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

[CB and CG]

Hi Ben, Fertility in my blues is not too great at the moment. None of the blue eggs I put into the bator were fertile. To be honest I think it is because their bums are way too fluffy as I have some blacks without really fluffy bums that are fertile. I will however check fertility in my blues closer to time.
I will still have some blue and black babies hatching in two weeks as I have ten eggs that are developing nicely. Will post some pics when they hatch.

 

[scottcaddy]

I have a very wierd and totally true, not exaggerating this at all, story... . We all have to do the "deed" of culling on occasion. I have had my neighbor do it for me, and have done it myself. I am not good at it, suck actually. I put a pullet down last weekend I think it was, because of the mareks. She was not improving on the hypericum, but the other two birds were showing improvement. The bbr is back on her feet and roosting. She's still a bit wasted, but has even started to put weight back on. I know there is a relapse possibility, but hey, this is worth the try. The golden on the other hand was attacked by blueberry and scalped. I decided to put her down since she was not able to stand, even on her haunches, and she kept face planting. I went and took her out into the woods, and gave a good jerk, heard her neck snap, but low and behold, she didn't die. I gave her a shake by the head like I saw that guy on man vs wild do to kill a wild roo, and... she didn't die. On the fourth try of putting a stick over her neck and giving a tug, I was sure I had it right. I nestled her under a log, and went on my sad way. This was yesterday. Today I found her in the big run. Poop you not. Imagine my shock. And blueberry was after her again. I ran. I decided that heck, if she's got that much will to live, surviving my 4 attempts, the night in the woods on the ground when there are coons, hawks, possums, skunk, fox... then I've got that much time to devote to getting her better. After all, the hypericum and rickets diet seemed to be working for her and the other pullet.

I can feel where her neck was broke. BUT she's able to move it still, side to side and even for eating and drinking though she's not tipping it back as far for the drinking part, but she's drinking. I have put her in a smaller rabbit cage so she'll be still, food and water is in dishes that hang off the side of the rabbit cage, and easy for her to hobble to. I will check her crop often to make sure it is full, and watch her to keep her hydrated if it seems she's not drinking enough. Wet mash comes to mind too for hydration.

Now I just need a name for this girl...

Seagal, as in the movie 'Hard To Kill' just a thought.

Scott

 

[NovaAman]

'cept she's purty... Seagal... not so much. LOL

 

[scottcaddy]

'cept she's purty... Seagal... not so much. LOL

How about Fredrica, as in I'm not dead yet from Sir Fred in Spamalot

 

[NovaAman]

I was kinda think the broad from resident evil...

 

[NovaAman]

Alice!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Thanks CB, the place I am looking at getting our Maran's from also has blue Wyandottes with the black lacing. Similar...but just not the same as your girls.

Nova, that's one determined pullet. One reason I don't use any of those methods. I am not sure if I would save the worry and her misery of healing and finish the deed, or Salute her and give her a pension. Maybe call her Elias, named after Sgt Elias (Willem Dafoe) of the movie Platoon.

 

[CB and CG]

Hi Ben, Like I said I will check fertility closer to time. If my eggs are unsuccessful I can always send you the details of another breeder that breeds blue australorps. In fact my blue stock is from her. Very nice birds. I have ten eggs of hers currently developing in the incubator right now. Due on the 7th of September. If you like I can PM you some pics of her birds.
One way or another I will try and source you the blue Australorp eggs lol.

 

[ozexpat]

A google search for the toughest women in history

Kate Marsden​

Women are nurturers and Kate Marsden took this to the extreme. A nurse who cared for the injured on the battlefield during the war between Russia and Turkey in the late 1800s, she was determined to help the suffering Russian lepers. Ever the go-getter, Kate packed up her sled and rode on horseback across 2,000 miles of Siberian wilderness in search of medicine. Taking only, a whip, pistol and food items she risked bear attacks, malaria and robbers. Sort of like an extreme real version of the computer game “Oregon Trail.” Only when you get typhoid you can’t just hit reset and start over.

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2 Boudica​

Queen of a Celtic tribe, Boudica didn’t exactly lie down quietly and sit on her bum after her husband died and Roman soldiers had their way with her and her daughters. Probably the earliest inspiration for those Lifetime movies where the woman goes all vigilante ***-kicker, Boudica and her tribe destroyed several Roman settlements and temples. As her forces grew, she went on to destroy three cities and kill nearly 80,000 people; sparing nobody. With all that pillaging and razing it’s no surprise that Boudica’s name means “victory.”

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1 Annie Oakley​

Somebody once told Annie Oakley that if she got a Red Ryder BB gun she’d shoot her eye out… she shot their eye out instead. Okay, not really, but Annie could hold her own in the firearms department. She could supposedly split a playing card edge and put six holes in it before it touched the ground with a .22 rifle from 90 feet away. Born into poverty in Ohio, Annie began hunting at age six to support her siblings and widowed mother before rising to fame as a sharp shooter with “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show” in 1885. During her career she performed for Presidents, Queens and taught upwards of 15,000 women how to use a gun. Because of this skill she also NEVER lost any argument with her husband

 

[NovaAman]

I think I like Boudica. I have heard it pronounced Bo-a-di-cia... Wonder how it is really pronounced. Thanks Oz!