Ribh's D'Coopage

[micstrachan]

I'm abuzz with anticipation for the pullet stories over the next couple of months

Me, too!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I got the Little Princesses as day-old (or maybe few day old) chicks.
Honestly it was the most scary and most wonderful thing ever. They were so tiny I was terrified of hurting them - every time I put the brakes on the car when I was bringing them home I was terrified they would be slammed into the cardboard box and be hurt.
But at the same they seemed to be rather robust hopping around all over without a care. And then they grow like weeds - almost while you watch!
It has given me great pleasure seeing them grow into the (rather large) Little Princesses they are today!

I got Tsuki, Deana and Zen at a few days old too.

I brought them home in a cat crate with a wire door and popped them on the floor in the lounge room while I put fresh water in their dog crate brooder.

Well, I was gone for less than a minute and heard loud peeping. One of the chicks had squeezed through the bars on the door and was starting to explore the lounge room. This wouldn't have been too worrying if the cats hadn't started to take an interest....

I got them into the brooder quick smart after that.

No prizes for guessing who the escape artist was.

Yes, it was Tsuki. She was nick named Houdini for a while.

 

[micstrachan]

Well with so many chickateers around I guess I'm in good hands even if the chickens aren't. I know where to come for advice. First question: Are they big enough I can bribe them with mealworms yet?

I say definitely! As long as they have access to granite grit.

 

[micstrachan]

I would say hold off because mealies I get are 20% fat and maybe one mealie is too much fat for a tiny liver to handle. But I'm hyper-vigilant about fatty liver disease right now.

I agree with this, actually. But I don’t think one mealie would hurt. I am also being vigilant on fatty liver. @MaryJanet , I sometimes make a madh with their feed, watm water and Lily if the Desert aloe detox. I also occasionally empty capsules of Echinacea goldenseal, olive leaf extract and milk thistle into their mash.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Well. I am grumpy this evening - brutal week at work.
I typed the above entry and thought grumpily "time they produced an egg"... ... ... Then I grumpily bundled up to go out to close the Princesses up for the night and set the mouse-traps and cameras ... ... ... ... And I grumpily stomped through the rain ... .... .... ... And I grumpily picked my way through the mud to get to the Chicken Palace ... ... ... ... ... And I grumpily checked the egg boxes ... ... ..... And ... ... ... ...
View attachment 2437130View attachment 2437131

NOT GRUMPY ANYMORE!!!
My first teeny tiny blue gift from one of the Little Princesses.

Woohoo! Congratulations Little Princesses and RC. First eggs are soooo exciting!

That was so well written RC. I could just picture the grumpy stomping and slamming of doors.
I'm glad your girls could cheer you up on a rotten day.

 

[micstrachan]

Well. I am grumpy this evening - brutal week at work.
I typed the above entry and thought grumpily "time they produced an egg"... ... ... Then I grumpily bundled up to go out to close the Princesses up for the night and set the mouse-traps and cameras ... ... ... ... And I grumpily stomped through the rain ... .... .... ... And I grumpily picked my way through the mud to get to the Chicken Palace ... ... ... ... ... And I grumpily checked the egg boxes ... ... ..... And ... ... ... ...
View attachment 2437130View attachment 2437131

NOT GRUMPY ANYMORE!!!
My first teeny tiny blue gift from one of the Little Princesses.

Ooooh, it’s so amazing and pretty!!!

 

[micstrachan]

That will change! Soon they will know you are the hand that feeds & cares for them...

Indeed!

 

[Ribh]

Does the G in GLW stand for giraffe?

Up periscope Beatrice!

How was their day Ribh? All good?

Yep. A day of getting used to a new environment. I checked on them regularly but mostly let them be. They are eating & drinking heaps, which is good. Yesterday when Kirby jumped on the coop roof they freaked totally. Today they barely fluttered an eyelash. Guess they are feeling safe. I don't think they are early to bed girls so I will have to herd them up the ramp to bed. And Alpia has gone broody on me. I don't think I'm going to be able to break her in the coop & she can't go in the little one so I will just have to keep a close eye on her.

 

[Ribh]

They would be eating bugs if they were with their mama!

That is so true!

 

[micstrachan]

I am so happy for you, Ribh. The babies are so beautiful.

It’s interesting to read about what age everyone acquires their birds. I have only gotten day old (more like 2-3 days old) chicks. I’ve done this four times now. All the ones I hand raised are (somewhat) easily handled and the broody-raised ones aren’t too bad, either. Only Ester is a “Wild Thang!”