the eclairs and cream puffs. I'm planning on making turron today (egg whites, honey, almonds) and French macaron maybe tomorrow? I'm also planning on trying my hand at a cheese souffle. The food has been wonderful... but there are... umm... shall we say... "repercussions"? The bottom line has been pretty good on the pocket though. We are shelling out a fair amount for their food, but our grocery bill has gone down according to the increase in their bill.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Oct 18, 2010 9:59:41 GMT -5
Jo, What kind of comb does this bird have? A Chantecler has a Cushion comb, close to the head, free of points. Rocks, and Orpingtons have small single combs. Jerseys have large single comb. Wyandottes have a Rose comb; entire comb conforms to the shape of the skull which tapers to a well-defined point at the rear. There are other clean legged breeds which have white plumage but are so rare that I doubt you would have one of them. Although these days it seems that some of the larger hatcheries are reintroducing them. These are not from heritage stock but from their own breeding programs so they can sell these "rare" breeds. I have to get some pics of them up here. I need to take pics of some other stuff as well so... DRAT! Lost another excuse! As for being rare... I agree, I seriously doubt that I just happened to get rare birds. I'd be happy about it! But what are the odds? Right?
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Post by mnjrutherford on Nov 18, 2010 9:56:48 GMT -5
It appears that one of the guinea keets (about 4 months old now) has sustained a simple fracture on the right leg between the "wrist" and the "knee". I have supported the break with a wooden craft stick, top and bottom, cut to fit the length of the bone without interfering with the joint bend. The leg is also bound with a goodly amount of tape. The keet was then repatriated with the flock. The keet went to the flock immediately and the flock responded to it's calls and stayed with it. The flock consists purely of the keets siblings and parents.
What next? How long should the leg be bound? What behavior can we expect? What behavior requires intervention, and what sort of intervention? What behavior should be observed?
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Post by mjc on Nov 18, 2010 10:46:17 GMT -5
I can't remember specifically, but I know that it is less than what it takes for a human bone to be in a cast/splint, but longer than a week...about two to four weeks (google is your friend ) If the bird is active and accepted back into the flock, there won't likely be any problems with it. But keep an eye out for harassment or bullying. Also chick the tape, often for loose ends, because if it is dragging around the other birds may start pecking at it (the tape) which could lead to squabbles.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Nov 30, 2010 13:14:41 GMT -5
EGGS - Where would I look to get my eggs tested to see how they measure up to the standard nutritional values?
Keet with broken leg - On Thursday, it will be 2 weeks since the splinting. He been isolated the entire time, the family comes and visits him throughout the day so he's never alone. He spent the first 3 days pretty much immobile. Then he sat on a low perch, then he started moving about the coop. It's a full size coop and it's been empty a while so the greens have started growing. He is becoming increasingly mobile.
One thing I learned within the last couple days, I should have immobilized the joints above and below the break. I also learned that a paper mache type mixture was used in "older" times to create a cast. My thought was "What about moisture?"
I've also been giving him a bit of extra protein in the form of boiled egg snacks.
On Thursday I'll evaluate but I'm thinking that we will give him a chance to rejoin the flock. The splint will remain for another week.
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Post by flowerpower on Dec 1, 2010 7:50:33 GMT -5
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Post by mnjrutherford on Dec 1, 2010 8:51:45 GMT -5
I have NO idea if they do or not! ;D
Actually, what I'm really thinking of is that most of the folks we know feed their birds day old bread they gather from the area "big bread" bakeries. Crap bread that I wouldn't feed my family. We feed our birds a blend of grains and floating catfish food as well as certain table scraps.
So, I'm wondering what the difference in nutrients would be in the eggs, and now that I'm thinking about it... I wonder how that affects their poop in terms of how well does it turn into fertilizer and what does it do for the soil?
We live in a Marine Corps town. If I can say, honestly, that my eggs have more protein, that would be an excellent selling point. Other farmer's market sellers are asking $3 dozen for their eggs. I'm asking the same price but offering a .50 cent discount if they bring their own carton.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 1, 2010 13:35:20 GMT -5
It appears that one of the guinea keets (about 4 months old now) has sustained a simple fracture on the right leg between the "wrist" and the "knee". BTW, that area of the leg is known as the shank Good luck with it's repair. Bones are calcium Give the little critter some crushed dried eggshell in his fancy rations.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Dec 1, 2010 17:03:27 GMT -5
BTW, that area of the leg is known as the shank Good luck with it's repair. Bones are calcium Give the little critter some crushed dried eggshell in his fancy rations. ahHA! I was hoping someone would fill me in on that bit of data! Thanks Wendy! ;D I was wondering about the eggshell deal. Yesterday I cooked some oatmeal and added a couple whole boiled eggs with the shells. Think that will do the trick?
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Jan 6, 2011 17:08:56 GMT -5
Ground Oyster shells contain around 36 % calcium. along with sodium, copper, magnesium and iron. I will mix some in with the feed , placed in the feeder, and allow them to free choice it. About once a month or so I will have to add more shells. The nice thing is the magnesium is in it so the system can absorb the calcium. A 5 lb. bag will last a pretty good while. They seem to know when their body needs it. It also promotes harder shells. I don't know the mineral make up of egg shells it will probably do the same thing, I've never looked up the values on them.
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Post by silverseeds on Jan 6, 2011 19:23:56 GMT -5
In reference to calcium.... Ive got an alternative for anyone who would like to try it, or HAS to try it into the future. Pillbugs AKA sowbugs, AKA rollie pollies. they are not actually bugs or insects but a land based crustacean. so they have a shell not an exo skeletion. (like an insect would) Woodlice the same is true, those are the ones that cant roll into a ball, but i find the ones who can roll into balls are easier to purposely raise. Ive got huge colonies of them going in buckets before, and ust started some more. In my case they were just breaking down manure for me. You can raise them on about anything, and if you layer their area, you can fit many more in the same small space.... People raising lizards and turtles culture them, so theres some info out there, but my methods a bit different, Im sure each of us could find a bit different way based on what materials you have.... I couldnt find a complete nutritional (for the birds) break down of them, but birds of all types will happily eat them. I did find verification of the fact their shells do contain all the main components oyster shells do, though again, Im not positive its in the same ratios. if you go down to the 8th page of this www.rims.net/InsectNutritionalPrimer.pdf<<<<<<<<<<<<<<On the basis of these findings, an additional but untested strategy for calcium supplementation might be to allow self-feeding birds to regulate their own intake of calcium from extraneous sources such as crushed eggshells and mollusk shells. Alternatively, access could be provided to high-calcium arthropods like isopods and millipedes. Graveland and Van Gijzen (1994) estimated that breeding female great tits (Parus major) could meet their calcium needs if about 5–6% of the dry matter in their diet were woodlice or millipedes, with 3–4% sufficient for nestlings. Our theoretical calculations based on the calcium content of both isopods and insects support this conclusion. Isopods can readily be collected from the environment, and methods for rearing them have been established (Caseiro et al. 2000).>>>>>>>>>>> So yeah this is on a different bird entirely, but it verifies its a usable form for birds. Ratios are surely totally different depending on bird. but I thought this could prove useful to someone in the future.... you also dont have to process it!!!! just pull out the big ones and let the birds feast.
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Post by synergy on Jan 28, 2011 1:44:44 GMT -5
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Post by garnetmoth on Feb 25, 2011 13:07:40 GMT -5
Finally got around to reading this thread, thanks all! We had barnyard cross we got as pullets in TN, and bought younger pullets at a swap last year that didnt ever lay, so we have fresh chicks from a local hatchery who are 3 days old today! theyre pretty darn cute. I was able to pick them up at the hatchery, and they started eating and drinking as soon as I got them home. Weve had a few pasty butts, but not bad, I just want to catch it before anyone gets stopped up. Ill probably start adding a few grass and sunflower sprouts soon- Does anyone have guidelines on how young to start different foods? (If theyre free ranged, I imagine they get odds and ends pretty early!)
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Post by mnjrutherford on Feb 25, 2011 14:33:55 GMT -5
We fed our babies laying mash from the feed & grain. Non medicated! We didn't add anything else till they were fully feathered out. THEY ARE CUTE!!! LOL
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Post by mnjrutherford on Mar 6, 2011 13:00:34 GMT -5
We went out to Agri Supply after checking out the stockyard flea market and The Collard Shack this past Wednesday. We decided to break down and get one of the little still air incubators and an automatic egg turner. HOW do they expect you to get water into the darn thing without breaking the whole thing down?!?! Well, we've got it loaded with chicken eggs with an expected hatching date of March 30th. We'll hold off on candling until the 16th.
The guineas have started laying as well. For the moment at least they are just plopping eggs out willy nilly. I suspect they will become more organized and committed to a nest a bit later in the season? We shall see.
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