Sdwd

[Inkheart]

Hey Brandon - sounds like you are having a good time tho perhaps chicken withdrawal!

 

[PepsNick]

Beautiful plants, Kathy!

I woke up to a dead chick. The EE. Well it saved me some work.

 

[speckledhen]

Sorry about the chick, Nick, but it was for the best, I'm sure.

Today, we put Tasha in the main coop with the rest of the Dels and the layers since she is 19 weeks old now. To be sure she had company, we also moved the two Brahmas, Miranda and Caroline, back into the main flock with her and out of the old ladies' coop. Even though they are both over 4 years old now, the only reason they were in the old hens' coop in the first place was that Caroline had a hurt leg and I didn't want Isaac mating her, but didn't want to separate her from Miranda since they are best friends. Miranda and Caroline just move into any flock and take over, LOL. They have no issues anywhere they go--no one messes with the Brahma sisters! Tasha is up on the main roost tonight like a good girl with Miranda seated on the next rung down.


Today, when broody Emily was taking her poop break, she ran into roo-boy Beau on range. Beau, who thought she was hot stuff and proceeded to dance for this hen he'd never met, was handed his tail feathers on a platter when Emily proceeded to trounce him thoroughly. Then, when Caroline stepped in to help Beau, who was part of her group, we broke it up before Emily was hurt.

Emily is down to just one egg now, June's, and is on Day 15 Saturday. Nugget has two of Dusty's and one of Nora's on Day 8 tomorrow. Can't tell if they are developing yet.

Left in the old hens' coop now are Sunny, Nugget on her eggs, Shadow, Reba, Lexie and the D'uccle trio. Lexie is on the floor, looking like tonight will be her last. Reba made a valiant effort to go up the roost ladder, even though it took supreme effort on her part with her legs not being able to support her normally. When the D'uccles leave, Lexie dies and maybe Reba, too, Sunny will be lonely. I may have to move the Brahmas back in there. Sunny, at five-and-a-half years old, has earned her rest from a randy young rooster, so I won't put her back in the laying flock. Shadow hasn't laid an egg in a week or more, not since she was egg bound and finally passed that egg and one more after that. She doesn't act like she feels well, either. That coop may be completely vacant soon.

 

[PepsNick]

Cyn, they all pass sometime. So sorry. I am just happy that you have so many more chicks.

 

[speckledhen]

Now, I'm questioning even adding more birds. I may just keep 3 BR pullets and 1 cockerel, the blue and splash Rock pullets and 2 Buff Orp pullets, plus the D'Anvers, though I would like to keep a BLRW pullet, if one of those three is a girl. Today was a weird day. I had a strange feeling all day long. I hate that prickly, ominous feeling that something is about to happen that I won't like.

Could be just knowing that I may find Lexie and Reba dead in the morning.

 

[Cetawin]

Brandon, I hope you and Mom have a wonderful time...cannot wait to see you both and hear all about it.

Cyn, I am so saddened by all this news...Lexie we knew poor girl would go but now Reba and the little Princess down,,,,it is just heartbreaking. I hope you do find Lexie and Reba gone...that "feeling" is easier to deal with when it is something you know is coming. Plus I do not want the girls to suffer.

Well naptime for me then pick up Sarah about midnight from work...come home, sleep a bit and then go get Sarah and her birds for the poultry swap in the morning. So...talk at everyone later.

 

[speckledhen]

Lexie passed away at 2 a.m. this morning. I had moved the baby monitor to their coop to listen out for her and Reba. Earlier, I heard what I thought was Reba lose her footing and fall off the roost and sure enough, when Tom went out there, she was laying under the roost in the thick shavings. She wasn't hurt. He placed her next to where Lexie was sleeping on the floor. Then at about two minutes before 2 a.m., I heard that gurgling sound I know all too well, then the reflexive flapping. I woke Tom and said, "Lexie just died". He went out to find her gone with Reba standing with her neck stretched over Lexie. Reba wanted comforting, being visibly upset.



https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6351063#p6351063

 

[Serrin]

I'm so sorry Cyn. I said what I needed to say in your remembrance thread, but wanted to let you know here as well, that I share your grief. It's so hard to loose our older girls. FussyButt and Brewenna are all that I have left of my original flock [they turned 5 in March also] and when those two wonderful ladies go, I shall be completely inconsolable. Please pass along my sincerest sympathies to Tom as well. That picture of Lexie on his shoulder is priceless. Try to remember those moments dear lady. It makes the other memories easier to carry.

 

[PepsNick]

I am so sorry, Cyn. I woke up early this morning to check sdwd. Internet went down so couldn't reply earlier. You are so amazing, how you care for animals. Something very special about you is that yes, you care about SOP quality etc, but your birds are your pets. That's pretty rare. You share bonds with them, name them, hold them and give them treats, let them free range, some have even learned their names! Yet, you care about the quality, and preservation. That is a wonderful feature! I so admire you. I am sure that you are devastated but it will get better, of course... Go hug more chickens (and Tom!).

You are my rolemodel.

 

[speckledhen]

You are very kind, Nick. I do love them. They've given me so much. I am having a very hard time today, worse than usual when I lose one. I took some new pics of some of the little ones to cheer me up. Check out my new BR boy, hopefully, the sire of future generations of bRs here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6352392#p6352392