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

[vehve]

Yup, it's quite cool what kind of instincts they develop all on their own. Even though the mommy has been brought up in a incubator, she knows exactly what to do when given her own eggs.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I managed to snap a pic of our little cherub! I would have to double check but pretty sure it's 11 or 12 weeks today.

And finally, I made a feed bag curtain the other week to try drop the coop temps during the day. Just covers the skylight.

 

[lindz8504]

Ben I would probably lean towards cockerel. That's what you have thought too isn't it?

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Ben I would probably lean towards cockerel. That's what you have thought too isn't it?

X2

 

[Bens-Hens]

Yeah thats what we though for most of the time, but with no change in the comb or wattles for over a month we started to wonder if we were a bit hastey.

Certainly has the body shape of a cockerel.

 

[Fancychooklady]

It's the lack of tail feathers at this stage that scream cockerel to me.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Yeah thats a good point. I think the rose comb on a sussex coloured bird is throwing me.

Funny hoe if this belonged to someone else I would probably be very confident lol, but when its yours you hang onto any hope for a layer hahaha

 

[Bens-Hens]

WOw, time can get away from you!

Life here with Bens hens is going well. The four broodies we had got off the nest one by one and a couple are back to laying, but the day the last stopped Amy Wyandotte turns again for the second time this season. SHe must have laid about four eggs before going back to sitting.

We have not lost any more birds, we have planted out our little veggie patch with some seedlings and composted with the coop bedding.

Also got my first lemon from my first attempt at growing a cutting, it's taken close to two years to get it ready, and by the time I took Alicia out to show her the maturing bud...it was GONE! No idea what happened to it, but in the space of a day or so of me noticing it, it was removed from the tree.

Other than that, life is good. Busy with training and kids on school holidays, couple more weeks before we return to our usual routine.

 

[Fancychooklady]

School holidays seem to get longer every year. Almost Easter before we get back into the groove. Sun is finally back out here after days of rain. I think we had summer last week.

 

[vehve]

Blaah, I would be ready for spring already. I hope your lemon tree pulls it's act together next year and gives you at least three lemons.

One of our broodies resumed laying in the weekend, the other one is still watching the chicks, but one chick managed to get itself pecked yesterday.

A bit of a wound on the neck, it's now stinking up our living room. Of the four 4½ week old chicks, this is the least male looking one. I think we're having the same luck as you are when it comes to the sex of chicks.