Hatching with 2 broodies

[texgardengal]

Ohhhh no!! Been there... I tried warming mine up in my shirt when I found penguin ... Lol. Sooooo sorry!!!! And I'm sure ur right he was with a little buddy. I would have done the same thing.

 

[texgardengal]

Hey all. We had some excitement here today. After the hubby had gone and I had the boys off to school I was getting ready to leave for work and I heard this really loud noise. I thought my dog must have knocked something over.....Looked around and out my window I could see my neighbor on the other side of my field with his gun out. Then I saw a white fluff in my field. A couple of dogs had gone after his chickens. Often they hop over his fence and come to visit my chickens...eat any scraps that didnt make it into my chicken pen or just eat the bugs in my field. He has a huge enclosure for them but allow them to free range when he is outside. His pretty little white silkie was one of the targets and another big red one that made out ok. I dont think the silkie made it. It was awful. Poor little things. The little silkie was always coming over and didnt have a chance against those dogs. The dogs where actually on my property and he was worried as I think the rule is you can shoot a dog going after your livestock/chickens but it was not on his property. These dogs have been snooping around my chickens once and I ran them off so I was grateful it wasnt mine they went after today. So sad for his but the dogs are no longer a problem so I told him he didnt have to worry bout me and I'd grab a shovel....and I did.....and we'd just keep it quiet.. what is the saying? SBS????? I heard it once on the site but didnt really take it to heart until today.
Not the greatest way to start the day but grateful the bubbies where safety tucked away in the barn.
Hey TG. Been thinking about ya today. Hope all's well.

 

[Teila]

Wow TGG that is an exciting start to your day!

Were the dogs strays or wild? Being an animal lover, it is sad that they are no longer but I totally understand the need to protect your chickens. When the neighbour's dog (across the road) came to visit, I grabbed it, marched it back over and I think they got my point that I would not be happy if I saw it on my property harassing my girls again! I have not lost a chicken to a predator but can imagine how upsetting it would be. I know Liz can empathize totally with you, having lost one of her little girls to a dog. If they are someone's dogs, I totally blame the owners. Maybe once they can accidentally get out or someone left the gate open but if you have seen them hanging around before someone is obviously not keeping them under control. The whole 'responsible pet owner'-thing is a subject I feel very strongly about and have been known to go on and on about it; but not today! lol.

The bubbies are 1 week old today and already getting some wing feathers, giving me an idea of colour. I think we have 2 girls, 3 boys or 3 girls and 2 boys, the two 'blacks' are definitely boys! Hhhhm, I know I should not have favourities, but the little yellow one has me smitten. I think she is a girl and her feathers are coming through buff coloured so maybe I will get that little brown feathered beach ball I was hoping for. Sadly, she is not the smartest chicky in the coop but I love her to bits! lol Sometimes I see her just staring off into space; funny little thing. I think one of the little blues is a girl also and her feathering is coming through as blue. The other blue is the one I am not sure of regarding gender and I am not convinced about colour as his/her feathers are not as well developed. The little black and yellow boy seems to be getting black feathers with white tips and the other black is getting black feathers (not 100% sure as they are hard to see against the black fuzz).

They are so much more feisty than the Silkie bubbies were. I think this has a lot to do with them being more 'in the open' than the Silkies were as the Silkies were cooped up in the Ranch for a lot of the time while these bubbies have the covered run and can see all the comings and goings. Also, as I said before, Cilla seems way more confident than she was first time around and this appears to be rubbing off on them. They still have not quite got the hang of going back up the ramp at bed time and after watching Cilla run up and down the ramp 20 or so times to show them how to do it, we step in and air lift them to their bed lol. When we pick them up the little munchkins peck at us!
Feeding time is precious, Cilla takes food and drops it in front of them; I swear I can hear them saying "Mum, he took my rice!"; "Mum gave that to me, it is mine!"; "Mum, she got more than I did!" etc

Dusty, Tina and Suzi spend heaps of time standing at the Chateau watching the bubbies; Tina and Suzi have slightly confused looks on their faces and I can see Dusty thinking "Ah, gees, not again!" lol.

Thinking of you TG; how goes it?
How's things at the farm Liz?

 

[texgardengal]

Quote:

haha they are so fun. I love taking a little bread and throwing it in the middle of the coop and watch them all swarm to run to it and grab up the little bread pieces and run away with the others pecking at their little beaks and chasing them lol We have had some bad weather and havent been able to get the top on the coop so their first 5 days have been spent in the coop. I cant wait to let them out for a little run. I know Molly cant wait but it has been to cold and muddy to try to let her out. Hopefully tomorrow...

Quote: I believe these dogs were wild. The time I saw them before there was 3 total when they were in my yard but I had seen them along the roadside other times. If they have owners...they had no intention of keeping track of them. After I came out...the neighbor had already done the deed but there were only 2. He said they had been fighting over the silkie. I mentioned he was worried that they had been on my property, I guess He seemed worried that I was going to call the law...for shooting the dogs or find their owners.... But I had no intention of causing him any problems.....I was sad for the dogs but I can absolutely see how I would do the same thing if I saw two dogs fighting over Molly or Sassy or Cookie! I would be crazy mad too.
Believe it or not. The silkie made it! I couldnt believe it. When we made it to it and I saw it open its eyes the neighbor picked it up but it was so limp we thought it had a broken neck. It was just in shock. He has lost most of the feathers on his back end and has a lot of scratches and is very banged up but is alive and was pecking around in the cage...he was keeping her in a cage for a few days to recover. She seemed happy to be in there....lol

 

[Teila]

TGG, I am so very happy to read the Silkie made it. How fortunate that your neighbour was around at the time. Trust me, I have no qualms with what he and you did. Agreed it is sad but I would have done the same thing! I would be so upset to see one of my girls savaged in such a way .. just awful!

I just heard two cats fighting outside and flew outside with the torch, turning the outside light on as I ran out the door to check they were nowhere near my girls! All clear

When I got home today Cilla was jumping around at the A-frame door; poor little thing is probably a bit stir-crazy locked in the small run with 5 constantly nattering bubbies. So, I opened the A-frame and let them into the fenced (uncovered) additional run I made for them. Hubby and I took it in turns watching them ... they are so tiny and easily picked off by the Magpies and Crows who seem to know we have bubbies and are camped out in the yard just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Then, when I was rustling Dusty, Tina and Suzi into the run to go to bed I didn't notice that a Magpie was in there helping itself to their dinner! Dusty noticed it and attacked. She is not much bigger than the Magpie and I was so scared she would get hurt. The Magpie managed to get away and out the door and Dusty is fine ... I think she won that one! Oh yeah, Tina and Suzi bolted and hid under the tree! lol

Couldn't help myself .. more pictures!

This little one is mostly black and I'm thinking is a boy. Luv the fluffy butt in the background! lol


Cilla: "And this is how you dig for bugs":


Not that I would have a favourite (lol). But if I was going to; this little girl (?) would definitely be it



I am pretty sure this one is a boy also.
The platform under the ramp is what we made on the weekend. It is strategically placed in front of but lower than the balcony and under the ramp so that they have a drop-point so to speak. They have taken to running up the ramp, jumping onto the platform and then back onto the ground!

 

[texgardengal]

I love this....Class in session. These are adorable pics! I love the fuzzy but picture

Your little yellow chick is so cute. I agree...your two little black ones are looking like boys. Cilla is such a great mom. Molly is doing a great job this time...so far so good but she doesnt really have a choice.lol I have her trapped. hahaha I have to work today but my plan, after, is to get her and the chicks into the new yard so she can get out a bit for a scratch around. We are supposed to have another cold snap so they will only get short supervised outings right now. I'm trying to come up with a way I can put a heat lamp under the coop so they can be out a little longer and have a place to warm up....we'll see how that goes.

 

[MistyMountain]

Hey everyone!

I had backed into lurker status for a while. I keep up on my phone, but hate typing on it. Been quite busy here as my boss is out of town so I am trying to keep up. Congrats on all the babies, everyone!! I am definitely feeling the need for more chickies! I'll have to wait until April 23rd. I ALMOST cancelled my order and placed an order with our local feed store. I was almost drawn in to the thought of started pullets for only $8. Thing is, I don't reaaalllly need more hens, just more Roosters!! Odd, I know, but Mr. Willie is having a hard time knowing his role and respecting my position. He flogs me daily, totally unprovoked. I'm not afraid of him, and go chasing him around flapping my wings at him, but I can not have him leaving the hens to free range unprotected to seek out my boys for no reason at all. He also is not nice with the girls, and I believe his lack of romance is the cause of the fact that I am not seeing many fertile eggs in the skillet anymore. I see the girls running from him more than being lead around by him and given treats. So, this order can not come fast enough! Hopefully the EE and welsummer cockerels are healthy and NICER than Willie has been.

So sorry to hear about the dog problems, TGG. I have seen two running free around here. I think they belong two houses down. So far they have not shown interest in the chickens, but I do hold off letting them out if I see the dogs. My own dog sees chickens as flappy squeaky toys, I am hoping our only threat is within our own walls. That much I can control. Congrats on the new mini coop! I have one similar from my start into the world of chickens. It is unoccupied (long story) but we have the same problem as you do. It blew over twice and instead of picking it back up again to have it blow over again, I left it down. Less damage in my eyes. It is actually a tractor and meant to be moved around, but I can not see using it as such f it can be blown over so easily. I will have to anchor it if it ever gets used again. Maybe Bunnies, lol!

Liz, anything from Marsha yet?? Chica has started laying and with her 3rd egg she is already up to size large on the scales. Finally some brown eggs!

Have a great week everyone! Keep those baby pics coming! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy here on this mountain where the wind seems to blow harder and harder each day! Brrr!

 

[Teila]

Thank you TGG .. I know I keep saying it; but this hatch has been so much easier on both Cilla and I than the last one; using what I learnt first time to significantly reduce the stress levels. Integration is also going to be easier as Dusty, Tina and Suzi are already talking to the bubbies through the wire

If the yellow one is a girl (I am pretty sure she is), definitely a keeper and her name is Blondie. I am pretty sure one of the blues is a girl and she is going to be Tammy and if I am lucky enough that the other Blue is a girl, she will be Chrissy I am saying Blues now but I note they are getting some pretty dark feathers; might turn out to be like mumma.

By local laws, I have a 6 chicken limit but I figure, being bantams, I can stretch that out to 7. So if both Blues are girls I am going to keep all 3; sadly the little boys will have to found new homes. That is it for me then for a while; unless extensions are made

While I sometimes get a little tired of the heat I do not envy your dramas at trying to keep bubbies warm.

Welcome back from lurking MM

Oooh, Willie does have his Grumpy Boots on!

I love the mental image of you chasing him around, flapping your wings! lol

Chimee and Syba (our cats) are inside cats but do have a 'play-pen' we built for them outside which they spend quite a bit of the weekend in and also every afternoon for an hour or so when I get home. Yesterday afternoon they were both in there watching pussy cat TV - bubby chickies running around!

I have had no dramas with the Ranch blowing over as I have fixed it to the end of the covered run; but I totally agree that the design is slightly flawed, especially if a strong wind is hitting the large side. I definitely would not trust it free standing.

You have a top weekend also MM

 

[lizgarf]

Hey Team,
I'm writing this with Jan perched on my leg, where she flew while escaping from Desi's advances. Desi is obsesed with Jan, who, sadly, still is not laying. Who knows what all of that is about. Marsha has been laying regularly for a week or so now. I got 4 eggs yesterday for the first time since September! Lucy looks completely ready to start, and Frida still thinks she's on maternity leave. I am finally getting enough eggs to trade or give away or sell! Yay!

Desi is doing pretty well with the plan, overall. He lets me put him in his man cave with little fuss. The ladies aren't enamored with his advances, but they're all getting along and I don't think he's hurting them. Rousseau is getting the worst of it, and she's already lost of of her beautiful full post-molt feathering. Actually, I just inspected her and saw that she is getting some bald patches! This is not ok! I think I'm going to try to trim Desi's claws with a dog nail trimmer. Anyone have experience with this? I may need to make Rousseau an apron in the meantime. Darn it, I have work deadlines!

Teila, I totally get that you're already trying to pick gender, but it's still awfully early! Remember, my chicks looked identical for the first 4 weeks (and I was so convinced they were both girls!). Honestly, in all your pictures, the only one that looks like a boy to me is the yellow one! Of course, you're seeing things we can't in a couple pictures, but try not to count your hens before they squat! I know it's hard!! That's why I'm scared to do another hatch!

Here are a couple shots I took the other day.
Rooster in the sun:


Lucy, doesn't she look ready?:


Desi in the lemon tree, after chasing Frida and Jan up into it:


The girls (with Jan in front):

 

[Teila]

G'Day Liz

Wow! How handsome is Desi now? Just stunning!!

OK, I understand that the girls probably are not agreeing with me right now, but they should be flattered .. lol

Tee hee Liz, yep it is awful early to be guessing gender and yeah, they are just guesses. Having said that, I have been doing some research on Bantam Cochins and apparently the cockerel chicks feather out slower than the pullets, the cockerels have short wing feathers and small tail feathers and of course, there is the comb size and colour comparison. Using those formulas, Blondie (yellow) is a pullet and maybe the only one .. lol. Time will tell and with two 5 month old Silkies who I still definitely do not know the gender of I apparently have unlimited patience when it comes to waiting for gender confirmation. I definitely will not be counting my hens before they squat (I like that quote!)

Lucy sure does look ready. Some beautiful pictures there Liz

Congratulations on your increased egg count also .. besides Desi maybe being a little over enthusiastic in the amorous department, it sounds like life on your little farm has returned to one of cruising along nicely; good news!