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

[Bens-Hens]

I thought there might be a few people away, the way Easter and ANZAC Day it worked out here a couple of days leave could land workers 10 off. I guess there are a few local out and about. Kids are back to school tomorrow..I'm not going to lie, I am somewhat happy about that!

I mowed my lawn two days ago in a race against some grey clouds, it's been raining on and off for two days and the garden is loving it. IMO, much nicer to have 20 hours of drizzle than 20 minutes of hammering down poor.

Cubby coop did well to not leak and the new run roof has kept half the run bone dry for the girls too.

 

[lindz8504]

 

[Bens-Hens]

Cool Lindz. I always find it interesting hearing peoples accents in their videos.

Few weeks and those girls will have their hands full. Also a good idea to test her dedication, for Rosie's first sit she gave up after a couple of days for about two weeks then the voices took back over and she sat pretty hard core with that trance like stare.

Was interesting to see, our SPW that was broody at the same time made similar noises to your girls, but we could pat her and she would leave the nest once or twice a day, where Rosie the RIR was far more headstrong, I did not see her leave the nest at all, I got a bit concerned and put a feeder and water inside the box. When she did get chicks (we adopted 3 for her for the new readers) she had a 'plug' type poo...oh the smell!

Rosie still has not gone back to laying, and her 'babies' still hang out closely most of the day. Said babies are over 21 week old Rocks lol

May the hatch be with you

 

[lindz8504]

I definitely have a Carolina accent! Lol. I'm pretty sure that the first one is dedicated to sitting. I have to make her get out to go eat and she is always back within 10 minutes or so. The other one is still a little iffy. She played musical nests yesterday and was off for a couple of hours. Not sure if that is because someone else was in her nest or what. I found extra eggs under both of them yesterday. Although the second one is only sitting on a plastic egg until I see that she is going to stay there. I'm hoping for lots of chicks this time around!

 

[K Spot]

Phew - I read the whole thread over a week - you definitely had some highs and lows Bens-Hens!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Wow, it took a week! You must have seen so many typo's hahahaha

Welcome K Spot, always a pleasure.

 

[K Spot]

Yes it did! This was me for the duration

but without such a bored expression.

Will you be hatching out more babies?

 

[Bens-Hens]

I think we will, but Alicia is pretty keen to let a broody do the work so we will let nature take its course for now.

There is certainly a lot less work involved when they are all grown up!

I still want some blues, but not sure what other breed I would be keen on, chookpatch has some awesome Olive eggers, tempted to try postade eggs again for some of those, plus there is Fancy's Coro's.....Oh Oh, I started to think about breeds again hahahaha

 

[K Spot]

Oh yes for sure Ben. My first two hatches have been with broodies. I can imagine it being so much easier than incubating and brooder boxes etc.

I can't see myself really ever using an incubator, but you never know, things may change!

Don't get me started on breeds. I have a motley crew as it is, and someone posted up Barnevelders for sale in my suburb yesterday!

But I want to stick to hatching and raising any birds I want to keep for now, as I've had some rotten luck in the past with buying POL's and sickness.
Out of my two hatches I've got now, I'm keeping 3; one Silver Pencilled Plymouth Rock Bantam and two Orps (if they are girls).

In the springtime I'm planning to hatch out Marans and Favs and perhaps a couple of Aras, as I want to add a few more egg colours to my flock.

 

[K Spot]

I had a Coro Sussex - she was beautiful! Unfortunately my dogs got to her and killed her. I was quite upset.

Here she is