NY chicken lover!!!!

[ChickPrincess]

So I was wondering is it weird that my son rubs the backs of the birds at night when he checks on them? He says they calm down and fall asleep easily??

Awww... do you do this to him at bedtime? No, it's not weird.

 

[County Boy]

I'm so sorry! Have any others showed up? How's the one doing that you were able to revive?

That ones is doing great but the others are still nowhere to be found.

 

[miquwid]

PhArm your silkies are beautiful! Your rir are looking good. Gladys is posing for the camera it seems, she is so proud.

Lynzi how is the quest for eggs going?

Ke I'm glad your wife is doing good.

My son rubs their backs at bedtime he handles them very well our psycho silkie even warmed up to him she will even sit in his lap for a minute. He taught our young brabanter how to roost at night. He's generally good at handling the girls. Our biggest decided she was going to perch on his shoulder he immediately removed her so there would be an accidental scratch. Our 5month old girls we raised since they were 2 days old. When we went to get silkies back in march we saw the BE in their pen cuz she was being picked on by the bigger birds so she decided do live with the silkies so we took and immediately relaxed in my sons arms as we were getting the box ready.

 

[rancher hicks]

Ke I hope the wife is doing good!

Country boy I'm sorry sweetie.

TOB that's awesome your girl is laying so well!

So I was wondering is it weird that my son rubs the backs of the birds at night when he checks on them? He says they calm down and fall asleep easily??

I do that too. I figure it helps them to get used to me if I pet them a bit. They're less skiddish when I'm in the yard. My two black orps roos don't run when I go to pick them up. They're closest to the door so they get the most pets.

 

[Lynzi777]

Lynzi how is the quest for eggs going?

One hen is back to laying, I got another egg today. So that 2 from the big girls and 1 silkie egg that I'm going to try hatching. I don't know who it is thats laying yet, haven't caught anyone in the nest box yet. But tomorrow I'm going to listen closely for the "chicken song" and run out there to hopefully catch her in the act so I least know if these chicks will be pure orpington or BR x Orp. If I had to guess I would say these are Stella's eggs. But theres just no way of telling.

 

[rancher hicks]

Helen has laid 7 eggs in 7 days. I hope her sister starts laying for you soon, too, Rancher.

The CRs and the Delaware are starting to get more red in their combs, too. We'll see when they start to lay, but the rocks looked very curious when Helen got into the nest box this week.

TOB

I did find a skin egg in the run last night, so I think it might be Helens sister. She certainly is red enough. The entire flock is still on starter/grower. I'm trying to decide how to proceed with 9 + young ones running around in the mix. I've been pulling the EE out of the nest box each day. Darn thing is broody AGAIN! It's very frustrating.

CR's take a while to mature so she might be a little later than the rest.

I do have some Birchen marans roos if anyone is interested. Remember a cross to an Amer or EE should give make olive egger. Right? I'm also considering giving up the Lav Amer roo for another Amer roo of any color.

 

[Glasshen]

Ke, great news about your wife, full ROM in a week!

Went to Debbie's taking two of the three remaining "babies". Wanted to get some pullets since my numbers were down. She said that the BO was probably a pullet, so I brought her back home, left the SS roo, and got a BO, a SS, and a partridge rock, pullets all. Feeling better about the numbers now, and her birds are beautiful. Debbie was appreciative of my young roo, and he was looking very handsome when I left. She has a lot of nice birds, and I think he may meet some nice young pullets.

When we got back I created chaos in the pen, moving a small coop to a new location for the new three to stay in for a while. Yesterday I got 4 eggs, this morning there were 3 before I started my upheaval. Probably won't get any more for a week.

It does feel better to have one rooster and fifteen females than when I thought I had three Roos and eleven females. Perhaps their feathers will last better too.

Now to keep everyone safe.

 

[Breella]

Coincidence or bonding? I thought that hen laid eggs roughly every 26 hours? For the last three days Frenhie has laid her egg right in front of me, allowing me to pet her before, during and after she has completed the task. It has also been around 10 am each day. That is when I check I them before going to work.

Also, Pearl laid another soft egg last night while roosting. I have seen her eat, I have seen her eat calcium too. Any suggestions? I was thinking of letting her hatch out some chicks since every one of the other laying girls are laying fertile eggs. Kind of hoping that it might break her broodyish funk.

 

[Metella]

Rancher .... I've got a young EE roo - a deep and lovely red brown/ Mahogany color with a very small pea comb .... little ruffle around face, but not much.

Thought he was a she .... but alas no ... and I have that special roo from my pet hen who died and the SS Roo .... so .... well .... and I only have 2 EE hens, one of which is related to Mahogany, so if I were to want some EE chicks next year, I would need a different EE roo .... Well - you see me dancing around - but you can have Mahogany for free .... and if your lavender is mellow - perhaps he can make a place in the flock and I can isolate him when breeding time comes.

Wow - I rambled, I think I need dinner.

Country Boy ... Sorry about the lost chicks - do you have any theories? Were they free ranging at the time or in a net or small area ?

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

County boy---I am hoping that maybe momma has the babies hidden away some where safe. Or that they hid themselves away somewhere safe and that you find them soon.

Rancher--sounds like you have a deal for a roo swap from metalla!

Lynzi--good luck with the eggs!

Everyone was out the whole afternoon and evening freeranging. Of course whenever any door on the house opens they all come running, expecting treats. Spoiled rotten raptors. My neighbor came over with her little guy and visited. He loves watching the chickens, especially when they are over in their yard. Roger is really trying to crow now and sounds hilarious, especially when Little Man answers him. He (Roger) seems a little more respectful now. I still walked at him and shooed him away while I was out feeding and watering the coops. He came in the coop while I was feeding one of the rir girls from my hand and instead of his usual rough grab (usually getting my flesh), he was very gentle and only ate a little. Bill wont come near me at all. Its weird because he was the one who used to sit on my lap and let me pet him for a long time. My red sexlinks have become much more aggresive now that there is no roo in the coop to keep law and order. I had to use the broom to shoo them away from the divas and their coop while I was giving them some goodies. I have taken to shooing them out of my way as I am walking. Things should get interesting when I move the tater tots into that coop come this fall. The two boys will be busy sorting things out.

It was a delightful day off. Not looking forward to work tomorrow. Unless I hit the lottery, there will be work!