fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread

[fuzzi]

So...Naomi is still on her eggs in the nesting box IN the brooder. She enthusiastically ate diced tomatoes from my hand.

Both flocks got a hunk of watermelon, cold, half frozen from my refrigerator. Yum.

The Sussex gave me three eggs!

The second coop gets more sun, and the ground is drier. I dug a small hole in a sunny spot, then added about a quart of water. Ooh. After the water sank I noticed the hens exploring the damp ground. I did the same thing last year when it was really hot, and the flock loved to wallow in the damp soil.

I have about a dozen squash to freeze later today. The yellow and zucchini have succumbed to borers but the Argentinian is still producing softball-sized fruits. I picked SIX today. I am not complaining, I love squash. And the stem was completely dry on one of the volunteer pumpkins, so I brought it inside. I'll need to research cooking my own pumpkin.

 

[canesisters]

Good girl Naomi!!!
Almost time to come off that nest ️

 

[fuzzi]

As of about 7pm tonight she's still on 6 eggs. I have a meeting after work tomorrow, probably will not be able to check on her until about 6pm.

 

[fuzzi]

No chicks, yet.


I slid a couple eggs out from underneath her, two that were in front, no sign of pipping.

Naomi is definitely in full broody mode...I had to bump her beak with a chunk of watermelon before she became aware of it, and then gobbled it up. I saw her broody near the food and water, so she's getting nourishment.

I'll check again later.

 

[fuzzi]

Checked after dark, no sounds. Perfect opportunity, so I checked Tamar's drooping wing. It appears to be frozen in place, won't extend. No soft swelling, smell, discharge, dry underneath, and a slight lump in her "armpit" area. I'll try to look again in daylight, though she's probably my most skittish hen.

Checked this morning without opening the coop. Silas was crowing to be heard in the next county, hard to tell if there were chick noises.

 

[fuzzi]

No chicks.

No pips.

I'm bummed.

 

[Finnie]

I don't have a lawn (golf green), I have a yard (weeds and crab grass)!

You have eco-turf!

Give the chicks an extra day or two, since they got cooled off that day your sitter put them in the house. They need to make up for the lost time.

 

[fuzzi]

You have eco-turf!

Give the chicks an extra day or two, since they got cooled off that day your sitter put them in the house. They need to make up for the lost time.

If they've not started hatching by this evening I am planning on doing the following:

1. Sniff test (don't want them exploding)
2. Candling

 

[fuzzi]

I got a picture underneath Tamar's stiff wing:

Spoiler: Icky

It's dry, not hot to the touch, and not "soft" swollen. It's firm.

A chicken-knowledgeable friend has suggested I dab some Hibiclens on it once a day, and see if the crusty stuff comes off.

She said it could be from a rooster's claw, had it happen to one of her hens.

Poor Tamar.

 

[canesisters]

I got a picture underneath Tamar's stiff wing:

Spoiler: Icky

View attachment 119286

It's dry, not hot to the touch, and not "soft" swollen. It's firm.

A chicken-knowledgeable friend has suggested I dab some Hibiclens on it once a day, and see if the crusty stuff comes off.

She said it could be from a rooster's claw, had it happen to one of her hens.

Poor Tamar.

One of my girls got spurred once. She spent a few days in my guest bath tub getting it flushed every day. It healed just fine.