North Carolina

[AhyokaAcres]

Great morning so far

I went out to feed all of the "kids", and when I got to the Spitzhauben coop, all but 2 of my babies were dead. That's 11 babies and 80% look like they were killed for fun. I'm going to guess it was a good sized rat.

My poor babies. I definitely don't have the money to buy another bunch of chicks, and I don't know anyone that sells eggs right now. Between the Spitz, the bout of Cocci that took a chunk of my more "unique" chickens, and the bad batch of Japanese from a hatchery (I'd say I have lost around 20 so far), and the 2sweetest chickens in the world that were snatched by a hawk.this as NOT been my summer. Up until now, I only had a handful of losses over the course of an entire year. This summer has been like a massacre.

ETA: I hope everyone else has a FAR better day than me!

 

[TheRookie]

WOW I can't believe how big and beautiful they are!

They are so funny, when they dust bathe, they absolutely must do it as a group. I have a video (trying to upload it to youtube now so I can share) of them, all in a row. I came into their pen and saw them like that and couldn't tell which end was up or who was who. Just one big fuzzy pile. Im trying to decide if I should sell the boy or if I want to keep him to get my BBS pen started... Only one girl has a small fault that I can see, she has double toenails on her last toe on each foot. Ah well. They're super sweet either way

 

[TheRookie]

Great morning so far

I went out to feed all of the "kids", and when I got to the Spitzhauben coop, all but 2 of my babies were dead. That's 11 babies and 80% look like they were killed for fun. I'm going to guess it was a good sized rat.

My poor babies. I definitely don't have the money to buy another bunch of chicks, and I don't know anyone that sells eggs right now. Between the Spitz, the bout of Cocci that took a chunk of my more "unique" chickens, and the bad batch of Japanese from a hatchery (I'd say I have lost around 20 so far), and the 2sweetest chickens in the world that were snatched by a hawk.this as NOT been my summer. Up until now, I only had a handful of losses over the course of an entire year. This summer has been like a massacre.

ETA: I hope everyone else has a FAR better day than me!

So sorry for your losses.

 

[AhyokaAcres]

Quote: Thank you

I'm used to losing the babies that fail to thrive or get sick, which is still hard, but going out and seeing the massacre just broke my heart more than anything.

 

[ramirezframing]

Well great news... I went to fix the pen after feeding the horses and there stood a blue chick. I counted 3 times and all the chicks are there now. I have no idea where it hid, because I was out there for 30 mins and didn't hear or see it, but it's alive and sure is lucky!

 

[ramirezframing]

some updated photos of my boys

 

[AhyokaAcres]

Well great news... I went to fix the pen after feeding the horses and there stood a blue chick. I counted 3 times and all the chicks are there now. I have no idea where it hid, because I was out there for 30 mins and didn't hear or see it, but it's alive and sure is lucky!

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

I think her roo was an orp. That's what shocked me.
NH- maybe a nice fluffy Cochin roo. Or a maybe a brahma roo.

My rooster is a buff orpington. I have mixed feelings about letting him go. He's been sweet today...even risked his life chasing a hawk that was going after some KITTENS!! I really hate this...I can't make a decision and feel good about it.

LOL NO to a cochin or a brahma!! Beth and I tried to pluck one of those and it was TERRIBLE!! I vowed to NEVER have one of those again...LOL I guess I could always learn to skin them!!

Thanks for all of your help everyone!! You all have been really great throughout this whole ordeal!!

RF-

I'm with you on the annoying hawk business but

YAY that you found the little blue one!!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Quote: I think her roo was an orp. That's what shocked me.

NH- maybe a nice fluffy Cochin roo. Or a maybe a brahma roo.

Wow. I'm almost speechless!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

some updated photos of my boys

Lovely! The colors have come in nicely!