I Built A Bridge!

[tommysgirl]

Oh and I am terribly chatty today Mostly about myself

but I knew you guys would appreciate this. Last spring I rehomed 3 girls. They were still laying but had slowed down and a colleague's parents wanted some chickens regardless of their laying so I gave them to them. I talked with that colleague today, we truly haven't seen each other to talk to all school year, anyway not only are the girls happily roaming about freely all day they are still laying so everyone is happy! New family. me and most importantly, those girls!!!

@lizgarf I spanked Norma last night. I am trying to get this years pullets off of and out of the nest boxes and onto the roosts and she kept pecking everyone who came close including her own chick...who is 14 weeks old or something now but still. Anyway I gave her a blip

and for a while anyway it seems to have worked. I thought of you and knew you would appreciate it. Of course then I felt bad. Poor girl has been on the bottom of the PO for ever and finally can lord her experience over someone and I ruin it. She did not know what to make of it for sure.

 

[Teila]

Good morning Bridge Club

Liz, sorry I am not going to be much help on the chick start weakening the egg shells. My chicks are not integrated until they can have big-chicken food, therefore I can keep up the FF grain for the big gals.

Will you be keeping all of the pullets?

MM on the predator front, out of town they have problems with foxes, hawks and snakes but in the burbs, we only really need to worry about Crows (with chicks) stray dogs and cats.

Your chickens are beautiful, if not pouty!

IC congratulations on a successful unbroody Pallina mission

Wow TG that is one big rooster! It is nice to get news on the chickens we rehome and always nice to have a happy ending!

When Blondie and Tommy were about 5 weeks old, I let them and Cilla out with everyone else for the afternoon free range but they still slept separated and were separated during the day. No dramas, no one caused any problems and stayed well away from Cilla and Co.

So, yesterday afternoon, as everyone has been able to see each other through the wire since Tina went into lockdown and there has been lots of talking through the wire etc, I decided to let Tina, Spot and Gloria out of their temporary run to join in the free range.

Bad idea! Dusty attacked Tina; Tina ended up in the fish pond in a panic run; Spot and Gloria were running around peeping their little heads off and couldn’t find mum!

Joel and I rustled Tina and the beans back into their run and then locked Dusty and Cilla away; leaving LuLu out. Let Tina and the beans back out and LuLu was OK, a bit bossy with Tina but not too bad and OK with the beans.

This is not going to be easy!! Tina was never top of the pecking order and I now have no idea how I am going to integrate her back in. After that little disaster I am going to think on it some more and leave it until the weekend. Might try the old food distraction trick; Joel feeding Dusty, Cilla and LuLu mealies and me feeding Tina and the beans mealies close by.

Either that, or wait until I know who I might be keeping. If both are roosters, then I only have to integrate Tina.

Also, to top off my not so much fun afternoon, my neighbour had to have Ziggy put down because the cancer was causing him not to eat and his back legs were getting wobbly .. putting a big cross through yesterday and forgetting it ever happened!

 

[tommysgirl]

Good morning Bridge Club

Wow TG that is one big rooster! It is nice to get news on the chickens we rehome and always nice to have a happy ending!

When Blondie and Tommy were about 5 weeks old, I let them and Cilla out with everyone else for the afternoon free range but they still slept separated and were separated during the day. No dramas, no one caused any problems and stayed well away from Cilla and Co.

So, yesterday afternoon, as everyone has been able to see each other through the wire since Tina went into lockdown and there has been lots of talking through the wire etc, I decided to let Tina, Spot and Gloria out of their temporary run to join in the free range.

Bad idea! Dusty attacked Tina; Tina ended up in the fish pond in a panic run; Spot and Gloria were running around peeping their little heads off and couldn’t find mum!

Joel and I rustled Tina and the beans back into their run and then locked Dusty and Cilla away; leaving LuLu out. Let Tina and the beans back out and LuLu was OK, a bit bossy with Tina but not too bad and OK with the beans.

This is not going to be easy!! Tina was never top of the pecking order and I now have no idea how I am going to integrate her back in. After that little disaster I am going to think on it some more and leave it until the weekend. Might try the old food distraction trick; Joel feeding Dusty, Cilla and LuLu mealies and me feeding Tina and the beans mealies close by.

Either that, or wait until I know who I might be keeping. If both are roosters, then I only have to integrate Tina.

Also, to top off my not so much fun afternoon, my neighbour had to have Ziggy put down because the cancer was causing him not to eat and his back legs were getting wobbly .. putting a big cross through yesterday and forgetting it ever happened!

That Rooster's name is Moby

He is why I first named Maggie, Magnus.

I was so happy to hear that Della, Vivian and Boom Boom were thriving. Their new people added chicks so they have a larger flock and if I know Della, she is the queen of them all.

I am so sorry that you had integration drama. I don't have any real advice other than telling you that the co/treating sounds like a good idea. When I first put younguns in with the big girls I throw scratch and BOSS all around and create a tastey diversion so there was something more entertaining going on than being a bully. Sounds similar to your plan. Good luck!

So sorry about Ziggy. Cancer is awful!

 

[16 paws]

Hey Bridge Club I need a favor

Asking for positive thoughts and prayers for my daughter, Erin, who is hoping for a face to face interview with Canine Companions for Independence. They are a non-profit that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities. She would love nothing more than to become an apprentice trainer with them and had a phone interview yesterday. She worked as a dog walker thought college graduated in 2013, spent July-May in New Jersey working in an eventing barn as a barn manager and has come to the conclusion that being a dog trainer would be her dream job. CCC appears to be a solid company offering decent pay, benefits, advancement ops etc. I know she would be perfect in the position but unfortunately they have a policy against mommies of applicants making any hiring decisions.

Ohhh and of my three kids she is my go to chicken helper and is responsible for the fact that the 4 chicks from the 3 mama team all act like puppies instead of wild things when I go out there. She spends time daily hand feeding and talking to them

Thanks peeps!

My prayers are with Erin, what a great job. She sounds like she loves animals. Hope to hear good news soon!
Marie

 

[lizgarf]

Oh fabulous, now I'm the one y'all think of when a chicken needs a spanking! Too funny, TG! For the record, I haven't spanked anyone since that one time, but Grace probably warranted it again today. She jumped out of the coop just when I was trying to get Lucy back in it, and then spent the next hour hopping around trying to get the chicks to leave the (closed) coop and join her outside until she finally realized that they were going to sleep on the roost without her and let me let her back inside. If anything, that spanking may have taught her to not let me catch her when she knows she's being naughty!

Sorry to hear about the integration woes, Teila. You know I know how hard that process is! I know it feels like it'll never get better, but it does. Keep up the supervised trials in the yard and bring on the treats and I'm sure eventually they'll all be buddies and sad to see the little ones go. Or maybe they won't notice, which will be just as good, right?

Thanks for the suggestions on cracked eggs, everyone. After some research, and after finding this website: http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf, I think it's probably not a calcium deficiency and may be due to the maturity of my ladies. There was a spider-web crack on Bettina's egg, which was lying next to her in the nest, and I doubt anyone got past her to do anything to the egg. She is probably due for her molt, and neither she nor Jan are spring chickens, so the shells may be suffering a bit. And, both of them sometimes have eggs with white or brown spots, and the chart says that is due to excess calcium, so I doubt calcium is the issue at the moment.

Work is busy, so I'm keeping it short for now. But, I did have the pleasure of Cindy (Rousseau's baby) jump up on my arm to eat yogurt from my hand! She's the only one who will readily jump on me, but I'll take it! Maybe the others will catch on eventually. As long as they're not as skittish as Lucy, I'll be happy!

 

[ItalyChickie]

That's a full sized chair he is standing next too. My two are the daughters of one or both of the two boys pictured.

Whoa!!! That is one HUGE rooster! I love the shape!

When Blondie and Tommy were about 5 weeks old, I let them and Cilla out with everyone else for the afternoon free range but they still slept separated and were separated during the day. No dramas, no one caused any problems and stayed well away from Cilla and Co.

So, yesterday afternoon, as everyone has been able to see each other through the wire since Tina went into lockdown and there has been lots of talking through the wire etc, I decided to let Tina, Spot and Gloria out of their temporary run to join in the free range.

Bad idea! Dusty attacked Tina; Tina ended up in the fish pond in a panic run; Spot and Gloria were running around peeping their little heads off and couldn’t find mum!

Joel and I rustled Tina and the beans back into their run and then locked Dusty and Cilla away; leaving LuLu out. Let Tina and the beans back out and LuLu was OK, a bit bossy with Tina but not too bad and OK with the beans.

This is not going to be easy!! Tina was never top of the pecking order and I now have no idea how I am going to integrate her back in. After that little disaster I am going to think on it some more and leave it until the weekend. Might try the old food distraction trick; Joel feeding Dusty, Cilla and LuLu mealies and me feeding Tina and the beans mealies close by.

Either that, or wait until I know who I might be keeping. If both are roosters, then I only have to integrate Tina.

Also, to top off my not so much fun afternoon, my neighbour had to have Ziggy put down because the cancer was causing him not to eat and his back legs were getting wobbly .. putting a big cross through yesterday and forgetting it ever happened!

So sorry to hear about Ziggy!

And about the integration issues, though I am sure those will be resolved with time - and also, I think time is a big factor in this situation... I had similar issues with Pallina, except SHE was the one attacking everyone who came near, and then escaping of course, since she is half the size of everyone else and at the bottom of the pecking order. I really don't know what she was thinking...

What I did with her is a bit different, as I had 2 broodies in the kindergarten area at the time, one of which was out free ranging pretty much since day 1... so I was basically leaving the entrance open, though Pallina would stay in there anyway.

I didn't open the door until late morning, which meant the adult flock was not nearby. Some would come back to that area, but since that usually meant they either needed to lay, or wanted to eat, they didn't waste time on Pallina (at least in most cases). Pallina would attack those that got too close (and then run when she saw she couldn't win), but she was always close to what she considered "home" and others generally didn't follow her inside the small space. It took about 3 weeks until she started venturing out and calmed down enough not to attack everyone.

And yes, treats in all directions to distract them was always effective.

Besides the whole patiently watching and intervening if really necessary thing, and the treats, I think what worked for me is that the initial encounters were on Pallina's terms and territory - if that makes sense.

In other words, if I had to try it with your setup, I'd let Tina and the beans out first, let them figure out the hiding places, wait until the excitement has settled down, they have explored a bit and settled on a spot that possibly isn't the favorite spot for others (even better if the way "home" from this spot is clear) - and let the others see them through the fence as they wait, if possible. Then let the others out and distract them with treats in a different spot from where Tina is, and watch what happens. I'm sure if Tina feels threatened, she'll try to make her way home. Or if that isn't the case, maybe let them free range by themselves a couple of times before trying to let the others out. I think one of the factors here is her teaching the jelly beans to follow her to safety - which wasn't needed until now. Or at least that's what I gather from observing mine... who knows what they're really thinking! Might be worth a try though - good luck!

Oh fabulous, now I'm the one y'all think of when a chicken needs a spanking! Too funny, TG! For the record, I haven't spanked anyone since that one time, but Grace probably warranted it again today. She jumped out of the coop just when I was trying to get Lucy back in it, and then spent the next hour hopping around trying to get the chicks to leave the (closed) coop and join her outside until she finally realized that they were going to sleep on the roost without her and let me let her back inside. If anything, that spanking may have taught her to not let me catch her when she knows she's being naughty!

Sorry to hear about the integration woes, Teila. You know I know how hard that process is! I know it feels like it'll never get better, but it does. Keep up the supervised trials in the yard and bring on the treats and I'm sure eventually they'll all be buddies and sad to see the little ones go. Or maybe they won't notice, which will be just as good, right?

Thanks for the suggestions on cracked eggs, everyone. After some research, and after finding this website: http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf, I think it's probably not a calcium deficiency and may be due to the maturity of my ladies. There was a spider-web crack on Bettina's egg, which was lying next to her in the nest, and I doubt anyone got past her to do anything to the egg. She is probably due for her molt, and neither she nor Jan are spring chickens, so the shells may be suffering a bit. And, both of them sometimes have eggs with white or brown spots, and the chart says that is due to excess calcium, so I doubt calcium is the issue at the moment.

Work is busy, so I'm keeping it short for now. But, I did have the pleasure of Cindy (Rousseau's baby) jump up on my arm to eat yogurt from my hand! She's the only one who will readily jump on me, but I'll take it! Maybe the others will catch on eventually. As long as they're not as skittish as Lucy, I'll be happy!

Thanks for that link on egg shells - it's very possible that is my case as well, since it's only that one red star, and she is also no spring chicken (no idea how old she is, was given to us by a friend when we first got chickens, so older than everyone else here).

Just for the record, I maaaay have spanked a chicken or two as well - again, a red star, who thought that picking up a baby chick in her beak was a good idea. The other case was my Brahma roo that ended up being rehomed, when he was so desperate for a female that he started harassing then-teenage Bonnie and ended up with a bunch of feathers AND a big chunk of her skin in his beak. I was so mad, I went ballistic on him. Not proud of that moment, but poor Bonnie! Thankfully, she healed without any issues.

Anyway, just thought I'd mention it in case it makes you feel any better.

Back to work for me as well!

 

[Teila]

Howdy Bridge Club

Liz, I had a good chuckle as your description of Grace trying to lead the bubs astray; probably not funny from your point of view though

Thank you all for your advice regarding Tina and the beans integration/reintergration.

I have decided to leave it until the weekend when I have more time, but have been letting Tina and the beans have some free range time alone so that they are getting a feel for those hidey spots.

Still too early to make a definite call but I still have my concerns about Gloria and Spot being boys; not liking the combs on either of them but I will leave it a bit longer before hitting the panic button! Gloria’s stance nearly always sways towards me thinking rooster but with Spot, one minute rooster, the next pullet .. we shall see

I do have some news! Are you sitting down? Tina laid any egg! The beans are not even 5 week’s old yet and she is still mothering them!

Has anyone else had a hen start laying while her chicks are still so young?

Edited to add: and, knowing my luck, 10 eggs and she will be broody again

 

[lizgarf]

Haha, Teila!! That's amazing! Go Tina! Maybe she's checking out the combs too and thinking she'd better get back at it!

Ah, those suspicions! I can't see anything suspicious in the pics you posted before, but I don't usually trust pictures anyhow. You're the one doing the observing, and for your sake, I hope you're wrong!

At this point, I'm still trying to figure out my breakdown, but I'm pretty well-convinced that Frankie is a boy and mostly convinced that Lu is. My biggest question mark is Norma. There are some good signs that she is a pullet compared to Brian, but not nearly enough signs to make me comfortable. She is a little more aggressive than the other pullets, which also worries me. The best sign, other than the fact that Brian's comb is a little bigger/redder and he's still a little bigger over all (though not nearly enough on both counts), is that Norma's brahma-like neck feathers are coming out in a rounder pattern than Brian's, and they started coming out sooner. Also, her butt/hip/pantaloon area is still fluffier, more like Bettina's in shape.
This is from a couple days ago (Diego is between them):



There was quite a lot of male sparing today - nothing too bad, but I can see things going downhill pretty quickly in the next few weeks. On the other hand, the boys are starting to get their grown-up colors, and I can't resist watching them grow! Diego, in particular, is going to be an amazing roo! He just started getting some copper bits in his neck area, and he's as sweet as can be - even jumped up on my lap today, like his sister, Cindy! I knew Rousseau's babies would be awesome - even without a frizzle!

I'm really getting nervous about rehoming!! Finding 4-6 good homes is going to be tough!

Frankie & Lu (Can you believe Frankie was an all-black chick?? Now he looks like Marsha's lovechild, but I'm still pretty sure he's Frida's):


Cindy jumping on my arm and then accepting a cuddle (that's Alice next to her):



And, the still-reigning beauty-queen, Madeline:

 

[MistyMountain]

Thank you all for your positive job thoughts for Erin and your sympathies for Magic. He had a really good day yesterday. Even had a bit of a skip in his step at one point b/c we started giving him Meloxicam (sp) for his stiffness.

@MistyMountain I raised a Guide Dog Puppy as a 4-Her. She flunked out because she had seizures but scored at the top of the class at the field day right before they took her in for training. We took her back and she was the sweetest girl. Erin applied with them too but hasn't heard back. So nice that your MIL was matched with a dog. They change lives and to watch them work is amazing...makes me cry. Did she loose her vision as an adult?

CCI has 4 areas of training: hearing dogs, therapy type dogs that go to hospitals and residential homes and schools for disabled and severely ill, Assistance dogs for those who live independently and assistance dogs for those who have a parent/care giver. Erin has been an animal whisperer her entire life. Outside the company of her twin sister and the rest of her family she grew up preferring them to humans. A job like this seems like it would be ideal in that she would bring a lot to the table but also for what working with other similarly minded people and people with challenges would do for her as a person. Other than the first 9 or so months when her major responsibility would be cleaning kennels and washing dogs which she would happily do...she would be living her dream.

Long story on my MIL, she was actually a preemie, and the first baby they put in the little isolette at Duke. She was either 24 or 26 weeks when she was born. She has had vision problems all throughout her life, but it has gotten worse over time. She is 100% blind in one eye and her other eye she is almost so. I don't know exactly where it is at now, but when I met her 11 years ago she told me she can see about a 1" square box and is 20/300 in box. I want to set up a time for her to bring her dog to Jake's preschool to teach the kids about her. It is a bit upsetting when adults and children alike will simply approach her while her dog is leading and pet her without asking. It would be nice to educate more people that when the harness is on the dog has a very important job and can not be distracted. In some situations it can be very dangerous for my MIL.

Oh understand the happiness of cleaning kennels and washing dogs… One of my happy places is mucking out horse stalls… Things like that are not chores to me.

Oh and I am terribly chatty today Mostly about myself

but I knew you guys would appreciate this. Last spring I rehomed 3 girls. They were still laying but had slowed down and a colleague's parents wanted some chickens regardless of their laying so I gave them to them. I talked with that colleague today, we truly haven't seen each other to talk to all school year, anyway not only are the girls happily roaming about freely all day they are still laying so everyone is happy! New family. me and most importantly, those girls!!!

@lizgarf I spanked Norma last night. I am trying to get this years pullets off of and out of the nest boxes and onto the roosts and she kept pecking everyone who came close including her own chick...who is 14 weeks old or something now but still. Anyway I gave her a blip

and for a while anyway it seems to have worked. I thought of you and knew you would appreciate it. Of course then I felt bad. Poor girl has been on the bottom of the PO for ever and finally can lord her experience over someone and I ruin it. She did not know what to make of it for sure.

I've been known to spank a chicken or 5 in a row sometimes… Mostly at lockup when I go in the coop to count. If I shine the flashlight on them directly, it seems like one or more of the chickens think they need to bop each other on the head. Sometimes I need to join in and tap the offenders on the shoulder. I sometimes pretend I am playing duck, duck, goose!

Haha, Teila!! That's amazing! Go Tina! Maybe she's checking out the combs too and thinking she'd better get back at it!

Ah, those suspicions! I can't see anything suspicious in the pics you posted before, but I don't usually trust pictures anyhow. You're the one doing the observing, and for your sake, I hope you're wrong!

At this point, I'm still trying to figure out my breakdown, but I'm pretty well-convinced that Frankie is a boy and mostly convinced that Lu is. My biggest question mark is Norma. There are some good signs that she is a pullet compared to Brian, but not nearly enough signs to make me comfortable. She is a little more aggressive than the other pullets, which also worries me. The best sign, other than the fact that Brian's comb is a little bigger/redder and he's still a little bigger over all (though not nearly enough on both counts), is that Norma's brahma-like neck feathers are coming out in a rounder pattern than Brian's, and they started coming out sooner. Also, her butt/hip/pantaloon area is still fluffier, more like Bettina's in shape.
This is from a couple days ago (Diego is between them):



There was quite a lot of male sparing today - nothing too bad, but I can see things going downhill pretty quickly in the next few weeks. On the other hand, the boys are starting to get their grown-up colors, and I can't resist watching them grow! Diego, in particular, is going to be an amazing roo! He just started getting some copper bits in his neck area, and he's as sweet as can be - even jumped up on my lap today, like his sister, Cindy! I knew Rousseau's babies would be awesome - even without a frizzle!

I'm really getting nervous about rehoming!! Finding 4-6 good homes is going to be tough!

Frankie & Lu (Can you believe Frankie was an all-black chick?? Now he looks like Marsha's lovechild, but I'm still pretty sure he's Frida's):


Cindy jumping on my arm and then accepting a cuddle (that's Alice next to her):



And, the still-reigning beauty-queen, Madeline:

They are getting soooo big!! I must agree, Madeline is quite beautiful!! Wishing you the best of luck finding homes for those boys!

No news here. 5 eggs a day. Chica and MJ are losing feathers like crazy. The leghorns and Dar are the main layers from the adult group. They are joined by new layers Maude, Mable, Wendy, and Elsa here and there. Still no real answers on the predator front. We're still on lockdown. I need to check the game cam this afternoon. It has not shown anything yet so I may move it somewhere else. There was a raccoon on the road almost in front of my house this morning but I do not think that is what got my rooster. Enjoy your weekend all!

 

[Teila]

Howdy Bridge Club

Liz I hear ya! This gender determination and rehoming is stressful!

I love the pictures and Cindy looks and sounds like a real sweetie. Bit sad about Frankie probably being a boy. I agree with MM and cannot believe how big they are getting!

MM I so hope you get the predator situation sorted out and everyone gets to free range soon.

I spent some time with the beans during the week. They both have black (or very dark) skin and while Spot is looking very Silkie-like (not pure), Gloria is definitely Frizzle. Spot has a single comb similar to Tina's, Gloria has what looks like a rose comb. Still got no idea if they are boys or girls and they have me scratching my head as to just what they are going to turn out like

Blondie's Chicos (as they are affectionately known) are feathering out but not enough to get a good idea of what they are going to look like either.

Barnyard mixes are fun but also very frustrating!

Yesterday I spent the day trying to integrate Tina back into the flock on free range as she appears to have now officially cut the cord on her 5 week old bubs and was demanding to be let out. I am not integrating the two bubs at this stage as no point putting them through the pecking order trauma so young if not required. I was hoping to integrate them while Tina was still protecting them but she cut the cord sooner than I expected. She laid another egg yesterday.

Anyways, it went sort of OK, but I was exhausted by the end of the day. Spent the majority of the day scalding Cilla or Dusty and have no idea how many times I had to say “play nice”. Even Tina had had enough by 4pm and was asking to go back in the mini-run with the beans! She slept with them last night also. Now to do it all again today .. oh joy! Lol

And, the best bit, I get to do it all again in a few weeks when Blondie cuts the cord and needs integrating back in! And, yet again with one of the chicks I am keeping (if any).

I know it is natural and their way of life but the pecking order sucks!

I am looking forward to just having one happy, contented flock again and for now, sworn off any more hatches!