Michigan

[Ferrret]

Well Curly wasn't giving us eggs again all week, thought nothing of it. That is until we found her clutch of six eggs.

First it was the garden, this time it was in the hole where the pool once was. We haven't had the time to get it filled in, and there was a bunch of brush that kept them out that we later moved and burned. She hid among the weeds and made a nest full of eggs down there, stupid chicken.
She was none too happy after I collected them, squawking up a storm, running to the edge of the hole and back to me. We fenced off the sloping entrance to the hole, much to her displeasure, and today we got a green egg in the coop.
Hopefully she will now keep laying in the coop. I've placed wooden eggs in the nest box again to encourage them to lay up there, only one silkie does currently.

 

[Opa]

Hope's oldest granddaughter came in to get me and tell me that the newest chick was missing. Sure enough it was no where to be found. It was the lone surviving chick from my hatching disaster. On the 24th day and only one egg had pipped and then quit, and nothing else appeared to be happening I unplugged the incubator. Five or six hours later as I was opening eggs to try a fiqure out what happened I discovered 3 live chicks. Only the one made it til morning. It was now three weeks old and I had it in a pen with a broody Wyandotte. Since I have two other Welsummer cockerels that are 4 weeks old it's now the end of the world. The aggravating thing is not knowing exactly what happened to it.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Hawk???

So sorry Opa...that is too bad.

 

[Opa]

Linda, I think you are probably right. I'm leaning towards the chick having become a meal for a Cooper's hawk.

 

[babigyrl22]

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[Stacykins]

I just ordered some gooseberry bushes and mulberry trees to come this fall to plant. Trees are rather sparse on the property, so mulberries are fast growing and I LOVE the fruit. If I can get it before the birds do I will be in heaven. I have never grown gooseberries before, but there are some evil decorative shrubberies that are all thorn and not anything nice like flowers. So the gooseberries will replace it.

 

[Chickmate]

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I'm sorry too, Opa. Especially since it was the only survivor. How are the two pullets I gave you at Chickenstock doing? I hope the ISA gives you as big eggs as my little Scarlett is giving me! Today I noticed that Penny, the little ISA survivor of the fox attack has suddenly overnight gotten a very red comb and wattles. She's becoming a woman!
Woo Hoo! I went grocery shopping yesteday and for the first time in 20 years I didn't buy eggs!!!

 

[eeyore75]

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How did you get them out safely? I have eggs that are on day 24 right now........... The rest hatched out by day 22. I'm thinking they died- but.......... I did a quick candle on a couple yesterday and could make out feathers, legs..... and light veins in the membrane still......

 

[RaZ]

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I hope you ordered the red mulberry (Morus rubra). It is native to Michigan. The white mulberry (Morus alba) was introduced from China and is considered invasive.
The red has darker and sweeter fruit. I have one in my yard and I love it. Lots of fruit this year.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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Thanks

Sorry to hear about the Lav Orp but I did find out that he might not be a he after all. Apparently they are very hard to sex and that they can look boyish for a long time but actually be a girl. I do hope "he" will be ok. Do you have any vitamins to give him? Could it be the heat?
Also, did you only get two babies out of the hatch?
My hens have cut back on their laying also, maybe due to heat or they are hiding their eggs. I have been letting them free range all day due to the heat. I figure it is easier for them to cool off that way.

Opa, sorry about the hatch and the loss of the little one.