Making Lemonade [Selective Culling Project - very long term]

[U_Stormcrow]

Oh, we are up to four chicks now. No photo at present - momma hen is mad at me for adding food, replacing clan water, and fixing one of her chick's pasty butt.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Another (bigger) possum in one of the traps overnight. No picture.

Instead, I offer this:

Looks like another egg is well pipped - and hopefully doing well inside. Momma Hen doesn't let anyone or anything approach.

Once again, color isn't *quite* right - the cell phone's autocorrect isn't something I can overcome. Yellow bird in green bowl is a tiny bit more yellow, lime green bowl is a tiny bit more green, less lime. Byt yellow bird has no markings I can see, unlike the two at back right, which are fairly described as "cinnamon smear" across the top. and yes, a couple black tips on the wing feathers.

 

[Sally PB]

Is #5 out yet? How are they all doing?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

#5 and #6 (judging from broken shells) both hatched. I found #5 last evening, neck broken, buried among the other eggs. Momma moved the whole nest, I suspect #6 is buried in the wood chips she piled up. #7 is pipped but has been for at least 24 hours w/o apparent progress.

The other four continue to do very well. I expect momma will either abandon nest or push out the six remaining eggs in the coming week.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

New number 5 hatched. Its doing poorly, looks like part of itself was stuck to the shell. HOPEFULLY that dries and falls off - I can't get close enough to get a good look to see if that's inside parts or left over outside parts.

Two hatches back have been pushed out of their grow out pen/tractor and joined the main flock this AM. Some good colors in that batch, though none of exceptional pattern. The good colors are mostly parti/mottled not barred or laced...

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Second Chick #5 did not make it. Those were his/her insides. Looks like a herniated hatching.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

 

[Logar]

222 pages and close to if not more than 4 hours (spread out over a week) later, I can finally say great job on the project so far. The slow but steady progress was really cool to see.

I do have a couple questions though.

1. Are you still having issues with them not laying enough?
2. What is your roo/hen ratio?
3. How many of your original birds do you still have?
4. Are you still planning on ordering new chicks this year or are you going to save that for later?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

222 pages and close to if not more than 4 hours (spread out over a week) later, I can finally say great job on the project so far. The slow but steady progress was really cool to see.

I do have a couple questions though.

1. Are you still having issues with them not laying enough?
2. What is your roo/hen ratio?
3. How many of your original birds do you still have?
4. Are you still planning on ordering new chicks this year or are you going to save that for later?

1] YES. Too many old hens, not enough mature hens total. I need to update my count again. I have 8 birds in the grow out pen, 4 that a broody mama just hatched, and 7 recently integrated into the adult flock - not mature yet
2] I have 3 mature Roos, 8 mature hens (one of whom has been broody this past month)
3] 4? - the SLWs mostly (SLW, of course, not know for prolific laying)
4] Not this year. Invested in a tractor and a couple turkeys this year instead. Discovered three different hidden nests. They can't hide anymore, pasture is too short. (should have adjusted the flailmower sooner, cut lower than intended)

WELCOME to my thread!!!!

 

[Sally PB]

How are the chicks doing?