Hatching with 2 broodies

[Teila]

So was just sitting in the coop, out of view of the Darkhorse, lots of soft clucks going on, some purry sounds too, then when I peeked around the corner she sqwaked at me lol

I can picture that!

 

[lizgarf]

Oh my goodness, I am so proud of my chicken-herding/guard dog right now! The chicks and family were out exploring on the front steps (protected from the street by a little gate), while I was cleaning the coop and doing some work in the front. Reggie was tied to a post near the coop. Neither she nor I could see the chickens at this point, but suddenly Reggie started barking. I checked on the chickens, and saw my cat, way down below at the foot of the stairs. Reggie couldn't see her, but she knew she was there and warned us! I had plenty of time to scoop up Penelope and put her inside, away from the foraging chicks!
My farm team doesn't always work this smoothly (and it took awhile to get Reggie to stop barking), but it sure is nice when it does!

Teila, to answer your question about the turkey: I was flying downhill, around a corner, and there was a flock of turkeys, slowly crossing the road. Luckily they can skeddadle when needed.

Pooman, it sounds like you have chicks! Hope she lets you see them soon!

 

[16 paws]

Not that Dusty ever dips out and she is well and truly loved; my guilt made today Dusty-Day and she got smothered with attention and treats! lol

Happy Dusty Day yall!!!

 

[Pooman]

LIVE UPDATE

I saw a little chicken head poke out

 

[tommysgirl]

pooman Hooorayyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pics when appropriate please

My little group had its first free ranging outing...about 45 minutes. I am in dispair at the thought that my SPW seem to be boys at this point. Not really, the joy and excitement of hatching is worth the cost of the hatching eggs but I was very much hoping for a pullet.

I do think the little black one is a girl though. her barring is even her color is dark and when I picked her up by her little chickie shoulders she relaxed. Time will tell but my fingers are crossed for at least one little girl baby in this hatch...you would think that with the earlier hatch being 4 for 4 boys that I would be luckier this time.

 

[Pooman]

We have confirmation of 1, the chick i saw pop out earlier was from the opposite corner, I'm hoping they are both good to go...

Now Team Broody, some comments

Bought come chick starter, the medicated stuff, accidently threw some into the FF bucket for the main flock, then realised there is a 14 day with holding on the eggs, so started a new bucket for main flock. So now have 3 buckets, main flock, starter and Contaminated bucket.

Just some questions about the FF crumbles... It has gone like porridge, I cant seem to drain it much and is more like soup, is this ok? Feed em that? Or put down dry crumbles too.... Do I need to smash some of the shell grit up? I guess i do, but they won't be eating any big bits of stuff for a while.. I would like to have them on FF from day 1....

I'm going back down the coop lol

 

[Teila]

Oh my goodness, I am so proud of my chicken-herding/guard dog right now! The chicks and family were out exploring on the front steps (protected from the street by a little gate), while I was cleaning the coop and doing some work in the front. Reggie was tied to a post near the coop. Neither she nor I could see the chickens at this point, but suddenly Reggie started barking. I checked on the chickens, and saw my cat, way down below at the foot of the stairs. Reggie couldn't see her, but she knew she was there and warned us! I had plenty of time to scoop up Penelope and put her inside, away from the foraging chicks!
My farm team doesn't always work this smoothly (and it took awhile to get Reggie to stop barking), but it sure is nice when it does!

Teila, to answer your question about the turkey: I was flying downhill, around a corner, and there was a flock of turkeys, slowly crossing the road. Luckily they can skeddadle when needed.

Pooman, it sounds like you have chicks! Hope she lets you see them soon!

Well done Reggie; she is a clever girl ... a pat and cuddle on it's way from Aus!

Tee hee Liz, I bet the Adrenaline was pumping after that close encounter and of course, you would have come out of it in worse shape than the turkeys!

 

[Teila]

We have confirmation of 1, the chick i saw pop out earlier was from the opposite corner, I'm hoping they are both good to go...

Now Team Broody, some comments

Bought come chick starter, the medicated stuff, accidently threw some into the FF bucket for the main flock, then realised there is a 14 day with holding on the eggs, so started a new bucket for main flock. So now have 3 buckets, main flock, starter and Contaminated bucket.

Just some questions about the FF crumbles... It has gone like porridge, I cant seem to drain it much and is more like soup, is this ok? Feed em that? Or put down dry crumbles too.... Do I need to smash some of the shell grit up? I guess i do, but they won't be eating any big bits of stuff for a while.. I would like to have them on FF from day 1....

I'm going back down the coop lol

Yes! Wooo hooo! CONGRATULATIONS Pooman

Very nice picture also .. cute as a button!

Sorry for the dumb question Pooman but 'FF Crumbles' are what? I feed by girls a combination of lay mash and lay pellets.

Teila

 

[lizgarf]

Super cute picture, Pooman! Beautiful mom and babe.

Not a stupid question, Teila. I wondered the same thing! But, I think I figured out that he was referring to fermented feed? I would assume he was using some different Aussie-speak, but I normally understand Teila just fine, so I think it's Pooman-speak.

I give my hens some fermented scratch, but I don't ferment my feed. Seems way to messy, though I'm sure they would enjoy it. Everyone is getting plain old dry chick starter crumbles now (not medicated), and there's some oyster shell out for the adults, but no one is laying these days, so they're not eating it much. It all seems to be working out well (except the non-laying part). Chicks do not eat oyster shells, so you don't need to break that up. I don't give mine grit, because there's plenty of dirt in the environment for them.

 

[Pooman]

FF is just fermented feed, put some unpasteurised ACV (Apple cider vinegar) and the feed and the water into bucket and feed them out of that. There is lots on this forum about fermented feeds.

So the crumbles I'm calling the chick starter. And I've started fermenting that too.

The main flock gets a free range mix, as they free range and have access to their egg shells, so dont need extra calcium, and they aren't a dedicated laying breed so dont want to push them to lay.