OK Poultry Pros- a few more questions for y'all:
1) The last six eggs I've cracked open have had a little chunk of something in them, and it's managed to gross me out (once again- I'm not a squeamish person, generally, but this is all new for me). It was a chunk of something that looked like a piece of cooked oatmeal, and it was in the white, actually at the end of that chord thing that comes off of the yolk. It was even oatmeal color, not red- definitely different from a blood speck. I managed to pull it out with the tip of a knife, and it was a chunky booger consistency- sorry if that grosses you guys out, but I figured I should be as accurately descriptive as possible. What is it, and what should I do with the eggs? Are they safe to use? Am I fated to have this issue forever with these hens?
2) What is the difference between a pullet and a hen?
3) Why are you not (according to several "reference" books and magazine articles I've read) supposed to feed chickens avocado???
4) If chickens eat a venemous snake, will it make them sick or taint the eggs? I killed a small copperhead on my front porch and left it there as proof for my husband, who was out of town. The next morning, I opened up the front door to find my hens fighting over it and gobbling it up- so much for my proof, and now the story is even more incredible- "Yeah, honey, I killed a baby copperhead and then, uh, yeah, the chickens ate it...."
egg boogers and nomenclature
LOL, Can't answer your ??? but just loved the snake story. LOL
1) It sounds like the germ disk--which is where the chick would start forming if the egg was fertilized. How big was it? In some chickens, or if the egg was fertile, the germ disk can be pretty noticeable. It is usually opaque and whitish grey.
2) A pullet is a female chicken under the age of 1 year. A hen is a female chicken over a year in age.
3) Avocados are toxic to chickens and many other birds. It is pretty severe and well documented. Even though they make kibble for dogs with avocado, there are reports of it being toxic to them as well--but birds are particularly susceptible to avocados. You can't feed them to parrots either.
4) I am almost 100% certain that the chickens' digestive enzymes would break down the copperhead toxins. Chickens eat snakes all the time and I have never heard of anyone being poisoned by them....I think you can also drink at least some snake venom without ill effects (unless you have a cut in your mouth or something)...but I would NEVER try it.
See the below link for this and the difference between venomous (like snakes) and poisonous (like arsenic).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venomous_snake
OK! You've got the answers, but I want to thank you for the great laugh, I have not heard the word nomenclature used for so long, I'm sure that fifty percent of the population has no idea what it means. And chicken booger's was just to funny for me to sit still for. Again thanks for the laughs. Haystack
LOL, Didn't even think a thing about the word "nomenclature" as a former worker in the supply business it's used day in and day out. Funny how something so common for some is so unusual for others.
Hi Hollyann: Your so right. I also worked in supply for about five years, the word was very common. Left supply work and haven't heard it used since. LOL Can't you just imagine some asking you what is the nomenclature of your chick??? HUH!! What's that. LOL... Welcome to the forum. Haystack
Haystack - did you do that on purpose?
Thanks for the welcome Haystack, I don't visit often but every once in a while I come over and lurk a bit just to see the chicks. I had 32 years in the supply business when I retired a few years ago. I was thinking about posting a thread with pic of my girls, think I go put something together.
Love the snake story. I guess i should have fed the dead black snake from my garden to my girls. Didn't even think of it. Great info as usual Catscan. HollyAnnS, please post your pics. I love seeing chicken pictures.
OH Yes PorkPal: I love showing off in my old age. LOL My poor wife is always telling me, some day your gonna kill yourself. I figure when your to old to have fun, your to old to live! Not planning on dying anytime soon. Haystack
LOL Haystack I was out at my son's summer place a couple of weeks ago and had a great day took his dirt bike out for a loop around the island and "tried" to do a little water skiing. I've started a thread with some pics of the girls you can see them here. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1033341/