Homesteaders

[trsturself]

FOUND THE DOG!!!! Wish he would have called or left a note for me, his son(the actual owner) had the dog since he is in town. And the chicken wasn't looking too good when he left but he thought she might perk up(she didn't). But he was sorry he caused me to stress over the chicken dying, and didn't think to mention that his son took the dog when he came back to town. But I checked twice for eggs since a few of the hens were stacked in the nest boxes, first time I checked I got 20 chicken eggs, 1 first egg that is as small as a quail egg, and 1 duck/goose egg. Checked the second time a couple hours later and got 7 more chicken eggs. When I talked to him he told me that he got 30 last night and 20 eggs(after first check, called on the way back to his house) was about right. And that was with 2 eggs that I found under the coop, but I didn't know how long they had been under there so I threw them away(it was 100 degrees today and yesterday) and the 1 egg I saw they had broken(and eaten by the time I went to collect). So not a bad day for eggs, wish they wouldn't lay under the coop, he has a turkey sitting on eggs so I really don't want to go under there a whole lot. And he has one broody hen that is just flat out mean, she was actually growling at me, so Hubby took over collecting the first batch of eggs.

Yeah! So glad everything worked out. It's so stressful when things go bad on your watch. My mom has the worst luck when pet sitting for us. She lost our favorite cat, and had a guinea pig die right after she left the last night. So DD walked into her room to a dead pet. Not fun. She has joked multiple times that she won't pet sit for us anymore. lol She still does though. I don't blame her for those things. They happen to all of us.

 

[Raech]

First day of egg collection!! I think that is a duck egg, but they are all mixed together so I have no clue.



One of their pretty flowering trees they have in the back yard.

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

First day of egg collection!! I think that is a duck egg, but they are all mixed together so I have no clue.



One of their pretty flowering trees they have in the back yard.

Wow!! That's an epic egg haul for your first day of eggs!! How many layers do you have? Congrats on the awesome eggs!

 

[trsturself]

First day of egg collection!! I think that is a duck egg, but they are all mixed together so I have no clue.



One of their pretty flowering trees they have in the back yard.

What a cute little egg!


btw, hint for easier reading. When you quote pics, double click on the pic and set the width or height to 100. It makes the pics smaller so it helps with the scrolling but everyone can still see what you are replying to. (I just learned this on another thread and love it)

 

[Raech]

What a cute little egg!


btw, hint for easier reading. When you quote pics, double click on the pic and set the width or height to 100. It makes the pics smaller so it helps with the scrolling but everyone can still see what you are replying to. (I just learned this on another thread and love it)

Thank you for that, I was wondering how to do that.

 

[Raech]

Wow!! That's an epic egg haul for your first day of eggs!! How many layers do you have? Congrats on the awesome eggs!

Not my chickens, just house sitting. It is actually my first time house sitting animals or interacting with chickens. He said I could practice on his flock for the week he is gone. He has 50 chicks that just got off chick feed, so I don't think they are laying yet. He has about 50 older hens, a few are bantams. And I think 7-8 ducks and the same number of geese, along with a pair of turkeys, whom is actually sitting on some eggs(chicken and possibly turkey) under the coop. He said he got between 30-34 last night, so it is a little bit lower but with a few under the coop and the one that they ate might have made him happier. Took one last look around 8:30 just to be sure, so if there are any under the coop I won't toss them again, he said they are normally done by 4:00 but just incase. But him and I have agreed on one thing with his last batch of hatchery chickens, they all grew with no tail feathers, they are all pantless, and we really don't like it. I asked if maybe the roosters were having too much fun and he said nope, they never had feathers. And he will not be getting them again. But other than the broody hen, it really isn't that bad, but it is also my first day and Tom hasn't hit me yet getting off the nesting box, almost once but I don't want to make him mad. According to the owner he is a pretty layed back tom, except for spring and fall, he even liked getting his drumstick pet the day before they left.

 

[boskelli1571]

Not my chickens, just house sitting. It is actually my first time house sitting animals or interacting with chickens. He said I could practice on his flock for the week he is gone. He has 50 chicks that just got off chick feed, so I don't think they are laying yet. He has about 50 older hens, a few are bantams. And I think 7-8 ducks and the same number of geese, along with a pair of turkeys, whom is actually sitting on some eggs(chicken and possibly turkey) under the coop. He said he got between 30-34 last night, so it is a little bit lower but with a few under the coop and the one that they ate might have made him happier. Took one last look around 8:30 just to be sure, so if there are any under the coop I won't toss them again, he said they are normally done by 4:00 but just incase. But him and I have agreed on one thing with his last batch of hatchery chickens, they all grew with no tail feathers, they are all pantless, and we really don't like it. I asked if maybe the roosters were having too much fun and he said nope, they never had feathers. And he will not be getting them again. But other than the broody hen, it really isn't that bad, but it is also my first day and Tom hasn't hit me yet getting off the nesting box, almost once but I don't want to make him mad. According to the owner he is a pretty layed back tom, except for spring and fall, he even liked getting his drumstick pet the day before they left.

So - all in all, great experience for you and everything turned out ok

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

Not my chickens, just house sitting. It is actually my first time house sitting animals or interacting with chickens. He said I could practice on his flock for the week he is gone. He has 50 chicks that just got off chick feed, so I don't think they are laying yet. He has about 50 older hens, a few are bantams. And I think 7-8 ducks and the same number of geese, along with a pair of turkeys, whom is actually sitting on some eggs(chicken and possibly turkey) under the coop. He said he got between 30-34 last night, so it is a little bit lower but with a few under the coop and the one that they ate might have made him happier. Took one last look around 8:30 just to be sure, so if there are any under the coop I won't toss them again, he said they are normally done by 4:00 but just incase. But him and I have agreed on one thing with his last batch of hatchery chickens, they all grew with no tail feathers, they are all pantless, and we really don't like it. I asked if maybe the roosters were having too much fun and he said nope, they never had feathers. And he will not be getting them again. But other than the broody hen, it really isn't that bad, but it is also my first day and Tom hasn't hit me yet getting off the nesting box, almost once but I don't want to make him mad. According to the owner he is a pretty layed back tom, except for spring and fall, he even liked getting his drumstick pet the day before they left.

Gotcha. That must be an experience with so many birds!

 

[Raech]

Gotcha. That must be an experience with so many birds!

It is, and so far I am really enjoying it. It makes me smile when I open the gate to the garden area and the chickens are all standing at the door waiting for me and all talking at once. I never thought I would like so many birds, I was thinking only 3 for myself, but I really like the mix that he has. They aren't all one breed or all one size and he has really nice roosters, they just walk away with the girls when I come in, and the geese are sweet too.

 

[trsturself]

It is, and so far I am really enjoying it. It makes me smile when I open the gate to the garden area and the chickens are all standing at the door waiting for me and all talking at once. I never thought I would like so many birds, I was thinking only 3 for myself, but I really like the mix that he has. They aren't all one breed or all one size and he has really nice roosters, they just walk away with the girls when I come in, and the geese are sweet too.

I always said I didn't want a rooster but now we have 3 (1 is still young) and I love the addition to the flock. I started out wanting just 4 and now we have 18 and I might pick up 4 more chicks today if the feed store still has them. lol
It's called Chicken Math. Always plan the largest coop you can fit because it's cheaper than adding on or building a new one when chicken math hits. Glad you are getting a taste of it before you start your flock.