2018 Newbie Chat!

[Geranium]

We've had a rough couple weeks over here. My two Easter Eggers got over their enclosure fence. One went into our yard where our dog cornered her, but she wasn't hurt. The other, Candice, went over the fence into the neighbor's yard and was attacked by their dog and died a few minutes after we were able to rescue her. That was on the 23rd. Candice was the top pullet so there has been a little scuffling to reestablish the pecking order. Then this evening I found one of the Australorps had a torn comb and was bleeding everywhere. I got the bleeding to stop with pressure and styptic powder and then it was dusk and they went to roost, which was handy timing. She should be healing up by morning. So it's been a little stressful. We made it until now with very little chicken drama, and no deaths, and they are 15 weeks now. RIP Candice. You were a good chicken.

 

[llombardo]

We've had a rough couple weeks over here. My two Easter Eggers got over their enclosure fence. One went into our yard where our dog cornered her, but she wasn't hurt. The other, Candice, went over the fence into the neighbor's yard and was attacked by their dog and died a few minutes after we were able to rescue her. That was on the 23rd. Candice was the top pullet so there has been a little scuffling to reestablish the pecking order. Then this evening I found one of the Australorps had a torn comb and was bleeding everywhere. I got the bleeding to stop with pressure and styptic powder and then it was dusk and they went to roost, which was handy timing. She should be healing up by morning. So it's been a little stressful. We made it until now with very little chicken drama, and no deaths, and they are 15 weeks now. RIP Candice. You were a good chicken.

So sorry for your loss. This EE's are quite adventourous. I have to watch mine carefully.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

We've had a rough couple weeks over here. My two Easter Eggers got over their enclosure fence. One went into our yard where our dog cornered her, but she wasn't hurt. The other, Candice, went over the fence into the neighbor's yard and was attacked by their dog and died a few minutes after we were able to rescue her. That was on the 23rd. Candice was the top pullet so there has been a little scuffling to reestablish the pecking order. Then this evening I found one of the Australorps had a torn comb and was bleeding everywhere. I got the bleeding to stop with pressure and styptic powder and then it was dusk and they went to roost, which was handy timing. She should be healing up by morning. So it's been a little stressful. We made it until now with very little chicken drama, and no deaths, and they are 15 weeks now. RIP Candice. You were a good chicken.

So sorry for your loss of Candice

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Prince was raised with the two older girls. All the girls have taken to him and he is generally in the middle of all of them. I have saw the younger ones run and hide behind him if one of the older girls messes with them. When they were integrating, Prince got quite the workout running back and forth and breaking up squabbles. I relied on him heavily. When he was younger he ate first, then it went to I had to give him treats seperately or he got none, now he calls the girls when he finds something. He will go without and let them eat. Sometimes he does his little dance and tries to mate when they come when called, the girls won't have anything to do with it when they are eating. He doesn't push it either, so he feeds them for nothing...lol

 

[Anna Ranieri]

We've had a rough couple weeks over here. My two Easter Eggers got over their enclosure fence. One went into our yard where our dog cornered her, but she wasn't hurt. The other, Candice, went over the fence into the neighbor's yard and was attacked by their dog and died a few minutes after we were able to rescue her. That was on the 23rd. Candice was the top pullet so there has been a little scuffling to reestablish the pecking order. Then this evening I found one of the Australorps had a torn comb and was bleeding everywhere. I got the bleeding to stop with pressure and styptic powder and then it was dusk and they went to roost, which was handy timing. She should be healing up by morning. So it's been a little stressful. We made it until now with very little chicken drama, and no deaths, and they are 15 weeks now. RIP Candice. You were a good chicken.

Ohhhh hun, so sorry for your loss, it's never easy when you lose such a precious - may she rest in peace, bless her

 

[Anna Ranieri]

There were 5 eggs laid this morning, 3 chicken and 2 duck eggs. I don't know yet if both my ducks are now laying or if the layer laid two, as it is possible for a duck to lay two in the same day. If tomorrow there are two duck eggs again then I will know both are now laying.
Roo is yet to start laying and by the looks of it isn't yet at POL. If both ducks are laying the when Roo starts laying that will be all of them who can.
Not short of people to give the eggs to but have run out of egg boxes now - often people will offer me money which I always refuse but always ask that they give back the egg boxes as I have to buy them but so far only two of the people I've given eggs to have given back the box I gave them to them in and it is most annoying that the others haven't. Think I might start giving them in carrier bags as I don't mind giving out free eggs but I do when it is to my cost.
Pedro and Jellybean seem to be getting on a lot better lately and this morning laid their eggs together and later on took a dust bath together, things they havent done in a while, and I'm hoping they've sorted out their differences now as it is nice to see them getting along
Another step of progress is that they also allowed Roo to dust bath near them which is quite an achievement given that they barely let her near them at all. They still give the odd chase or two, I assume to make sure she keeps in line, however no more mean attacks and mostly they just let her be.
Roo and Lilah often run at each other and bunt however both my daughter and I have noticed they don't make contact nor peck and both look happy and look more like they are playing and always end up skipping off together then having something to eat together. My daughter wonders is Lilah may be teaching Roo and it certainly looks like she could be - does anyone know if mums teach their kids to battle?
Duck training is going slow but is working the ducks are starting to realise they don't own the joint and that the chickens have the right yo be here too. We still have some days where the ducks get sent to the run sometimes for chasing the girls but is getting less each week which is good. I no longer have to hold them down which I'm glad about, I have established myself as boss and now I only have to give my one word order and they stop in their tracks. I am so thankful for the advice the duck expert gave me as it really works and is working well.
Feel bad about taking the duck eggs though, onevof my drakes always come over and gets agitated at my taking them but there is no way we could have any eggs hatched so I have no choice but to take them, the other drake takes no notice at all though. Also I have to destroy their nest daily to stop them going broody which isn't nice to have to do, however the duck hens don't seem to be bothered by it at all nor show any care or concern that I take the eggs, it's only my drake who does.

 

[Cbarr00]

We've had a rough couple weeks over here. My two Easter Eggers got over their enclosure fence. One went into our yard where our dog cornered her, but she wasn't hurt. The other, Candice, went over the fence into the neighbor's yard and was attacked by their dog and died a few minutes after we were able to rescue her. That was on the 23rd. Candice was the top pullet so there has been a little scuffling to reestablish the pecking order. Then this evening I found one of the Australorps had a torn comb and was bleeding everywhere. I got the bleeding to stop with pressure and styptic powder and then it was dusk and they went to roost, which was handy timing. She should be healing up by morning. So it's been a little stressful. We made it until now with very little chicken drama, and no deaths, and they are 15 weeks now. RIP Candice. You were a good chicken.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Cbarr00]

Prince was raised with the two older girls. All the girls have taken to him and he is generally in the middle of all of them. I have saw the younger ones run and hide behind him if one of the older girls messes with them. When they were integrating, Prince got quite the workout running back and forth and breaking up squabbles. I relied on him heavily. When he was younger he ate first, then it went to I had to give him treats seperately or he got none, now he calls the girls when he finds something. He will go without and let them eat. Sometimes he does his little dance and tries to mate when they come when called, the girls won't have anything to do with it when they are eating. He doesn't push it either, so he feeds them for nothing...lol

Gonna cross my fingers Bear will be a good cockerel like that.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Well, eggs are set. Three were laid this morning. Fingers crossed these are all Ameraucana eggs. One of my EE lays an identical egg to my Ameraucana. They should hatch on the 16th if all goes according to plan.

This incubator is so fascinating, if I didn’t have chores to do, I think I’d spend all day watching it rotate eggs.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Well, eggs are set. Three were laid this morning. Fingers crossed these are all Ameraucana eggs. One of my EE lays an identical egg to my Ameraucana. They should hatch on the 16th if all goes according to plan. View attachment 1625046This incubator is so fascinating, if I didn’t have chores to do, I think I’d spend all day watching it rotate eggs.

Lovely looking eggs, I'm sure your hatchlings will be beautiful regardless of their breed but it will be nice for you to get the breeds you want so here's hoping