Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Fancychooklady]

Ben, be careful here. It looks like you are a easy pushover for a pretty chick!  

Scott

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hahaha, I have always been an easy push over for a pretty lady, or chickens, or little girls that make me drink from imaginary tea cups in front of big tough army mates hahaha.

I'm a different beast if I catch my kids not using manner though!

So, Sal seems adamant to be a mum, she nest hopped mid morning to keep Summer's egg warm. I took the egg and gave her 4 fake eggs and she seems very pleased with herself.

I have just arranged for a mixed dozen to be sent in with a big thanks to Fancychooklady and her fertile flock. I can't wait to see what we get

 

[Wrightsx4]

Ben - we may be able to have a broody hatch along. One of my BA's has been showing broodiness but I haven't decided what to do about it. This one hasn't been a mom yet and I'm not sure if I want to let her hatch a couple eggs, or put a couple chicks under her that I know are females from the farm store...or not let her at all again. She's the one that kept going broody last fall. I still have 10 5wk olds in the brooder downstairs (I gave one sf male away). I also had a meltdown at the farm store last week and came home with a baby silkie and a friend for it - a light brahma. They're in a mini brooder upstairs... do I really "need" more chicks...hmmm.

 

[vehve]

Ben - we may be able to have a broody hatch along. One of my BA's has been showing broodiness but I haven't decided what to do about it. This one hasn't been a mom yet and I'm not sure if I want to let her hatch a couple eggs, or put a couple chicks under her that I know are females from the farm store...or not let her at all again. She's the one that kept going broody last fall. I still have 10 5wk olds in the brooder downstairs (I gave one sf male away). I also had a meltdown at the farm store last week and came home with a baby silkie and a friend for it - a light brahma. They're in a mini brooder upstairs... do I really "need" more chicks...hmmm.

When you ask here, doesn't it mean you've already decided? You're surrounded by enablers here...

 

[Wrightsx4]

Lol I suppose so. I would've liked to have her raise the two I picked up last week but I think they'll be too old to fool her.

 

[apteryx]

Ben, be careful here. It looks like you are a easy pushover for a pretty chick!

Scott

Scott's right. It can be dangerous. I keep getting an earful and/or the evil eye from my wife when ever she catches me with a new chick. I can usually win her over in the end when she takes the time to see how pretty she is. It usually only lasts as long as it takes for the next batch of eggs to hatch. The tough ones are the breeds that I have not for looks, but for egg colour. It can be a long 20+ weeks waiting for that first egg.

 

[Bens-Hens]

That's a hard one Pam, I had doubts about Rosie adopting but it worked our fine for us with day olds, week olds might be different.

Saying that, would he cool to have a broody hatch along!

I paid for a mixed dozen this afternoon, a mix of some stunning coronation Sussex, blue laced red wyandottes and sole silkies (that I think are brown, not sure if the actual colours)

They should be under Sal by late next week

Can that work with your BA's tile schedule?

 

[vehve]

These EE's seem to mature quite quickly. A week ago the other roo started to practice crow, sounded mostly like a little "Braak". Now he's starting to sound like a proper roo already, luckily not too loud though. Does anyone have any thoughts on correlation between roo crowing and pullet egg laying? I'm hoping this means we'll be getting eggs early.

Here's a soundbyte if anyone's interested. Notice a horrible predator approaching at the end.

We've had interesting neighbor reactions by the way, everyone seems to find the crowing endearing and idyllic so far. This bodes well for our plans of keeping one roo with our flock.

 

[Wrightsx4]

That's a hard one Pam, I had doubts about Rosie adopting but it worked our fine for us with day olds, week olds might be different.

Saying that, would he cool to have a broody hatch along!

I paid for a mixed dozen this afternoon, a mix of some stunning coronation Sussex, blue laced red wyandottes and sole silkies (that I think are brown, not sure if the actual colours)

They should be under Sal by late next week

Can that work with your BA's tile schedule?

I think that will work!

@vehve
My EE boys are always first to crow. They are also my noisiest by far when they're older.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Our Faverolle was the noisiest of our boys, took us by surprise!

He will grow into his crow as he figures it out.

I have not seen a connection between the crow and the egg, but this is a connection between the crow and the attempted piggy back rides. The girls tend to not be interested until they squat, so there is a bit of chasing going on.