BYC's 2025 Spooktacular Halloween Hatch-Along

[jxp]

4 doggies is my dream!

See that yellow goofball snuggle bunny closest to the camera? That's Connor - half Great Pyrenees, half yellow Lab, 100% wonderful, and 1000% the bestest dog in the world. Full of fun and curiosity, he pulls on the leash like a draft horse (because there's too many people to meet and squirrels that need chasing and trees that are thirsty) but he's still the bestest.

All right, before I launch into more ramblings about the other three, I'll just say I miss my puppies when I'm not home and this year, I've been gone a lot. I should be back before Christmas though.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

There are hawks where I live. Even though I've seen them circling above or sitting in the dogwood next door watching my girls free range, oddly enough, I've never had one try to snatch a meal... I do however sometimes have trouble finding leg room or turning over in my own queen size bed.
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Nothing better than a pack of dogs.

 

[Rooski456]

I was in my living room facing the backyard just 3 minutes ago, then I watched as a massive bird swooped from the sky and almost knocked the little chick cage the chicks were in over. It was a mature red tail hawk trying to eat my chicks. I screamed bloody murder and the hawk went away. It flew to a nearby branch. It looked the size of a turkey sitting on that branch!!!
View attachment 4251636I went outside and checked on the chicks. This was them hiding, crouched low, under random things in the little rabbit hutch they were in and didn't move for 30 seconds just staring at me in shock.
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View attachment 4251637Muffin scraped her comb because she tucked her head under this little ramp thing. They looked absolutely petrified.

View attachment 4251639 Then they realized it was me and came out. They look weak. But thankfully the coop was strong enough to endure 5 seconds of a huge hawk grappling at it and they were unharmed except for some scrapes.
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That was the most terrifying moment of my life, but at least they know to hide when they see a hawk now. Poor babies.

That is so terrifying! I’m glad the hawk wasn’t able to get to them. I’m dying at the pictures of them hiding lol poor things!

 

[ella2025]

That is so terrifying! I’m glad the hawk wasn’t able to get to them. I’m dying at the pictures of them hiding lol poor things!

They were just staring at me blankly like "can we move now?"

 

[ella2025]

Here is my 3 ish weeks update.
They all look like roos to me, I'm not exactly sure though.

Peach

Cupcake

Muffin

Beth

All 4 are very skittish because I haven't handled them much in a week. I will try to spend a little more time with them.

Dad is starting to act very aggressive to everyone except me. I will probably have to cull him within the next few weeks. Maybe this is his way of haunting me.

 

[ella2025]

Beth is still growing regular silkie feathers. I don't know what is happening but I'll be very happy if he really is a pure silkie. We have a silkie rooster in another pen that I bring his mom to rarely, and he might be that rooster's baby. He has all the traits of a silkie and we'll see if he actually feathers out fully silkied.

 

[jxp]

Here is my 3 ish weeks update.
They all look like roos to me, I'm not exactly sure though.

Peach
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Cupcake
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Muffin
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Beth
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All 4 are very skittish because I haven't handled them much in a week. I will try to spend a little more time with them.

Dad is starting to act very aggressive to everyone except me. I will probably have to cull him within the next few weeks. Maybe this is his way of haunting me.

Hens or roosters, they all look like absolutely adorable little fluffer nuts.

 

[ella2025]

@Rooski456 @african chickens how are your chicks doing?
@redinator did you get any updates?

 

[redinator]

@Rooski456 @african chickens how are your chicks doing?
@redinator did you get any updates?

No pictures, but she says they're doing awesome. I talk to the new owner on occasion since she works at the local TSC. She'll also be taking some males from a previous hatch.

 

[redinator]

There are hawks where I live. Even though I've seen them circling above or sitting in the dogwood next door watching my girls free range, oddly enough, I've never had one try to snatch a meal... I do however sometimes have trouble finding leg room or turning over in my own queen size bed.
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That's their bed, you just sleep in it, lol.