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

[Susan Hampshire]

OMG... I never would have guessed how fraught with danger having chickens!!!

And of course how much work....it's a good job they are so cute and addictive!

 

[satay]

Will get some pics today. I'm seriously contemplating shaving all my broody silkies, found another baby garrotted by momma feather around neck. Managed to save this one. Very close call, I had to snap the feather because I could see it was choking and didn't have time to unwind it.

oh wow i would not thought of that happening either.

 

[Fancychooklady]

oh wow i would not thought of that happening either.

Yeah I lost one of my baby orps recently to feather strangulation. Just one of the hazards of having babies under fluffy chickens around moult time. I have heard of people plucking the underside of silkies and it makes me wonder if this is why some hens pull their own fearhers out whilst brooding.

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

Blondzilla is back! Yep, Blondie is broody [again

] … I decided that because it is going to be warmish today, I am going to get the chores out of the way early and spend the day in the garden with the girls and camera; haven’t done that for a long time and some up-to-date pictures are well overdue. [You have been warned! lol]

Fizzybelle Even though I hear him every day, I have not seen Chucky for a while; he is off doing grown-up bird things

I do, however, see those evil black &^%$#’s on a daily basis and pretty much every day they are helping themselves to the girls breakfast and dragging their feed containers away

LuckysMum I am so very sorry to hear about Baldy

RIP little girl.

satay looking forward to hearing how many stealth littlies hatch. Yep, fingers crossed for more rain on Sunday; I think they are predicting up to a possible 30mm for us but it all depends on where the storms decide to hit I guess.

 

[Teila]

Cilla:




LuLu;



The whole gang:

 

[manualname]

I've currently got three broody of an overall flock total of 13 (including rooster). Bit annoying because egg production has dropped.

 

[Susan Hampshire]

Wonderful pics ...Teila

I am a bit envious (i think) that none of my gals get broodie! I would love to hatch chicks. They are Silver Spangled Hamburgh I have now read they don't often go broodie

I have some questions....but need to explain why I got chickens in the first place!
Originally it was for eggs! To get gorgeous fresh eggs that taste fantastic ! But I have fallen head over heals for their different quirky personalities and even the challenge to optimise their health!. So you could say I have 5 new pets with benefits. I have 1 Hamburgh, 1 Hamburgh x Leghorn and 3 Hamburgh bantams. And want more!!! Hubby doesn't ageee YET. I current get 3- 4 eggs per day. My oldest gals are coming up to their second Birthday and the newbie bantams are just coming up to one year old.

So the questions:-
1. To continue to get eggs when should introduce new chickens?
2. What breeds would be the best to introduce? To prevent 'knarly' pecking order problems. Madge the leghorn cross is an enormous bully.
3. How old should they be?
4. How big should their run, coop and how many nesting boxes do you need per chicken?

 

[Teila]

Puddy Cats!

Syba cooling his belly:



Chimee giving me the 'get that camera out of my face' look

 

[sjturner79]

Don't know if you can see it, but hatch day by the looks.

 

[Susan Hampshire]

Awwww so cute!!!