2018 Newbie Chat!

[CannedMonster]

I candled the two eggs that Minnie and Bootsie are setting (they both take turns) and they seem to be developing.

I’m going to candle again Monday since I’m off work.

I’m not sure which of them is going to parent the chicks though.
Perhaps they both will?

They should hatch sometime around the end of the month.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Update on my babies:
Here are the two ameraucana I hatched almost four weeks ago.
View attachment 1675534
These are the new babies. They are petrified of my hands, so making them friendly may be a challenge. View attachment 1675535

Beautiful!

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Not chicken or animal related but scary..

We had an active shooter less then a few miles from my work today. We could clearly hear the sirens going back and forth. They brought in swat and FBI along with local, county and state officers. The shooter ended up killing 5, injuring 5 officers and wounding several. There was a shoot out and the police killed him.

It was scary not knowing at the time what the motive was, how many shooters there were, or if any escaped.. The building was huge-29000 sq ft.

The first responders and all officers did a wonderful job in a short time getting people out and going in and finding him.

Just very scary the more I think about it. Way to close. I work in the back area, I came up front and locked the doors. Everyone was pretty much in one area with multiple exits in case. You just can not prepare for this stuff.

Oh my gosh! Thank goodness you are safe! Can only imagine this has been a very traumatic experience for you, just so glad and relieved you are safe!

 

[llombardo]

Well we are having yet another snow storm. I said it last spring--I'll get chickens and winter will be miserable. I was right. I thought I was going to beat it and run to the store, I was wrong there. Cars spinning out, no roads plowed and cars going through red lights because they can't stop.

It's been a long time since we had a winter like this one. Hopefully the next few will be more mild.

 

[llombardo]

I spent some time with the chickens today. I was able to check tvd 4 with feather loss. There are no wounds thankfully. I didn't think it was overmating but I had to check. While I was feeling aroubd Dorothy she seemed to feel some pain. I could feel pin feathers, but she was agitated. The others weren't. Is there anything I can do for her? She is looking pretty rough, poor girl.

Prince was not happy they were out of the pen area. He was pacing, babawkking, crowing--he was very agitated that his girls wre not right next to him. I love seeing him care so much. They are a right group. Even the older girls were making noises when I took out the younger ones. Duke did his dance for Dorothy. She went right up to his area and seemed to be interested in him.

I'm going to have lots of cleaning to do when they go back outside. Ohhhh the dust. I lean as much as I can but I don't want to kick that dust up at them.

The ducks are just swimming away and being their vocal selves. Do people put those cozy heaters in with ducks? I'm pretty sure the Indian Runners can not handle the temps we have here.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

Well we are having yet another snow storm. I said it last spring--I'll get chickens and winter will be miserable. I was right. I thought I was going to beat it and run to the store, I was wrong there. Cars spinning out, no roads plowed and cars going through red lights because they can't stop.

It's been a long time since we had a winter like this one. Hopefully the next few will be more mild.

OMG yes, so much snow today and last night! Non stop and lots of it. About half the run is still protected from it by the roof. I saw the chickens out there today drinking so that's good. Granddaughter is coming over tomorrow, no school for President's Day. We plan on taking her sledding. after that comes the required hot chocolate, lol.

 

[CannedMonster]

I might be crazy...

Today I ordered 16 straight run Quail Belgian Antwerp d’Anvers bantams plus 1 free exotic rare chick from Murray McMurray Hatchery.
They’re not available until April 29 so I have a bit of a wait.
Why so many you ask?
Because I can sell the extras.
I really love this breed and decided I would make my bantam roo one of these guys.
I’m very excited to start with this breed.

I also bought two covered kitty litter boxes to use as extra nest boxes for my girls.
I put both of them on my deck, one under a table and the other next to the side of the house.
They each have two fake eggs in them.

And today Agatha laid her egg in the one above!

She has been marching around for weeks screeching and complaining because she doesn’t like the other birds being in a box she wants to use.
When I put these out some of the girls investigated, such as Ivy and one of the SS.
The SS girl actually got in and explored it.
Then today Silver decided the box was very threatening and began to make alarmed sounds while she stood there and watched Agatha in it.
Everyone else just went about their business including Agatha who was happily chuckling away to herself in the box, arranging the bedding to her satisfaction lol.
Meanwhile one of the SS and Ivy joined Silver in her bewildered staring at Agatha.
Eventually they all got pretty close to Agatha and the SS got in her face and was soundly pecked as a reminder to mind her own business

And when we got home from the movies and the hardware store today the flock was heading in to bed.
I went into the big coop and saw Pippin up on the ladder roost with Cricket and they were in the process of going up higher.
So I grabbed both of them and put them in the prefab bantam coop.

I also realized that Pippin doesn’t want to mother Cleo anymore.
I think she went into the big coop to try and join the others.
So after putting her back in the prefab I took Cleo and put her in the big coop with the other LF birds.
I’ve been thinking lately that it’s about time Cleo started roosting with the standard birds instead of bantams.
Interestingly, when Pippin was in the big coop Cleo wasn’t peeping for her or trying to find her.
She was just milling around in the run getting water and food before going inside the prefab.
I had to grab Cleo which she really didn’t like.
She panics quite a bit.
I put her in the big coop on the 2nd lowest rung thinking that would be a good spot for her.
She promptly leaped off and jumped over to the nest boxes.
I left to take the waterers into the garage so they don’t freeze overnight and to lock up the bantams coop.
I returned to see if Cleo had found a spot and settled.
She was up on the cover over the nest boxes.
I watched for a while.
She was looking around thinking about hopping up next to Angus.
But then he pecked the crap out of another bird below him so that she fell to the floor.
I think Cleo thought better of being up there after that.
I returned to the house and did a couple of chores and then went back to check on her.
She was tucked in on the second lowest rung on the left of the ramp.
It’s an almost hidden spot where she probably won’t be noticed.
She found a spot!!

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Spoke to one if my neighbours who lives three doors up from me, he told me when he and his wife hear my ducks it makes them smile, he said they really enjoy hearing them and the girls quacking sound like they are laughing (had a few people say this) I told him I am having to rehome them, both he and his wife are not happy about this and he asked me to notify the company in regards to the complaints, that not all neighbours feel the same. I told him I would but I had already informed them of other neighbours who are in support of us keeping our birds but hasn't made any difference so I am as sure as I can be that telling them of this couple wouldn't make any difference to the decision the company has made either. His wife asked me if I have to comply to the rehoming order as they both will miss hearing them. I told her unfortunately I do, she said they don't understand how it is any different to all the dogs around us who bark incessantly and that my birds don't make as much noise as our neighbours dogs, one of which barks almost constantly throughout the day, I told her the difference is that dogs are permitted, ducks and chickens aren't. I'd only ever spoke to them to say hello, how are you that type of thing but yesterday we spoke at length, later on my grandson and I took them some chicken and duck eggs, they were very thankful for them and invited us in to their home. I declined as I had to get back but the sentiment was lovely.
It's a bitter sweet situation, nice to know that not everyone is opposed to us having our birds but so sad that these people won't be listened to, only the complainers are listened to.
Still haven't heard back from the company regarding my chickens so we have decided to continue with the rehoming of the ducks and if during that time we haven't heard back from the company about our chickens we will only take the ducks and see what happens. We still haven't set a date to taking them yet as we along with the rest of my family are helping my mum through her loss of my dad and helping her by sorting out his finances and such.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I might be crazy...

Today I ordered 16 straight run Quail Belgian Antwerp d’Anvers bantams plus 1 free exotic rare chick from Murray McMurray Hatchery.
They’re not available until April 29 so I have a bit of a wait.
Why so many you ask?
Because I can sell the extras.
I really love this breed and decided I would make my bantam roo one of these guys.
I’m very excited to start with this breed.

I also bought two covered kitty litter boxes to use as extra nest boxes for my girls.
I put both of them on my deck, one under a table and the other next to the side of the house.
They each have two fake eggs in them.
View attachment 1678008 View attachment 1678010

And today Agatha laid her egg in the one above!

She has been marching around for weeks screeching and complaining because she doesn’t like the other birds being in a box she wants to use.
When I put these out some of the girls investigated, such as Ivy and one of the SS.
The SS girl actually got in and explored it.
Then today Silver decided the box was very threatening and began to make alarmed sounds while she stood there and watched Agatha in it.
Everyone else just went about their business including Agatha who was happily chuckling away to herself in the box, arranging the bedding to her satisfaction lol.
Meanwhile one of the SS and Ivy joined Silver in her bewildered staring at Agatha.
Eventually they all got pretty close to Agatha and the SS got in her face and was soundly pecked as a reminder to mind her own business

And when we got home from the movies and the hardware store today the flock was heading in to bed.
I went into the big coop and saw Pippin up on the ladder roost with Cricket and they were in the process of going up higher.
So I grabbed both of them and put them in the prefab bantam coop.

I also realized that Pippin doesn’t want to mother Cleo anymore.
I think she went into the big coop to try and join the others.
So after putting her back in the prefab I took Cleo and put her in the big coop with the other LF birds.
I’ve been thinking lately that it’s about time Cleo started roosting with the standard birds instead of bantams.
Interestingly, when Pippin was in the big coop Cleo wasn’t peeping for her or trying to find her.
She was just milling around in the run getting water and food before going inside the prefab.
I had to grab Cleo which she really didn’t like.
She panics quite a bit.
I put her in the big coop on the 2nd lowest rung thinking that would be a good spot for her.
She promptly leaped off and jumped over to the nest boxes.
I left to take the waterers into the garage so they don’t freeze overnight and to lock up the bantams coop.
I returned to see if Cleo had found a spot and settled.
She was up on the cover over the nest boxes.
I watched for a while.
She was looking around thinking about hopping up next to Angus.
But then he pecked the crap out of another bird below him so that she fell to the floor.
I think Cleo thought better of being up there after that.
I returned to the house and did a couple of chores and then went back to check on her.
She was tucked in on the second lowest rung on the left of the ramp.
It’s an almost hidden spot where she probably won’t be noticed.
She found a spot!!

 

[CannedMonster]

A video of Angus crowing.
To me, he sounds like he’s yodeling lol.