Ribh's D'Coopage

[BY Bob]

She's a pretty looking hen but chick killing doesn't endear her.

To say the least.

 

[BY Bob]

I don't know Bob. Some hens here will peck at their chicks if they get out from underneath them and in front of them when they hatch. The hen knows the chick shouldn't be there. With the others when I see this I just tuck the chick back in under the hens bum and they're fine. It's possible that this is what has happened with Myth but I wasn't there in time to tuck the chicks back.
Madness isn't an excuse here. There are plenty of other nutters who don't kill their chicks.

That's interesting. Thanks for explaining.

 

[BY Bob]

It's been hovering around 7 degrees celcius this morning & the girls were a little slow to get out of the coop. The westerly, which was blowing a steady 25~30k yesterday, has dropped out & we now have a diamante day of hard brilliant sunshine & cold blue sea. It should be lovely later on but for now the fire is blazing & everyone is warmly wrapped up. The girls have been fed & the cats have found a sunshiny patch.

I love days like that with a wood fire going in the fireplace. A mug of hot cocoa helps too.

 

[BY Bob]

I have been waiting, with what patience I might, to contact my Campine breeder & see how we are situated for this breeding season. As her girls are only just starting to lay now we are some way off acquiring any but assuming she gets some fertile eggs I will be adding more screamers & fliers to the flock later in Spring. This will put my flock @ maximum capacity I think. So far my older girls are showing no signs of slowing down their laying & we are certainly getting swamped with eggs just now, but juggling that new/old layer dynamic is hard for me to judge.
While I will probably always have a slightly mixed flock I do want to have my favourites dominate & for all their nuttiness Campines fall into the timid & gentle bracket & are the birds I enjoy the most. With the BRs leading & mostly so called timid breeds now dominating the flock it is a very relaxed calm flock.

This is very exciting. I look forward to following along. Best to call early as I remember you had quite a bit of trouble finding them last year.

 

[BY Bob]

My breeder only does Golds. Gold is what the man wants. Both are striking & personality wise there's nothing to choose between them so I don't mind. I am considering some standard silver laced Wyandotte to trial. The bantams have been such a good fit with the Campines I don't see why their larger sisters wouldn't be just as good. I haven't had any dominance issues with Wyandottes so I'm prepared to try.

I have. Just saying.

Who me?

 

[Ribh]

This is very exciting. I look forward to following along. Best to call early as I remember you had quite a bit of trouble finding them last year.

I did. This is the lady I usually buy from & she said to check in about now. She has a great set up. Very clean & neat & beautiful birds.

 

[Ribh]

I have. Just saying.

Who me?
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You & WhoDat. I'm hoping its a difference in breeding practices between here & the States as no-one Ive run into out here seems to have had these issues & certainly my Wyandotte bantams have been the lovliest of birds.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone

 

[rjohns39]

Strange cloud formations at sunset. Pretty cool if you can make out the shapes.

ETA: And here's a good reason to have my birds locked up. Those are hawks.