A Journey Through a Different Way - Funny Story Pg. 69

[ruth]

Quote:
Lucy is our other dog - she's seen in the picture with the hen on the chair of hay. She showed up at my vintage shop a few years ago as a stray, still lactating, no pads left on feet, and so starved she could no longer walk, missing large patches of fur. I took her home and we've had her ever since. She had been so abused by her previous owners that she is very submissive and still drops and rolls if anything spooks her. Now that we live here, she has been pretty much living under the house during the day and sleeps in the shed at night. She does help Rex guard at night and usually spends the night running around barking at things along with him so she is tired during the day. I can't blame her for sleeping under the house either. It's raised off the ground enough to almost walk under there. Ms. Susy who is 95 and was born here told me it was her job as a little girl to go under house and put the potatoes for storage and get them when her mom needed them. I crawled under there the other day and it was so nice and cool. Moist sandy floor, a/c vents blowing cool air - no wonder Lucy stays under there during these hot humid summers - she's the smartest dog we have.

 

[ruth]

Not much new here on the farm so thought I'd post some new pics.

There are so many advantages to freeranging. For one they start laying eggs so much sooner. Here's one of Ruth's new babies, only 4 weeks old. Look at all those eggs it laid.

Here's another of her little babies - just made 4 weeks. They've been freeranging since they were a week old. I find they feather beautifully and grow really fast.

Even the peachicks are being allowed to run around the coop and run and are getting beautiful colors.

These three decided to roost in high rafters with the Top of Pecking Order hens.

The Marans are 2 1/2 months and are also getting big. I normally don't see them from the time I let them out in the morning till they return at dark. They can be found in woods and farthest from house. Not sure if that's brave or stupid. Here's our main little roo.

I'm not sure if you remember my Motley Crew - the Easter chicks someone dropped off - turned out 4 were roos. They must be some kind of broiler - they are as big as turkeys -and they have huge legs and twisted middle toes. The pic doesn't do them justice. They are twice the size of my big roos.

Speaking of the other roos - they are all alive and well and still not fighting so I'm having to honor my part of the bargain (that as long as they get along, they stay alive).

Here's one of BRs.

Here's infamous Cousin It - still alive and well.

Here's 4 of them dust bathing.

I guess I'm just going to go ahead and start a hatchery/egg business. I'm ordering a Sportsman incubator so there's no stopping me now - The Journey should really start getting interesting now.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Hey lady thanks for the update. Glad to hear that all is well and no fighting among the roo's. I know mine were fighting like crazy. So 10 had to go.

Nice pics that little one who laid the eggs Wow better keep her LOL.

Congrats on the sportsman let us all know how that works for you.

How are the dogs doing, ya didn't mention how training is going for Scarlett.

 

[ruth]

Hi Jean - thanks for the comments. Both Scarlett and Prissy are on their way to becomeing LGDs - well at least becoming dogs that ignore chickens if not protect them. They are always with me and really "help" as I'm trying to get chickens in and out of coop/run and feed them - translated "always in my way". But Scarlett and Prissy have learned to leave the chickens alone and the chickens have learned that the dogs won't hurt them. Sometimes first thing in the morning one puppy or the other just can't help herself and chases a chicken or two as they come running and flying out of that coop but they never seem intent on actually catching it. They chase one and then another before they get fussed at and actually mind. They do have so much fun playing and wrestling with one another all day long that it keeps them out of trouble. They are left outside alone with the chickens and so far no problems.

It is amazing that all dogs and cats and chicks and ducks and peacocks just all live peacefully together here.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Is even better that she's a HE. Isn't it amazing what free ranging can do? Little 4 week old baby roos can lay a nest full of eggs.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

LOL I tell ya that will teach me for not looking closer LOL. Got to love those pups they add such life to the day. Makes ya wonder what ya did without them.

I have 4 chihuahua's that are 6 weeks old right now, add my 3 adult chihuahua's and a boxer rescue, and you get a full day LOL.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Ruth, my CB Marans chicks (same breeder, a week younger than yours) are also practically feral! As soon as the chicken-yard door opens in the morning, they make a beeline for parts unknown, and stick to the "jungle" until dusk. I'm kind of hoping they will become more personable as they mature.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Yeah, they're tough little buggers. When they come home at night they go after the peachicks and I'm waiting for the day when the peacocks are so much bigger than them.

I don't raise any of the chickens as "pets" and don't handle them but I am out there with them all day long and most will hang out near me or around me but the Marans run like I'm holding an axe in my hands. I do a headcount each evening because I don't see them all day long and can't believe all 10 make it back every night. I think they have a secret club somewhere - The Marans Only Club - because all the other breeds interact and hang out with one another but not the Marans - they stick to themselves. I don't think they know they are chickens. Or maybe it's just the snotty French attitude.

 

[vicky]

Ruth,
Did you end up starting another thread for the double yolker egg in the incubator?

 

[ruth]

Quote:
I did but turns out neither yolk was fertile. I do have another one in bator now that I'm not sure if it had a double yolk or not because I didn't candle it till recently but it seems to have more than one "thing" moving in it and it is larger than the other eggs and it is also almost completely black inside and hard to see when the others are still only about 1/4 full and can easily see chick moving around.

I'm getting lots of double yolk eggs lately from these new layers so I may start putting them all in bator to see what happens.

I also have a broody hen sitting on 13 eggs in my outside laundry room so I'm hoping to have a real mama hen and babies in another 19 days.