Hi Kim
Has Harry fully recovered?
Thankfully it hasn't been too bad here wind wise and I'm right down in the bottom of the valley so that helps. Too wild and wet to get ggs out but not bad enough to do damage. Everywhere is a quagmire though! Oh how I long for a nice hard frost!
Processed two more last night. Took me an hour each to pluck and another hour each to eviscerate. How pathetic is that!! These were 3 year old hens that my neighbour wanted rid of because they hardly ever lay eggs (even when they were younger) and go broody all summer but are too clumsy to hatch eggs. And they are terrified of everything and won't even eat out of your hand let alone be handled, so no endearing features at all. Oh yes, and they are ugly too. Don't ever be persuaded to get Croad Langshans!! I was supposed to do all 4 last night for him but I bottled out after 2 and have promised to do the other 2 next week and then it will be back to sorting my cockerels! I made a cone out of carpet offcut and screwed it to a piece of plywood and dropped them into that after I'd dislocated their necks with the broom shank. The cone worked really well to prevent thrashing and potential bruising and so mush less upsetting than holding them whilst they spasm. I think I'm slowly getting better and finding techniques that work for me but the killing part is still really tough mentally and I was shaking like a leaf after the first and my heart pounding like a steam train.
My poorly chick is looking more and more like Marek's unfortunately. Still alive and able to walk but isolating herself more and more. Of course it would be one of the few pullet chicks! Thankfully, not one that I am overly attached to but that will probably change if I have to start giving her intensive care. It's difficult not to bond when you are handling them so much. Thankfully the others are mostly looking OK. One still has a poopy bot that I think may also be linked to Marek's but the rest are hale and hearty. One of the older pullets is starting to redden up in the face so I'm hoping I might see an egg from her soon. I'm really not sure of her parentage and she's quite odd looking. I'm guessing that she is from one of Tasha's daughter's eggs but by Henry. She has a black crest and beard golden hackle feathers and welsummer type body. I'm guessing it will be a blue/green egg but so excited to find out for sure! As you said a few posts back, those first eggs get you so ridiculously hyped! I guess each one is kind of like a little miracle of nature, so it's lovely to rejoice in it rather than get complacent or normalised to it. One of my older exchequer leghorns has come back into lay too, so that is promising but I haven't seen an egg from Tasha for a while, so either she's being sneaky... she has past form.... I found a secret nest with 47 in last winter that she and one of her daughters had accumulated.... all still edible too!
Anyway, I think that's all my news. It's absolutely lashing it down out there so I'm putting off going out, but I think I'll have to hunt out the waterproof over trousers and wellies and just go for it! Ugghh!
How is everyone else doing?
@emmaellis111
What colour is your pekin. I nearly bought a trio of lavender ones at auction a couple of years ago when I was just starting out. They went too high for my pocket but I still think about them and how gorgeous they were. I don't know much about bantams other than that they are really pretty. Can you post photos? Are the hens Barbu d'Uccles too?
Best wishes to all
Barbara
Has Harry fully recovered?
Thankfully it hasn't been too bad here wind wise and I'm right down in the bottom of the valley so that helps. Too wild and wet to get ggs out but not bad enough to do damage. Everywhere is a quagmire though! Oh how I long for a nice hard frost!
Processed two more last night. Took me an hour each to pluck and another hour each to eviscerate. How pathetic is that!! These were 3 year old hens that my neighbour wanted rid of because they hardly ever lay eggs (even when they were younger) and go broody all summer but are too clumsy to hatch eggs. And they are terrified of everything and won't even eat out of your hand let alone be handled, so no endearing features at all. Oh yes, and they are ugly too. Don't ever be persuaded to get Croad Langshans!! I was supposed to do all 4 last night for him but I bottled out after 2 and have promised to do the other 2 next week and then it will be back to sorting my cockerels! I made a cone out of carpet offcut and screwed it to a piece of plywood and dropped them into that after I'd dislocated their necks with the broom shank. The cone worked really well to prevent thrashing and potential bruising and so mush less upsetting than holding them whilst they spasm. I think I'm slowly getting better and finding techniques that work for me but the killing part is still really tough mentally and I was shaking like a leaf after the first and my heart pounding like a steam train.
My poorly chick is looking more and more like Marek's unfortunately. Still alive and able to walk but isolating herself more and more. Of course it would be one of the few pullet chicks! Thankfully, not one that I am overly attached to but that will probably change if I have to start giving her intensive care. It's difficult not to bond when you are handling them so much. Thankfully the others are mostly looking OK. One still has a poopy bot that I think may also be linked to Marek's but the rest are hale and hearty. One of the older pullets is starting to redden up in the face so I'm hoping I might see an egg from her soon. I'm really not sure of her parentage and she's quite odd looking. I'm guessing that she is from one of Tasha's daughter's eggs but by Henry. She has a black crest and beard golden hackle feathers and welsummer type body. I'm guessing it will be a blue/green egg but so excited to find out for sure! As you said a few posts back, those first eggs get you so ridiculously hyped! I guess each one is kind of like a little miracle of nature, so it's lovely to rejoice in it rather than get complacent or normalised to it. One of my older exchequer leghorns has come back into lay too, so that is promising but I haven't seen an egg from Tasha for a while, so either she's being sneaky... she has past form.... I found a secret nest with 47 in last winter that she and one of her daughters had accumulated.... all still edible too!
Anyway, I think that's all my news. It's absolutely lashing it down out there so I'm putting off going out, but I think I'll have to hunt out the waterproof over trousers and wellies and just go for it! Ugghh!
How is everyone else doing?
@emmaellis111
What colour is your pekin. I nearly bought a trio of lavender ones at auction a couple of years ago when I was just starting out. They went too high for my pocket but I still think about them and how gorgeous they were. I don't know much about bantams other than that they are really pretty. Can you post photos? Are the hens Barbu d'Uccles too?
Best wishes to all
Barbara
I'm still being a little twitchy over him though! I've not dared to give him any more readi grass, I'm soaking his hay and his food is still like soup!! I just dare not risk it yet. 
Harry and his mate Brannon are wrecking their field already and it's becoming a mud bath. Just when it starts drying out a little with the wind more rain comes along and it's just a vicious circle going round and round. Rugs are caked up and Harry too for that matter!! Get it all cleaned off then it's just as bad when he comes back in the next day. They always pick the most wet and muddiest part to have a roll. 
You may be going at it slow and steady but slow and steady always wins the race! Sounds interesting with the carpet, I'm glad you found some thing that works for you, I tell you this, you are far braver than me. I can just imagine your heart beating like a steam train. 
I know not the news you wanted but I'm glad your others are looking ok. My egg production has pretty much stopped, the warren and Amber are sporadically laying but only 2-3 a week. Can't remember the last time I had a polish egg and even the little pullet seems to be taking a break already. She's not laid for a few days now so I'm hoping it's just her getting her laying machine in order with her being a new layer. 
