Any one want to join me in waiting for eggs, posting and comparing notes?

[BroosterSpringsteen]

I love hearing what others name their chickens--- Yesterday Clara, barred rock aggressor 2, pecked an injury to Liza, again, blood,etc. So, she goes to her new home tomorrow. I hate losing her and will miss 4 eggs a day, but i've tried it all and she just doesn't stop. She's isolated again in the barn although this morning she's free ranging alone much to the dismay of the others, but they all hate her and constantly pick at her too so i've decided she's the problem and needs to go. I hope Clemi, aggressor 1 doesn't turn against Liza once Clara is gone. Ohy vey these birds. I'm also still dealing with my sick dog who has caused me much concern -- really hating these days, and what's with this weather. ? more torrential rain for us this week and we haven't dried out from the last soaking.

Sorry to hear about all your pecking order problems. I'm having some issues with a couple of mine, since I moved the teenage Marans in with the adult flock. My white Marans roo had a bloody foot yesterday. I cleaned it, and it looks fine. I'm not sure which chicken did it. I think mine have been extra antsy because I've been limiting their free ranging. The new clover I seeded in the beds around the coop just came up, and I don't want them digging in it until it's settled in a little better. All the rain should expediate the growth, but I'm like you...tired of the rain.

I have good news from this weekend...operation dead pet switch-a-roo was a success! I found silkie chicks not too far away, and they even hatched the same day as Mr. O'Hurn. So the new Mr. O'Hurn has arrived, and it looks exactly like the original. The breeder even threw in 2 extra chicks! I'm not sure how I'm going to explain the extras to my daughter though. She hasn't seen the chicks yet. She spent the weekend with her dad.

The chicks are adorable, and the breeder I got them from is a serious competitive chicken show breeder. You should have seen all her birds. She had just about every kind of barnyard fowl you can think of...all very showy breeds. There were all kinds of birds I've never seen before. And her place was beautiful...like a chicken and duck Garden of Eden.

 

[Melabella]

I love hearing what others name their chickens--- Yesterday Clara, barred rock aggressor 2, pecked an injury to Liza, again, blood,etc. So, she goes to her new home tomorrow. I hate losing her and will miss 4 eggs a day, but I've tried it all and she just doesn't stop. She's isolated again in the barn although this morning she's free ranging alone much to the dismay of the others, but they all hate her and constantly pick at her too so I've decided she's the problem and needs to go. I hope Clemi, aggressor 1 doesn't turn against Liza once Clara is gone. Ohy vey these birds. I'm also still dealing with my sick dog who has caused me much concern -- really hating these days, and what's with this weather. ? more torrential rain for us this week and we haven't dried out from the last soaking.

So sorry kdwag,,, I hear you when the days are rough to get through. The weather has me down as well. The forecast keeps saying warm and 60's but the sky above my house never reflects that! Sick dog too, I am so sorry, that is really difficult, like a family member. If it helps you a bit, I am going through a worry with my flock as well. I rushed introducing the new birds to the new pair since I didn't want them to free range without the protection of a rooster. Someone on the natural thread said I really should have quarantined for 30 days, and then sacrificed one of my birds to put in with them to see if they didn't get sick. They have been together for a week, and they all seem to be a cohesive flock and at least have started to accept him, but they are merciless to the new hen Vivian. Even the low hen on the pecking order of my original flock didn't get bullied like Vivian is. She is a bit flighty too, which doesn't help.. She runs around and hides if someone even looks at her, but my real worry is some of the girls the last few days have been not acting quite right. They are laying in that puffy ball state, with feathers puffed out. The first one who started that seems fine this morning, and now 3 more are doing it. The new pair seem fine, but just having different immunities can cause illness I have learned. I am praying that it's just something harmless...not life threatening.

Where is Clara going off to? Where you able to find someone to take her? I know it's hard to give her up, and making these decisions is always difficult. I know I did the right thing for our family, and it's safety with getting rid of Duke, but now am worried about having upset the cohesiveness of my flock. Keep us posted, and hoping all goes well,, hang in there love!

MB

 

[Melabella]

Sorry to hear about all your pecking order problems. I'm having some issues with a couple of mine, since I moved the teenage Marans in with the adult flock. My white Marans roo had a bloody foot yesterday. I cleaned it, and it looks fine. I'm not sure which chicken did it. I think mine have been extra antsy because I've been limiting their free ranging. The new clover I seeded in the beds around the coop just came up, and I don't want them digging in it until it's settled in a little better. All the rain should expediate the growth, but I'm like you...tired of the rain.

I have good news from this weekend...operation dead pet switch-a-roo was a success! I found silkie chicks not too far away, and they even hatched the same day as Mr. O'Hurn. So the new Mr. O'Hurn has arrived, and it looks exactly like the original. The breeder even threw in 2 extra chicks! I'm not sure how I'm going to explain the extras to my daughter though. She hasn't seen the chicks yet. She spent the weekend with her dad.

The chicks are adorable, and the breeder I got them from is a serious competitive chicken show breeder. You should have seen all her birds. She had just about every kind of barnyard fowl you can think of...all very showy breeds. There were all kinds of birds I've never seen before. And her place was beautiful...like a chicken and duck Garden of Eden.

oooohhhhh more,, more! Pictures! SOOOO happy the new Mr. O'Hurn is in house! Can you tellher that there was a mistake and they sent you more silkie eggs by accident, or that you found our about the breeders hatch and wanted Mr. O'Hurn to have silkie company? An offer too good to pass up?

So happy that crises diverted!

MB

 

[Spikes Chooks]

I love hearing what others name their chickens--- Yesterday Clara, barred rock aggressor 2, pecked an injury to Liza, again, blood,etc. So, she goes to her new home tomorrow. I hate losing her and will miss 4 eggs a day, but i've tried it all and she just doesn't stop. She's isolated again in the barn although this morning she's free ranging alone much to the dismay of the others, but they all hate her and constantly pick at her too so i've decided she's the problem and needs to go. I hope Clemi, aggressor 1 doesn't turn against Liza once Clara is gone. Ohy vey these birds. I'm also still dealing with my sick dog who has caused me much concern -- really hating these days, and what's with this weather. ? more torrential rain for us this week and we haven't dried out from the last soaking.

Ok, that's seriously yick. Why don't the girls just sort themselves out calmly? Sheesh, I don't know.....

Spring weather is so unreliable, the world over. We are having a false autumn here in Sydney, so far. Beautiful sunny days, rain and cold overnight. Who knows what will happen next!?! My four girls have responded to the shortening days (and as you like names, I'll tell you):

1) Ladybird the RIR missed her first laying day since starting in November, on Friday. Couldn't believe it! She;s laid daily since but is the only one to do so.
2) Sylvia the Silver Campine hasn't laid for 10 days and I find lots of her feathers. No bald patches yet, but she is probably going into moult.
3) Barnie the Barnevelder has also not laid for 10 days. No feather loss, and she only ever has given me 3-4 eggs per week since she started in late December.
4) Beetle the Australorp has spent 2 days in the sin bin - a dog crate. My first broody action and I had to steal my heart that it is in her own best interests. She nearly broke my heart with her desperate attenpts to get out, especially at bedtime when the girls went up to the perch. She must have been very frightened all night. Safe from predators, as the crate was inside the run, but she couldn't perch and be with her buddies. Let her out today and she RAN to Ladybird, who is a very calm, bold Top Chook - and barely left her side for all the afternoon free-ranging. I felt SO mean, but if this has broken her broodiness I shall count myself lucky.

The nights are drawing in here, since the end of daylight savings the girls go to bed by about 5.30pm. I miss my long, balmy evenings watching them do their thing in the garden. Thank goodness I froze some beaten eggs, as, at this rate, I'm in for a long wait before our springtime in September.

I'm so sorry to hear your dog is sick too, Spike, as in my avatar, was really ill a few months back and I feared we would lose him. He's only just emerged from the long cardboard box he hides in when there are thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Sending you warm thoughts from the southern hemisphere
Katrina

 

[countrygirl74]

I have good news from this weekend...operation dead pet switch-a-roo was a success! I found silkie chicks not too far away, and they even hatched the same day as Mr. O'Hurn. So the new Mr. O'Hurn has arrived, and it looks exactly like the original. The breeder even threw in 2 extra chicks! I'm not sure how I'm going to explain the extras to my daughter though. She hasn't seen the chicks yet. She spent the weekend with her dad.

 

[Rowdie]

Whoo hoo they're squatting now. Well three of 'em anyway. So, that's the two week notice or ??

 

[Crafty chick]

Brooster~ you can tell her you found a couple more at a farm store so he has buddies now! I was lucky to find my silkie among the bantams at TSC. Question.... Iwant to move my baby orpingtons (4 weeks) into the coop with the big girls... any good way of doing it without them hurting them too bad?

 

[nakstk]

Brooster~ you can tell her you found a couple more at a farm store so he has buddies now! I was lucky to find my silkie among the bantams at TSC. Question.... Iwant to move my baby orpingtons (4 weeks) into the coop with the big girls... any good way of doing it without them hurting them too bad?

If I were you I would wait for a few more weeks. At 4 weeks they are not ready to defend themselves from the big girls. If you do add them make sure they have plenty of place to hide.

 

[kdwag]

THanks all for your kind words. Dog is??? well, he's got me puzzled. Getting ready to go to the vet for more meds. He's had a stomach motility problem in the past, the last bad episode was right after I had to put my springer down. She was his mom when he was just a baby and loved her dearly. He ended up going down to OSU vet clinic to the tune of $3,000 only to find NOTHING, which was good on one hand but offered no explanation as to the lack of stomach motility. Eventually, he got better, with meds, etc. and has been fine up until a couple of weeks ago when he developed some problem with a nerve, he was in horrible pain, after muscle relaxants and rest, that seems to be better but his stomach is not. So......... on and on we go. He's going to be 11 and I always fear the worst when they get to this age. As to Miss Clarabell, she is going to join the flock of my step sister. She has 9 including a rooster and 2 ducks. She lives about an hour west of me so I can visit her if I choose. I hate doing it because they don't get free ranging there but she has a really nice set up so hoping Clara fits in. Her girls are older and she's in the process of trying to determine whether to cull some or keep them as pets and add to, etc. Tomorrow is the day so I have been letting her free range today by herself...she wants in with the others so bad. CHICKENS.

Rowdie, squatting!! I thought mine were just a few days or so after the squat that they laid but I could be wrong. Anyway eggs are sure to follow, so exiciting the first time!! Mine have been singing a lot this week-- loving that sound so much.

Brooster, way to go on the chicks. Do you think you'll ever tell her about Mr. O'hurn?

Oh Katrina, I feel for you. I hate winter and the whole getting dark thing at 5:30. YUK. Well, be thankful you don't get snow,,,,,right? The rain sucks though almost as much. At least with snow, you get frozen ground and no flooding. My puddles finally dried up and today we have sun so that will help but forecast is for another 1.5-2 inches by end of week. I really hope they are wrong.

MB, I really hope your birds aren't getting ill. I didn't know different immune systems would also cause illness. Geeze, I really don't want to add to my flock----i'm so scared of everything these days. LOL Well, gotta run and pay some more $$$ to the vet. Ohy vey. Some day maybe I can get my new coop built.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Brooster~ you can tell her you found a couple more at a farm store so he has buddies now! I was lucky to find my silkie among the bantams at TSC. Question.... Iwant to move my baby orpingtons (4 weeks) into the coop with the big girls... any good way of doing it without them hurting them too bad?

I've moved mine this young when the weather is warm enough. I have a section of the coop that I separate with chicken wire. I cut a hole in the wire just big enough for the chicks to run through and hide if they get bullied. It gives them a way to ease themselves into the flock. They usually stay in their hiding place most of the time, and slowly become brave enough to come out and hang out with the big girls. I enlarge the opening as the chicks grow.