BYC Café

[Meg-in-MT]

That's been our weather today too Meg And the wind isn't blowing everything into a leaning position yet, so that's good!

Ugh, the wind! I think I'd cry if I had to deal with wind all of the time. Do you get it pretty bad there, Debby? Glad it's calm for you today!

 

[N F C]

Ugh, the wind! I think I'd cry if I had to deal with wind all of the time. Do you get it pretty bad there, Debby? Glad it's calm for you today!

Yep, we do. Yesterday it was 40mph and that wasn't all that odd. Until we lived here, I didn't know how tired of the wind a person could get. Reminds me of those old settler stories where people would go nuts being out in the wind all the time.

 

[Shadrach]

Mel likes her new home. It's a bit of a lash up, mainly because the builders yard is closed for holidays. The ply on show will be covered with a full piece of butile like the stuff on the apex when I'm done. It gives her and the chicks a safe place outside. The chicks are inside.

The witches! I have absolutely no idea how they are managing this shared care business. It's not until I take a picture that I get reminded just how similar these bantams are to Old English Game. Nolia in particular (front).

Another slightly unusual aspect to this lot is the rooster behaviour. Roosters rarely bother chicks or mums here unless it is to drive the hen from another tribe away from food. These boys eat with the hens and chicks and that is a bit unusual.

Best bit of the day was seeing the very end of an attempted chick snatch by a hawk.
I assume the hawk landed close by. I heard the general panic alarm. I got there just in time to see three hens off the ground feet flailing as the hawk made it's escape down the bank.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Yep, we do. Yesterday it was 40mph and that wasn't all that odd. Until we lived here, I didn't know how tired of the wind a person could get. Reminds me of those old settler stories where people would go nuts being out in the wind all the time.
View attachment 1911551

I can believe that! 40mph is mad. We are windier than we ever used to be, but nothing like that. I'd be the one to lose my marbles

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Mel likes her new home. It's a bit of a lash up, mainly because the builders yard is closed for holidays. The ply on show will be covered with a full piece of butile like the stuff on the apex when I'm done. It gives her and the chicks a safe place outside. The chicks are inside.View attachment 1911627
View attachment 1911628

The witches! I have absolutely no idea how they are managing this shared care business. It's not until I take a picture that I get reminded just how similar these bantams are to Old English Game. Nolia in particular (front).View attachment 1911629
Another slightly unusual aspect to this lot is the rooster behaviour. Roosters rarely bother chicks or mums here unless it is to drive the hen from another tribe away from food. These boys eat with the hens and chicks and that is a bit unusual.View attachment 1911630
Best bit of the day was seeing the very end of an attempted chick snatch by a hawk.
I assume the hawk landed close by. I heard the general panic alarm. I got there just in time to see three hens off the ground feet flailing as the hawk made it's escape down the bank.

Good mamas! I guess if there is something good about shared hatches, it's the extra protection provided. I've got 3 hens caring for 5 chicks at the moment. That's the only batch that didn't have a hawk loss last week.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning all had 1 cup this morning thanks needed that think I turned the corner on my cold nope not worse.... We get winds like 40 at the coast here thought often of moving to a local Island went found it was real windy never was real good so stay inland Shad I keep the silky and little peeps safe they can go out in their tractor otherwise they stay in the coop I have 3 outside cats they leave big birds alone not peeps

 

[Shadrach]

Good mamas! I guess if there is something good about shared hatches, it's the extra protection provided. I've got 3 hens caring for 5 chicks at the moment. That's the only batch that didn't have a hawk loss last week.

How many do you lose from a clutch on average? I'm a bit surprised you lose chicks when the hens are still caring for them. I tend to lose the hen and not the chicks.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have the tractor with metal on roof the entire thing is wire hardwire cloth is a foot up around the bottom to where the roof is now

 

[Shadrach]

I have the tractor with metal on roof the entire thing is wire hardwire cloth is a foot up around the bottom to where the roof is now

The main coop part has a plywood removable floor. A couple of inches below that is a double layer of 2mm square hole mesh. I did it like that so I can put earth (think a square of live turf) in the base. This has proven to be the best type of nest. Once the chicks hatch I can put the solid floor back in and of course having the floor removable makes cleaning easier.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good idea there there is a floor of wood just the front of the tractor an electrician built it for his wifes birds but coons killed all theirs she decided no more I got free put a new front on it and metal on the roof that can be removed we get just enough rain here in the fall year good to have it