I Built A Bridge!

[ItalyChickie]

Well, apparently it was just a dancing embryo! I woke to a little black fuzzy butt running around in the bator and knocking over the rest of the eggs.

Still dancing! There are two more pipped eggs so I expect the little dancer will have some company soon enough, and two co-mamas are patiently waiting to welcome whoever hatches.

I have no idea why that egg appeared so different the first few days... it's almost as if it developed faster than others. Maybe it did... Anyway, on the bright side, I now know everything there is to know about twin eggs and will be ready to deal with it if it does happen in the future.

Teila, tough love sounds appropriate in that situation (well, your solution, anyway, not anything too tough!

). I bet they decided that's the top hen spot, hence all the fighting.

I wonder if there's a solution for a hen who decides she no longer likes the coop and goes to sleep on top of the dog house... My solution of carrying her over to the coop every night isn't really going to work out long term.

 

[Teila]

Congratulations IC that is great news!

Ah well, at least you will have no problems picking a name for the 'dancer' Fred (Astaire); Rudolf (Nereyev); Bojangles (Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson) or Margo (Fonteyn); Sylvie (Guillerm); Ginger (Rogers) etc etc

Can't wait to see the pictures

I adopted the 'tough love' approach and blocked off the 'corner', leaving the extension as the only comfortable sleeping area. The 3 nest box dwellers settled down pretty quickly and without much drama. The 2 divider dwellers were not so happy .. much squarking, temper tantrums and persistent attempts to break down the barricade to the old digs but I just kept popping them up on the roost. They jumped down three times and I popped them back. I won because it got too dark for them to jump down. So while they are probably a bit 'annoyed' with me right now, they are now sleeping on an appropriate roost and not the divider. Also, this roost is easier for Cilla to get to and I am sure it is better for their little feet, being an actual roost and not the top of a panel!

To be honest, it was actually less stressful for me than the constant bickering and squabbling at bed time. If I keep this up for a week or so, hopefully they will get the idea. Sadly, I think I am going to have to block off the corner each evening because I have a sneaking feeling that Cilla will go back to it if it is ever available. I do not want to block it off permanently because that would waste too much coop space which they use during the day; it was not too difficult to block off but I will be able to come up with something to make it easier, a sliding panel or similar.

But, all in all, a pretty good first night

Hhhhm, my solution was to take away the 'inappropriate' sleeping spot .. I am not sure moving the dog house is going to be the easiest way out for you

 

[MistyMountain]

Teila and IC, I'm giving out some tough love treatment to Maude. She insists on roosting out in the pine tree. Yesterday I went out before they start to roost and locked them all in the run so she would have NO other choice than to sleep in the coop. When I went out after dark to lock them up she was snuggled in next to her sister. So funny. All the breeds roost together.

Crazy stuff on the homestead today. There is a tree that drops berries into the little coop run and the youngsters go crazy over them when I let them out in the morning. After letting them out this morning I decided that I would take a few pics and send them to family to identify. As I was walking out to the coop I noticed someone was squawking. Almost like the end of the egg song, but just that part-- non stop. I thought oh, maybe one of the pullets is trying to mimic the song. I should have been more suspicious that none of the hens rushed to me as I started down the hill. I made it to the grapes not seeing a single chicken when Willie came rushing out from under a clump of grapes fighting a hawk! I shouted at the hawk (whatever good that does) and it flew up into the Sycamore trees. Willie then proceeded to pick a fight with me. I guess the adrenaline was pumping!! Good boy Willie!!

I will be honest, Willie has had his ups and downs here. For while he "had to go." We have since come to appreciate him around here. He does all the things a good rooster should do. He is nice to the youngsters. Brings treats to the girls. Rounds them up at dusk and protects them with his life. We can overlook his aggressiveness to us for those things. I keep sticks and rakes in strategic places to deflect his flogging attempts. He doesn't always look for a fight and if you change your approach he will back down. If not, there is always a bit of water in the hose and one little warning squirt in his general direction will make him snap out of it. Wille Roo is the Chicken of the day!!

 

[16 paws]

Teila and IC, I'm giving out some tough love treatment to Maude. She insists on roosting out in the pine tree. Yesterday I went out before they start to roost and locked them all in the run so she would have NO other choice than to sleep in the coop. When I went out after dark to lock them up she was snuggled in next to her sister. So funny. All the breeds roost together.

Crazy stuff on the homestead today. There is a tree that drops berries into the little coop run and the youngsters go crazy over them when I let them out in the morning. After letting them out this morning I decided that I would take a few pics and send them to family to identify. As I was walking out to the coop I noticed someone was squawking. Almost like the end of the egg song, but just that part-- non stop. I thought oh, maybe one of the pullets is trying to mimic the song. I should have been more suspicious that none of the hens rushed to me as I started down the hill. I made it to the grapes not seeing a single chicken when Willie came rushing out from under a clump of grapes fighting a hawk! I shouted at the hawk (whatever good that does) and it flew up into the Sycamore trees. Willie then proceeded to pick a fight with me. I guess the adrenaline was pumping!! Good boy Willie!!

I will be honest, Willie has had his ups and downs here. For while he "had to go." We have since come to appreciate him around here. He does all the things a good rooster should do. He is nice to the youngsters. Brings treats to the girls. Rounds them up at dusk and protects them with his life. We can overlook his aggressiveness to us for those things. I keep sticks and rakes in strategic places to deflect his flogging attempts. He doesn't always look for a fight and if you change your approach he will back down. If not, there is always a bit of water in the hose and one little warning squirt in his general direction will make him snap out of it. Wille Roo is the Chicken of the day!!

YEA FOR WILLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy that he was there to fight off that darn hawk.

Way to go Willie

I would say he deserves Rooster of the month here on the bridge!!!!!! We could start a Willie fan club too, I am all in.
I love happy endings, that just made my day.

Marie

 

[Teila]

Yep, count me in on a vote for Willie; he is now the current holder of the title Bridge's Rooster of the Month!

Not forgetting that a very special rooster is soon to become a daddy

Even after my 'tough love' approach last night, the gals are still talking to me and I swear it had nothing to do with the fact that I was carrying their breakfast

As much as they carried on like sleeping somewhere else was the end of the world; they survived Now to persevere and continue tonight ....

As I mentioned yesterday, not particularly a fan of shopping but I had a pretty good day yesterday. Armed with notepad and pen I walked around one of our biggest shopping centres comparing and pricing the saucepans. I ended up going back to one store 5 times; the young man on the door gave me a smile the first couple of times and then switched to "back again?". I explained that I was doing my homework before purchase. 3 hours of research and walking later I scored myself a couple of bargains; picked up a Bluestone fry pan set for half price and a set of Stanley Rogers saucepans reduced from $399.90 to $120. It was a good feeling to come home and throw out all the old, worn out, mismatched pans and replace them with two beautiful sets. Picked up a roasting dish while I was there Oh yeah, threatened the fella's with all sorts of nasties if they put any of them in the dishwasher! lol

That was Day 1 of my 4 day break. Day 2 was supposed to be lawn mowing and then quality time with the gals; Hhhhm, the weather man got it wrong again! After predicting the occasional shower Saturday and Sunday, I woke up to rain and the updated forecast is rain through until Thursday! Looks like the lawn will be next weekend. Also, a little disappointing that if they are right this time, I am not going to get to spend much of my break with the gals

I am sitting here thinking, hhhhm now what am I going to do? Stalk BYC I guess

I also have a new book just released by my favourite 'fairly unknown but worthy of fame' author so I might just grab a coffee, settle into the recliner and have a real day off with my Kindle

Have fun and happy chickens

 

[16 paws]

Well, apparently it was just a dancing embryo! I woke to a little black fuzzy butt running around in the bator and knocking over the rest of the eggs.

Still dancing! There are two more pipped eggs so I expect the little dancer will have some company soon enough, and two co-mamas are patiently waiting to welcome whoever hatches.

I have no idea why that egg appeared so different the first few days... it's almost as if it developed faster than others. Maybe it did... Anyway, on the bright side, I now know everything there is to know about twin eggs and will be ready to deal with it if it does happen in the future.

Teila, tough love sounds appropriate in that situation (well, your solution, anyway, not anything too tough!

). I bet they decided that's the top hen spot, hence all the fighting.

I wonder if there's a solution for a hen who decides she no longer likes the coop and goes to sleep on top of the dog house... My solution of carrying her over to the coop every night isn't really going to work out long term.

Oh well,
A dancer is just as good as twins anyway.

Like you said, now you are an expert on the matter lol
Cant wait to see pictures of the newbies.
I havent been able to post shots of all my new fluffies because it wasnt working but I think it is fixed now.
On the dog house hen, humm, maybe put a box or something similar to that on the top. Is it a flat roof? If it is flat make it an A frame roof with some cardboard or something laying around your garage or house. We just have to outsmart that little rebel,lol
Marie

 

[Teila]

16 paws looks like the image attachments are working now

Did I miss a post? How many bubbies did you have hatch? I thought I read one and one pipped but not sure if I read how many altogether? Sorry, I may have forgotten

I took advantage of today's rain to spend some time reading and also reach out to a Frizzle breeder to check the availability of fertile eggs in preparation for my next broody. I figured it was better to suss someone out now and be prepared rather than do the run around when I actually have a broody. This way I can just ring up and say "send those eggs"

It was still raining at chicken bed time, so continuing the 'tough love' plan, I stripped down to the bare essentials and donned the Dry-As-A-Bone and wandered on out to close off the corner and supervise bed time.

The youngest divider dweller, Blondie, was actually sussing out the roost and she may have jumped up there by herself but as it was raining I popped her up so I was not tramping around in the dark, soaking wet. Cilla, while not throwing a temper tantrum and throwing herself at the blocker to the corner was still hanging around in that area so I guided her over to the roost to pop her next to Blondie.

What I saw next blew me away! .. Dusty, has never roosted, she has always slept in the nest box closest to the divider. When I went to put Cilla on the roost, Dusty was roosting right next to Blondie! And, to top it off, rather than sleeping in a nest box, Tina and LuLu were roosting on the Silkie-friendly lower roost!!

These roosts have been available for months and as mentioned, I have been moving them from the old roost to the new roost for months .... still slapping myself on the forehead for not thinking about taking away the preferred option.

This plan looks like it is actually going to work. It was so nice to not have to supervise fights and squabbles and to see everyone roosting on appropriate roosts.

Liz, getting close now! Sending tons of positive hatch thoughts your way

 

[ItalyChickie]

Congratulations IC that is great news!

Ah well, at least you will have no problems picking a name for the 'dancer' Fred (Astaire); Rudolf (Nereyev); Bojangles (Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson) or Margo (Fonteyn); Sylvie (Guillerm); Ginger (Rogers) etc etc

Lol! I am really hoping it's a Ginger and not a Fred! Although I think I will save the name Ginger for some orange dancing chick in the future. This one is a black Australorp... hmmm, I guess it will be either Josephine (Baker) or Michael (Jackson).

Yay for the tough love approach working out! I'm sure they will get used to the new sleeping arrangements in a day or two.

Teila and IC, I'm giving out some tough love treatment to Maude. She insists on roosting out in the pine tree. Yesterday I went out before they start to roost and locked them all in the run so she would have NO other choice than to sleep in the coop. When I went out after dark to lock them up she was snuggled in next to her sister. So funny. All the breeds roost together.

Crazy stuff on the homestead today. There is a tree that drops berries into the little coop run and the youngsters go crazy over them when I let them out in the morning. After letting them out this morning I decided that I would take a few pics and send them to family to identify. As I was walking out to the coop I noticed someone was squawking. Almost like the end of the egg song, but just that part-- non stop. I thought oh, maybe one of the pullets is trying to mimic the song. I should have been more suspicious that none of the hens rushed to me as I started down the hill. I made it to the grapes not seeing a single chicken when Willie came rushing out from under a clump of grapes fighting a hawk! I shouted at the hawk (whatever good that does) and it flew up into the Sycamore trees. Willie then proceeded to pick a fight with me. I guess the adrenaline was pumping!! Good boy Willie!!

I will be honest, Willie has had his ups and downs here. For while he "had to go." We have since come to appreciate him around here. He does all the things a good rooster should do. He is nice to the youngsters. Brings treats to the girls. Rounds them up at dusk and protects them with his life. We can overlook his aggressiveness to us for those things. I keep sticks and rakes in strategic places to deflect his flogging attempts. He doesn't always look for a fight and if you change your approach he will back down. If not, there is always a bit of water in the hose and one little warning squirt in his general direction will make him snap out of it. Wille Roo is the Chicken of the day!!

Wow! Way to go Willie!

I had a roo like that who was wonderful with the hens, but not so great with us and very aggressive with other roos. If we had predators around here, he would have stayed, but as it isn't really a problem, I kept the less aggressive boys instead.

Willie needs Roo of the Year award!

Oh well,
A dancer is just as good as twins anyway.

Like you said, now you are an expert on the matter lol
Cant wait to see pictures of the newbies.
I havent been able to post shots of all my new fluffies because it wasnt working but I think it is fixed now.
On the dog house hen, humm, maybe put a box or something similar to that on the top. Is it a flat roof? If it is flat make it an A frame roof with some cardboard or something laying around your garage or house. We just have to outsmart that little rebel,lol
Marie

The dog house is an A-frame roof, and the hen happily roosts on the very top of the A... it's also next to a wall of sorts though; inside the covered area for the car - basically enclosed on 3 sides, not quite a garage but close. She roosts closer to the wall side, so she would just slide down a little bit to the wall if she lost her balance. I imagine it's actually the safest place to sleep around here, right on top of a big dog, who doesn't seem to mind the second occupant.

But I think I may have discovered the reason for this sudden change of sleeping arrangements - my husband is off work, and he has been watering the veggie garden instead of me, and closing off the backyard a bit too well... I always leave it a bit open so that the chickens can fit though, but the dogs can't. I think his measurements of chickens are a bit off because I see them hopping over the enclosure rather than through the gap - this one must have decided she will not put up with such foolishness and chose another place to sleep instead. I'll keep an eye on the gap and see if she goes to the coop from now on.


I'm actually relieved the chick was a dancer rather than twins... I would so much rather let them hatch by themselves than have to help! That said, there are only 4 chicks total this time around - none of the Marans eggs hatched, sadly - so I wouldn't have minded a couple extras (if I didn't have to help). Not that we need more chickens, but it's kinda crazy that this amazing co-broody team only has 4 babies between them, whereas Bonnie had 13 all by herself... Oh well. Too late now.

A couple of pics coming up... Darker and blurrier than usual, as this time I let them stay in the coop (kindergarten apartments are all still occupied!) - felt that I can trust the two of them to integrate the babies from the start, as both are high enough in the pecking order and proven broodies.

The two black chicks are Australorps (mostly black one is the dancer), the not-as-fluffy yellow chick was an extra egg (unmarked, so no idea what it is), and the super-fluffy silkie-like yellow baby came from Bonnie's egg I snuck in there, so it's a Silkie x (Red Star x Dorking) cross... will be very interesting to watch that one grow.

 

[lizgarf]

Yes, way to go Willie! Cute babies, IC.
Not much to report here. I gave Frida and Grace the big eggs at about 10 pm on Saturday the 2nd (Pacific time), so we're not quite at the 20 day mark for them. I gave them the bantam eggs the next day at about 3 pm. When Grace was off this morning to get treats (and Frida shuffled as I gave her some in the nest), I was able to see 9 of the 10 eggs, and it looked like one of Bettina's egg may have had a pip. It wasn't broken all the way through, but it was the right size and location.
Everyone in the flock seems to be waiting for the big event. Desi has been hanging out close to the nest and the ladies keep peering in. It's very cute. Yesterday, while the others were in the backyard, Grace was sitting up on the roost, just looking like she was giving herself a much-needed brake before the onslaught. She hopped back into the nest pretty quickly. Even Reggie didn't want to stay at the park today. She does that once in awhile - keeps trying to return to the car, like she thinks she's desperately needed at home - but this was the first time I saw her do that at this park which she particularly enjoys.
Rousseau is broody now too, but doing so on her own in the regular nest. It's hard to break her, because I don't want the others to go looking for a new spot and mess with the official broody nest. So, I'm down to 3 layers, and yesterday I had no eggs for the first time since March or so! Three eggs today, though. Days are getting shorter - I wonder when and how hard this year's egg drought will hit.

 

[Teila]

IC, you could go with Michael’s sister, Janet or JJ

Beautiful, beautiful bubbies and a lovely shot of the co-broodys, The little Bonny chick is adorable. I am also interested to see how she/he develops.

Sorry to read about the Marans not hatching.

Aaaw Liz your description of how everyone is waiting for the big event was adorable! I can picture them all excitedly looking forward to the newbies.

How exciting, a possible pip!

While you are heading into a possible egg drought; I am now coming out the other side of an egg drought. Cilla, Tina and Blondie have been pretty good with laying; I have had a couple of days where I have had 3 eggs but yesterday only one from Tina. I have convinced myself that Dusty has retired from egg laying following that hard molt and probably 6 months now without an egg; but having said that, she squatted on Thursday when I walked up to her so, how knows! Still waiting on LuLu for that first egg.

Still raining; over 24 hours now, pretty much non-stop .. this is severely messing with my quality time with the gals!