Pipd's Peeps!

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

This morning, Mama Margie wouldn't come out of the cat carrier I put her and babies in overnight, so I carefully lifted her up and pulled her out. She immediately started chirping and scratching and doing the whole mama routine! But then she dropped a big, nasty broody poop and settled down with the babies in one spot like before. I ended up having to scoot her back across the floor to the food and water again. It really seems like she hasn't realized yet that the babies are hatched and they don't need her to sit on them 23 hours out of the day anymore. But that was an encouraging sign. Hopefully that means she is getting the idea.

The babies are all doing really well, too! They took a little encouragement from Mama before they would come bobbling out of the carrier after her, and then they were bobbling all over around Mama while she scratched and pecked. She showed purple-headed Baby 4 some grit underneath the shavings (there was sand in that area before I put shavings down) while Bennie and Babies 1 and 3 went over to the waterer to drink. Baby 3 is such a precious little one... I don't know if it's just that it stands out because it's so different than the others, but it is such a little cutie!

Bennie's still a squirt, too! I checked in on them before heading inside after getting the coops open and the birds fed for the morning, and there was Bennie with his little head sticking out of Mama's wing, giving me a look like, "What?" He appears to be developing spots now, which I thought was unusual... Either that, or Baby 4's purple head rubbed against him before it was dry. I'll just have to get a picture to try and show it.



Sigh... I have two more days to enjoy them before classes pick up again... I'm going to make an effort to have them all named before then!



In other news, Crashie laid soft-shelled egg number 4 last night. It has more of a shell than the previous three, but still leaves divots where I poke it. :/ That Nekton stuff can't get here soon enough!

 

[pattyhen]

I hope you do have a spotted chick like Rueben. Then again it might be the blue kote. I love hearing about them. I think the momma stays in that broody phase to hatch all the late bloomers if she has any. I'm sorry about the #5 egg but she did great hatching 4 eggs being a first time mom. Thanks for the updates on the chicks and I would love to see pics when you get a chance.

I know you probably give Crashie plenty of oyster shell I also chop up boiled eggs with the shell on them and give them to the ducks. That helps with the calcium too. My ducks love them. I see spring is in the air the male ducks are getting frisky. I have 5 males and 10 females. I know that is to many males but I just can't seem to give any of them up. I get to attached to them.

Have a nice day enjoy your little ones and give Crashie a big hug from me I hope she gets the medicene soon.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Aw, I totally get being too attached! There are a few hens in my flock who I can't even pick up or touch for the most part, but I couldn't stand to get rid of any of them for anything. They're my girls.

I didn't even think about treats with calcium like that! I'll give boiled egg a try with her. Crashie is pretty picky about things, but she loves peanut butter sandwich pieces, so maybe I can sneak some into her in that if nothing else. She needs something, at least, poor girl! Gotta get that egg laying under control!



So I took a closer look at Bennie bitty, and it does look like he's got a little spot! It looks almost like a smudge of dirt at first glance, but when you zoom in, you can see the little strands of down are black in that spot!

While I was out there, Mama decided to get up again, this time for a dust bath. She wanted to dust right next to the food and water dishes, but I didn't want her throwing dirt into them, so I moved her. The babies kind of lined up to watch, but the looks on their faces are so funny. She started to kick up dirt into her feathers, and they all smushed up against the wall like they were horrified!

Mama threw dirt all over the babies! I'm not sure they knew what to do about that! Bennie (down in front) was pecking it off himself, little squirt!

Mama realized that the babies were there and nestled down again, though. She's getting there.




A couple cute shots I got while I was there. That's Bennie on the right, peeking over the cinderblock.

And Baby 3, right before he fell off the block.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I can't help myself. A few more pictures!

Reuben was in the coop when I went to check on Mama and babies just now. He gets really excited to see Margie and he was pacing trying to find a way in to her. Well, Mama Margie was busy with the babies and ignoring him, so I picked up one of the babies to show Reuben. He went really still and just stared at the baby like he wasn't sure what the heck that thing was! Then, he backed off and stayed back, though nearby. I don't know if he was disgusted or just confused. Here's the not-so-proud Papa standing in the coop doorway a few paces away:

Meanwhile, Mama got up and stretched her wings, and apparently that got the babies all excited because they went scattering, flapping their wings as well. Bennie got all the way across the room to me before he stopped! It was adorable. I didn't have my camera, but immediately went to get it after that, and got some pictures of Mama and babies at meal time.

This is Baby 4 facing the camera. I really need to re-mark him because you can only see the purple on his head from his other side.

Baby 3 and his sweet little face!

Baby 4 again. Still can't see the purple spot from this angle! Oops!

And here's the little family, with Mama watching over... (64. Family, perhaps? )

 

[pattyhen]

Great pictures you captured them at their best moments. I absolutely adore them standing against the wall shocked at what momma was doing.

Bennie does look like he's got a little spot showing up on his back. I hope he does I love the spots. My silkie roo when the chicks got big enough to peck he would hold his head down so they could peck his comb. It was a little game they enjoyed doing and I hope Rueben does the same thing. Thanks so much for the pics I really enjoyed them.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Mama Margaret is doing much better with the babies now! She's been up and around with them a lot more as of yesterday afternoon and this morning! So glad to see that! I got some extra cute pictures of Mama showing the babies a few foraging tricks.

I also think I've decided on a couple more names, but I can't seem to find one that clicks well with me for the last one! Baby 1, who just has so much of his Mama's attitude already, will take the name derived from his mother's name, Marka. And I'm strongly considering the name Indigo for the dark Baby 3. That just leaves Purple-head.

Anyway, some pictures!!

Re-introducing, baby Marka!

Here's Baby Bennie!

Baby 3, possibly soon to be known as Baby Indigo... Not 100% committed to that name yet, though... Anyway, he's workin' the walk. Look at that little fluff bottom!!

And Baby 4, still to be named! I finally got around to darkening the mark on his head with Blu-Kote this morning.

As you can see, he's super happy that I did! And as you can probably ALSO tell, Blu-Kote goes everywhere!

Here's Bennie and Baby 3 gossiping about Baby 4's head spot.

Mama's been scratching and showing the babies some of the goodies in the shavings. Unfortunately, most if what she's finding is pellets that the other girls have spilled in there, much too big for the babies to eat yet! But Mama's enjoying the snack. (Bennie's being a squirt again in the background!)

I love the look on her face here while she's watching babies peck... Too precious!

A bit more mingling, while Marka heads under Mama for a nap.

AH, I wish this picture was more in focus!! Such little cuties!!

And finally, after all that pecking and running around, even Bennie's ready for a nap.

 

[pattyhen]

Way to go Marge now she can focus more on the chicks schooling.

Absolutely gorgeous pics of the little ones. I love the pic of the chick that got the blue kote. He doesn't seem to be a happy camper.

I do like the names, Marka, Bennie and Indigo. I'm sure you will come up with a cute name for the last one. Thanks so much for sharing their pics and the updates. I'm really enoying it. It's the next best thing to hatching your own.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Oh gosh they're so cute!!!! I love their little pants!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

It's official! The babies have names!! e

Baby 1, who as I posted before is now Marka! Marka would not cooperate for pictures this evening. Got his Mama's attitude, so it's fitting he's named after her.

Baby 2, Bennie the Squirt!

Baby 3, I've settled on Indigo, Indi for short!

And, drumroll please! Baby 4, who will now be known as Winter!

And just a few extra pics of the night! I had thought about taking these pictures of each of them in my hand, but little Indi was the only one to cooperate for the idea, so here he is. Such a sweetie!

Indi's getting a little rambunctious, too, though!

And a family picture of the babies getting ready for bed. Winty's under Mama already, so this is Marka, Indi, and Bennie (whose face here makes me giggle).

 

[pattyhen]

Great pics of the babies. Winter fits him to a tee. I love that name. Indigo on his moms back is so cute. They are growing each day you can see how much bigger they are. Thanks so much for sharing the babies.