Illinois...

[Junibutt]

Chicken moms are so different. I had a broody almost kill a chick in a pipped egg 3 days ago. So I decided that she cannot be allowed to be broody any more (although she has remained broody 5 out of the last 8 months). But I still wasn't ready to take care of the newly hatched myself, so today when they were 3 days old, I tried an experiment and gave them to a hen who was already taking care of 2 weeks old chicks. Initially she was torn between the two but then she decided she wanted them and started calling them towards her. Only one chick followed her (the same chick which the other broody almost killed) the rest were scared. So I moved them into a closed section and then let the hen in. She promptly sat down in a corner calling the chicks to get under her. (I kept her original chicks away so that they won't interfere). The chicks were still afraid of her so I placed them one by one under her. It took an hour for them to get used to her but now they are all under her sticking their heads out to get some fresh air. Once they were settled, I gave her the 2 older chicks as well. Now they are a big happy family and I don't have to take care of cleaning and feeding them in a brooder.

Aren't they so much like humans? Some mothers can adopt and treat the kids as equals others won't even tolerate stepchildren.

Getting back to broodies and hens, although I am tired of this excessive broodiness and low egg production by English Orpingtons, I am in love with how they are so easy to handle when they are broody and their ability to mother whatever comes their way. The mauve broody in question not only is a good mother but also keeps herself clean all the item. I have never seen her fluffy butt dirty. Bad comparison, but reminds me of cotton ball (refraining from saying cotton candy). I am in love with her motherness. I sat beside her for almost an hour just watching how she gave up her freedom to move all over again.
It also reminded me of my mother. When I would come back from school and be tired and just lay my head down in her lap and she would massage my head for who knows how long till I fell asleep. Never heard any complaints from her about her leg being tired from putting my weight on ...... Love you Mom! I hope you have a great place in heaven.

 

[megpie021]

I took away the safety fence from Poppy and Ginger. I sat there for an hour and there was a little bit of chasing from Peaches, but no real pecking. I think we may be good to go! They are now 8 (I think) weeks old.

Ginger is a little bit bigger than Poppy, and I think the crest shape is because Ginger is often found with her head resting on things, the food dish, the side of the run, the brick the water sits on. I added in the little red feeders to make sure theres enough for everyone. I am worried a little bit that she is bigger and doesnt have a perfectly dome shaped crest like Poppy. But it doesnt seem to be splitting the way it looks like male crests do. All feathers so far are rounded, and I just got in her face and theres no sign of red. Peaches however:

Tell me she doesnt look ready?? She full on squats even when I just open the back door. Licorice is just as big and red now in the face, and has been seen messing around in the nesting boxes. 18 weeks and counting...

The babies are all a week old now. No problems since the first night with the poop. All have names now.
Runner duck with no eyeliner is Waffles, Eyeliner duck is Muffin, Fawn runner is Cheesecake

Chickens we have Cupcake the EE, Sprinkles the Marans and Spice for the New Hampshire.

They are going to be kicked outta the house and into the garage today or tomorrow. Ducks are starting to run upright, and the chicks have cute little tails and wings now.

 

[jnckids]

@megpie021 they are brahma/silkie, leghorn/silkie, cochin/silkie, turkin/silkie mixes, nothing pure. We will be hatching pure D'Uccles soon though.

 

[jnckids]

@megpie021

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I took away the safety fence from Poppy and Ginger. I sat there for an hour and there was a little bit of chasing from Peaches, but no real pecking. I think we may be good to go! They are now 8 (I think) weeks old. View attachment 1049796
Ginger is a little bit bigger than Poppy, and I think the crest shape is because Ginger is often found with her head resting on things, the food dish, the side of the run, the brick the water sits on. I added in the little red feeders to make sure theres enough for everyone. I am worried a little bit that she is bigger and doesnt have a perfectly dome shaped crest like Poppy. But it doesnt seem to be splitting the way it looks like male crests do. All feathers so far are rounded, and I just got in her face and theres no sign of red. Peaches however:View attachment 1049806
QUOTE]Poppy and Ginger are beautiful!

 

[megpie021]

@jnckids shoot. Well I will just have to try do get pics of cream puff. I go back and forth. Oh D'uccles! I was so sad to have to give mine away.

@ChicagoClucker Thank You! They are my special little girls. I fret over them the most. They are sweet, you can pet them pretty easily. Poppy is still a bit crazy. She was walking on top of olive and meringue rather than go around them. How's my favorite little olroff?

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Your favorite is getting big and beautiful! She/he has me wondering what they are? I am so bad with pea combs and it doesn't help that I have bad eye sight. But the legs look pretty long to me. I have stared at the comb, dumb founded. LOL, any insight would be appreciated. I have also gotten myself into big trouble. I am in love with my black orpington boy, he is just getting more beautiful everyday and he is as sweet as his father was. Now I planned on keeping him, until @Junibutt hatched those choc laced project chicks and blue cuckoo. I think I have 1 of each on the choc laced project chicks and a cuckoo boy, of whom is a favorite. I will only keep 2 roos, 1 of which will be my SL orp. This is going to be soooooo hard. Snapped some pics of the new set up. Everyone is sharing the same run. It is 10 x 25 ft, pine shavings will be easy cleanup on the brick base and I moved the azalea bushes on each end of the raised beds so they have plenty of room for dust bathing. I have found the 3 plants that the chickens won't or can't reach to eat. I will be adding a patio umbrella (as soon as I find a cheap base) to go in the center of the run. It has good shade at each of the ends, but gets to much sun from 11-4 in the center

.

 

[Faraday40]

Does anyone know much about sexing silkies? I was thinking male for a while, but the comb's still pretty small & it doesn't act male. About 9.5 weeks old

It doesn't have the long, back-brushed crest like most male silkies, but it's also not perfectly round like a females. I tried getting a close up of the comb. It's not wide like a males, but in one pic I was able to see a slight bump. Any guesses?

PS- DD got her top braces today.

 

[Faraday40]

It's been a day of ups & downs for DD.
Excited about braces (then pain from braces)
Building Materials arrived for her quail cage project
She finished 2 4-H art projects
Her fav chick (nicknamed "Grumpy") started breathing through its beak/ open mouth. (It's the gold laced orp which is also my fav.) I have not seen it eat today & eyes have been mostly closed. DD helped dip its beak into water with some "sav a chick." The healthy chicks are in the garage with the broody hens, but both gold laced orps are not doing well, so quarantined in the house.
= Grumpy

 

[Faraday40]

@ChicagoClucker
I really like your chicken yard! (and I agree that your black orp looks great.)

How's the gravel working out so far?