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The cam is off, the chicks are spending their first morning out in the small run, learning about the outdoors and the rest of the flock. Our temps are over 100 degrees this week, so they'll only be out there a few hours and will be brought back in once it gets too hot. The cam will return then, probably around 1-2PM PST. I've rearranged the brooder box and raised the camera for a better view, it was getting a bit 'Attack Of The 50 Foot Chickens' in there. Velvet Sparrow fucked around with this message at 20:14 on Jul 3, 2023 |
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Jul 3, 2023 19:26
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| # ? Apr 27, 2024 21:45 |
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Welp...I have some sad news. Something happened back in April that we hadn't said anything about until now, because we didn't want to drag everybody down, and there was nothing anyone could have done to help, anyway. WingDing died this morning. Back on April 10th we innoculated the chicks for Marek's Disease. The vaccine must be given a few days after hatch, and is delivered using a tuberculin syringe (tiny, very short needle) via a sub-q injection at the back of the neck. The kid and I have been doing them for years, so we know how to do it and are experienced--what happened was a pure freak accident. WingDing was a Silikie, and humans developing crested breeds like Silkies for bigger and better crests have caused a naturally-occurring hole in the top of a Silkie's skull to become much larger. Their brains protrude through this hole, leaving them VERY susceptible to brain injury from what would otherwise be a minor injury from a bump or peck to the head. I call this kind of injury Head Boink, and it's generally quite treatable. Head Boink can also be cause by Botulism (or anything that causes brain swelling), the symptoms are a loss of balance and/or what is called Twirling/Stargazing. It can be fatal because the bird cannot eat or drink for itself. When WingDing was getting her vaccination, she suddenly freaked out and flailed, and rammed the needle into her neck vertebrae. She immediately went limp and I thought she'd killed herself. She was alive, but in shock and paralyzed. I immediately began treating her with a Selenium/Vitamin E mixture which I've used before for cases of Head Boink, it's got a very good track record for curing it--but it takes time--usually around 10- 20 days. WingDing's injury was profound, she couldn't even hold her head up and just laid in one spot. We put her in her own cage, and I've been handfeeding her every 2 hours since April 10th and giving her the Head Boink treatment. Over the last three months she'd gained weight, grown and improved to the point where for the last 3 weeks, she could hold herself upright, was eating and drinking on her own, etc. She still couldn't walk around normally and I couldn't trust the adult chickens or big chicks around her, so she'd been living in her own space in the brooder box. The last 14 days or so the three baby chicks were hopping in with her and they were all getting along great. WingDing had gotten much stronger and was still making progress but it was slow, we'd hoped eventually she'd be able to walk around without staggering and could join the flock in another few weeks. But she was alert, healthy and carrying on just like the other chicks. Today she went out into the small run with the three young chicks from batch 2--seperated from the big chickens, of course--so they could all spend a couple of hours outside and start getting used to the outdoors while we cleaned the brooder box. An hour later, the kid found WingDing dead. No injuries or damage, she just...died. I don't know if her Head Boink contributed to her death or not, but I suspect that she couldn't overcome it and it just finally got her. Hope everyone understands why why didn't mention this before...I really was hoping we'd get her back to a point where she could join the flock or just be a house chicken. Sorry to be the bearer of sad news, but it was just a stupid damned accident and we did our best for her. 
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Jul 4, 2023 05:49
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drat. Thanks for making the little one as comfortable as possible, especially as long as you did. It's completely understandable why you wouldn't announce this before now. I appreciate that, despite the heavy news, the prognosis is light enough in humor to fight it. Terminal Head Boink is a heck of a name.
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Jul 4, 2023 07:41
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Sorry for your loss. You tried everything for that little featherbundle. Roost in Peace WingDing
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Jul 4, 2023 13:04
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Aw, I'm sorry to hear that, losing them is always rough  Hopefully the newbies are getting another chance to go outside and learn to be real chickens again today.
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Jul 4, 2023 19:09
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RIP WingDing
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Jul 4, 2023 19:11
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Thank you for working so hard to help her recover. I'm so sorry for your loss. At least it sounds like she got to go somewhat peacefully, outside in the fresh air with her sisters 
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Jul 4, 2023 23:57
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I'm sorry for all the chickam trauma you've had to go through these past few years. Like, I imagine it's impossible not to bond to a chick you have to hand-feed every 2 hours for literal months. I can't imagine how difficult it was to have this happen right when she seemed to be getting better. Especially after what you went through with #6. I mean, I'm sure you've had things like this happen before as a result of livestock life just kind of being like that, but... yeah. I just... imagine there are times it's really hard. Certainly more than I could handle. Thank you for doing everything you do.
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Jul 5, 2023 17:40
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Thanks everyone, I appreciate the support. Chickam is entering its final week! Since the chicks are spending their mornings out in the small run, the cam will be off while they are outside, and get turned back on when they come back in afternoons.
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Jul 8, 2023 16:32
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Eggroll!   And fluffy butt with STILL no tail:  Aaaannd she's judging you, you lazy slacker. She's not mad, just disappointed. Level up, for cry-yi.  Also, I'm following a recipe and one of the steps says to place three whole chickens in a bowl, did I do this right?  L to R: Deliciousaurus, Tsao Tsao and Spam Velvet Sparrow fucked around with this message at 08:06 on Jul 11, 2023 |
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Jul 11, 2023 01:42
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that is clearly three whole chickens in a bowl, so yes is the next step to rub them with butter? they might like that I've lost track of which one is deliciousaurus now, but all three look like good chickens anyway
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Jul 11, 2023 01:47
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Rub them in butter, then give them a pile of flour to fluff around in Great pictures, they're getting so big!
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Jul 11, 2023 01:59
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Tomorrow will likely be the last day of Chickam. We're still having 100+ degree heat, when it breaks in the next few days (hopefully) and the chicks stop coming back in afternoons, they'll go outside for good. It was 107 in our back yard today, fer cryin' out loud...  Pictures of the youngest chicks will be up in a day or so, too.
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Jul 16, 2023 05:14
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have good happy lives CHICKENS!!!
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Jul 16, 2023 05:31
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One last corn on the cob before going full chicken
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Jul 16, 2023 22:30
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You must be glad to get them out of the house lol. I hope they love it too! 
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Jul 16, 2023 23:54
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Okay, shutting down Chickam. Once the weather cools off, on weekends we'll try to set the cam out on the flock on Saturdays/Sundays. I'll post on the Chickam2008 Twitter account when we do. Thanks everyone for your support! Pictures of the three youngsters will be up in a day or so. Velvet Sparrow fucked around with this message at 18:50 on Jul 17, 2023 |
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Jul 17, 2023 07:56
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Thank you for hosting!
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Jul 17, 2023 08:30
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Geemer posted:Thank you for hosting! This! It's a different adventure every time. You're awesome, chickam fam.
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Jul 17, 2023 12:38
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It's been great to watch both rounds this year, thanks for putting it up for everyone!
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Jul 17, 2023 15:40
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Thanks as always for a lovely springtime streaming adventure.
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Jul 19, 2023 09:58
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AT LAST! Pictures of Batch 2 at two months old. Sorry for the delay, it's been 107 degrees here for 2+ weeks straight so I had -zero- energy for anything that didn't consist of lying in a sweaty puddle. Anyway, here they are: https://jackshenhouse.blogspot.com/2023/08/chickam-batch-2-chicks-two-months-old.html Thanks everyone for making our 15th year of Chickam a success, see y'all next year!
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Aug 6, 2023 19:12
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So cute  lol at Spam apparently thinking she’s part cat.
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Aug 6, 2023 21:41
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geez in that heat I wouldn't have any energy either. They all look beautiful, but I'm still disproportionately proud of lil Cao Cao. Hopefully he behaves so he doesn't have to go to freezer camp. Spam being entranced by drawstrings is perfect. 
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Aug 6, 2023 21:47
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Thanks Velvet Sparrow and family for another year of chickam! Deliciousaurus looks really nice, very handsome hen.
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Aug 6, 2023 21:53
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They are all soooo adorable!
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Aug 6, 2023 22:05
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That's awesome, they're so big! Thanks for sharing again 
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Aug 6, 2023 22:08
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Hey Chickam bookmark crew. Velvet Sparrow is working through some health issues right now. She needs to raise funds in order to have heart surgery. https://www.gofundme.com/f/susan-needs-a-valve-jobopenheart-surgery If you have in the past enjoyed Chickam, and would like it to continue in the future, please consider donating to Susan - she is entirely legitimate, is a valued member of the SA community and has been for many years. I first found Chickam when I was at university in 2010 and having a rough time, and it helped me. I've watched every year since. Velvet Sparrow and 12String are fantastic members of SA, and have continued with this livestream even when things looked very bleak. More than happy to eat a probe if this is deemed advertising, or whatever - I think it's worth it, keeping Velvet Sparrow as a member of our community is worth it. She's lovely.
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Oct 15, 2023 23:17
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Seconding that Chickam has helped me a lot over the years and anyone who can donate absolutely should, Velvet Sparrow is the best.
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Oct 16, 2023 00:54
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Donated! Thanks for letting goons know
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Oct 16, 2023 01:09
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Thanks for letting me know! Hope you crush the goal, Velvet.
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Oct 16, 2023 01:13
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Thank you so much for sharing that here. Donated some money and shared the link with some friends who've also come to love Chickam offsite. I really hope everything works out. 
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Oct 16, 2023 14:47
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FYI Chickam is also doing some weekend streams rn. Last week this happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikita-hpUgI
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Oct 20, 2023 19:41
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Oct 20, 2023 23:22
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| # ? Apr 27, 2024 21:45 |
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Speaking of, https://www.youtube.com/live/xWFx0ZLMT3U?si=7jnemOAwFbeDqyzM e: the video url parser doesn't like live feeds, apparently 
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Oct 21, 2023 17:14
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