Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

I discovered my first predator casualty about half an hour ago. By bantam Cochin was laying by the pop door to the big run. I don't go into that room until I collect eggs in the evening. I still found 7 eggs. Poor thing. She really was cute.



She is the one on the left with the white fuzzy butt. She somehow never made it into other pictures.

I'm so sorry.

hugs MC!


I made a rookie mistake! I'm so mad at myself. I was so entralled with by babies that I fed them some treats from my hand! Arggghhhhh my little buff polish only took 1 time for that to mean that everytime I stick my hand in there it means she's getting a mealworm. Lesson learned. I'm an animal person, can't believe I was so silly.

I hand feed my chickens. I let my friends hand feed them... they can get a little overexcited from time to time, but it doesn't really hurt or anything. I think it indicates a trusting bond. even my flightiest allow me to stroke their backs a bit while having a hand fed treat. your little Polish might become your Roger

Quote: lol, I use Mylee's old toothbrush! it's Tinkerbell shaped on the end, wings open... really stirs it good, but I would never had told anyone if you didn't say it first!

 

[chickenlindz]

I'm not against hand feeding but I should have evaluated their personalities first. This little Polish is turning into quite the personality of late and is abusing the being fed from the hand policy I have so it's come to a halt. I'd say she might have come from the same lineage from Rodger. Either that or she's just self conscious cause she looks ridiculous growing in those head feathers!

 

[Whoops]

I discovered my first predator casualty about half an hour ago. By bantam Cochin was laying by the pop door to the big run. I don't go into that room until I collect eggs in the evening. I still found 7 eggs. Poor thing. She really was cute.



She is the one on the left with the white fuzzy butt. She somehow never made it into other pictures.

I am so sorry. I had my first real scare tonight with mine (though I believe they will all survive) so I feel especially empathetic.

 

[cheeka]

I'm not against hand feeding but I should have evaluated their personalities first. This little Polish is turning into quite the personality of late and is abusing the being fed from the hand policy I have so it's come to a halt. I'd say she might have come from the same lineage from Rodger. Either that or she's just self conscious cause she looks ridiculous growing in those head feathers!

it's her Crown. she's the Queen. she knows it. and now... so do you!

 

[cheeka]

Whoops ~ what happened???

I only got 1 Egg today. but I created a new page on FB. not much on it yet, and I know lindz and JC have found it already... it's called Group of Seven.

 

[chickenlindz]

it's her Crown. she's the Queen. she knows it. and now... so do you!

Oh that she does... Is it too early to have boy hormones if she turns out to be a he (she's 4.5 weeks old)? Because it's my luck that I'll get all boys you know!

And thanks for reassuring me that you hand feed and don't lose a hand. I know next to nothing about chickens in practice (read everything under the sun...) so it's nice to hear from all of you guys what works and doesn't. Despite going to school to be a farmer all my practical knowledge has been driven out by corporate BS. I've only had cats for the past 15 years or so and I'm just lucky they let me live in their house and see to their needs.

 

[Whoops]

Whoops ~ what happened???

Chickens escaped their run when I was at work today and then couldn't get back in. I have three herding dogs and I did not get home until after dark. Lots of feathers pulled out, and Athena is inside in a crate because she has some open wounds I thought the others might peck at, but everybody is walking and bawking, so I am counting myself EXTREMELY lucky. Hecate was unscathed, and I thought Hattie was a goner, because all I found at first was a pile of feathers, but she turned up a bit later and I think most of those feathers were poor Athena. Coming home to that nasty surprise really makes me feel for someone who loses one unexpectedly.

 

[cheeka]

wow, both you and the chickens are lucky! smart to separate anyone with open wounds as the rest surely will peck and pick. that's how I lost little Tufty chick, she got out somehow and couldn't get back in. had to be awful for Mama Peach to witness it.

 

[cheeka]

CLindz, only 4.5 weeks... could be showing some signs of gender... post pics.

 

[SullyD]

I know this is a chicken forum, but I thought you guys would appreciate these pictures! Thelma and Louise (Thelma is wearing the pink necklace). It is hard to tell their size, but the chickens are bigger than they are! So far, they are very sweet. The bottle feeding is going well, but getting up in the middle of the night to feed, might do me in!