LavrisChica
In the Brooder
Formerly (well still) the "crazy cat lady", I've now been dubbed "The Snow White of Maize", which I believe proves my niece's nice way of saying "Crazy Chicken Lady" LOL
On 80 acres just outside a small rural town (quickly becoming a modern suburb - OUCH), my husband suggested chickens mainly for the large amounts of eggs I consume. As a city-country gal with 10 years of agriculture and livestock background in 4-H and many farmer friends, the only chicks I ever "raised" were incubated, colored with food dye, and hatched at school, only to be given to one of those farmer friends when they began smelling up my room and flying everywhere. My hubby, however, has had chickens for many years, so this wasn't his first rodeo - so to speak - yet it is of the magnitude I've taken it thus far, as I quickly fell in love!!
I acquired my original flock about a year and a half ago from local farm supply stores - even had a couple that were given to me because they were ordered wrongly - and my niavete agreed wholeheartedly to two Thai Game chicks - wow - been an adventure with them - sad, joyful, and challenging for sure. Not knowing then what I really had, the flock included:
5 bantams: one brown cochin pullet (Betty Loo), one black cochin pullet (Sally Jane), one D'Uccle Roo (Marshal Chester), one golden Sebright Roo (Ranger), and one white "chocolate-chipped" mutt Roo (Tucker);
7 Silver Laced Wyandotes (Lacey 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7),
and the two Thai's: one pullet (Gracie) and one Roo (Raptor).
Additionally, three ducks: A Peking hybrid drake (Ivan), a black Indian hen (Ebony), and a mallard hen (Mallory).
I hadn't really thought much on hatching any more, until Sally Jane went broody. I said to myself, "Self, let's just see what happens. It'd be so neat to raise baby chicks from our own flock's matings!" Shrugging, "Why not?!?" he he he
Uh-huh, so the adventure - ahem - addiction - began. ;-)
Sally chose the eggs to hatch, not I. Sigh. Nodding sideways with a raised eyebrow, lips a bit askew right there, too! We ended up with three successful births about three days after Raptor and Ranger were killed in the line of duty protecting the flock from coyote(s). R.I.P. to both of them.
Sad day, yet not. Raptor, though absolutely stunning aesthetically, proved true to his name. He stirred up nothing but dissension in the ranks, stressing the ladies out, and became my initiation into bi-specie fetishes. UGH! He just would NOT leave my quackers alone - even Ivan!! Such violations were shocking to me at first - yet have now become the norm around here. LOL
Anyhow, the three hatchlings turned out to all be Thai, either from Raptor or Gracie. Gracie, being gentle like her name, we hoped for the best. One Thai/D'Uccle Roo (Waylon), and two pullets: one Golden Sebright Thai (Georgia) and one full Thai (Delilah). Long story short, this spring we had to put Waylon down due to his aggressiveness towards the entire flock and almost killing our current Alpha Roo. He truly lived up to and overdid Raptor on many levels - aesthetically and aggressively. Took four shots during one of his attacks. SMH.
Delilah, the amazon-she-woman of the flock, towers over others, yet remains kind (unless she's broody - then watch out!).
Georgia proves a gentle giant with gorgeous coloring.
Then the green monster overtook Betty Loo, and she had to try and outdo Sally Jane. Me? I said, "Why not?!?" once again. LOL
Betty hatched out 5 bantams: two D'uccle/Cochin Roos (Festus and Otis), one D'Uccle/Cochin pullet (Dottie), and two White mutt/Cochins (Sparrow and Hawksy Roxie). Beautiful bunch for sure with very interesting coloring patterns on Sparrow and Hawksy - all of which have proven docile and a delight. YAY!
By this time, I noticed that since Raptor was gone, none of the bantam Roos had assumed Alpha position, egg production decreased, and one of the Lacies became transgender (HA!) trying to assume that Alpha Roo spot. Yet another initiation into the "As the World Turns" in chicken landom. ;-)
So, insert my at-first-buddy, a Lavender Americana Roo (Perri Winkle). An in-town flock was rehoming this guy and specifically desired him to not end up decked out on someone's dinner table, so I became the lucky recipient. :-D
Oh how the Lacies detested his presence, and poor Perri was bullied a lot. In a fight-or-die survival mode, he got a bit big for his plumage, and took on one of our German Shepherds! I thought for sure Perri was a goner. Rescuing him from the jaws of death and nursing him back to health, he became by snuggle-buddy. Yet, after acceptance into the flock as one of them, assuming Alpha, and that second-almost-bloody-death dual with Waylon, Perri has sworn me his frenemy. As long as I don my armor of a long push broom and the scratch pail, he leaves me alone, yet the second I turn my back, he runs up on me. Now, I have tried to re-establish my Alpha-alpha status, and teach him not to bite the hand that feeds him, to no avail. Sad, really, as I love him to pieces. BUT, he's gone after my niece and one of my adult sons, and I just cannot chance him going after my four toddler grandkiddos. Sigh. Yup, Perri will have to go. Insert lump in throat and a slight tearing of the eyes.
Now, Gracie, Sally, AND Betty all became broody at the same time. Me, fully addicted by this time, and completely in love with my ducks and their eggs - Mallory had been decapitated by an unknown thief in the night, stealing only her head, so I longed to replace her spot in the egg-laying - I did the choosing of what eggs to hatch. I replaced all the bantam eggs with Lacey and Ebony eggs. Worked like a charm, EXCEPT, Gracie proves a horrid brooder, and pissy to boot, and then the unspeakable - Betty drowned in the duck pool, too. As one of my fave hens, I had to choke back some tears and take some time to mourn her blessed soul!
Therefore, Sally ended up with more than her fair share, and the rest went into the incubator.
Meanwhile, hubby surprised me with four colorful ducklings!! Within a week, we had an onslaught of daylight abductions: two Lacey hens and two of the new ducklings. To this day, I've no clue if coyote or racoon, yet my almost-positive-guess leans towards coyote. (we now have the entire immediate property fenced - 3 to 4 acres!!)
At my lamenting that the two surviving ducks were in fact drakes, my middle son and his wife, surprised me with two ducklings in hopes of bringing me a female. Unfortunately, not. Add in one Peking and one Black Crested drake (Charlie and Tyson).
Within a few days later, incubated chicks and ducklings began hatching as well as a concerned church-member who had taken on two rescue ducks from a young boy who had been gifted them for Easter and his parents no longer wanted them called me asking if I'd take them on.
"Why of course, the more the merrier!" I piped!!
Enter one Peking and one White and Fawn Indian Runner whom I named Chip and Fawn, who may really be Chippa and Fonzie! Boo-Hoo, as I think Indian Runners are too stinkin' cute as well as great egg-layers. Frownie face at the Fawn/Fonzie possibility!
Incubated hatchlings were days following the hatchlings under Sally. I thought, "Ok, same age, same 'look', great mommy, surely she'd surrogate well!" Nope. She killed the first one I put under her within that same day. So, I kept the rest from her. Too bad, too, as it was a positive Perri baby, which I was desperately rooting for!
Sally's four have yielded definite Lacey crosses: one cockerel, and three pullets. Too soon to tell daddy at this stage, yet I suspect at least two Waylon sired, and have my fingers crossed the other two came from the loins of Perri. We shall see. ;-)
Incubator only yielded two more chicks and one duckling. Both chicks APPEAR as Thai crosses (not sure, yet I think both pullets), and the duckling, uniquely marked as a Peking/Black Indian cross. I tried my hand at venting this one - and I believe she's a she (Jewels)!!!!
Talking to the hubs, we discussed that I'd like to start selling eggs at the local Farmer's Market. He also told me of his breeding experiment with Light Brahma and Americana, to which developed a gorgeous hybrid that he sold at the Amish auction for good money. He also explained that he had wonderful success selling his eggs at work, his customers desired his over others, as his were a colorful surprise in every carton. This appealed to me, so at his prompting and approval, I ordered several chicks from Cackle Hatchery, that arrived days after the newest hatchlings. EXCITEMENT!!!
Our "little chicken farm" now bustles with:
5 Blue Polish (straight run)
5-7 Light Brahmas (straight run) - actually, I think CH sent me some extries...as there are more than I ordered
3 Easter Eggers (pullets)
3 Salmon Favorells (pullets)
2 Black Copper Marans (pullets)
And, finally, at a run to Orscheln's the other day, I found myself unable to resist the chirping tanks, and after venting all the remaining ducklings (I'm betting they felt thoroughly violated), I feel confident I brought home two yellow female down-balls (Pebbles and Ginger).
Now that you have the full run-down on my chicas, roos, and quackers (lol), we also have two German Shepherds (Whiskey and Asti), five cats (Moofassa, Emma, Bronson, Oscar, and Angel), 7 adult kids (Isaac, Ciara, Travis, Jacib, Domnyk, Justis, and Clay) who all live within a 40 mile radius, with one exception - Justis went to live with Jesus a little over a year ago - she was almost 18. And of course, cannot forget the four grandkiddos - the twins, Zia and Zilus (girl and boy - 3), Koda (boy - 2), and Makyna (girl - 1.5). We have two lovely daughters-in-laws, Laura and Katie, and one soon-to-be son-in-law, Martin.
As we look into self-sufficiency (wink), we are contemplating aquaponics (trout), cattle, horses, sheep - maybe goats, and either a donkey or llama. An entire 1-2 acre chicken garden in the stages of layout as well as a total coop redo. Fun, fun!!! I'm also completely renovating our home: 3 br 2 ba into a 2 br 2 ba. One ba and one br down, the rest in chaos mode!
I discovered BYC a year or so ago and am always referring to the great information here! Decided it was time to officially "join".
YAY!!! :-D
Blessings,
Chérie (and Kenny)
P.S. I forgot that three were added in the middle of the mix by my grandson, Koda. Buff Orrington Roo (Kung-Pow), Buff Orrington pullet ( Popcorn ), and a Production Red Roo (Li'Roo).
On 80 acres just outside a small rural town (quickly becoming a modern suburb - OUCH), my husband suggested chickens mainly for the large amounts of eggs I consume. As a city-country gal with 10 years of agriculture and livestock background in 4-H and many farmer friends, the only chicks I ever "raised" were incubated, colored with food dye, and hatched at school, only to be given to one of those farmer friends when they began smelling up my room and flying everywhere. My hubby, however, has had chickens for many years, so this wasn't his first rodeo - so to speak - yet it is of the magnitude I've taken it thus far, as I quickly fell in love!!
I acquired my original flock about a year and a half ago from local farm supply stores - even had a couple that were given to me because they were ordered wrongly - and my niavete agreed wholeheartedly to two Thai Game chicks - wow - been an adventure with them - sad, joyful, and challenging for sure. Not knowing then what I really had, the flock included:
5 bantams: one brown cochin pullet (Betty Loo), one black cochin pullet (Sally Jane), one D'Uccle Roo (Marshal Chester), one golden Sebright Roo (Ranger), and one white "chocolate-chipped" mutt Roo (Tucker);
7 Silver Laced Wyandotes (Lacey 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7),
and the two Thai's: one pullet (Gracie) and one Roo (Raptor).
Additionally, three ducks: A Peking hybrid drake (Ivan), a black Indian hen (Ebony), and a mallard hen (Mallory).
I hadn't really thought much on hatching any more, until Sally Jane went broody. I said to myself, "Self, let's just see what happens. It'd be so neat to raise baby chicks from our own flock's matings!" Shrugging, "Why not?!?" he he he
Uh-huh, so the adventure - ahem - addiction - began. ;-)
Sally chose the eggs to hatch, not I. Sigh. Nodding sideways with a raised eyebrow, lips a bit askew right there, too! We ended up with three successful births about three days after Raptor and Ranger were killed in the line of duty protecting the flock from coyote(s). R.I.P. to both of them.
Sad day, yet not. Raptor, though absolutely stunning aesthetically, proved true to his name. He stirred up nothing but dissension in the ranks, stressing the ladies out, and became my initiation into bi-specie fetishes. UGH! He just would NOT leave my quackers alone - even Ivan!! Such violations were shocking to me at first - yet have now become the norm around here. LOL
Anyhow, the three hatchlings turned out to all be Thai, either from Raptor or Gracie. Gracie, being gentle like her name, we hoped for the best. One Thai/D'Uccle Roo (Waylon), and two pullets: one Golden Sebright Thai (Georgia) and one full Thai (Delilah). Long story short, this spring we had to put Waylon down due to his aggressiveness towards the entire flock and almost killing our current Alpha Roo. He truly lived up to and overdid Raptor on many levels - aesthetically and aggressively. Took four shots during one of his attacks. SMH.
Delilah, the amazon-she-woman of the flock, towers over others, yet remains kind (unless she's broody - then watch out!).
Georgia proves a gentle giant with gorgeous coloring.
Then the green monster overtook Betty Loo, and she had to try and outdo Sally Jane. Me? I said, "Why not?!?" once again. LOL
Betty hatched out 5 bantams: two D'uccle/Cochin Roos (Festus and Otis), one D'Uccle/Cochin pullet (Dottie), and two White mutt/Cochins (Sparrow and Hawksy Roxie). Beautiful bunch for sure with very interesting coloring patterns on Sparrow and Hawksy - all of which have proven docile and a delight. YAY!
By this time, I noticed that since Raptor was gone, none of the bantam Roos had assumed Alpha position, egg production decreased, and one of the Lacies became transgender (HA!) trying to assume that Alpha Roo spot. Yet another initiation into the "As the World Turns" in chicken landom. ;-)
So, insert my at-first-buddy, a Lavender Americana Roo (Perri Winkle). An in-town flock was rehoming this guy and specifically desired him to not end up decked out on someone's dinner table, so I became the lucky recipient. :-D
Oh how the Lacies detested his presence, and poor Perri was bullied a lot. In a fight-or-die survival mode, he got a bit big for his plumage, and took on one of our German Shepherds! I thought for sure Perri was a goner. Rescuing him from the jaws of death and nursing him back to health, he became by snuggle-buddy. Yet, after acceptance into the flock as one of them, assuming Alpha, and that second-almost-bloody-death dual with Waylon, Perri has sworn me his frenemy. As long as I don my armor of a long push broom and the scratch pail, he leaves me alone, yet the second I turn my back, he runs up on me. Now, I have tried to re-establish my Alpha-alpha status, and teach him not to bite the hand that feeds him, to no avail. Sad, really, as I love him to pieces. BUT, he's gone after my niece and one of my adult sons, and I just cannot chance him going after my four toddler grandkiddos. Sigh. Yup, Perri will have to go. Insert lump in throat and a slight tearing of the eyes.
Now, Gracie, Sally, AND Betty all became broody at the same time. Me, fully addicted by this time, and completely in love with my ducks and their eggs - Mallory had been decapitated by an unknown thief in the night, stealing only her head, so I longed to replace her spot in the egg-laying - I did the choosing of what eggs to hatch. I replaced all the bantam eggs with Lacey and Ebony eggs. Worked like a charm, EXCEPT, Gracie proves a horrid brooder, and pissy to boot, and then the unspeakable - Betty drowned in the duck pool, too. As one of my fave hens, I had to choke back some tears and take some time to mourn her blessed soul!
Therefore, Sally ended up with more than her fair share, and the rest went into the incubator.
Meanwhile, hubby surprised me with four colorful ducklings!! Within a week, we had an onslaught of daylight abductions: two Lacey hens and two of the new ducklings. To this day, I've no clue if coyote or racoon, yet my almost-positive-guess leans towards coyote. (we now have the entire immediate property fenced - 3 to 4 acres!!)
At my lamenting that the two surviving ducks were in fact drakes, my middle son and his wife, surprised me with two ducklings in hopes of bringing me a female. Unfortunately, not. Add in one Peking and one Black Crested drake (Charlie and Tyson).
Within a few days later, incubated chicks and ducklings began hatching as well as a concerned church-member who had taken on two rescue ducks from a young boy who had been gifted them for Easter and his parents no longer wanted them called me asking if I'd take them on.
"Why of course, the more the merrier!" I piped!!
Enter one Peking and one White and Fawn Indian Runner whom I named Chip and Fawn, who may really be Chippa and Fonzie! Boo-Hoo, as I think Indian Runners are too stinkin' cute as well as great egg-layers. Frownie face at the Fawn/Fonzie possibility!
Incubated hatchlings were days following the hatchlings under Sally. I thought, "Ok, same age, same 'look', great mommy, surely she'd surrogate well!" Nope. She killed the first one I put under her within that same day. So, I kept the rest from her. Too bad, too, as it was a positive Perri baby, which I was desperately rooting for!
Sally's four have yielded definite Lacey crosses: one cockerel, and three pullets. Too soon to tell daddy at this stage, yet I suspect at least two Waylon sired, and have my fingers crossed the other two came from the loins of Perri. We shall see. ;-)
Incubator only yielded two more chicks and one duckling. Both chicks APPEAR as Thai crosses (not sure, yet I think both pullets), and the duckling, uniquely marked as a Peking/Black Indian cross. I tried my hand at venting this one - and I believe she's a she (Jewels)!!!!
Talking to the hubs, we discussed that I'd like to start selling eggs at the local Farmer's Market. He also told me of his breeding experiment with Light Brahma and Americana, to which developed a gorgeous hybrid that he sold at the Amish auction for good money. He also explained that he had wonderful success selling his eggs at work, his customers desired his over others, as his were a colorful surprise in every carton. This appealed to me, so at his prompting and approval, I ordered several chicks from Cackle Hatchery, that arrived days after the newest hatchlings. EXCITEMENT!!!
Our "little chicken farm" now bustles with:
5 Blue Polish (straight run)
5-7 Light Brahmas (straight run) - actually, I think CH sent me some extries...as there are more than I ordered
3 Easter Eggers (pullets)
3 Salmon Favorells (pullets)
2 Black Copper Marans (pullets)
And, finally, at a run to Orscheln's the other day, I found myself unable to resist the chirping tanks, and after venting all the remaining ducklings (I'm betting they felt thoroughly violated), I feel confident I brought home two yellow female down-balls (Pebbles and Ginger).
Now that you have the full run-down on my chicas, roos, and quackers (lol), we also have two German Shepherds (Whiskey and Asti), five cats (Moofassa, Emma, Bronson, Oscar, and Angel), 7 adult kids (Isaac, Ciara, Travis, Jacib, Domnyk, Justis, and Clay) who all live within a 40 mile radius, with one exception - Justis went to live with Jesus a little over a year ago - she was almost 18. And of course, cannot forget the four grandkiddos - the twins, Zia and Zilus (girl and boy - 3), Koda (boy - 2), and Makyna (girl - 1.5). We have two lovely daughters-in-laws, Laura and Katie, and one soon-to-be son-in-law, Martin.
As we look into self-sufficiency (wink), we are contemplating aquaponics (trout), cattle, horses, sheep - maybe goats, and either a donkey or llama. An entire 1-2 acre chicken garden in the stages of layout as well as a total coop redo. Fun, fun!!! I'm also completely renovating our home: 3 br 2 ba into a 2 br 2 ba. One ba and one br down, the rest in chaos mode!
I discovered BYC a year or so ago and am always referring to the great information here! Decided it was time to officially "join".
YAY!!! :-D
Blessings,
Chérie (and Kenny)
P.S. I forgot that three were added in the middle of the mix by my grandson, Koda. Buff Orrington Roo (Kung-Pow), Buff Orrington pullet ( Popcorn ), and a Production Red Roo (Li'Roo).
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welcome to BYC !!
