Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[cwrite]

Teila, I couldn't decide between keeping my only lavender ara or one of the Isobel aras and have landed up with one extra pullet.

So I'm sure it's fine.

Sprinkles saved the day today!

I have an essay due tomorrow so I'd sent off DH with the kids to keep the noise down and the chooks (Snowy) were shrieking up a storm. Yesterday they were competing with the chain saw that started at the crack of dawn in the development and in my opinion, won, thanks to Steve so they are a bit loud. Anyway, I gave them my precious paw paw, checked their food and water and the silence lasted about two minutes. I phoned DH, come home and entertain/feed/room service whatever it takes just keep the chooks quiet so I can hear myself think. They arrive home and there is quiet for another 2 minutes. I go outside to see what DH has come up with and he is patting the cat.

Plan B. I tell my daughter to keep HER chicken quiet. DD comes back inside screaming that Sprinkles is in the nest box. Now, I've seen her eating the odd soft egg that Stampy lays and I've even seen her following Stampy when she looks for good spot to lay. Me: Check if she is eating an egg or laying an egg. DD - definitely laying and the next thing I hear is an egg song, also not a loud and extended version. We rush out and there it is.... a beautiful blue egg from the ugliest chick of the lot. Yay for Sprinkles!

My daughter thinks it's green, but I see blue. 36g's isn't bad either. What do you all think of the colour?

Snowy clearly has a calender up somewhere because she's happy now that they are free-ranging. Free-ranging nearly all day is a week-end only activity and I thought they wouldn't be able to tell, especially with just me at home. Silly me. Sadly I can't spend all day admiring the egg & feel even less like working, but back to the books after my exciting break.

Sprinkles at 5 weeks old and having a bath below at 11 weeks.


I'd never have imagined watching them grow up that she would be the one to lay me my first blue egg!

 

[Fancychooklady]

@fancychooklady
Shell grit is the exact same chemical compostion as oyster shell, and in fact often contains oyster among the other shells. If a salesperson is trying to tell you differnent it's just so they can get another sale. I did the chemical analysis on them in high school and the shell grit I'm buying now looks exactly the same
Every thing I've found on visceral grout and fatty liver indicates birds of under 14 weeks but that could just be that the research is incomplete

Calcium carbonate is more readily absorbed by the hen. It's found in limestone .
It is a ' soluable ' form of calcium where as shell grit is an ' insoluable ' form .
Shell grit does contain shell but it also has sand and other sharps in it.
If your birds are free ranging and have access to green grass and /or veges then it is wise to add grit to the ration to prevent digestive issues such as impacted crop.
Most old timers will recommend the use of grit without really understanding it's true function.

http://www.agannex.com/production/the-relationship-between-grit-and-digestive-disorders-in-poultry

 

[RodneyRooster]

Council says 6 Chickens but I like to think that is LF and I have bantams so one more is not going to make much difference 

Good to see you back RodneyRooster it sounds like you are doing the right thing with the flocks, coaxing out the newbies, building their confidence.  I have never had to merge two flocks, only ever having integrated an extra chicken or chicks but I have found that it just takes time; they work it out in the end.

Thank you for your kind words regarding the frizzle baby and hopefully the power of your positive thinking (“GIRL’s”) pays off  … SHE is a little cutie 

I have names picked out but I can’t use them until I know the gender 

Thanks! Yes ur right, since ur bantams are only about half the size they should be classed as half a chicken! U only have 3 chickens at the moment and can keep another 6 bantams ;-)

Yes I like to think that if we just call them girls they have no choice but to be lol.

I disagree with the naming though, the second we brought out first chicks home my 4 yr old decided that one needed to be named 'big rooster Vonte'. So when it turned out he was a she we just adjusted the name.. hence now we have Miss Vonte can name them now and just tweak them later if need be.. gotta call it something to identify it dont ya!

@cwrite by the 1st picture its definitely blue but the 2nd is green lol.. think ur household could be arguing for a long time about that one!

Great now reading the study post I feel like I should probably be doing the same.. *sigh* thanks for that! Lol

 

[RodneyRooster]

Well theyve finally left the 'dirt only' area directly in front of their coop and have made it to the weed area that they can actually forage in, a few metres away from coop think theyre only feeling confident while mummys out here tho so bit of a catch 22

 

[Teila]

Aaaaw they are sweeties RodneyRooster!

Yeah, I hear ya regarding the naming thing but there is a method to my madness

Bambrooks Bantams has a name-theme, being they are all named after female singers. As you can see in my sig, we have Cilla, Dusty, Blondie and LuLu and we have had Whitney, Tina, Suzi and Brittney (RIP my sweet girls).

I ran one little chick on a bit longer than the others in Cilla’s last hatch as I was not sure if it was a boy or girl and was good company for it’s sister (Blondie). Ended up naming it Tammy but then, of course, it turned out to be a boy and became Tommy and found a new home.

I know it is silly, but now I have had a Tammy, I can’t have another one. So, not taking chances on the names I have picked, definitely not getting them until I know for sure.

Congrats on the blue/green egg cwrite! I had a chuckle at the story and the cat

 

[RodneyRooster]

Aaaaw they are sweeties RodneyRooster!
Yeah, I hear ya regarding the naming thing but there is a method to my madness

Bambrooks Bantams has a name-theme, being they are all named after female singers. As you can see in my sig, we have Cilla, Dusty, Blondie and LuLu and we have had Whitney, Tina, Suzi and Brittney (RIP my sweet girls).

I ran one little chick on a bit longer than the others in Cilla’s last hatch as I was not sure if it was a boy or girl and was good company for it’s sister (Blondie). Ended up naming it Tammy but then, of course, it turned out to be a boy and became Tommy and found a new home.

I know it is silly, but now I have had a Tammy, I can’t have another one. So, not taking chances on the names I have picked, definitely not getting them until I know for sure.

Congrats on the blue/green egg cwrite! I had a chuckle at the story and the cat

Oh yes! I didnt see it until u just mentioned it. Cool i completely understand about not being able to have another tammy too I have the old and new chickens out here eating with me now, one group on either side lol. Whilst supervised the young girls seem quite content so hopefully this supervised playdate will help move things along much quicker

 

[Teila]

Oh yes! I didnt see it until u just mentioned it. Cool i completely understand about not being able to have another tammy too

I have the old and new chickens out here eating with me now, one group on either side lol. Whilst supervised the young girls seem quite content so hopefully this supervised playdate will help move things along much quicker

That sounds like a very positive step in the right direction; much more productive than studying

 

[sjturner79]

They new silkies seem to be fairly well accepted by cluck-cluck and Sebastian. I was worried that Seb would try and really hurt the new rooster but he seems fine with it

 

[RodneyRooster]

LOL! Thank you i definitely agree ;-)

Will do that after the kids are in bed when im tired as usual haha.

Just as i sent that scarlett headed off to pick on one of the girls, just a quick run and peck to show whos boss and then wandered back over to her group. Again i am hoping thats another good sign, if shes able to peck at them without fully attacking and driving them away im hoping that means theyre welcome as long as they know whos boss..

 

[Fancychooklady]

We had a long day at the Hamilton show yesterday and I got home just before dark to feed the hungry hoards. Unfortunately the hawk came a visiting and took one of my partridge silkies.
Our daughter had a great comp, and I took some lovely pics. The guy kneeling down in front is tv presenter Ray Martin, he is publishing a book on his travels . What a lovely man, just fit right in . Loved the boys, (rusty and Jack )