Change of plans

[Auntiejessi3]

Our cucumbers failed too. We did get some good ones at the beginning of harvest and I pickled those (or ate them fresh) but we had some odd ones that ended up huge and round and yellow. I cut those in half, froze them, and gave them to the chickens as a snack. They seemed to enjoy them!

Must be something around our area this year Last year I was overrun with cucumbers, this year they just stopped growing. I'm grateful I've got some folks to trade with. My flock loves cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes. All the seeds I took out of the cucumbers for the relish I put in the fridge as a snack for them.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Quick update: Sansa has been clucking and acting broody for weeks but doesn't sit in the nest box besides to lay, so I've left her be. Thursday she stayed in the nest box all day and laid an egg, but slept on the roost, Friday she did the same, but slept in the nest box (I collected both eggs) Saturday the kraken joined her and slept in the nest box, she is now in the clink. I gave Sansa both her eggs and one of Cersei's.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Sansa is officially the meanest broody I've ever had, this happened in literally 15 seconds while I was checking for eggs that didn't belong, smdh. On a happy note, I've got a 3 day weekend and today I'm making cranberry grape juice with the steamer hubs got me for Christmas

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Overdue update: Maribel is molting, slow as usual, so there are white feathers everywhere
Sansa has 5 more days until her hatch, she's been quite committed. Cersei had to be locked up AGAIN for breaking her parole but is out and laying now. The 4 littles from the last hatch for someone else (2 WTB mixes, 1 WM, and 1 orp mix) are 5 weeks and doing great! The 2 WTB mixed surprised me as she is dominant white, one is white with a bay neck and chest and the other is partridge (both pullets), the WM is a pullet from Fiona/Langdon, and the orp mix is a cockerel, very pretty coloring. The 2 pullets (8 weeks) I kept from the Onyx brood are gorgeous, they have better bay coloring than their moms. The OE's are 17 weeks, no eggs yet, but I think we're getting close. Some pics of all of the above and of course Langdon

 

[WingItRanch]

Overdue update: Maribel is molting, slow as usual, so there are white feathers everywhere
Sansa has 5 more days until her hatch, she's been quite committed. Cersei had to be locked up AGAIN for breaking her parole but is out and laying now. The 4 littles from the last hatch for someone else (2 WTB mixes, 1 WM, and 1 orp mix) are 5 weeks and doing great! The 2 WTB mixed surprised me as she is dominant white, one is white with a bay neck and chest and the other is partridge (both pullets), the WM is a pullet from Fiona/Langdon, and the orp mix is a cockerel, very pretty coloring. The 2 pullets (8 weeks) I kept from the Onyx brood are gorgeous, they have better bay coloring than their moms. The OE's are 17 weeks, no eggs yet, but I think we're getting close. Some pics of all of the above and of course Langdon

Beautiful!!

Is it molting season already?! This will be my first year with adult hens and I'm watching for molting but wasn't sure what time of year would be likely here in TX.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Beautiful!!

Is it molting season already?! This will be my first year with adult hens and I'm watching for molting but wasn't sure what time of year would be likely here in TX.

Thank you! It varies, this is about the normal time for my ladies to start. So far it's only Maribel, I'm sure more will join in come August. Last year Betty started molting in December I think, it was cold (for us anyway, lol) and she was so naked

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Thank you! It varies, this is about the normal time for my ladies to start. So far it's only Maribel, I'm sure more will join in come August. Last year Betty started molting in December I think, it was cold (for us anyway, lol) and she was so naked

My Brahmas have all started moulting already. I think they are fed up of this heatwave. Hopefully means they are ready to lay through the winter, though I’m probably being optimistic.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

My Brahmas have all started moulting already. I think they are fed up of this heatwave. Hopefully means they are ready to lay through the winter, though I’m probably being optimistic.

Must be a brahma thing, Maribel is a light brahma, lol. She's over 5yrs old now, and doesn't lay much, but that old gal can do whatever she wants!

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Must be a brahma thing, Maribel is a light brahma, lol. She's over 5yrs old now, and doesn't lay much, but that old gal can do whatever she wants!

I suppose they have so many feathers to moult and grow back they could start early to ensure it’s all done by winter. I’ll have to look back at photos to see what time of year they started last time.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I suppose they have so many feathers to moult and grow back they could start early to ensure it’s all done by winter. I’ll have to look back at photos to see what time of year they started last time.

Totally off subject, but did you see the above pics of the 2 chicks hatched from my WTB and marans roo? I'm curious what your take is, I assumed she was dominant white because the chicks hatched from her and my black English orp roo were paint. This is one of them from a couple years ago.