This morning I checked the nest while Rumples was out feeding. I found little black feathers in the nest. I am assuming that she pulled them out to keep the "eggs" warm. The CL connection I found has the BCM eggs that I want, but is out of town until Sunday eve... so I either need to put the Easter Hatch a Long off or go with other types of eggs.... Rats!!
I set turkey, duck and goose with some chick tutors. I have eggs everywhere now, YAY spring! And a new green layer, my pretty lil girl that squats if I even look at her. I pick her up, give her a neck rub, and pet her every time. Totally different than Bunny her mom!
Yesterday, I felt AWFUL! I'm feeling a little bit better today, but I think this cold is settling into my chest. Abby is over the hump and feeling better. Clayton didn't throw up anymore yesterday either. I guess his double-ended explosion at 4AM got it out of his system! So, he is back at school today. Oh, and his foot is healing up nicely! Still a little sore, but looks great considering....
ANYWAY..... I went down to the coop to let everyone out yesterday morning, in my jammies with coveralls over them... (it was windy, and they were thin!) I didn't go back down there until Hubby got home, and I had to feed..... still in my jammies.... Then, right at dark, I went down to get the eggs, count the heads, and shut the door. Well, I went down, counted everyone, got the eggs, shut the door behind me and came back to the house..... I woke up at about 3:00 thinking "Did I close the pop-door? I don't remember closing the pop door! Surely, I closed it... didn't I?" Well, I decided that if I hadn't, it was already too late to worry about it then. I got up at 6:30 to get the kids ready for school, got them on the bus at 7:25, looked out, and still didn't see any chickens...so I'm thinking "Ok, I really must have shut the door." So, I went and laid back down for a little while. Kelsey got up at about 9, and when I walked into the living room and looked out the window, there was Kahoots (my BCM roo) out in the yard..... I guess I didn't shut the door after all....
I did go check, and everyone is fine, and out scratching around! *shew!*
Here are my 2 bantam cochins... I'm still waiting on them to start laying, they were hatched in Sept.
I have forgotten the main door for the run. It is that GASP feeling thinking your whole flock is wiped out.
Fortunately everyone was fine. I don't close the pop door anymore, but need to get everything repaired on the coop and run.
Winter really took a toll on both. Hole in the roof, and a tree trashed the top of the run.
DH is rebuilding the entire coop layout, and we are even moving it to a different spot.
Looks like I will be going to Pips & Peeps for hatching eggs today. I got Rumples from her and just remembered that she has eggs too!! I think a nice Lavender chicken would be nice.
)
Maybe your little ones will lay you some jellybeans for Easter.
Lindz, glad to hear everyone is recovering. I sure don't miss those little kid germs! We had 2 oopsies this week. First was me, I closed the gate but not the pop door, and a couple of days later, my youngest did the same thing. I even asked him if he closed it for sure since I had blown it earlier, and he was sure he had. Not. Everyone safe and sound, though. Your Cochins are cute. Mine were hatched in May and have only been laying for a few weeks now. Guess they're slow to develop, and the eggs are underwhelmingly small, but that's not why I got them. I'm waiting for a broody! It's not about eggs for me anymore. Should-i-buy-an-incubator-or-wait-it-out.
Scrambles, that's too bad about the BCM eggs, but better late than never I say. But lavender would be lovely too!
Happy birthday Mortie!!! And Happy Belated Birthday W4W!!!
Done it too Lindz! Tho now the gate getting into the pen is so difficult to open I don't worry about it anymore. I consider the pen predator proof now.
Girls are out free ranging since it's suppose to rain for the next three days. Pup is in his crate to give mom a bit if a break.
Got to pick up the niece tonight and then deliver her to a swim meet tomorrow am which I'm not looking forward to cause all of the driving. Tho it's been 4 weeks since I've seen her so I'm happy about that!
Work has been crazy today. Do people not know it's a Friday????
LOL, noticed the stores we terribly busy, people getting out and active since its warmer maybe?
I may be joining the puppy patrol. If DH gets off work early, we are getting a 1/2 short haired collie, 1/2 aussie tomorrow.
Parents on site, they are just gorgeous blonde mearle color too! I can't pass the mix up, thinking that will be an awesome LGD!
Well... the lady with the BCM eggs said that she will leave 1/2 dozen eggs with her hubby who will be home, so I have 6 BCM eggs to pick up and some Ameraucana eggs to pick up. When it rains... it pours! I hope that Rumples cooperates and keeps the eggs warm and toasty.
You jynxed me! I left the run open today. Most were happy to go back into the run. Then there are Moron's girls. He is my BCM. Great husband. I planned on keeping him, and ditching the Ameraucana. Almost got him a few times. The run door kept blowing shut. I am down to him and another BCM. I just heard them screaming in the woods. Couldn't see them. I also hear and see hawks.
I am staying out for a while. If they go into the run, I want to shut the door. I don't let them out for this reason. Not all are easy for me to catch, and there are too many ways for them to get hurt.
Wow... rough day. I am still sick and I drove out to Pips & Peeps for hatching eggs. She gave me 7 for the price of 6. They are Ameraucana from her Lavender pen. Some will be black and some will be Lavender. Rumples was from the same pen. Now all I can do is wait.
http://youtu.be/k9AD5Fg_Gh0 I think it's still editing the shakiness but, I made this for CLindz and mortie... It's Peach singing the Egg Song, and Brutus... being Brutus. hope you find it as amusing as I do! soon you'll hear it in your own backyard!
Feeling very blessed this evening.... A decision to stop to get chili for our hot dogs, kept me from being in a wreck where there was at least 1 fatality. The volunteer fire fighters were just getting there and getting into their turnout gear..... A friend of mine who works at the hospital said the 911 call came in at 5:52... my receipt for the chili says 5:55.
On a happier note: I made sure I locked up the coop tonight! LOL... and here are a bunch of pictures!
Me and the Marans I have left....
Bonnie
Kahoots
Twix peeking around the door...
And, the littles are hitting the ugly stage! They are all trying to stand tall to look around me at the big chickens in the yard behind me! LOL
DH went to an auction, found me a huge water tank that sits in a truck bed. Will make it much easier refilling stock tanks! I have a snowmobile trailer we will set it on.
He also got me a walk behind tiller. I have bought a ton of heirloom seed to plant this year, and started pawpaw, apple, pear, pecan and cherry trees.
We have a 2 bottom plow, and disc, just needed a tiller. He is still looking for a PTO style one, but no luck yet. Can't wait to start planting!
I have a lone apple tree here now, and my birds surrounded it every day while the fruit dropped when I let them out. Fed a lot to them too from what I picked. My pig and goats were crazy over them too!
I will have two brooders going when I pick up the rest of the poults. I upped my order from 3 to five. I can pick my own (better chance of getting girls) so I now shouldn't have to go to another source to fill in numbers. Meaning before I found out I could pick my own out, I thought 3 was a good number that I could raise a few months, then turn to locals that I now know have BR for more girls or a tom if I needed one.
Anyway! I won't have room in the brooder for the chicks, and 2 brooders (the other holding the BBW) is my limit! No hatching. Though a broody doesn't count.
In my newbie days, I knew not to set odd shaped or pullet eggs (because they are small). I see so many people hatching their hen's (chicken and turkey) first egg(s). Is this really okay?
the rain kicked my internet signal out last night. so irritating! I got a jumbo-simi-mumbo Egg from one of the Fosters yesterday - I will take pics later today - and crack it, to see if it's just a double, looks as big as the triple I had last year.