Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

Ma'am Sally you got pretty crested cream legbars pullets. How i wish i can have this strain from Sir Oz soon. God bless!

Good evening Don Senor Rolito

We are hatching up a bunch of easter eggers at the moment.

I am hoping to have CCL next trip

 

[hillfloweranch]

I need a Bernie! can Bernie come visit me? LOL it's a tad cold right now but his expertise is needed here at the HFR.

 

[ozexpat]

I need a Bernie! can Bernie come visit me? LOL it's a tad cold right now but his expertise is needed here at the HFR.

poor HFR

What skill do you need?

 

[ozexpat]

I found a whats ap message on my phone when I awoke saying there were 11 pippers in the bator, 27 eggs laid today and 54 eggs laid in the last 4 days were set.

Suddenly we are a chicken farm.

 

[hillfloweranch]

I found a whats ap message on my phone when I awoke saying there were 11 pippers in the bator, 27 eggs laid today and 54 eggs laid in the last 4 days were set.

Suddenly we are a chicken farm.

Yay!!

 

[Tomtommom]

I found a whats ap message on my phone when I awoke saying there were 11 pippers in the bator, 27 eggs laid today and 54 eggs laid in the last 4 days were set.

Suddenly we are a chicken farm.

Congrats on becoming a chicken farm... although that makes one wonder what it was at first? A personal safari park? Zoo? Figment of your imagination?

 

[ozexpat]

Congrats on becoming a chicken farm... although that makes one wonder what it was at first? A personal safari park? Zoo? Figment of your imagination?

I guess that the profoundness is not explained or maybe it just cant be.

What it was - was a struggle. Trying, crying and getting the courage to try again

Some low points:
I hatched 15 chicks on my second hatch. On day 2 I lost them all to fire ants. We set 400 eggs
115 quail wiped out by.... wait for it..... quail disease
120 Dick Horstman eggs set. 0 hatch

Last night we started the incubation process on 16 purebred chicken eggs - rhode island reds, orpington, barred rocks and jersey giants. Sure its only 16 eggs and they may not hatch but the significance of this brings me to my knees. We did it.

The pipping chicks are great - they will all become part of the chicken mission - as with the next 150 crossbreds we hatch.

All I really wanted when I started all this was a few rhode island reds, orpington, barred rocks and jersey giants on my lawn and eggs in my basket (well Australorps were in that mix also).

 

[piglett]

that is a great idea, how many hens do you have two boys with?
This young splash just messed up his daddy's comb, so I think he is winning the battle to kingdom lol
you would think they would know each other ha ha ha

I hear ya on the feed, its killing me and they still arent paying for it or working for it! darn chicken!

8 girls in with the boys
we have been removing the roosters that are lower on the pecking order
so far 2 have been relocated to a roasting pan
more of that will follow till we get down to just 3
one is for a special breeding project
buff orpington over game bird

looking to breed a super broody bird that will forage like nothing you can find
but also has some meat on it's bones
unlike a normal game bird.

the hens might be a little "nasty"
but i bet they will protect their babies

 

[perchie.girl]

I agree with Piglett.... With my Wellies I had three roos. There was one that was the Alpha and he claimed ALL the hens.... But he couldnt keep his back turned too long because one of the other roos would sneak in a lick.... And if he got too busy bustin feather with him the third one would get in there.... The deal is when i turrned them out to free range they would take up postitions away from each other and Watch.... for predators and each other.

Even my bigger flock years ago I had thirty chickens I had at least five or six roos of varying ages.... lots of game in the flock so they were wiley.... The roos would defend against predators and I would lose one now and then. There was always an up and comer to take his place.

deb

 

[Tomtommom]

I guess that the profoundness is not explained or maybe it just cant be.

What it was - was a struggle. Trying, crying and getting the courage to try again

Some low points:
I hatched 15 chicks on my second hatch. On day 2 I lost them all to fire ants. We set 400 eggs
115 quail wiped out by.... wait for it..... quail disease
120 Dick Horstman eggs set. 0 hatch

Last night we started the incubation process on 16 purebred chicken eggs - rhode island reds, orpington, barred rocks and jersey giants. Sure its only 16 eggs and they may not hatch but the significance of this brings me to my knees. We did it.

The pipping chicks are great - they will all become part of the chicken mission - as with the next 150 crossbreds we hatch.

All I really wanted when I started all this was a few rhode island reds, orpington, barred rocks and jersey giants on my lawn and eggs in my basket (well Australorps were in that mix also).

Oh I know how big a deal it is for things to finally go smoothly and to see good, measurable results. I was just being facetious, it sounded funny as you put it, even though it's a really big deal to possible be 'out of the red' so to speak. You're finally producing eggs on the property, rather than having to bring them in.

I'm sure as your audience we're all thrilled for you! I surely did not mean to make it seem like it's not a big deal.