Hatching with 2 broodies

[tommysgirl]

Day 2 of separate and not-equal is going fine. The Brady girls are in the run and the home flock is in the backyard, as close to the run as they can be while trying to look subtle. But, I have a new worry. I just noticed a bump on Marsha's beak, next to her nostril, along with a little cut from her scuffle with Bettina. I don't think the bump is from the scuffle, as it looks like it may have been present in the first pictures I took of her, though it's hard to tell. The bump is hard to the touch and doesn't look infected. I put some antibiotic ointment on the bump and on her comb, to be on the safe side, but this has me worried. It's also ironic, as it looks a bit like a broken nose. Poor Marsha. The big man on campus would not like it!

What do you think? Have I brought disease into my flock? Jan looks fine. I'm scared to post on the illness forum.


Ooh my nose!

Now that is funny!!! I wouldn't worry about the bump or the wound. Sounds like you are doing fine. My boys have both bloodied themselves fence fighting with no repercussions and minimal first aid. I had visions of the hens turning on them en-masse and picking their bones clean but no one messed with their injuries.

 

[tommysgirl]

Shots of one of my boys. I sure wish I was able to keep one of them they are so so pretty. The sheen is teal purple and blue and they are in the ugly stage!

 

[lizgarf]

Thanks, TG. I love the beetle sheen! I'm really enjoying it coming out on my marans, but it's hard to get a good picture.

I'm wondering when to next try integration. The separation during the day has been pretty easy, and I don't want to push it. But, I can see the Bradies are tired of being in the little crate for any significant stretch of time. Marsha kept pecking Jan as she tried to get on the roost tonight, but they finally worked it out with a little bit of space between them, facing opposite directions. I didn't see much posturing between the Bradies and the home flock when the Bradies went back into the crate at night, so they may be pretty close to ready. I'm thinking tomorrow night, I either put them together on the roost, or I try to integrate them in the coop, after the home flock forages or the following morning. I'm nervous about not being present for a big fight first thing in the morning.

What do y'all think?

 

[Teila]

Wow, missed a heap of posts again!

Liz, I am inclined to think that integration in the coop may be the best idea so that you can break up any fights. As you say, if you put them on the roost you will not be there when they wake up and things might not go so well? An alternative would be integration just prior to bed time so you can keep an eye on them and hopefully there are no fights and everyone happily goes off to bed. Just my thoughts.

I am inclined to agree with TG and would not be too worried about the bump. She is two years old so must be reasonably healthy and previously well cared for. She may have had that for a while; just one of those things. Keeping a close eye on it is probably your best bet.

TG and MM .. beautiful pictures!

Tee hee MM, that chicken-math will get ya every time!

Aaaaw TGG; your new house-friend situation sounds adorable. I wish I could have a house-chicken and I think my indoor cats would think that was a great idea also, but not for the same reason as I do!!

I had a pretty good day at work but it just got so much better when I got home. For three years I have worked at creating my own little tropical paradise with lots of greenery and fish ponds etc and for that three years my dream has been to have frogs. I heard one for a few days 6 or so months ago and for the last couple of nights I have gone to bed listening to one near the ponds.

I got home today and went to feed the fish in the middle pond and found this floating on the water .. from a distance it looked liked scrunched up Glad-Wrap:



On closer inspection and some Googling it is Frogs Eggs!!

Further research informs me that the Goldfish may eat the eggs and definitely the tadpoles. One option is to move the eggs to a bucket but I really did not want to mess with them so I was lucky enough for find a pot (holes in the bottom so the water will stay the same height) the right depth and now I have this which allows the eggs to stay in the environment they were laid in and also protect them from the fish:



Fingers crossed, 5 or so days my dream may come true!!

Having organised safety for my future baby frogs (tee hee) I let the girls out for a free range. As you know, Cilla has been a bit mean of late and I have had 2 x 2 families of two; little ones keeping their distance from the big ones but today they were all together and I finally got a picture of all four of them having fun turning my paved path into a dirt path......



And I couldn't help myself .. dirty Gremlins!

 

[lizgarf]

Nice work on the frog egg sanctuary, Teila! I hope they hatch!

Home flock is currently in the backyard and the Brady girls are in the coop, really checking it out for the first time. I'm going to try to integrate them when I bring the home block back in. Wish us luck!

I just learned that a few of my neighbors haven't been too happy with the chickens and bees. I may need to do so some fence-mending. I need all the girls to get back to laying so I can try to pacify them with some eggs! I guess it'll just be some honey, for now. Sigh. If I hadn't done so much planting the past couple years, I'd seriously consider moving out to the country.

 

[lizgarf]

Wooh, I'm exhausted! But the second trial of integration probably went about as well as it could go. The only blood this time was a tiny cut on Grace's oversized wattle, but she somehow managed to have the Bradies pretty well-intimidated after that. Unfortunately, the home flock managed to get stuck in the run as the Bradies and Grace kept blocking the pop-up door. Even after I locked up the Bradies back in their crate, it seemed to take forever to coax the home flock back into the coop. After everyone was inside, about 20 minutes before sunset, I opened the crate back up and the Bradies came out, but there was just a little posturing from Grace and eventually the rest of the home flock made their way up on the main roosts. I thought the Bradies might sleep on the roost in their crate, but they actually flew up onto the high roost at the end of the coop, which they had to themselves. There was quite a bit of pecking and under-nudging (I had never seen this before, but it looked like they were trying to push each other off the roosts) on all the roosts, but eventually everyone found a spot for the night.
I'll check on them bright and early in the morning! And, I'll definitely think twice before integrating flocks again! I feel so guilty to have stressed my girls!

 

[lizgarf]

Well, there's a new sheriff in town. She ways about a pound, and her name is Grace.
It's been a bit touch and go this morning, but Grace is regulating everything. She jumped onto the high roost this morning to peck the Bradies off of it. And she's been giving everyone a peck here and there to make them go where she thinks they should for flock harmony. It's pretty funny to watch the way the smallest member of the flock dominate everyone else.
Rousseau is still loud as heck, trying to lay her first egg in 3.5 months. My neighbors hate me.
The funniest moments have been the couple times when Jan has jumped onto my lap, as things got heated. She is awfully sweet. Marsha is still considering flock domination, but she doesn't seem to be a match for little Grace so far.

Ooh, someone just shouted. It could be an egg, or it could be a fight. I should probably check.

How's everyone enjoying their Saturday? Are you getting rain, TG? We may get some showers!!

 

[texgardengal]

We have such a busy group! I miss so much if I miss a day. That's so great Teila! You now get to hatch frog eggs. lol. I bet it wont be quite as stressful as chicken eggs though. but maybe it will. I had a red eyed tree frog a couple of years ago. I love frogs. I look forward to the frogs around here every spring. I try to keep it moist so I can attract the big ugly bullfrogs so they will keep the skeeters under control a little. Theyre not the cute little tree frogs though, just the big bumpy yard frogs. Dont even know what kind they are but theyre pretty ugly. I still like them though!! We used to have horney toads everywhere around here. I havent seen one in years. Miss them. Your littles are adorable. You finally got your wish. All the family together .

.
My house chicken is going a little rough. I have a dog and a cat. They both want to eat it and sometimes the chick will get to flapping around and the Rocky (the dog) just cant help himself and lunges at it. He gets a wack and settles back down sitting up on his tail begging like he is about to get the "treat". The cat just sits around eyeing it waiting for his chance. He is an inside outside cat and he stays outside most often, bringing me rats and bird wings all the time, leaving them on the porch. He likes to show me he is doing his job I guess. I dont mind the rats but I wish he would leave the birds alone. Ihave lots of bird feeders...hummingbird feeders. sometimes I feel like I'm baiting a trap for them when he brings me another wing.
The little chick goes out to the yard during the day when it warms up. It's about the same. The hens chase him. He stays off by himself. Sounds very similar to the way Celia treated the bubbies....I guess it's normal but now that it's all alone and with the spot they've pecked on it's neck.... I'm torn because the days have been very warm and the nights are too. I dont want him to forget what it is to be a chicken ......not get too used to the house... I tried to see what would happen so I left it outside last night. The flock acts like it is a lttle disease!!! They stayed on the floor letting it have the roost. lol The wouldnt even go in the coop until an hour after dark! George was on the roost...he seems oblivious to the whole thing...he treats everyone the same...they are ALL beaneath him so it doesnt matter. hahaha But hubby finally went out and grabbed it up and brought it in the house so the others could go to bed...and we where not sure what they would do when they finally decided to go to bed. so here we are...just waiting till it gets bigger or until I can find a little flock to give him some company. I actually thought about making a little yard for Bart and the chick to share. he is the only one that likes him...I agree with TG, Liz. I wouldnt worry too much about the spot on her beak. It's probably been there...An old injury maybe? I was hoping all goes well with the "get together"
Quote: that's hilarious!!! Go Grace!!!!!

Guess you dont have to worry about stressing your "home team" Grace is taking care of that!

 

[Teila]

Liz, I promised myself I would not get started and tried sitting on my hands but I failed .. mini vent about to happen!
Quote: "I just learned that a few of my neighbors haven't been too happy with the chickens and bees."
Admittedly I do not know about your neighbours but I would be really peeved if my neighbours complained about my chickens. I am not breaking any laws and while I might mutter under my breath I put up with their screaming children; howling dogs because she is home alone more often than not; boom, boom, boom music; speeding up and down the street; pulling up outside their house and tooting the car horn rather than getting out of the car; letting their parties spill over onto my front lawn; screaming at each other during arguments the whole street can hear .. I could go on but I will stop now.
PS. As I type it is 07:20 Sunday morning and I can hear someone yelling at her children to be quiet while slamming car doors and screeching off up the road! Also, the above is a summary of all the neighbours not just one house!
The first person who comes to my house to complain about my chickens is going to cop years of bottled up sufferance! lol
If you are not breaking any local laws, stick to your guns girl, you are entitled to your happiness also!!
Vent over

Woo hoo, go Gracie! That is so adorable ... I nominate her for the Chicken Peace Prize this year!

It sounds like they are settling down a little which is wonderful news. I hope you don't feel so guilty now and that very soon you have one, slightly bigger, happy family. Jan sounds like an absolute cutie!
As you know, Cilla is boss chicken at our place and funnily enough, also the smallest!

TGG, hhhhm, I wish I could help with some great advice on your little house chicken situation but alas, I can't think of anything other than what has already been suggested. Building a little place for the chick and Bart could be a plan but I wonder what happens down the track if/when they need to go back to the main flock? Finding bubby some siblings still sounds like the best plan but I don't know how hard that would be for you. My local produce store nearly always has chicks.

Frogee Update!
So mumma frog has been back twice since my post and I now have 3 rafts of eggs. After a trip to my most favourite place (Bunnings Hardware) there is now a frog pond off to the side of the middle goldfish pond, complete with rocks to climb out on. The little black dots in the first raft are definitely bigger than they were on Friday! Woo hooo; I know it might be silly but I can't explain how happy I am about this; it is like I have finally nailed my dream of a perfect habitat
Went to sleep last night listening to one of the parent frogs; croak, pause, croak, pause, croak lol.
Take that neighbours!! lols

Before Tina and Suzi came along I tried Cilla and Dusty on watermelon, not only were they not interested they were scared of it! lol. Yesterday, because they are so adventurous, I thought I would try introducing Tina and Suzi to watermelon, guess who loved it and also taught the big girls that it was not something to be afraid of .. all four of them were happily chomping away on it .. uh oh, what have I done; more treat demands? lol

Talking about treat demands .. I don't need a watch. I'm sitting out in the garden yesterday, under the gazebo and Cilla comes over 10 minutes before their scheduled dinner time to request dinner. An hour later she comes back to remind me that it is treat-time .. she is a funny little feathered beach ball!

 

[lizgarf]

Thanks for the support, ladies! I can't say it feels like it's going smoothly. Today has been challenging. Rousseau is incredibly loud; everyone is nervous around each other, even though they're not actually fighting. I let the home flock go in the backyard pretty early on. Then, they wanted to get back in the coop, but it was a mess when the saw the Bradies and so chickens were scattered everywhere in the run, outside the run, inside the coop. Lucy is more scared of me than ever, now that I've committed the highest sin and grabbed her. I have learned my lesson and I don't think I'll try to integrate flocks again. Too stressful for everyone, including me! I'm starting to worry that things won't have calmed down by Thursday, when I have to travel for work and leave them all in the coop together all day. They're separated again now, and I'm not looking forward to the twilight merge.

TGG, sorry about the chick challenges. Chicken dynamics are hard! I had been very spoiled by my loving little flock.

Go frog eggs, Teila! And thanks for the rant. I don't know how upset people actually are - the person I spoke to voiced concerns, but seemed to have them calmed a bit by our conversation. She mentioned that I should talk to another neighbor, and I left her a note. Overall, it's a pretty quiet neighborhood, but there are others that I think are more of a nuisance than me and my farm. Luckily there are other neighbors who are supportive of us, so hopefully it'll blow over.