I Built A Bridge!

[tommysgirl]

Tommysgirl,

Mamie and Penny are very lucky girls. Who wouldnt want to be paired up with that hunk Ike? He's a looker I tell you.

Mamie and Penny are settling in. They are not freaking out when I go into the feed shed. Thinking I will let them free range with everyone this evening if they choose to.

Ike is a honey. He is going to end up in a pen with them and 4 other girls once the Broodzillas are a bit more tractable, Hopefully by next week.

 

[tommysgirl]

Good morning Bridge Club

TG good to hear that Stella is not broody YET!

I love Stella’s colouring; very excited about how ‘Spot’ is going to turn out.

That you get a pair of Konzas!

haha she is a bossy little thing for sure though, prepping herself for being a mama??

Keep us posted on Spot's coloring

Those Konzas are ridiculously gender non-specific. Still no waddles and no crowing. I would love for Magnus to remain Magnus and pass on his lovely coloring ( Silver like Spot) and his size to my laying flock. Thanks for your crossed fingers!

@arkansas55 sorry you had to have surgery. glad you had happy surprises when you got home.

 

[Teila]

Good morning Bridge Club

16 paws today is the start of Day 12 for Blondie so still over a week to go. She seems quite happy in her little enclosure and she can now have the door to the nest open and watch the goings on in the garden.

Sorry to read that you are feeling a little under the pressure; I think you should have a Marie-day; take a step back and have a day all to yourself to do just what you want to do.

Liz as you know, it gets pretty hot here also and I have not experienced a bursting egg.

Aaaaw, Marsha encouraging Alice is just too sweet!

Arkansas55 Welcome back! I wondered where you had got to; so sorry to hear that you have been unwell; I just assumed you were busy. Hope you are on the improve now and congratulations on the big red crow!

TG I am glad that Mamie and Penny are settling in. Not only are they very lucky girls, Ike is a very lucky boy

Talking bikes .. my sister and I used to ride together every morning. One morning I could not make it due to work commitments and she rode alone. A car came around a corner and because of the blinding sun in his eyes, the driver did not see her. He hit her, she went up over the bonnet and hit her head on his windscreen before falling down to the tarmac. Her helmet saved her life but she is in a wheelchair now

Yesterday’s news from Bambrook Bantams ……

Got the lawns mowed, killed some weeds and washed and polished Jenny. Going to have a bit of a ‘potter’ day today, a bit of this and a bit of that but nothing too strenuous. Definitely going to spend some time with my gals. The weather is so beautiful at present. Got a bacon, cheese and garlic loaf in the bread maker .. mmmm, yum!

A juvenile Myna bird flew into the run extension with Tina and the Jelly Beans. Tina went ballistic! She was screeching and attacking and the beans were hiding. She herded it to the wire where the aunties were on the other side, trying to attack it also. The Myna’s parents joined in; what a ruckus! The juvenile managed to get away and did not appear to be hurt. I was concerned that the beans were caught up in the melee and injured but everyone was OK. While the noise and possible injury to the beans had my adrenaline pumping it was nice to see the aunties defending the little flock also.

Did I have some fun later in the afternoon yesterday. Cilla went into the nest box to lay an egg but she was in there for a very long time so I thought I had better check on her. I picked her up and the egg she laid dropped from her skirts to the ground and broke. Her eggs have a knack of getting caught up. Anyways, popped her on the ground and wandered off to keep sweeping. Cilla went straight back to the nest box and started looking for the egg! Popped her on the ground again and straight back she went. On the way back to the nest box she was picking on LuLu. Oh No! Cilla is going broody!! I have nowhere to put her to break her as Blondie has the broody box! I locked her out of the coop and run but she was trying to pick on the beans through the wire and was giving LuLu a hard time. Plan B, put her back in the run, by herself and block off the nest box. Trying to block off the nest box from Cilla when she is determined is a challenge; she knocked down wooden dividers etc. She was also trying to break into Tina’s nest and I knew this would definitely upset Tina and the beans at bedtime.

Bedtime came along and after Tina and the beans had gone to bed I locked LuLu and Dusty in the run/coop and Cilla on the outside. The plan being that once LuLu and Dusty had gone to bed and it was dark enough I would pop Cilla on the roost. Good plan but Cilla did not want to get with the plan! .. Finally, at 8pm last night she stayed on the roost after 2 hours of jumping down, in the dark, to the nest box.

It was reasonably cool overnight and when I woke up this morning Cilla was in the run and I have just checked again and she is not in the nest box. While I know that I have not broken her overnight and she is probably going to try again once the day warms up please send me positive thoughts that I can break her broodiness

 

[16 paws]

Ark55,
So sorry to read your post about being in the hospital. How are you doing now? I hope things are much better. You have such a positive happy spirit I know that helps you. Glad you got to hear that beautiful crow. Take good care of yourself and check in often will you?
Blessings....
Marie

 

[16 paws]

Ok, I really dont know what a felfie is and I remember a while back many of you shared pictures of yourselves. I dont have a cell phone, ( I know I am in the dark ages) so I was practicing on my digital camera to take a selfie. haha

I deleted many because somehow some old bag kept getting in the picture.lol So since Italychickie started here we go......
I really wish I had photo shop! But you should of saw the ones I deleted!

 

[Teila]

That is a beautiful selfie Marie!

I'll play!



OK, not a selfie and I have the sunnies on, but you get the picture! At least now we can see who we are friends with

 

[ItalyChickie]

Speaking of expecting... My little sister just went public with her news of expecting a bubbie of the two legged non feathered variety! I'm gonna be an Aunt!! (again!)

Congratulations!!! To both you and your sister! (This will be a much longer wait than for the feathered variety, huh?

)

I need you help on 'Spot'. Still pretty sure 'Spot' is a Frizzle but the next few days will tell. It is the colour I am more fascinated by! I have no idea what to call it ... it's like a silver! I know it is early days but interested to know your thoughts???

Teila, those pictures are too beautiful!!! And yeah, Spot seems to be frizzling as well.

I have no idea what the color is called, but it does look silver to me as well. Can't wait to see the color/pattern when all those feathers are grown! Your little dinosaur is also gorgeous, and doesn't look very boyish to me despite your early guess. Of course, if I'm right and they are actually two girls, you will have one very tough choice of who to keep....

A few of you have asked about ages recently. Jan is probably almost 3 - she was 2 when I got her in January, and her people wouldn't answer how far she was into being 2. The popular kids will be 6 weeks this weekend, and Cy will be 6 weeks on Wednesday. I'm pretty-well convinced that there are 4 popular pullets and 2 popular cockerels. I think the marans are probably both boys (Cy is for sure) and Frankie continues to look like a pullet with an extra-large comb and wattles and male pattern baldness. S/he will probably keep me guessing for awhile.


Nice Felfie, IC! Cindy hopped on my shoulder when she was about 3.5 weeks, but the pics I took were way too unflattering to post!
OK, bed time. Have a great weekend everyone! Stay cool, my California peeps!

Yeah, 6 weeks is probably too early to tell for sure, I'd say in a couple more weeks it should be easier, although there are some that keep you guessing even then, and after!

Thanks on the compliments on the felfie! I had one hatch last year where the mom (a banty) used to jump on my lap, and chicks on the shoulders/back... never managed to get a decent one of that one, but this time I was ready.

Stella laid a second egg so far she is not broody hahaha


My Konzas Magnus and Reese continue to keep me guessing. They are almost 15 weeks old and I still have no idea. I have been told that Magnus is a cockerel but there are still no saddle feathers and no other male characteristics. Cosmo tried to mount Reese so maybe that is a sign. I would like very much to have a pair.

Well, 2 eggs really aren't enough for a clutch, I say she's going to lay about 7-8, and THEN go broody!

Speaking of which, my broody triplet, Pesca, is broody again! I had managed to break her just a few weeks ago... I guess this never ends. (She did not actually get a chance to raise chicks. I was going to let her a few months back, when Cochin and Orp eggs were in the bator, but she quit halfway through, so I don't really trust her...and anyway, no more chicks this year!)

Hmm, if Cosmo tried to mount Reese, I'd say it's a girl. Never seeing anyone, crazy teenagers included, try to mount another boy, even if I wasn't sure at the time.

IC those Bonnie babies are sooo gorgeous! Love the two-headed chick and Bonnie’s reaction!

Your chicks are always so cute and chubby looking

Love the felfie!

Thanks! I didn't even realized it was a two-headed chick myself, was mostly laughing at the chick's and Bonnie's expressions. But now that you point it out, it totally looks like that!

Cute felfie Italychickie, I had to go back and look at the pictures to see what the 2 headed chick was. Funny, I didnt even notice that! Why didnt you tell us you had a two headed chick? haha

All I saw at the time was a pooping chick with a really funny expression, if Teila hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed myself.

Haha, Marie! For once, it's almost as hot here in Oakland! It's been in the mid-90's in the coop all afternoon, so the chickens were all in the back yard, trying to stay cool. I finally braved the heat enough to check the nest box and found Bettina's egg sitting in a yolky pool from Jan's broken egg! So sad! Every egg is precious these days. Has anyone in hot country ever had an egg burst from the heat before? There's only ever been one other broken egg in the nest, and that was during the first broody hatch, when everyone was hiding there because of a scary dog on the loose. I doubt Bettina just stepped on it, but everyone was definitely looking out of sorts today.

Hmm, bursting from the heat, no, but I had one of mine lay some much thinner shelled eggs than usual during the hotter days - not even all thin shelled, just at one end of the egg, and those would break very very easily. I wonder if that could have contributed in your case too, a thinner shell?

Good Morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have missed all of you terribly,i have been in hospital for CHF,am back home and got a wonderful surprise,our big red crowed yesterday morn,i was up and heard him,couldn't help rooting him on,he has a very deep voice and a lovely crow,all the girl's are doing awesome,happily waiting to see if we get any egg's before frost come's if not,fine by me,just wanted to say hello and i missed ya'll,God Bless

Welcome back! So sorry to hear you were in the hospital, but glad you are back and well and came home to a wonderful surprise!

It was reasonably cool overnight and when I woke up this morning Cilla was in the run and I have just checked again and she is not in the nest box. While I know that I have not broken her overnight and she is probably going to try again once the day warms up please send me positive thoughts that I can break her broodiness

Uh oh! Best of luck with that, I know how tough it is, but you can do it!!! Hoping it doesn't take very long!

Ok, it's getting dark, so I'm off to count the chickens now!
A couple of pics of Bonnie and the Bonbons' first scratching lessons.

Oh, and I have to show off Shakira growing into her funky hairdo - she is too cute!

 

[16 paws]

That is a beautiful selfie Marie!

I'll play!



OK, not a selfie and I have the sunnies on, but you get the picture! At least now we can see who we are friends with

I love your hair, beautiful picture and great smile.....

 

[tommysgirl]

@Teila I am so so sorry that happened to your sister. How awful for your whole family but especially for her.

I also love that picture of you I have stick straight hair and have always coveted curls.

LOL @16 paws I am quite sure that your deleted photos did not reveal "some old bag" but I do know we are all hardest on ourselves. You are lovely! I covet your hair as well.

I can not figure out how to take a selfie on my phone but here is a shot Tom took last winter of me and Godiva on national Hug Your Chicken Day
.

I let Mamie and Penny out to range last night with every one and there were no incidents. Then I put them in the pen with the younger summer chicks and the there was a bit of chasing but they have "get away spots" in the run. I didn't have them sleep in the coop with everyone but in a dog crate on the floor of the run. This morning they were all together in the run for awhile but then I let everyone out but them, Daphne the sweetest chicken on Earth and Beryl. Hopefully the day spent with just the four of them will help to solidify flockiness. Daphne and Beryl are sort of solitary and at the bottom of the PO at this point any way. I figure they will work things out over the next few days.

I also moved Cosmo and Stella in with the broodies. The babies are big enough and the mamas are fierce enough that I worry about Cosmo being hurt more than I worry about them. Cosmo made an attempt to get his groove on with Gracie Belle and she was not having it so I put he and Stella out to range and left the mamas and babies in. All this shuffling will be over in a few weeks. Hoping Stella doesn't go broody until spring time.

 

[tommysgirl]

@ItalyChickie love the pics especially Shakira and her do.

I think my Petunia chick is a pullet. Petunia's mama was a buff laced Polish and it looks like this baby inherited her grandma's coloring. I am calling her Posie and the Black Sex link Nicki. They and their brothers are super friendly. My daughter is home during the day most days and she has made friends with them using meal worms. Now they come stand on my feet when I go into their pen. Such a nice change from my wild broody raised babies. They will be 3 weeks old tomorrow!