2018 Newbie Chat!

[No More Empty Nest]

We got lots of double Yolkers when our girls first started laying. It was neat to see. I got one shell less egg too. I think my older pullets started around 21 weeks with the SS laying first. I'm so excited to see what color my EEs will be. I forget it's winter here in Texas. Our weather is so up and down. We had 3 days of mid 70s and sunshine. It was so nice! No mosquitos, no flies, no bugs. It was my dream weather. we made hamburgers on the grill for my birthday in January!

Happy Birthday! What nice weather for it!
I bake bread occasionally. My Mom always baked bread, 4 loaves at a time. I love fresh, warm from the oven bread-Yum!

 

[No More Empty Nest]

These are the eggs I’ve gotten the last few days.(minus the few I’ve selected for next round of incubating)They all look so pretty together. View attachment 1646843
Eggs are on lockdown. DH helped me lock them down when he got home this morning. I’m going to be watching them like a hawk for the next four days!

Beautiful eggs!!

 

[No More Empty Nest]

SO stinkin proud of Oliver today!!!

I was out with the flock for most of the day doing some long overdue gardening.
I had let Pippin and Cleo free range for the first time since I was out there.
All the other birds pretty much ignored both of them.
This means they’re fairly integrated and accepted.
After a long time I went into the house to eat.
I heard Oliver issue warnings over and over. He kept looking at the sky.
I went to the sliding glass door and looked out and saw a Cooper’s hawk flying low over the side yard.
By this time Oliver had jumped off the deck and gone into the middle of the yard still making alarm calls.
Pippin ran from underneath the eaves of the house, across the yard towards the coops.
The baby wasn’t with her.
I opened the door going out with DH right behind me.
Where’s the baby!?
Suddenly I saw her running to follow Pippin from under the eaves of the house.
Her instincts told her to stay there under cover while Oliver went out and made himself a target.
The hawk was gone by this time and Pippin took baby Cleo to the prefab coop run and we locked them in.

I’m so glad I have two roosters!
I’m very proud of Oliver and have a higher opinion of him.
He is very good at keeping watch and is willing to go out and make himself a target so the girls can get away.

It’s funny though because now some of the more dominant girls, like Emily, will chase Oliver away and even kick him off of another girl he’s trying to breed lol.

Yay Oliver! Wish i had a roo to guard mine, but not allowed.

 

[CannedMonster]

DH has added a temporary fence in the gap of the unfinished privacy fence so we can let the flock out into the side yard so they can have more space.
He let them out for the first time on Thursday and they just had a field day!
I’m so glad they have more space and I can tell they’re enjoying that immensely.

Here they’re drinking out of the fairy statue bowl

Pippin and Cleo on a walk about. Cleo is the same size as Pip now.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

I agree, they do look very pretty together and the basket helps set them off too - they make for a lovely picture.
Could you please tell me what 'eggs on lockdown' means?

Lockdown is the point of incubation in which you lock the eggs down and don’t touch them. You also increase humidity to about 70 percent. After 1-4 days the chicks should hatch.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

SO stinkin proud of Oliver today!!!

I was out with the flock for most of the day doing some long overdue gardening.
I had let Pippin and Cleo free range for the first time since I was out there.
All the other birds pretty much ignored both of them.
This means they’re fairly integrated and accepted.
After a long time I went into the house to eat.
I heard Oliver issue warnings over and over. He kept looking at the sky.
I went to the sliding glass door and looked out and saw a Cooper’s hawk flying low over the side yard.
By this time Oliver had jumped off the deck and gone into the middle of the yard still making alarm calls.
Pippin ran from underneath the eaves of the house, across the yard towards the coops.
The baby wasn’t with her.
I opened the door going out with DH right behind me.
Where’s the baby!?
Suddenly I saw her running to follow Pippin from under the eaves of the house.
Her instincts told her to stay there under cover while Oliver went out and made himself a target.
The hawk was gone by this time and Pippin took baby Cleo to the prefab coop run and we locked them in.

I’m so glad I have two roosters!
I’m very proud of Oliver and have a higher opinion of him.
He is very good at keeping watch and is willing to go out and make himself a target so the girls can get away.

It’s funny though because now some of the more dominant girls, like Emily, will chase Oliver away and even kick him off of another girl he’s trying to breed lol.

what a lovely story, brought tears to my eyes reading this - Oliver and his bravery, Pippin leading Cleo to safety and how little Cleo followed mums instructions
Did you happen to notice what Angus was doing at the time? Reason I ask is, I've heard similar stories and the other rooster (or roosters) led the others away to safety.
Well done Olive and Pippin

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Lockdown is the point of incubation in which you lock the eggs down and don’t touch them. You also increase humidity to about 70 percent. After 1-4 days the chicks should hatch.

So we could have more cutie chick pics any day now! Can't wait !

 

[Anna Ranieri]

For some reason I've stopped receiving posts for this thread yet again I have no idea why

 

[Cbarr00]

Happy Birthday! What nice weather for it!
I bake bread occasionally. My Mom always baked bread, 4 loaves at a time. I love fresh, warm from the oven bread-Yum!

Thank you! My sourdough starter is active and I cant wait to make a loaf! I'm ordering a cast iron Dutch oven from Amazon to make the round loaves. I'm so excited to try it.

 

[Cbarr00]

For some reason I've stopped receiving posts for this thread yet again I have no idea why

This happens to me all the time too. It hasn't done it in a while tho thankfully!