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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jan 16, 2009 17:01:32 GMT 8
I lost my light blue silkie chick with the partridge type markings today It had been sick for a few days, and I was so hoping it would come good but the extreme heat (44C!!) and thick smoke (blew over from the two rocks fire) got the better of it. Disappointing, as I was really looking forward to seeing what colouring it would have when it feathered up. Hopefully next season I might get another chick the same colour...... On a brighter note, the other poultry did really well today considering how bl**dy hot it was. As I mentioned above it was 44C here today, and just to make it even more fun (not) a thick blanketing of smoke came across mid arvo from the Two Rocks fires so the chooks had to cope with that as well. Thankfully a westerly breeze has come through a little while ago so its cooled off quite a bit.
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Post by lakelands on Jan 16, 2009 18:06:33 GMT 8
That's sad. I hate it when the babies die. I think that all the eggs that were under my Frizzle are stuffed. It's been so hot and a couple exploded yesterday I can't imagine the rest will be any good. but I'll see if I can candle them tonite and see what's happenning
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jan 16, 2009 20:19:40 GMT 8
I hope some of your eggs are still okay. I had that happen when I was in hospital having my son, I had a banty sitting on some silkie eggs which got contaminated because she pooped all over them. So of course they all exploded under her but still the darling kept on sitting lol. I came home and went to check on her and boy oh boy did the chook house stink lol
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Post by mikemurphy on Jan 16, 2009 20:33:24 GMT 8
I lost a keat but it wasn't the heat. I think mum squashed it during the night. Sadly I expect a high mortality rate, especially with the keats. Even with the GLW chicks that are eight weeks old there are some that look as if they might not make it, but one of those is among the most adventurous when I open the gate and let them out. She's among the first out and is quite happy to go off foraging by herself.
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Post by fluffychook on Jan 16, 2009 21:47:52 GMT 8
Sorry to hear that Steph, is that the one that had the yellow legs like mine? If so, mine is doing well so we will at least know what it looks like. On another note I just ordered two more dozen blue silkie eggs, D Gregory now has a buff rooster in there now, so will be interesting to see if I get any buff chickies. The first dozen arrived yesterday only for me to drop one as I was unpacking, silly clutz.....lol We have also ordered a dozen buff silkie eggs form Shrimano farms. Rather excited as to see what we get from them too.
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Post by fluffychook on Jan 16, 2009 21:50:46 GMT 8
We had 43 here in Kalamunda, very thankful for the air con. I don't know how you people out there without one cope. I went and hosed down the ducks, so funny to watch them trying to catch and eat the droplets of water. Cools everybody else down too, double benefit plus a good laugh.
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Post by beck on Jan 17, 2009 7:57:06 GMT 8
So sad to hear about the babies dying but the heat is shocking and the fires terrible i feel so angry when i hear they are lit on purpose with no thought to peoples homes and all the animals also hopefully it will all clear up soon as i too can smell the smoke ...on another note glad to hear fluffy's duck enjoying the sprinkler and can't wait to see what comes out of the eggs also the count down begins again lol
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Post by mikemurphy on Jan 17, 2009 15:43:19 GMT 8
Lost another keat this morning. It was just sitting there looking sad and I took it inside and gave it water but it died a little later. Then this afternoon we found another one looking the worse for wear. We haven't got the same heat you have up there so I don't think it's that. Penney, my wife, has the latest one in a pouch around her neck and is giving it water every hour. Hopefully it will revive. Checked the water in the pen and it seems okay. The other keats are drinking it. Noticed that the survivors are all pied pearl. Wonder if that is relevant?
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jan 17, 2009 17:59:18 GMT 8
Nah, I dont think thats relevant Mike. Keets seem to have a habit of dropping dead for no apparent reason. They dont seem to be as hardy as chicks or ducklings. I had a couple die this season, 1 was a late hatch and I'd say died because it wasnt as strong as the others. The other, I found trampled and cold, barely alive with legs straight and stiff. I managed to save it the first time but it then died a couple of weeks later. I've read quite a few stories of peoples keets dropping like flies seemingly without reason so its quite common. Fluffy, I was just looking at Shrimani farms website the other night lol. I saw the pics of their buffs but saw that the roo had black in his tail and I'm after clean buffs. So I'll be very interested to see how your chicks turn out. It will be interesting also to see what colours you get from the D Gregory eggs this time. Wonder if the buff roo will mean some of the blue chicks might have orange hackles. And yes, it was the chick with the yellowish pinkish legs I'm soooo struggling to resist the urge to buy/set eggs lol. I'm trying to force myself to have a break for a lil bit. Lets see how long that lasts lol .....
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Post by fluffychook on Jan 17, 2009 19:43:47 GMT 8
I read the standard for buff and black in the tail is acceptable, I got the following from the Silkie Club of Australia
GOLD: Male and Female Plumage, An even shade of golden buff, avoiding pale lemon colour on the one hand and brownish orange on the other. Clear colour throughout to be preferred but some darker feathers permissible in tail of both sexes.
So I thought it would be ok to have some black in their tails, but it does say some.
I am hoping to get clean silkies from D Gregory and not mixed, definately not what I am wanting, and I don't think they would be diluting their blues somehow. Otherwise they would lose the colour.
As for having a break I have had mine, and was convinced by the family to start incubating again, but then again I do not have a small baby around either. How is he by the way?
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jan 17, 2009 20:18:31 GMT 8
Yes, I read that in the standard as well. I just thought I'd try to get some clean buffs without the black as you dont see them very often. I'll see if I can source any eggs soon but if not I may have to start with black tailed buffs and breed them, retaining any clean buffs and go from there. Yeh, it would be a shame if the D Gregory blues feathered up with orange hackles wouldnt it but you'd think they wouldnt be mixing the colours anyway.
That was a short break you had lol. We'll see how long my "break" lasts, considering that its not yet a break as I'm still raising the last lot of chicks.
The bub is doing well. Took him to the GP yesterday to have his pee tested and there was still a trace of blood so we've gotta go back next friday and test the pee again. He's got to have a MCU (Micturating Cysto Uretherogram) in early Feb which is not going to be much fun. Basically they stick up a catheter up his 'you know what' (sorry if TMI) and inject some dye then watch how his piddle circulates to see if he's got reflux. Then back to the paediatrician the next day to get the results. Fingers crossed he doesnt have reflux.
How are your last lot of D Gregory chicks progressing? Mine are just starting to feather up. I'm watching the two splash closely as I'm very interested to see how they turn out, colour wise.
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Post by fluffychook on Jan 17, 2009 20:58:05 GMT 8
I had a break because I let the hens raise the chicks, did a great job too, only lost a couple. One drowned, very surprised at that as there was only a small amount of water and lots of platform. One just looked poorly and was dead a few hours later.
My last lot are feathering up well, they are three weeks old now. I will take some pictures soon and put them on for you to see.
Sorry to hear about bub, I really hope he does not have reflux, it is a terrible terrible thing to have. Imagine cronic heartburn constantly. Not nice.
I am hoping for clean buffs too, time will tell.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jan 18, 2009 6:36:42 GMT 8
I hope the Shrimani eggs travel as well as the Gregory eggs. The chickies dont seem to need much water to manage to drown themselves, I use plastic plant saucers as water dishes and I fill them small gravel rocks them add the water so that theres no way they can drown. I havent lost a chick yet from drowning. My ducklings are doing well, I lost one of the two Saxonys at about a week old. The BEI and Saxony ducklings are the best of mates. They are starting to get their adult feathers and the BEI had ended up with a white patch on its neck/chest. Its a fault in their standards but I dont mind, I think its gorgeous and I've grown attached to it so I think I'll keep it. Just wont breed from it. I'll take some new piccies for you guys
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Post by lakelands on Jan 18, 2009 11:25:02 GMT 8
Hi Steph Hope your baby is OK my nephew had reflux and was on medication for ages which seemed to keep him comfy. He's turning 16 soon and all very fit and healthy.no more reflux. I grew out of it at about 12 months I think...
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Post by fluffychook on Jan 18, 2009 13:36:21 GMT 8
My husband has chronic reflux, he used to think he was having a heart attack
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