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

[Fancychooklady]

That's wonderful Fancy - about raising the money, not being in one of those beds for 9 months.  It's easy to see where your daughter gets her compassion for rescuing race horses from.

Thank you.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hi all.

Well things have settled down which is nice. About the only issue now is keeping a watchful eye on a ginger cat who likes to keep a watchful eye on our flock. No activity yet, but I keep a watch all the same.

Amy and the chick are doing well. The chick is too big to fit through most of the wire mesh I have around the place now where a few days ago it could zip in and out of the main run without an issue. It is getting bigger, not yet full feathered but they are coming in.

I got some pics up close the other day (it is not a people bird lol so pics are hard) Its hard without another chick to compare to, but looking at it's body I see a male. The legs, shape of head and so on just seem too strong for a pullet, yet it has no pink yet and no large single comb. Infact, the comb looks almost more rose type, being flat yet kind of wide.

Any chance this is not only a Coro Fancy? I got a pic of it's wings extended too, not sure if Coro's are this dark as chicks or not. I am still on the fence gender wise, have to wait a bit longer to know for sure.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Ben I'd have to agree, it looks like a Wyandotte comb. Which could only mean that the rogue roo that beat the crap out of King George also got to at least one the hens. I was hoping that wasn't the case.

 

[ozexpat]

Your quest for a coro is as convoluted as my quest for cream legbars.

Hang in there mate!!

 

[vehve]

Ben, looks very much like a boy to me too. It's a shame you can keep roos there.

How's your brother doing, and what happened to the cat you caught? I don't remember reading about it.

 

[joannefiddler]

Ah Ben, it's really good that Aussies are not quitters!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Coro's and blue Australorps......can't catch a break hahahaha. Oh well.

The cat, the little white one stayed with us for about 2 days and then went to the Cat Haven. We made a donation and have not seen or heard from it again. The new one from yesterday is a ginger one. Its a little fatter, so I am guessing it has a home.

My brother is still with us. Still working on stuff, it's a long road. Some days are better than others, but I can safely say, all are far better than those before he came to live with us. We have worked with Child Protection to get him supervised visits with his kids, extra duties for me to make it happen (my brother has a lifetime ban on driving) but it's good to see my nephews each fortnight.

He was hoping to have a house by now, but I think he will be with us a bit longer yet. He has a job now, but not enough security for a rental property.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Oh you are a good man Ben, I'm a firm believer of ' what goes around, comes around . ' I'm sure your brother is very grateful.

 

[joannefiddler]

Just to commiserate for a moment Ben, My broody, Lee sat on 9 eggs. 1 was a dud, 1 didn't survive hatching, 1 hatched but must have been stepped on and died. I was still thrilled with the result because all but 2 of the eggs were ones I pulled from the refrigerator and stuck under her (after bringing to room temp) when she went broody. So 6 little ones safely into the world.

At 1 week she began venturing into the run with them. Suddenly, there were only 5 chicks. I figured hawk. Two days later, there were only 4 chicks. I figured hawk again. At that point I started limiting the entire flock to the fenced run area rather than let them free range all over the property...thinking the presence of the other larger birds plus Morty the rooster might create safety in numbers for the little ones.

All was well until Monday when I noticed one of the remaining 4 lagging way behind the others, with poo stuck to her butt, not eating even when Lee called with a grasshopper to share. I jumped on and read like crazy. Ran to store in town Monday evening and got Corid. Held my breath that the little one was still alive Tuesday...and she was. Put recommended amount of Corid in the watterers and left for work. Came home from work to find all 4 chicks full of life and running around.

Decided to let the flock free range for an hour before dark. I was in coop cleaning my poop tray when I heard mama Lee SCREAM. I tore out to where she was just in time to see a hawk flying off with one of the chicks and Lee flying after him. She flew over my little fence between my property and farmer's field and landed in a huge stand of wild blackberry brambles. Many sticker pricks later I was able to retrieve her. Once she was safely back she started clucking and the remaining 3 chicks came out of hiding and reunited with her.

It's fall here and we've had some below freezing cold days (brutal by Florida standards), so my guess is that there isn't an abundance of prey around and that explains my losses. So, the troops are restricted to the fenced run area again. It isn't covered on top, but there are large evergreens that provide quite a bit of cover.

So....when I get home from work today I'm hoping the 3 survivors are still there!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Joannefiddler, I wouldn't want to be a chicken for quids. Seems like everything is out to get them sometimes. Sorry for your loss.