MJ's little flock

[Shadrach]

BH are doing great. I have a challenge with the RIWs... My show quality rooster died, and ALL of the chicks I hatched are pullets. I need to find a couple good quality cockerels or give up on that breed.

ETA: how are you this morning?

That's plain bad luck. What did your rooster die of?

 

[Shadrach]

All pullets?? I never heard of that til now. Some would call it very lucky, but I can see your point.

All good here, it's six weeks to the day since the pullets arrived.

The chickens are 5 together more often than they're 3 and 2. It's only when treats are offered they split into factions. So I think the integration is all done now. Next time (in 2023) I'll bring in 3 pullets to share the pecking and I'll remember the benefits of lots and lots of space to outrun the old girls.

We're waiting for Ivy's first egg. If the fodder store people were accurate, she was 13-14 weeks old when she first came here, so she'd be 19-20 weeks now. But that's a big if. Instead, I'll just say she's still growing and she doesn't have a red face yet, it's pink. On the other hand, she likes looking around the nest box. So, I guess she'll lay her first egg within a couple of weeks.

When she stands up tall, she's taller than Mary the Australorp, but she mostly crouches down like a youngster.

Peggy is still laying almost every day. Mary's moulting and not laying at all. Sandy doesn't lay anymore but she's doing well and putting weight on. Janet lays every other day, as she always does.

Do you weigh Sandy on a regular basis MJ?

 

[MaryJanet]

Do you weigh Sandy on a regular basis MJ?

No, I feel her breast bone. So I know she's bigger, but I don't know her actual weight. I don't even have a scale.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

That's plain bad luck. What did your rooster die of?

Shad, I don't know. One day he was happy and healthy and the next dead. I checked all the birds in that house, no parasites, no other signs of issues and he was not a light weight. In hind sight, I should have done an exam, but wasn't up to it at the time.

MJ you've done a great job with integration. Soon I need to try and replicate what you've done.

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone

 

[Shadrach]

No, I feel her breast bone. So I know she's bigger, but I don't know her actual weight. I don't even have a scale.

When I do that feel breast bone and compare to chart the hens here always seem underweight.

 

[Shadrach]

Good evening folks


Shad, I don't know. One day he was happy and healthy and the next dead. I checked all the birds in that house, no parasites, no other signs of issues and he was not a light weight. In hind sight, I should have done an exam, but wasn't up to it at the time.

MJ you've done a great job with integration. Soon I need to try and replicate what you've done.

A heart attack maybe. Very sad and in your case, if you just had the one breeding rooster doubly so.
Harold here died of a heart attack. I found him dead on the floor when I opened up in the morning. Not a good day. The strange thing was, he died with his hackles flared.
Apart from being extremely fond of him, he was the best rooster for the hens and tribe I've had here. That didn't make him the best for humans, but he did eventually decide I wasn't that bad.

 

[Ribh]

How about you? Renos goung ok?

Renos on hold. The lads are crabbing. My house is a shemozzle & I am practicing patience.

 

[MaryJanet]

When I do that feel breast bone and compare to chart the hens here always seem underweight.

I think the chart is for chickens who don't free range in the same way your's do. I think your husbandry is an outlier.

 

[MaryJanet]

Renos on hold. The lads are crabbing. My house is a shemozzle & I am practicing patience.

Oh boy, deep breaths. Hope your skin feels ok today.