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

[Teila]

Actually, funny you should mention that Fancy, after being my only layer for a while there, Dusty has not laid for a week!

Great, just what I need, a gender confused chicken!

appps I do not think the neighbours would have heard her and even if they did, I am not sure that they would interpret it as crowing; more like a strange noise made by some wild bird.

To those in the know, it sounded like the little practice crows that the baby boys have before they find their full on crow.

Cilla has had a half hearted attempt at a crow in the afternoon when she wants to be let out for a free range, but I have never had a hen crow at dawn, until now … I will keep you posted if we do have a Henster

During the ‘excitement’ of being woken by crowing, I forgot to mention the other funny thing that happened this morning.

Bit of background .. Blondie is the Diva of the flock. I think Blondie is also thinking of returning to laying as her comb is darkening up but, Blondie does not squat! Blondie does not do submission. Blondie is never going to be allowed to hatch again; she was a total Broodzilla; drew blood and raised a totally neurotic chick because EVERYTHING got pecked, attacked, warned off etc. But, she can also be a sweetheart.

Anyways, this morning as they were eating breakfast, I was opening up the nest boxes and cleaning up the overnight poops etc, as I do every morning. Rather than eat breakfast, Blondie came in the coop and was asking for the nest boxes to be opened (a good sign), so I opened them up and kept sweeping with the dust brush … Blondie attacked the dust brush .. she flew at it, jumped on it and started pecking it to death, wings flapping, full on raptor mode .. lol. Funniest thing I have seen for a while

She has seen this brush every morning since the day she hatched; they are all used to it and me doing the morning clean; I have no idea what was going through her crazy-Diva-chicken-head but with her and Dusty acting strangely, I am staring to wonder what is in the drinking water

 

[satay]

Hey Luke the web site looks good!

Good luck with the eggs sjturner79 

satay I have a small card on my desk .. Always give 100% at Work!
12% Monday
23% Tuesday
40% Wednesday
20% Thursday
5% Friday



Congrats on the little ones.

So, I got woken by the sounds of crowing; as you do when you do not have any roosters! 

As hubby was already up and I heard him go outside to check; I laid in bed trying to work out which one of my two 16 weeks old girls was, in fact, a boy.  I am picturing how they look and act and thinking “No, neither of them could be” and “OK, they are Silkie X’s but still, surely I could not be that wrong?”.

So, I laid there a bit longer, devastated and waiting to hear the news of which one of my beautiful baby girls was going to have to find a new home.

Hubby comes in and announces that the crower is, in fact, Dusty! My 2.5 year old, egg laying hen!

DUSTY!  How could you? Giving me such a scare! 

Love the work percentages but by that I am still in trouble with Wednesday being 40% Back inside today so hopefully I will achieve above my percentage of 20% for Thursday

 

[satay]

Actually, funny you should mention that Fancy, after being my only layer for a while there, Dusty has not laid for a week!

Great, just what I need, a gender confused chicken! 

appps I do not think the neighbours would have heard her and even if they did, I am not sure that they would interpret it as crowing; more like a strange noise made by some wild bird.

To those in the know, it sounded like the little practice crows that the baby boys have before they find their full on crow.

Cilla has had a half hearted attempt at a crow in the afternoon when she wants to be let out for a free range, but I have never had a hen crow at dawn, until now … I will keep you posted if we do have a Henster 

During the ‘excitement’ of being woken by crowing, I forgot to mention the other funny thing that happened this morning.

Bit of background .. Blondie is the Diva of the flock.  I think Blondie is also thinking of returning to laying as her comb is darkening up but, Blondie does not squat!  Blondie does not do submission.  Blondie is never going to be allowed to hatch again; she was a total Broodzilla; drew blood and raised a totally neurotic chick because EVERYTHING got pecked, attacked, warned off etc.  But, she can also be a sweetheart.

Anyways, this morning as they were eating breakfast, I was opening up the nest boxes and cleaning up the overnight poops etc, as I do every morning.  Rather than eat breakfast, Blondie came in the coop and was asking for the nest boxes to be opened (a good sign), so I opened them up and kept sweeping with the dust brush … Blondie attacked the dust brush .. she flew at it, jumped on it and started pecking it to death, wings flapping, full on raptor mode .. lol.  Funniest thing I have seen for a while 

She has seen this brush every morning since the day she hatched; they are all used to it and me doing the morning clean; I have no idea what was going through her crazy-Diva-chicken-head but with her and Dusty acting strangely, I am staring to wonder what is in the drinking water     

Maybe the cold snap that is coming has sent them around the twist . My Belgian girl was going off from about 5am. She can be quite the diva as well. Note Belgian girls are not ones for small back yards with close neighbours.

 

[IamSamSam]

Lol I have a rooster that hatched 10 dec 14 and is still not crowing

 

[Fancychooklady]

Did someone say cold ? Frosty morning here.

 

[sjturner79]

That is funn

Actually, funny you should mention that Fancy, after being my only layer for a while there, Dusty has not laid for a week!

Great, just what I need, a gender confused chicken! 

appps I do not think the neighbours would have heard her and even if they did, I am not sure that they would interpret it as crowing; more like a strange noise made by some wild bird.

To those in the know, it sounded like the little practice crows that the baby boys have before they find their full on crow.

Cilla has had a half hearted attempt at a crow in the afternoon when she wants to be let out for a free range, but I have never had a hen crow at dawn, until now … I will keep you posted if we do have a Henster 

During the ‘excitement’ of being woken by crowing, I forgot to mention the other funny thing that happened this morning.

Bit of background .. Blondie is the Diva of the flock.  I think Blondie is also thinking of returning to laying as her comb is darkening up but, Blondie does not squat!  Blondie does not do submission.  Blondie is never going to be allowed to hatch again; she was a total Broodzilla; drew blood and raised a totally neurotic chick because EVERYTHING got pecked, attacked, warned off etc.  But, she can also be a sweetheart.

Anyways, this morning as they were eating breakfast, I was opening up the nest boxes and cleaning up the overnight poops etc, as I do every morning.  Rather than eat breakfast, Blondie came in the coop and was asking for the nest boxes to be opened (a good sign), so I opened them up and kept sweeping with the dust brush … Blondie attacked the dust brush .. she flew at it, jumped on it and started pecking it to death, wings flapping, full on raptor mode .. lol.  Funniest thing I have seen for a while 

She has seen this brush every morning since the day she hatched; they are all used to it and me doing the morning clean; I have no idea what was going through her crazy-Diva-chicken-head but with her and Dusty acting strangely, I am staring to wonder what is in the drinking water     

That is funny. Congrats on the egg I missed that post but saw someone else's reply. It means I should only be a week till ck starts

 

[Anniebee]

Hehe, dusty has obviously decided that someone needs to ' man up ' in this flock. Don't be surprised if she stops laying now.

Had to laugh at the original story - from Teila ... fretting ( not funny ) as to which of her chickens might have to go - but fortunately all to no avail ! ... Dusty was doing her thing.

Dusty might well stop laying, but my Araucana - IF and WHEN she decides to lay again, will announce her intentions ... by ? ... crowing. Admittedly, it is an Araucana trait to crow, but she is very vocal ( neighbours wonder exactly what the H*LL I have in my back garden as it is such a strange sound ) .... when she is laying.

Maybe Dusty has thought ' lets worry everybody, just for fun ' - and will lay ? ... Then again, maybe not.

Who can tell with chooks. ? ....

 

[Anniebee]

My poor 3 girls will be locked up for a week now - IF the forecasters are correct for Victoria. .... not to mention the cold blizzard type conditions coming. ...

I will give them treats to keep them happy !! Spoiled brats - all three. ... When locked up though, they tend to eat like theres' no tomorrow - their normal layer pellets, so I expect 3 fat chickens at the end of this lot of rain, cold, snow, hail etc. ( IF the forecasters are correct )

Cheers - and keep warm.

 

[satay]

My poor 3 girls will be locked up for a week now - IF the forecasters are correct for Victoria.  .... not to mention the cold blizzard type conditions coming.  ...

I will give them treats to keep them happy !!   Spoiled brats - all three.   ... When locked up though, they tend to eat like theres' no tomorrow - their normal layer pellets, so I expect 3 fat chickens at the end of this lot of rain, cold, snow, hail etc. ( IF the forecasters are correct ) 

Cheers - and keep warm.  

Hope you and your girls stay warm Annie. While we are expecting really cold weather I am sure it will be nothing compared to you people down south.

 

[appps]

Hope you and your girls stay warm Annie. While we are expecting really cold weather I am sure it will be nothing compared to you people down south.

The inlaws were saying it's been -7 overnight in Canberra. Brrrrrr. I'm going to stick with my 4c feels like 2.5 thank you very much!