MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

My view is whatever happens you've tried to give your hens the chance to sit and hatch and you've found them eggs. I think you've done really well and I'm hoping that you will look back and realise what a wonderful thing you've enabled.
Hens are pretty good at this baby business. Out of the many I had sit and hatch there were comparatively few problems. The first few times I was a bundle of nerves. The next few times I was interested and observant. Eventually I got to the point of wishing hens had a broody off switch.
If you can find the time to sit and listen to the chicks hatching and watch the mum I just know you'll be enchanted.

Thank you so much for these encouraging words Shad.

I'm very touched.

 

[Ribh]

Melissa after my friend who recently died

Krystal after a baby cousin who was never healthy and who died at 3 days.

You may have all boys of course...just sayin'

 

[MaryJanet]

You may have all boys of course...just sayin'

Not for long, sadly.

 

[MaryJanet]

By the way, I had a chat with Dr Mark yesterday about the hatch so he knows the hatch date and is ready to take emergency chick appointments if needs be, so that's a relief!

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you so much for these encouraging words Shad.

I'm very touched.

I don't know how well I can explain this.
There are steps that lead from keeping chickens to having chickens live with you. I will always attempt to have chickens live with me rather than be their keeper.
One of those steps is to let a hen sit and hatch. Any chicks that hatch then become her chicks rather than yours.
The next step is to let a hen sit and hatch her own fertile egg. But this requires a rooster. Some people can't keep roosters so that step can't be taken.
But once it is, you the keeper have to let go a bit more because the hens become his and the chicks become theirs.
Now you have a family which you provide food and shelter for but no longer own.

 

[MaryJanet]

I don't know how well I can explain this.
There are steps that lead from keeping chickens to having chickens live with you. I will always attempt to have chickens live with me rather than be their keeper.
One of those steps is to let a hen sit and hatch. Any chicks that hatch then become her chicks rather than yours.
The next step is to let a hen sit and hatch her own fertile egg. But this requires a rooster. Some people can't keep roosters so that step can't be taken.
But once it is, you the keeper have to let go a bit more because the hens become his and the chicks become theirs.
Now you have a family which you provide food and shelter for but no longer own.

Perfect.

I prefer if they are as chickeny as they wish and I'm honoured to support them in that journey.

That attitude doesn't prevent me from from amusing others through imagining Mary's knock-knock jokes though.

 

[Shadrach]

You may have all boys of course...just sayin'

Ribh!

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks Bob, I will do that. Have to buy marbles first.

Do you think the clean fine grit is a suitable floor covering?

I'm trying to think of a reason why it wouldn't be and the only thing that comes to mind is that I have heard stories of chicks filing up on grit and not having room for feed in their craw. It seems rediculous to me. Any chick that did that had to be living in some awful strange conditions. Consider the ground is dirt and rocks and nearly all chicks could fill up on dirt and rocks if they wanted to. Plus yours will have a mum to keep them from being that stupid.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm trying to think of a reason why it wouldn't be and the only thing that comes to mind is that I have heard stories of chicks filing up on grit and not having room for feed in their craw. It seems rediculous to me. Any chick that did that had to be living in some awful strange conditions. Consider the ground is dirt and rocks and nearly all chicks could fill up on dirt and rocks if they wanted to. Plus yours will have a mum to keep them from being that stupid.

I hope their mums will show them the real food. I might put it in there early for the mums get used to it.

I'm going to be extremely strict about treats: none at all until they are nearly adult sized. I don't want to have to cope with poor digestion.

 

[BY Bob]

I hope their mums will show them the real food. I might put it in there early for the mums get used to it.

I'm going to be extremely strict about treats: none at all until they are nearly adult sized. I don't want to have to cope with poor digestion.

You sound like our neighbor when I was very young, Mrs. Klus. Us kids made it a point to never be playing around their house at snack or lunch time. She was always handing out celery and not Popsicles!