***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

Got back yesterday from NC and my son's wedding, it went just perfectly.


One of my hens has been sitting on 7 eggs, I decided to just let her hatch them if they hatch. They started hatching the night before we got home (my daughter was here watching everyone) and she ended up hatching out 6 chicks. She's big black Brahma mix and the daddy is a gorgeous Faverolles/Orloff mix. I did take the chicks inside and replaced them with 2 turkey poults. She loves her turkey babies and I was wanting a couple turkeys anyway A Blue Slate and a Bourbon Red (or Bronze).
My Silver Bantam Ameraucana has also been sitting on eggs. I went out and checked this morning and a bunch were pipped and 1 was hatched but she'd scalped him pecking at him. His scalp is peeled back from his eyes to the back of his neck, both eyes are intact though. I don't know if he'll make it but he's sweet and responsive so he gets a shot at it.
I took the other eggs away and put them in my old styrofoam incubator and they're popping like popcorn, 4 hatched so far. I guess she's a new mom and thought that creature under here was trying to steal her eggs.
Jumped right back into hatching and I hadn't even gotten back yet!

Welcome back, glad the wedding and trip were a success.

Your son looks like your husband.

 

[Ksane]

Welcome back, glad the wedding and trip were a success.
Your son looks like your husband.

Amazing, isn't it? Everyone always says that but I didn't meet and marry my husband until 88' when Tony (that son) was 10 yrs old & his sister was 8. Here's one of them together. Tony asked Scott (my husband) to be his Best Man, Scott was so proud. He's been an excellent dad to both my older kids.

 

[ashtree]

Amazing, isn't it? Everyone always says that but I didn't meet and marry my husband until 88' when Tony (that son) was 10 yrs old & his sister was 8. Here's one of them together. Tony asked Scott (my husband) to be his Best Man, Scott was so proud. He's been an excellent dad to both my older kids.

That's a wonderful story! Congrats on the wedding and new babies!

 

[shelbydog]

@ksane what a lovely couple

 

[greenbeetle]

Best not to leave feed out at night. Sounds like you are feeding raccoons.

The hog panels I'm familiar with have wider gaps towards top of fence so that is easy breezy for a coon to get through. And since you are providing an easy meal via chicken feed it doesn't need to put in extra effort trying to break into the coop for a chicken dinner.

X2... Sounds like a raccoon.

Not sure what other folks have said, but I have issues with coons and possums - mostly after the cat food that I tend to leave out at night. No doubt in my mind that they would eat the chicken food if it was out.

Well everyone was right, last night went out side and heard something, shined my spot light on the chicken pens and there where 2 raccoons eating the food. Chased them off, went back out a few minutes later and they where back, did this 4 times, then went to bed. All the food had been eaten. So tonight i put all the feeders inside and locked up the coops. So hopefully they go somewhere else. I might have to get a trap, I am sure if there where 2 (and they where big ones) probably a pair, which means lots of little coons.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Well everyone was right, last night went out side and heard something, shined my spot light on the chicken pens and there where 2 raccoons eating the food.  Chased them off, went back out a few minutes later and they where back, did this 4 times, then went to bed.  All the food had been eaten.  So tonight i put all the feeders inside and locked up the coops.  So hopefully they go somewhere else.  I might have to get a trap, I am sure if there where 2 (and they where big ones) probably a pair, which means lots of little coons.

they are persistent when they find a food source, lock you chooks up faithfully for at least 3 weeks or they will find them.

 

[NanaKat]

Quote: owls dive thru those spaces on hog panels too! We figured that was how the owl got into my pen last month. You are lucky the raccoon has chosen the easy chicken feed over the birds!

Quote: If I had my choice, I would get the Dorkings from a breeder who has had them for several years before I would purchase hatchery birds...especially if the breeder has been breeding to the qualities listed in the Standard of Perfection. Nice Dorkings are really hard to find and much higher quality than hatchery.

Some chick pics of the youngest group from yesterday. (including Rudy)

Kass's Rudy went walking in the yard enjoying the beauty around him..


He noticed the beautiful hens surrounding him in the yard and admired their lovely feathers.


This little vixen asked Rudy if he had even one feather.


Rudy looked every where including his underbelly but found not feather nor hair.


They all agreed that Rudy was beautiful just the way he is.

And we all agree!

 

[bardies]

Got back yesterday from NC and my son's wedding, it went just perfectly.


One of my hens has been sitting on 7 eggs, I decided to just let her hatch them if they hatch. They started hatching the night before we got home (my daughter was here watching everyone) and she ended up hatching out 6 chicks. She's big black Brahma mix and the daddy is a gorgeous Faverolles/Orloff mix. I did take the chicks inside and replaced them with 2 turkey poults. She loves her turkey babies and I was wanting a couple turkeys anyway A Blue Slate and a Bourbon Red (or Bronze).
My Silver Bantam Ameraucana has also been sitting on eggs. I went out and checked this morning and a bunch were pipped and 1 was hatched but she'd scalped him pecking at him. His scalp is peeled back from his eyes to the back of his neck, both eyes are intact though. I don't know if he'll make it but he's sweet and responsive so he gets a shot at it.
I took the other eggs away and put them in my old styrofoam incubator and they're popping like popcorn, 4 hatched so far. I guess she's a new mom and thought that creature under here was trying to steal her eggs.
Jumped right back into hatching and I hadn't even gotten back yet!

Joyful and horrible news, isn't that just the way? Congrats to you and the new turkey mama. Good wishes towards the baby.

 

[NanaKat]

Thought I would post a few pictures too.
A d'Anver hen hatched her eggs and I added a few extras to her brood....some were a week old but she took right to them

and soon they were getting all snug under her wings....all 13 of them.


Then here are other brooding hens...
This Wyandotte has several chicks and two are Polish...a Silver and a Gold. A neighbor brought me two fresh hatched babies to add to her clutch.


The Blue laced Lemon Wy/Co has three chicks now.


One of the three Cochin hens raising these 9 babies on duty in the outside pen.



This Delaware Bantam is sitting on eggs and would not give up her two chicks hatched and raised earlier this spring. She actually would not sit on her eggs when I moved her to a cage until her chicks were in the cage with her.... they nestle down together.

This Cochin hen and the Blue Wyandotte each have three eggs that will hatch later this week along with eggs in the incubator that I will give them soon after hatching.


And can you hear one squawk or two squawks...as these girls puff up and tell you to get out of their nestbox! Delaware Bantam on 5 eggs and two Buckeye hens. sharing 3 eggs. It is so funny to see which hen has all three eggs and see the other steal an egg. Good coffee time.


And last'... I bought a portable pick-up cage for hauling goats or small calves sometime last year. The boys have cut off the bottom and rebuilt it so that it is now 6 feet tall and will be 7 x 10 feet. Then they are welding cattle panels to the sides that will have 1/2 inch by 1 inch wire attached to keep out sparrows and predators. It will get a good scraping and a new paint job before adding the nest boxes and roosts. It will be a Bantam coop.

 

[Loriemarler]

NanaKat I have that exact pickup cage. I wrapped mine in a tarp then attached a hoop coop run to the front of it. It is my bantam coop.