I Built A Bridge!

[lizgarf]

Hi everyone.
I know I've been quiet lately. I keep meaning to do a quick check-in once I get everything done I need to do, and of course that doesn't happen!
Fun to see the felfies/selfies. You're all very pretty!! Tommy's a lucky guy, TG!
16P, it's funny, but the way you write always reminds me of how women in my mom's family talk, and now that I see you, you could totally be a member! Are your people from either Georgia or the Lassen foothills? Just wondering!
Chick pics are always fun! Keep posting them, everyone!

There's not too much to report here, other than I think I'm probably deluding myself to think Frankie could be a pullet. That darn comb/wattles just aren't getting any smaller! Still not as red or big as the other boys, but it's way bigger/redder than the other girls. Bummer, because s/he snuggled up on my lap the other day!
Everyone is getting along well these days, and I'm really enjoying watching everyone grow and change, so I'm not in a rush to find the boys homes yet. I'm thinking I'll start looking after 8 weeks, maybe 9 or 10. . .

Picture time!
Frankie and Rousseau (see Rousseau's pretty feathers finally coming back!) Frankie's comb looks worse in the second shot:


Cy & Lu (Cy is such an awkward adolescent boy! His skinny legs wobble like they shot up way too fast. Lu would be an obvious boy if s/he didn't have Cy for a brother, but I'm deluding myself to think s/he might possibly be a pullet just in comparison. S/he's starting to get some red on her neck, which you can't see here):


Popular kids: That's Diego in front. The brahmarans are getting some really fun coloring - the blue/black feathers are starting to shine, inside the interesting reddish/penciling stuff, and Norma is getting lots of white bits, like Bettina. They still seem like a pair to me, though I wish there was more difference between their combs than there is at the moment.)


Norma, looking like a mini-Bettina and oh-so feminine in this pose:


Diego, the cochin/marans cross - he looks a bit like Tommy, Teila!



My humble, horded, egg-basket these days:

 

[16 paws]

Lol Liz,
Thats funny, no my family is not from around those parts but I did pick up a little country bumkin from my grandma Rhoda.My moms name was Dorcie Dell Gaunt. She always thought that sounded like a cow. haha Her people are from Kansas City, Kansas. I was born and raised here in Calli except for a short amount of time in Oregon when I was a young girl. I guess I am a simple country girl at heart living here in the fast lane in California. I always feel this strong desire to go somewhere where things are a little slower. I dont know if I could really handle it now since I am used to all the hustle and bustle of the city. That is why we chose this place to buy a home, we are very close to everything but once you get to this neighborhood you feel like you are out in the country.They are trying to pass an ordinance making it 10 acres per dwelling here just to keep it rural. Its a little bit of heaven but still very close to work and lots of shopping.

Its hard to tell about Frankie, I really cant tell at this point.I am still feeling pullet but I have been wrong before! We will just have to wait and see. I am glad you are having fun watching them grow up. Rousseau is very pretty as is the rest of your flock.
Happy chickening everyone!
Marie

 

[Teila]

Good morning Bridge Club!!

Thank you for your kind words regarding my sister. She has been in the wheelchair for 8 years now and after multiple surgeries and advancement in medical technology she has been told that following the next surgery, she has a chance at maybe being able to walk again!

Thank you also for your support regarding LuLu’s little scare .. no recurrences and she is as adorable as ever!

On the hair subject, on a very rare visit to a hairdresser in my younger days she asked me if I would “like the perm cut out?” Are you kidding me? I would be bald!! I was out of there in a second. If she cannot recognise naturally curly hair, not letting her cut my hair! lol

TG so happy to read that Penny returned and congratulations on yet another first egg! Lolz at your being an egg hoarder!

If we are going to take bets on when Stella will go broody, put me down for 10 eggs!

I confess to hoping Beakface does go broody ... the world needs more Cochins! Lol

Beautiful pictures!

IC congrats on Cenere being back in business.

16 paws also sorry to read about your boys; it is tough! Love Freckles!

Liz I am pleased you are not in a rush to rehome and enjoying your bubbies. I still have everything crossed for Frankie being a pullet!

I cannot believe how much they have grown! Rousseau looks great and such a cutie!

Totally agree that next to Cy, Lu has a chance of being a pullet but if Cy was not there we would probably all say rooster

Diego does look a bit like Tommy. Love the pictures and so enjoy looking at everyone’s flocks! Your "humble” egg basket is lovely. Mine is dull, colourless and boring in comparison.

No real news of note. Today is the start of Day 18 for Blondie, bubs due on Tuesday!!

I took a couple of quick snap shots of Tina and the Beans last night. They are a bit fuzzy because I did not have time to mess around with the lighting and trusted the auto focus but I thought they were still very cute!

Check out Spot's funky little head wear! ll





The plan for today is a trip to the local hardware store to pick up some new bulbs for our recessed lighting in the kitchen. All praise You Tube; if not for You Tube we would have had no idea at how to get those recessed bulbs out! lol One blew a while ago and we were struggling to see in the kitchen and then another blew last night ... cooking by range light only is no easy feat! lol

Also, need some bracing for Syba's 'sky tower'. He loves to sleep on his 'sky tower' but he is so heavy that he has weakened the structure and it is now leaning like the Tower of Pisa. To the point that we are in fear of it collapsing! lol

Anyways, enjoy your day/evening etc and happy chickens!

PS. Forgot to mention, Tina had just enjoyed a pre bed time dust bath, hence she is a little on the dirty side

 

[tommysgirl]

Good morning Bridge Club!!

Thank you for your kind words regarding my sister. She has been in the wheelchair for 8 years now and after multiple surgeries and advancement in medical technology she has been told that following the next surgery, she has a chance at maybe being able to walk again!

TG so happy to read that Penny returned and congratulations on yet another first egg! Lolz at your being an egg hoarder!

If we are going to take bets on when Stella will go broody, put me down for 10 eggs!

I confess to hoping Beakface does go broody ... the world needs more Cochins! Lol

o real news of note. Today is the start of Day 18 for Blondie, bubs due on Tuesday!!

I took a couple of quick snap shots of Tina and the Beans last night. They are a bit fuzzy because I did not have time to mess around with the lighting and trusted the auto focus but I thought they were still very cute!

Check out Spot's funky little head wear! ll




PS. Forgot to mention, Tina had just enjoyed a pre bed time dust bath, hence she is a little on the dirty side

I can only imagine what being able to walk again would mean to your sister. Hope and pray that she is able to reach that point after the next surgery. I love your pictures and it makes me feel silly posting mine but these babies are the cutest.

Beakface and I are still battling. She was on the nest for several hours twice during the day and again at bedtime. I move her off and she hangs out with the flock for awhile...all rushing about and blown up and bossy but then ends up back in the nest after a few hours of freedom. I agree the world needs more cochins

Stella has lain 7 eggs so far in 11 days...not bad for an ornamental mix If she goes broody at 10 eggs..shame on me but I will try to change her mind.

Love the Tina pics and Gooooo Blondie 48 ish more hours

Here are some pics of my little chicken family...


Do you see what is left of Julie's tail??? absurd!! I used to get her head confused with her tail...not so much anymore LOL

Posie! This is Petunia's chick so happy she appears to be a she. 3.5 weeks and still pullety!

Another booty shot of miss Julie

Wanda!! Her mam is Blanche my CA Grey. super friendly little thing and she is going to be cool looking!

 

[Teila]

Just a quick one; going to catch up soon but just wanted to let you know OMG! I am an idiot! I have it in my stoopid head that I gave Blondie the eggs on a Tuesday morning at 6am but it was Thursday morning. I was trying to work out how tomorrow was hatch day and only day 20 ... Slapping myself; chicks not due tomorrow at all!!

 

[tommysgirl]

Just a quick one; going to catch up soon but just wanted to let you know OMG! I am an idiot! I have it in my stoopid head that I gave Blondie the eggs on a Tuesday morning at 6am but it was Thursday morning. I was trying to work out how tomorrow was hatch day and only day 20 ... Slapping myself; chicks not due tomorrow at all!!

We can wait two more days if Blondie can Looking forward to this hatch...

And in related news Beak Face has worn me down. We played on and off the nest for three days but I am weak and she won. I let her stay last night and if she is still there Wednesday morning I will be giving her eggs that will be a farmyard mix of Pita Pinta

, BBS Langshan, and Cream Legbar. There may be some pure chicks but no guarantees. I like the grab bag idea and I should get some cool patterns and maybe a colored egg layer out of the bunch.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about my flock size and really decided that just b/c I have the space doesn't mean I should fill it. I have decided to cut down my laying flock to between 15-18 but add a few Bantams. Right now I have 28 lf pullets and hens and 3 Bantams

so 31! It won't happen overnight but I am sort of looking forward to downsizing and having a closer relationship with my birds.

 

[Teila]

TG tee hee Scorecard: Beakface 1 / TG 0

I love the farmyard mixes also; lots of patterns, colours and surprises!

Downsizing will be hard but I totally understand your plan; I too believe that if you have too many chookies it is hard to have a close relationship with them all. I am secretly pleased I am limited to 6 or I just would not stop and would probably lose and miss that closeness.

While I technically mucked up the dates and the eggs are not due to hatch until Thursday … this morning we have a ‘wobbler’ and a PIP!!!

I am so happy for Blondie .. fingers crossed; nearly there

My challenge for today, try and concentrate on work; yeah, like that is going to happen! lol

 

[lizgarf]

Hi folks!
No worries on the miss-count, Teila! I know you're normally so painstaking about these things! They will hatch when they're ready!
Ooooh! Just saw your new post! Congrats on the pip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TG, your post cracked me up. One paragraph about caving and giving Beakface some eggs, and then the next solemnly stating your intentions to reduce your flock! You're a social studies teacher, not a math teacher, right? I'm looking forward to more bubby pics in any case!

News here is that I can't seem to shake a mild bug that's been bugging me off and on since last week. Not bad enough to knock me out, thank goodness, but making me more lazy than usual. The timing is unfortunate, since work is starting to pile up, but when is it ever a good time for a bug?
Grace may be starting to wean herself from the babies a bit. Just now she was digging a hole and calling them over, and then proceeding to peck them on the head. Mainly she was pecking the brahmarans, who are bigger than she is now. I guess that's normal at about 7 weeks - not every broody is like Frida or Rousseau (or like Grace, thank goodness!).
Bettina seems to be slowing her laying, though Jan is continuing to lay a sage egg 1-3 days in a row. Marsha may be more broody than molting - she is usually hanging with the Rousseau clan, and I even saw her give away cheese this morning! She makes broody sounds too. Not a bad way to do it - no egg-sitting and all the fun (but not all the cheese).

@MistyMountain , I planted a paw paw seedling yesterday! I hope it takes. Apparently, they make beautiful blossoms in addition to the fruit, but I'll probably need a second in order to get fruit. My favorite annual plant sale was this weekend (the horticultural department at Merritt College), and I was very restrained this time, but I still spent most of yesterday planting. Had to get them in before a little rain is supposed to come this week!

Here are some pics from the quiet weekend with the birds:

Doesn't this look like those group shots where you have one serious and one goofy shot?:



Team Rousseau
:
. . . and Aunt Marsha:


And a felfie!

 

[tommysgirl]

TG tee hee Scorecard: Beakface 1 / TG 0

I love the farmyard mixes also; lots of patterns, colours and surprises!

Downsizing will be hard but I totally understand your plan; I too believe that if you have too many chookies it is hard to have a close relationship with them all. I am secretly pleased I am limited to 6 or I just would not stop and would probably lose and miss that closeness.

While I technically mucked up the dates and the eggs are not due to hatch until Thursday … this morning we have a ‘wobbler’ and a PIP!!!

I am so happy for Blondie .. fingers crossed; nearly there

My challenge for today, try and concentrate on work; yeah, like that is going to happen! lol

I knew you were pulling for Beakface!!

on the wobbler and the pip!!! Same egg? Gooooo babies go!

I knew you would get the downsizing thing and between you and me I also don't want to become one of those people who get so into chicken collecting etc that they loose sight of what else is good in their life not to mention why they started keeping birds in the first place. I

Good luck concentrating! hehehehehe

 

[MistyMountain]

Hey hey hey! Remember me? Not so sure I can keep up with everyone individually… we've been super busy wrapping up soccer (only for basketball to start today) and a family reunion in the north Georgia mountains this past weekend. It is definitely fall here now and the wood stove has a rolling fire going on right now. Looking forward to kicking back and watching The Voice down there with the DH. 

Love all the pics everyone. Especially love the felfies! I will try to take one soon, but will leave you with a random silly pic from our vacation this summer until then. We like silly pictures.

Excited for Miss Blondie, Teila!

Also excited about your paw paw, Liz! We got our two pear trees planted in the open spaces in the orchard last week (later than planned, but they are in the ground and happy). We have a plan to cut down 4 of the peach trees to replace them with new ones. There are 7 of them, all of which are terribly bug damaged and produce very little. This way we will have 4 maturing and will not be without a few peaches from the remaining 3. Once those 4 get established we will cut down the other 3 and replant. So many plans… we are kinda dreamers. We also want to plant some figs along with the paw paws.

Not much to report here, except Wendy the Wellie is definitely laying. Beautiful dark eggs. I will get a few pics later on. I went out to lock up the chickens last night after we got home from GA to find that all but one of the youngsters have decided to roost up in the pine with naughty Maude and Wendy. So much empty roost space between the two coops. That really has me thinking that maybe these youngsters need to find new homes. I am having the same kind of thoughts that you are, TG. I might hold on to them until they start laying, but winter especially is going to pose a bit of a problem if they try to stay up in the tree.

During head count I also noticed that Curly the white leghorn had blood all over the back of her neck. I went into freak out mode, checking every single chicken for injuries. It looked worse than it really was. After taking her into the house and giving her head a bath, she had merely knicked the back of her comb. Whew. I was afraid a hawk had attacked.

You know, of all of my chickens… Chica the NH and both white leghorns are by far the most friendly. I can pick any one of them up at any time. Weird for a flighty leghorn, right? I carried her up the hill and she stood in my laundry room while I got all my first aid supplies out and ready.

I better run. Supper is not going to cook itself. I leave you with a crazy pic of the boys and me!