Hatching with 2 broodies

[texgardengal]

Thanks for the Bettina pic!!!!
Shes big. I didnt realize she was a big girl. All mine are big too. It's just part of the Maran breed, (I've been doing a lot of reading on the breed) I've read, Marans are supposed to be big. Bettina's feathers have the prettiest patterns. I quilt so I always pay attenttion to patterns. Maybe I'll make a Bettina feather quilt lol
I like your little friend. Good going, getting him to the creek. He may have been a chickens dinner lol .....
Very sorry about your friend. Im glad you were able to visit her. Thats so sad.

The rain quickly froze and we had sleet storms yesterday and everything froze over last night. It was sooooo cold with wind chills in the negative numbers. I'm glad Hubby had the chickies in the Barn. They all made it fine.

it's not going to be be above freezing today, But if they made it last night with 12 deg. and negative wind chills they will make it tonight in the 20's.
I am relieved they did OK!!! I was having flashbacks.....lol...

 

[tommysgirl]

liz I am so sorry about the loss of your friend. So hard anyway but when there are small children involved it is even more heart wrenching.

you guys have been busy! I got a bit more work done on my coop. Got the floor done 1/2 and 1/2 wood and hardware cloth. then we will have a poop tray made to make cleaning a snap. My cousin brought by some siding that will come in handy for the walls and roof.

I saw an article today that said to put curtains on your nest boxes to encourage broodiness so I am going to do it. Also going to round up several golf balls to make it look like someone has a clutch going which is also supposed to help.

In other news, my mom is buying me an incubator for my birthday. Tom and I agreed that it would be for viable egg rescues only. Also if I order 8 eggs like I did last time and they ship 12 like they did last time I can pop the extras into the incubator. The idea would be to get the babies that hatched to the broody but after my less than stellar track record any eggs that hatch in the incubator might be brooded indoors

Hope all who are freezing get warm all that are too hot cool off and those of us in these Northern California rains enjoy it while they last.

 

[Teila]

Helllooo Team!

Liz, I was so sorry to read about Sarah’s passing; losing a loved one is tough at any time but one so young with a young family is tragic. My thoughts are with you, her family and friends

I luv the pictures of your new little friend, I am sure if he could he would say "thank you" for the relocation

The size comparison between Bettina and Grace is amazing. Having bantams, I am always amazed when I am at the feed store and see the LF pullets they have for sale, so much bigger than my little girls. Having said that, Tina and Suzi are now slightly bigger than their Aunty Dusty and definitely bigger than their mumma.

TGG, good to read that everyone made it through the extra cold without issue. Flash backs can be scary but at least we learn along the way

TG, sounds like the coop is coming along nicely, can’t wait to see the photos!
I have an irrational fear of incubators, well not the incubator itself but more having to raise the bubbies without the help of their mumma; I don’t think I would cope

If no news is good news, all going well at Chateau Del Chookie .. everyone is cruising along nicely with no dramas. At 2 weeks old tomorrow, all the bubbies are experts at the bed time routine and the ramp is no longer a challenge.

Still thinking 3 boys, a not sure and 1 girl, Blondie. I will try and get some more pictures on the weekend, it is a little tricky because the munchkins are hopping around like they are caffeine overdosed!

Oh yeah, the tadpoles are doing well. Some extremes in sizes, still some tiny ones and some extra big ones but no legs yet! I’m sure they are quite happy with their abode and frequent feedings so why even think of growing legs and moving on? lol

 

[lizgarf]

Hi Team,
It's not even 9:00 here, and I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open, I'm so tired from all that work this past week. I just barely filed two big briefs yesterday before the 4:00 deadline (to file them electronically), and I'm still pooped a day later! Plenty more work to do this upcoming week, but it should be more manageable.

So, Brahmas are called "heavy breeds," and as far as I can tell, they're pretty much the biggest hens. Bettina is much bigger than my Marans, even bigger than Desi! Her feather pattern is called "penciling" - I'm sure you can find a nice dark brahma in Texas to model for your next quilt, TGG.

Now, TGG and Teila, we really need some updated fuzzybutt shots! I want to see those babies!


Everything on the farm is going pretty well. I'm excited because my first grafting attempts seem to have taken. A couple are even blossoming! (I grafted a whole bunch of plum and pluot scions onto the wild cherry plum trees that grow like weeds around here.) And, for those of you still in the cold: my May Pride peach tree might be sneaking up a month!:


I'm still worried about Rousseau - she's definitely got some big bald patches, but overall she seems fine. She's not bleeding, but I might need to bite the bullet and get an apron for her. Desi is still interested in her, despite the peck-no-more but maybe giving her less attention than before. Desi really seems most in love with Jan, who still isn't laying! I often see them hanging out together, alone on the far roost. It's pretty cute. She doesn't like him jumping on her, though. No one seems to, except maybe Marsha. Oh, Marsha.

So, I have a new challenge for us. Felfies! (Farmer selfies.) My friend sent me a link of funny felfies, so I had to try it. Of course, Bettina was the obvious choice. Here you go, BYC-land:

 

[MistyMountain]

Liz, great pics of Desi and the girls! (6 days ago, lol!) Is it the sunlight, or is he a bit blue colored underneath? He is so handsome. I was really hoping the pick no more would work for you. Willie's mating technique is not so nice either. Cleo is showing some wear on her back. I would say that the hen/rooster ratio in my coop is probably all that is saving her feathers right now. She is the only one though, and from what I can tell, not his favorite either. I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I am happy you were able to visit her. Keeping you, her friends, and family in my thoughts.

Bettina is so pretty! I love penciling!

Looove the chickie/broody coop, TGG! We also had a super cold weather streak. We even got 4" of snow on Monday!! We have 50-60 degree weather coming up this week though. There is still snow on the north facing slopes. It is barely above freezing right now. Come on Spring!!!

Teila, You have some lucky cats! Kitty TV, too funny! Those bubbies are growing up too fast!! You have a beautiful yard!! I hope I am able to get some good things to grow this summer. I have already pruned 6 of our 8 grape "mops." They have been seriously neglected and more closely resemble cousin IT from Addams Family. A mini garden will have to suffice for this summer. No time to build a fortress to keep the deer out of a big garden.

TG, congrats on the incubator!! Yay! Also, great advice on the curtains. I may need to try that. MJ, sandy, and Brownie the Easter Eggers love the box that is inside a wooden crate. When they get in there they almost go into mean momma hen mode and growl at anything that passes by. I have to think twice about reaching under them to check for eggs!

 

[MistyMountain]

Ok, liz, I'll bite. Mine might be a combo felfie/ photobomb though. Chica wanted it to be all about her!

 

[lizgarf]

Nice felfie, MM! It's fun to get to see people. What kind of knee surgery did you get, by the way? I've had a few meniscus repairs myself.
I put curtains up on my nest boxes awhile back - I can't remember why, but I think it was to encourage them to use them. They seem to like it - just used old cloth napkins my dog had chewed holes into and stapled them onto the top of the nest box.
I went ahead and ordered a saddle/apron for Rousseau. I probably should have done that right away, but I was so busy! Lots of nice-looking inexpensive options on Etsy! I don't know how they can possibly afford to ship/make them for under $5! Maybe I'll get my answer when I see it.
Oh yeah, one more thing on the size difference between Bettina and Grace - that was why they were so funny to watch back when they were the only non-broodies in my coop! They were always together by necessity and were just the oddest couple. I do enjoy how little Grace is the top bird and Bettina is such a gentle giant. Chickenalities are so fun!

 

[texgardengal]

Ok im officially a basket case. I put out the chicks at 9 thinking..according to the news, it was supposed to warm up and went to work. I waited and waited but it was still 41 at 12 and very cloudy and windy. So i run home to check. A couple chicks didnt look so good, too cold and i didnt see Molly sitting on them to warm them up. The idea was to put them back up to keep them out of the wind and hoping Molly would warm them up in the coop. So i attempt this by myself.... Hubby usually helps. It was a mess ! I got momma to go in first and closed the door. Here i am on my knees. Chasing chicks...i started putting up the chicks one catch at a time. I forgot I had already grabbed Sassys egg and it broke in my pocket. . It took me forever and I'm covered in poop. Lol. It may have been unnecessary. But better to be safe....lol. Right.

 

[lizgarf]

Aw, TGG! You get the chicken-granny award of the week! Good work, even with the mess. Hope those babies stay warm.

 

[MistyMountain]

Liz, I tore my ACL about a year and a half ago playing rec league softball. It was the championship game in late November. It was so cold, that frost was forming on the ground. First play and I knew it was coming to me. I supposed I was trying to relive my college ball days… anyhow, I sprinted forward and my left leg slipped and basically hyper extended. It hurt at first, but after a few minutes I could jog. I tried to swing a bat and my knee was sliding all kinds of directions. It never swelled or bruised and I was convinced I had only hyper extended it. I even saw an orthopedic PA two days later. I went easy on it, expecting things to tighten back up. It never happened. So I finally gave in and went back to the doctor. MRI said it was GONE. My first ever real injury/surgery. Nothing new though, my older sister tore everything in her knee a long time ago skiing in CO. My younger sister tore her ACL playing basketball in high school. She stretched it a couple years ago and had it redone last December. A couple weeks ago she may have torn it again playing volleyball. I hope I do not follow in her footsteps. My husband also tore his ACL playing football in college. I probably could have done the surgery myself

. My recovery was fast and really for the most part pain free (minus the painful armpits from learning to use crutches!!). Good times… hah! I am retired now. On to coaching two little boys in T-ball.

I LOVE etsy!! Make sure to tell us how the saddle works! What kind is little Grace?

Oh TGG! What a day! We also thought it was going to be much warmer today. I am shivering in the house even!! I hope all is OK with the babies and you made it back to work egg and poop free!!