Howdy Team!
Oh no IC .. I am so sorry to read such sad news
I wonder if the broody twins are being over protective and trying to steal each others chicks as they would eggs and the poor little guys are getting caught in the cross fire. Good news that Cenere has accepted the little one. Is there some way you can put a divider between the twins in the short term so they cannot get to each other's chicks, just until you make a decision?
Fingers crossed and sending you lots of positive thoughts for the remainder of your hatch
Thank you all for your sympathies at Tammy becoming Tommy. I thought I heard a crow attempt on the weekend but I was still in bed, just woken up and put it down to maybe one of the many many birds we have around the place. This morning it was still dark when I went out to feed them and they were still all in bed. As the sun was rising I heard a distinctive croak/crow attempt from the Chateau which only Cilla, Blondie and Tommy/Tammy sleep in. While I am now fairly certain the news is not good, I will listen out and check tomorrow when I feed them. Bit sad that I am up and out of bed before the girls!
I would really love to keep him/her but as you mentioned Liz, besides the huge fact that he/she is very beautiful and I have grown very very fond of him/her, I can't think of a reason that I would want to keep a rooster and as sad as parting with him/her is going to be, I can't find a reason why I should put my girls, my neighbours, Tommy and myself through the possible trauma/inconvenience .. my neighbours are very close, David's upstairs bedroom window would only be 6 yards away (I converted that from metres for you lol). I checked our Council Bylaws again today and it distinctly says "No Roosters"; I just can't take that chance
Liz, yep sexed chicks might be the go but again, as you mentioned, there is risk involved there also. One being that may not be sexed correctly and two, the fear that she may not accept them. I would not even know where to start in sourcing sexed bantam chicks. Having said that, it is definitely food for thought and not totally out of the question.
I do have a Plan B if Tommy/Tammy has to go and that is to get Tina a Silkie-friend. Silkies are renown for not roosting and sleeping in a pile. Dusty does not roost and sleeps in a nest box with Tina in the Ranch. Cilla and Blondie would remain roosting in the Chateau. Dusty has been making attempts to go back to her favourite nest box in the Chateau and I have been closing the dividing door at bed time to encourage her to stay with Tina so Tina is not alone. I open the door again when they have all gone to bed so they are together in the morning. If I get Tina a Silkie-friend, they will be able to sleep together in a pile in the Ranch and Dusty will be able to return to her spot in the Chateau.
I have that week off next week and this might be a good time to investigate this option.
Well done on the nice and easy broody break Liz
