Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[chirpingcricket]

hi elmcc,    glad you already know a bit about the BR special-ness, now be prepared for the eventual take-over!


I could post that Peach pic in the Broody Hen thread too... but I'll put it on the Caption thread... (What is this chicken thinking)

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote: Not sure what they are but theres patches of eggs at the base of some feathers matting the feathers together. I have seen a few pics of that, so I have to look them up.
Red has turned into a coward from Rebels temporary rise to main rooster, now dethroned as well.. Rebel attacked my turkey hen. not happening.
Then he BIT me, hard, the twist and pull bite! Grabbed his legs and paraded him upside down around ever animal i own.
Rebel went to the quarantine coop aka JAIL. He has been there over 3 weeks now.
That was fortunate with Red, he doesn't even enter the coop since I had to move the BAs in with the main flock.
He roosts in the utility area. I am still checking all the birds to be safe tho. I have the itchy creepy crawlies even thinking about it.
Red is miserable, even tho I don't much like him, I hate seeing him uncomfortable. I didn't even have a struggle dusting him.
He has a bad molt right now too, and a bare blukote butt and some of his neck.
Poor Red. Surprising that he still stayed isolated with Rebel in jail. Maybe he's has the mites for a while and is a bit weak. It sounds like the same thing my guy has. These are the bloodsuckers that live on the bird pretty much constantly, although they can live for 2-3 weeks in the coop or on the ground. (One thing I read said they can persist in an empty coop for months???) Cleaning up molting feathers with the eggs attached is a good idea and spraying the coop and runs is needed. You have to redust weekly to kill hatching larvae.

What a pain. Do the water fowl ever get mites? I don't remember my ducks ever dusting themselves. Maybe we'll switch to ducks. There are some very good laying breeds and no crowing! Who am I kidding? Everyone loves the chickens. My soon to be (on Fri) 15 yr old, 6ft tall, deep voiced, manly son calls them his little "squishies." Everyday after school he goes out for a little chicken therapy. How are the squishies? I'm going out to pet the squishies. Ooooh, they're so squishy.

Takes me back to the days of security blankets and stuffed animals. Don't have to keep up the cool persona around the chickens!

 

[lindz8504]

Peach is a doll baby! I can't wait til next week when Clarabelle's eggs hatch, and she has heads poking out from around her! I don't know how she manages to cover the eggs, much less cover babies as they grow, she is a TINY girl! She is such a sweet girl though, and she really wants some babies, so I am hoping that she is going to be a good momma!

I need some advice.... I found 2 Blue Lace Red Wyandottes on a FB page. The guy lives about 45 minutes away, and is asking $5 for both hens who are 3 years old.... What do you guys think about the deal? Below are the pictures that he sent me of the 2 girls.....

 

[BullChick]

I just went shopping, and picked up a pumpkin for the chickens. The dog didn't get anything. Now I feel guilty.

 

[BullChick]

Peach is a doll baby! I can't wait til next week when Clarabelle's eggs hatch, and she has heads poking out from around her! I don't know how she manages to cover the eggs, much less cover babies as they grow, she is a TINY girl! She is such a sweet girl though, and she really wants some babies, so I am hoping that she is going to be a good momma!

I need some advice.... I found 2 Blue Lace Red Wyandottes on a FB page. The guy lives about 45 minutes away, and is asking $5 for both hens who are 3 years old.... What do you guys think about the deal? Below are the pictures that he sent me of the 2 girls.....

They may not lay much, but if you want color in your flock, pets or to breed it sounds great.

 

[elmcc]

If one of the girls stays behind and starts pacing back and forth, Roxie goes to the gate and shows them the way out to free roaming. She also squeaks.

 

[cheeka]

elmcc, she might end up being a good broody... she's got some nurturing tendencies... being nice and all...

we had a great afternoon free ranging - even Henry checked out the lilac... so while he was in there, I dashed to the front garage for a couple of scoops of feed - Si and Archie had virtually no food at all - it was cloudy this morning, the big boys didn't get out today... so they ate everything they had. anyway, in the 22 seconds it took me to get the scoops, Henry vanished! after 8 minutes of intense and entering frantic mode searching, I found him. in the back garage, in the bale of straw. he made a nice little hollow for himself, and as he's the same color... I went in that garage twice before I spotted the bright red comb. I grabbed the camera from the area of the dome, and by the time I got back (...22 seconds...) he was up. He's a City Chicken... he's always in a hurry to go nowhere and he likes the concrete floor...

poor beat up baby... Max looks just as bad. they were fine today... although OEGBrutus tried to have a go - I was there to keep them both safe, and then we had a "session". Henry let me pick him up without any issue, I held him under my chin til he stopped quaking, then I lowered him and stroked all his super soft feathers until he fell asleep. he slept in my hand for about a half hour.

having a dust bath on the edge of the lilac with the stick poking through...I was glad he didn't poke himself in the eye... he'll look handsome again in a couple of days, those boo-boos will heal up

Baby Stink Eye... Peach and the chicks deep in the lilac

Sillie Silkie is still white. wonder how s/he will look in a few more weeks... white was not a color listed for those hatching eggs...

the lemon neck barred Marans in the back is 14 week old Cosette, Veronica is behind her with her head down... Genvieve is in the lilac behind them... Blu and Wilma like those 3 and are often hanging out together. Dutch gets along with everyone, and because he's Brutus' buddy, Brutus is sometimes allowed to partake - that's a bit of overly ripe cantaloupe


I think I only have 7 Eggs for the day, have to go on one more collecting mission at 7 pm. but I might have more... Mylee likes to put eggs in baskets and move them from one basket to another...

 

[cheeka]

MC, don't feel guilty - give the pooch some scrambled eggs! he'll love them...

lindz, in regards to the fb hens, I don't see why not... as MC said, they may not lay as many eggs as a younger hen, but they are pretty... besides, those aren't "production" birds, they should still lay at least 3 eggs a week each... perhaps more. they could surprise you...

 

[lindz8504]

They may not lay much, but if you want color in your flock, pets or to breed it sounds great.

poor beat up baby... Max looks just as bad. they were fine today... although OEGBrutus tried to have a go - I was there to keep them both safe, and then we had a "session". Henry let me pick him up without any issue, I held him under my chin til he stopped quaking, then I lowered him and stroked all his super soft feathers until he fell asleep. he slept in my hand for about a half hour.

having a dust bath on the edge of the lilac with the stick poking through...I was glad he didn't poke himself in the eye... he'll look handsome again in a couple of days, those boo-boos will heal up

He looks alot like Doodle did! You will love him Cheeka!

MC, don't feel guilty - give the pooch some scrambled eggs! he'll love them...

lindz, in regards to the fb hens, I don't see why not... as MC said, they may not lay as many eggs as a younger hen, but they are pretty... besides, those aren't "production" birds, they should still lay at least 3 eggs a week each... perhaps more. they could surprise you...

I think I am going to go ahead and get the Blue laced Girls! I figure even if I only get a few eggs from them a week it will be worth it so I can hatch them the next time someone decides to go broody! And who knows, if they are low on the production end, maybe they will be broody frequently and can "earn their keep' that way. LOL.... Honestly, they are one of breeds on my "wish list" along with Marans, and some more B.O's.... I should be good with the B. Cochins if Clarabelle hatches any of her eggs, and the chicks do ok. I am still trying to decide if I want to replace the 11 that the dogs killed right now, or wait til Spring.

The Golden Comet girls are 15-16 weeks old now, so we could potentially have first eggs soon! Several of them have been squatting for weeks and everyone is getting redder! I can't wait, but I guess I will have to! LOL

 

[cheeka]

I already do love my "Henery" as I like to call him... that session was just as much for me as for him... he's very very handle-able and sweet, I don't know. maybe it's just me... I've always had a knack for all kinds of animals. anyway, Henery ate grapes from my fingers while sitting on my other hand... he's so small - it's hard to tell from the pictures, plus he's super fluffy feathered... an illusion of size. He is spot on perfect for Peach!