California - Northern

[TheKeeper]

I have 3 frizzled showgirls chicks! Yay!

I'm looking forward to growing them out & how they turn out. Love them "ugly" chickies.

 

[chrissyr]

I have 3 frizzled showgirls chicks! Yay!

I'm looking forward to growing them out & how they turn out. Love them "ugly" chickies.

They are adorable!!

 

[tridentk9]

it also gave me a new outlook on interacting with them and watching their behavior

Great!  Now I have to look up shrimp.  I find it really interesting that bugs, etc see the world through a different prism, so to speak - for example ultraviolet colors, or even black and white.  

Regarding people, there are studies which indicate that color blind hunters, who tend to see in shades of gray, may be more adept at discerning prey because they see in patterns more so than color.

The Mantis Shrimp http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp youtube has some videos of mantis shrimp hunting.

That type of colorblindness, with no functioning cones, is rare. But I can see how patterns can be easier to see at times.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'd like to see if anyone else has had this situation. I have two six-month old cochin bantams, one of which went broody last week after only laying six eggs. Now her "sister" is getting into the nest box with her, laying her egg, but then staying there all day as well. What's up with that?

On top of that, the two of them are scooping up all the golf balls/fake eggs from the other nest boxes and bringing them under their wings into their "shared" next box. Hysterical!

Here is the broody golf ball stealer come out for treats...


oops...can't get it to turn with this iPad! ARghhhh

I have had hens move eggs. I've seen them hold them under their wings and under their beak to their neck. They hold it between their "chin" and their neck.

The youngest broody I have had was 7 months old.

Neat! I hope I get a broody next year.

Careful what you wish for. I've had 10 so far this year. Thankfully, no more sitting while I was gone this weekend.

Well, there's someone sleeping in the nest box

So, how many days should I wait to be sure?

2 consecutive nights to be sure she is broody.

 

[Kaylish]

The DH and I processed our first chickens yesterday 3 16 wk BCM. The first one was definitely rough, but the other 2 went easier. It was a BIG step for us. He fishes but doesn't hunt and I've never butchered anything before in my life. 2+ hours including set up and cleaning. It feels good knowing that we are one big step closer to being self sufficient. And that we'll be able to do something with all those extra roos I seem to be getting.

 

[Kaylish]

Careful what you wish for. I've had 10 so far this year. Thankfully, no more sitting while I was gone this weekend.

I know! All my friends in town had broodies this year and I'm a little jealous. But my only mature girls right now are hatchery birds. Hopefully my Cochin (16 wks) will be a good mama next spring.

 

[ronott1]

The DH and I processed our first chickens yesterday 3 16 wk BCM. The first one was definitely rough, but the other 2 went easier. It was a BIG step for us. He fishes but doesn't hunt and I've never butchered anything before in my life. 2+ hours including set up and cleaning. It feels good knowing that we are one big step closer to being self sufficient. And that we'll be able to do something with all those extra roos I seem to be getting.

Good Job!

It gets easier too.

 

[sol2go]

The Mantis Shrimp http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp youtube has some videos of mantis shrimp hunting.

That type of colorblindness, with no functioning cones, is rare. But I can see how patterns can be easier to see at times.

amazing!!! and YIKES

 

[AmyPaperlady]

Well, Nameless was in the nest box (did I mention that, of course, she's in the favored nest box?) this morning, though she did get out for fermented feed. When my daughter looked a little later, Nameless was back in the favored box

While Nameless was eating, I got the rest of yesterday's eggs. I don't have a rooster--is there any reason to not eat eggs that have been kept warm for a day? Or should I just make the dog happy?

I found someone down in Arcata with Marans using Craigslist, who might be willing to barter--and the person has bolted veggies as one of the desired items. If Nameless is truly broody, and if the person is agreeable, I might be able to test her out with eggs that I can pick up when my husband and I go to Harbor Freight next Monday.

 

[CackleJoy]

The DH and I processed our first chickens yesterday 3 16 wk BCM. The first one was definitely rough, but the other 2 went easier. It was a BIG step for us. He fishes but doesn't hunt and I've never butchered anything before in my life. 2+ hours including set up and cleaning. It feels good knowing that we are one big step closer to being self sufficient. And that we'll be able to do something with all those extra roos I seem to be getting.

Well done!

Well, Nameless was in the nest box (did I mention that, of course, she's in the favored nest box?) this morning, though she did get out for fermented feed. When my daughter looked a little later, Nameless was back in the favored box

While Nameless was eating, I got the rest of yesterday's eggs. I don't have a rooster--is there any reason to not eat eggs that have been kept warm for a day? Or should I just make the dog happy?

I found someone down in Arcata with Marans using Craigslist, who might be willing to barter--and the person has bolted veggies as one of the desired items. If Nameless is truly broody, and if the person is agreeable, I might be able to test her out with eggs that I can pick up when my husband and I go to Harbor Freight next Monday.

Nameless is a funny name