I Built A Bridge!

[lizgarf]

Howdy everyone,
Such a quiet group this week! I hope everyone is well.
I am feeling relieved in that I think I found homes for Lu and Cy! The only response I've gotten to my ads so far is from someone who sounds ideal. He has an acre in Pacifica and a nice coop and is a teacher. He gave his Ameraucana roo to his brother when he was too rough with the hens and has been looking for a replacement. He wants to buy both Lu and Cy and give one to his cousin up north. He wasn't concerned with Lu's toe. So, if he comes and gets them tomorrow as promised, that will be an enormous relief!

I think I can handle the other 3-4 cockerels for another few weeks. Not surprising, it seems to be harder to find a home for the crosses, even though I like them the best! I'm still holding out hope for Norma, who is lighter than Brian, has some penciling on her chest, rounder neck feathers, and has less suspicious feathering in her back area. But, her comb/wattles are just the tiniest bit smaller and lighter. It seems hard to keep hoping, but I will until things get more definitive. I had thought that the penciling on her chest meant she was female for sure, but then in one of my many searches, I came upon an obscure chicken book from at least a century ago that mentioned that male dark brahmas with a little penciling on their chests could father lovely pullets! Oye! If she was pure dark brahma, I could be sure she was a boy, but I just don't know how much Desi is affecting her coloring patterns.

Last night was pretty funny in the coop. Rousseau's boys seem to have tired of sleeping in the net and are trying to find spots on the roosts with no avail. Cy was on the far roost with the Brady girls and Desi, before one of them knocked him off. Then Frankie tried to get on there and misfired by landing on Jan's back! She was not amused! I don't think it was a mount attempt, but it sure put another notch on the boy column! But, there attempts were futile and there was another poopy nest box this morning. I finally figured out to line the box with old feed bags, and that's made cleaning easy in the morning.

I hope it is as sunny and lovely where you all are today as it is here! Took Reggie to the dog beach and I'm now sitting in the back with the chickens and a humming bird, and I really can't complain.

 

[MistyMountain]

Oh Teila, I am so sorry to hear about allsorts! It is so hard to lose them and the panic from not really knowing why makes things even worse. The one thing I have learned is that they can overcome many seemingly serious problems but can also succumb to the littlest things. I hope things are getting better at Bambrook Bantams! I loved your pics! Are Spot and Gloria giving you any more hints as to whether they will be layers or crowers? How cool that you got a few trick or treaters!! We lived in an older neighborhood before moving out here. We would get maybe 20 kids, and 15 of those were made up of our own, nephews, and the neighbor's grandchildren. The kids always came back with heavy bags of candy though! Things are a bit different out here. It would be a lot of walking up and down driveways to each house. Last year my boys were both sick, so we stayed home. My husband came home with 3 big bags of their favorite candy for them. This year we found out that the nearest small town goes all out for Halloween. I absolutely love the town and it's narrow streets, old houses, and churches with tall steeples. If you close your eyes you can almost imagine horse drawn carriages clip cloping through the streets. The town was founded in 1772 and the courthouse was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Anyhow, they block off main street and have a "parade" where all those dressed in costumes walk down the street and then move on to trick or treat. It was like something out of the movies, all the kids running to each house. I'm excited to go again next year!

Liz, how great that you have found homes for Lu and Cy!! I think it will definitely make things a bit easier for you while you are looking for homes for the other fellas in the group. I totally understand your concern about craigslist. That said, around here I worry more about the swaps. The few that I have happened across when getting feed from the feed store just really turned me off to the idea. I wish you the best of luck in finding homes for those guys! I know how hard it is! (I may be keeping all of MJ's now… unless the absolute perfect home comes along. So hard to let go)

No much at all to report here. One of the triplets spent the night in a cedar tree despite my efforts to get her down. She started 10' up in the pine tree. I tried to encourage her to come down, but she only went up from there. 20' in the next pine and then 25' in the cedar. I worried about her all night long, but there was nothing I could do. She was right where I left her last night when I let everyone out this morning. I managed to get her back in the mini coop so all is well. The newbies have 100% integrated into the big flock. I am definitely at my max in there now. More talks from my DH about putting up fence for my Valentine. We went on a hike out back on Sunday and he showed me the area he is going to work on this winter to develop more pasture. It will be so cool if Valentine can come home! Since the barn is occupied by all things John Deere, we will need to build a 3 sided run-in for shelter somewhere. That might put my big coop on hold, but the metal shed works for now, anyhow. Being at my max in the coop may require some more vents, but we will make due. Cooler weather here, but not so bad. The maple trees out front are holding on to the last of their fall show. Winter will be here before we know it.

 

[tommysgirl]

@lizgarf I really hope they guy shows today and takes your two beautiful boys!

I saw the gal who I sold Ozzie to on Sunday and she said he is doing great!! The people I gave The General to think he is wonderful and he is happily enjoying the company of a large laying flock. It is so nice when we can find a home for our boys.

@MistyMountain I know what you mean when you say you worry about the girls who refuse to head home at night. I especially worry about any light colored ones who have spent the night out. Do you know if owls can see well enough to pick out a dark colored bird in a tree?

We are not getting many eggs right now but here is what is going on

Broody mamas are pretty well done with the chicks...7 weeks I think.

Gracie Belle has resumed laying

Stella has maintained champion layer status...laying for 10 days straight before taking a break
Norma and Cass...Back yard mix and Red Sex Link lay like champs.
Blanche contributes about 4 ginormous white eggs a week
Buck Beak gives us a huge egg covered with calcium deposits maybe 3 times a wek
No one else is doing much of anything but someone laid an egg on the poo tray. Couldn't ID it.

No one is Broody

Wanda still doesn't have a boy name. Tom works with a Wally so we won't be calling him that after all but

Winston
Waylen
Wes

are all under consideration. Leaning toward Waylen today.

liz: Good Luck finding more cockerel homes. Did you put them on the 530 poultry FB page? It is frequented by other Northern CA peeps

 

[MistyMountain]

@tommysgirl , every chicken I have lost to predators has been black and white or solid white, so like you, those are the ones I worry about the most. I guess I never really thought about owls. We have seen them frequently on the property and I can hear the little screech owls at dusk. I would think that owls can see either color--- that is just a guess-- but I am sure any slight movement is all it would take to get them to zero in on something. Our wind here leads me to believe they would need to adjust themselves often up in the trees. The mountains work to funnel the gusts right through the valley. Owls hunt rabbits and mice, which tend to blend in well here.

A hawk was on the ground near the coop the other day while DH was splitting wood nearby. Willie and C had the girls hidden, but DH chased it off anyhow. Now that the trees are about bare and we've entered November, lockdown will be the norm here. Sad for the flock, but necessary. Lucky for them the wood pile is along the tree line leading to their coop and DH has about 3-1/2 more cords of wood to cut, split, and stack to get us through winter. If they give him the puppy dog eyes he just might let them out!

I like Waylen! Willie is always an option, too

. It sounds nice when you are mocking their crow with Willie, Willllie Roooo!

 

[MistyMountain]

Forgot that I wanted to share what is left of our fall colors. If this wind keeps up, it will be gone by morning.

 

[tommysgirl]

@tommysgirl , every chicken I have lost to predators has been black and white or solid white, so like you, those are the ones I worry about the most. I guess I never really thought about owls. We have seen them frequently on the property and I can hear the little screech owls at dusk. I would think that owls can see either color--- that is just a guess-- but I am sure any slight movement is all it would take to get them to zero in on something. Our wind here leads me to believe they would need to adjust themselves often up in the trees. The mountains work to funnel the gusts right through the valley. Owls hunt rabbits and mice, which tend to blend in well here.

A hawk was on the ground near the coop the other day while DH was splitting wood nearby. Willie and C had the girls hidden, but DH chased it off anyhow. Now that the trees are about bare and we've entered November, lockdown will be the norm here. Sad for the flock, but necessary. Lucky for them the wood pile is along the tree line leading to their coop and DH has about 3-1/2 more cords of wood to cut, split, and stack to get us through winter. If they give him the puppy dog eyes he just might let them out!

I like Waylen! Willie is always an option, too

. It sounds nice when you are mocking their crow with Willie, Willllie Roooo!

Every one I have lost has been light colored too. I am cutting down on Delawares for that reason. Maggie is silver and black but sooooo big I am pretty sure no predator could cart her off now. But when she was smaller I worried. Stella spends her ranging time under the shrubbery for the most time and Cosmo is always right with her so I feel like she has protection.

on Willieeeee Roooooooo! Thanks for the input re Wanda's boy name...hahaha the Bridge club will have Waylen and Willie

Forgot that I wanted to share what is left of our fall colors. If this wind keeps up, it will be gone by morning.

Lovely!!

 

[lizgarf]

Hi everyone!
A very nice farmer/teacher in overalls, with his 10-year-old son in tow, just came and picked up Lu and Cy! He promised to send me pictures and said I could come visit them in Pacifica some time!
I'm happy and sad at the same time. Frankie is now back in the nest with a forlorn-looking Rousseau, after having been scared out of it during the ambush. I hope he does ok without his brothers looking out for him. I am skeptical of finding such good homes for the other 3-4 (darn Norma/n), but there is still time. I just now got my second response to the Craigslist ad -it's not as promising as this guy, but who knows. It might be nice to keep everyone for another couple weeks to see how they bloom.

I'm jealous of your egg count, TG!! Jan is laying about 1 egg, every 4 days, and no one else has started back up yet. Bettina is definitely molting.

That Halloween town party sounds very sweet, MM! What a lovely place to have landed!

How is it your broody mamas move on relatively quickly? Almost 11 weeks, and all three of mine seem to still be attached. Some of the popular kids have been sleeping in the far roost lately, without their mamas, but I think that's their choice, not Grace and Frida's!

TG, thanks for the 530 facebook suggestion. I don't think I want to join another facebook group, but if you think it might be helpful to post the crosses for me there, I would greatly appreciate the word being spread!

 

[Teila]

Good morning Bridge Club

We have been a quiet group; no news is good news

Liz your doggy beach day sounded so nice with the chickens and humming bird afterwards.

I am so very pleased you found what sounds like a very nice home for Lu and Cy; that is great news!

MM thank you for your kind words regarding Allsorts. It is coming up for a week and no one is showing any signs of being unwell so I believe it was probably just one of those things.

That is a beautiful fall picture.

I still have no idea on Spot or Gloria’s gender; just loving having them around.

TG good to read that Ozzie is doing well.

Oh, how lovely for you not to have any broodies .. I have one; you want her?! Lol

Waylen .. nice one!

Our news … well, Cilla is still broody! Joel has caved and now it is two against one but I am sticking firm (so far). I am playing chicken shuffle at the moment as I really have to keep her away from everyone else; when they are out she is locked up and visa versa. I can’t let her anywhere near the chicks and basically, she is going to have to stay in solitary until she breaks and has an attitude rethink!

The good news is that I may have somewhere to put her soon .. in the broody section that Tina, Gloria and Spot are using.

I have been letting Gloria and Spot free range by themselves to give them chance to gain some confidence in the garden and find some hidey spots and then when they were back behind the safety fence, let the big girls out.

Time and patience has paid off and yesterday afternoon, for the first time, Gloria and Spot joined Dusty, LuLu and Tina on the afternoon free range.

They copped a couple of pecks but only very gentle warnings and nothing serious. At one point all five of them were in one little group, pecking on the lawn .. I am sooo happy! By the end of this weekend, I think I will be able to have Gloria, Spot, Tina, Dusty and LuLu in the big run and lock Cilla away in the chateau with the small run ... might just leave her in there permanently!! Everyone seems so much more relaxed when she is not around .. grumpy gal!

In a couple of week’s time it will be Blondie’s turn for integration.

 

[tommysgirl]

Hi everyone!
A very nice farmer/teacher in overalls, with his 10-year-old son in tow, just came and picked up Lu and Cy! He promised to send me pictures and said I could come visit them in Pacifica some time!

I'm jealous of your egg count, TG!! Jan is laying about 1 egg, every 4 days, and no one else has started back up yet. Bettina is definitely molting.

That Halloween town party sounds very sweet, MM! What a lovely place to have landed!

How is it your broody mamas move on relatively quickly? Almost 11 weeks, and all three of mine seem to still be attached. Some of the popular kids have been sleeping in the far roost lately, without their mamas, but I think that's their choice, not Grace and Frida's!

TG, thanks for the 530 facebook suggestion. I don't think I want to join another facebook group, but if you think it might be helpful to post the crosses for me there, I would greatly appreciate the word being spread!

Three cheers for farmers in overalls!
Liz when you take into account that I have I believe 14 girls who could/should be laying...my egg count is a little less impressive.

Delaware Dottie
EE Rosie
Dorking Joan Baez

Are all going through a molt JB's is particularly nasty...Poor thing appears to be tender.

2 of the Mama trio
Julie Taylor is no longer interested in motherhood and looks like a naked neck wanna be
Willa Still wants to mother those babies...stilll makes the buc buc buc and gets a bit frantic when they get too far away
both are in full/post molt recovery too.

I posted the boys on the 530 poultry page. Hope it works!

Good morning Bridge Club

We have been a quiet group; no news is good news

Liz your doggy beach day sounded so nice with the chickens and humming bird afterwards.

I am so very pleased you found what sounds like a very nice home for Lu and Cy; that is great news!

MM thank you for your kind words regarding Allsorts. It is coming up for a week and no one is showing any signs of being unwell so I believe it was probably just one of those things.

That is a beautiful fall picture.

I still have no idea on Spot or Gloria’s gender; just loving having them around.

TG good to read that Ozzie is doing well.

Oh, how lovely for you not to have any broodies .. I have one; you want her?! Lol

Waylen .. nice one!

Our news … well, Cilla is still broody! Joel has caved and now it is two against one but I am sticking firm (so far). I am playing chicken shuffle at the moment as I really have to keep her away from everyone else; when they are out she is locked up and visa versa. I can’t let her anywhere near the chicks and basically, she is going to have to stay in solitary until she breaks and has an attitude rethink!

The good news is that I may have somewhere to put her soon .. in the broody section that Tina, Gloria and Spot are using.

I have been letting Gloria and Spot free range by themselves to give them chance to gain some confidence in the garden and find some hidey spots and then when they were back behind the safety fence, let the big girls out.

Time and patience has paid off and yesterday afternoon, for the first time, Gloria and Spot joined Dusty, LuLu and Tina on the afternoon free range.

They copped a couple of pecks but only very gentle warnings and nothing serious. At one point all five of them were in one little group, pecking on the lawn .. I am sooo happy! By the end of this weekend, I think I will be able to have Gloria, Spot, Tina, Dusty and LuLu in the big run and lock Cilla away in the chateau with the small run ... might just leave her in there permanently!! Everyone seems so much more relaxed when she is not around .. grumpy gal!

In a couple of week’s time it will be Blondie’s turn for integration.

I love your baby pics!

That everyoneis a pullet

Glad your patience has paid off. Hope Blondie's integration goes better quicker smoother etc.

Cilla sounds impossible...isn't it funny how she is such a tender and devoted setter/mama yet such a little monster all in the same adorable little fluffy package?

Waylen it is! It seems to fit him...

Yesterday was National hug your chicken day so I had my son take this pic of me and Daphne.



She was getting ready to gently peck my nostril lol. She is the SWEETEST chicken. Going to add a couple more like her after operation thin the flock is done.

 

[lizgarf]

Hi everyone,
Yes, I am so happy about finding farmer Jeff for my BCM boys!! Between that and the passage of Prop. 47, which is the best news I've had in my line of work in years, I'm a pretty happy gentlewoman farmer this week!

Frankie and Rousseau seem to be doing ok - it's hard to tell, obviously, and I'm sure Frankie misses his brothers, but this seems to be making flock integration and management a little easier. I'm feeling much less urgent about finding homes for the other boys, though I know I'll have to eventually. I got an email from someone yesterday who, upon further questioning, told me he has "about 5 hens" and some ducks, which he only feeds fruit from the trees in his yard, and some scratch and cracked corn for the younger ones! It actually sounded better than the possibility of them being kept all day in too-small coops, which I imagine is the situation for most backyard chickens, but a bit too clueless to trust with my babies! It's ok, I think I'll find the right homes at the right time.

Very sweet shot, TG! I think you're still getting more eggs per hen than I am at the moment, but I won't push it. It's winter, after all! Bettina's molt seems to be draining her energy, but she's still a sweetheart and I think she'll be her old self eventually. She is a lot of chicken - it must take a lot of energy just to make the feathers and winter fat, let alone the eggs she was still pumping out up til a week ago. Brian and Norma are going to be huge.

Love the pictures of Spot and Gloria! They are so cute! Their shapes seem similar to Rousseau's, if that helps anything. I'm glad integration is going better. I think it usually looks worse to use than it feels to them. Was it TG who had the middle-school girls analogy?

Enjoy your weekends, everybody!