Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[speckledhen]

Beth, Jake started out as pretty friendly. As he approached about 21 weeks or so, he started biting my hand, then he'd attack my shoes occasionally. Then, he flogged Tom one day. The final straw was when Tom was filling their feeder in the coop and Jake flew off the roost at him and attacked. He was thrown in the broody pen and processed the next day. Cher was going to take him, then when his aggression became too much, I told her I couldn't let her take him, that he had to go, and that I'd give her one from the next hatch.

 

[joletabey]

Cynthia, thank you - that gives me something to go by. I am going to keep working at this biting thing with him- I don't mind a little temperament, but I am with you- if this gets worse, he'll have to go. He gets very upset if I wear anything other than my purple sweatshirt and green jacket- on the other hand, I swear he LIKES having his comb rubbed- well. ..

I wish I understood their little brains better. He is developing a good eye for what goes on outside the run, and is starting to let the girls have treats first, and he keeps close to me when I am in the pen- of course the girls are always all over my feet- so I don't know if he is caring for them and making sure I am a good mom or what. I guess I'll know for sure within the next few weeks.

 

[kathyinmo]

I have a long long story to tell you ...... It will take me half an hour to type up all the details.

Oh, I have one Delaware out (Claudia's) and more pips. Then comes the story ....

I'll be back .... gotta run outside, to check the rest of the story ....

 

[speckledhen]

Well, Kira, Phoebe and Gracie have gone to their new home in SC. Nice young couple are getting back into chickens and have built the cutest coop and run for them. I'll miss them, but I'm satisfied that they will be cared for very well. Thank you, Josh, if you're reading this!

 

[Cetawin]

Cyn ***Hugs*** Now, go outside and hug a chicken! Go pick up Suede and get big snuggles from him.

 

[speckledhen]

It's pouring rain or I would. I'm okay, just have had a headache all night and most of today already. Was up many times during the night and thinking about these girls leaving us.

After meeting Josh and his wife, though, and seeing their beautiful little coop, I feel much better about it. They'll be the stars there rather than lost in a huge flock.

 

[Cetawin]

Oh how awesome for the girls.... It is snowing here

I really want this crapola to stop.

 

[speckledhen]

No more snow! I sure hope ours is over for the season! We're in a very rainy, stormy pattern here for several days. Poor youngsters in the Firetower can't get out at all and I'm sure they'd love to.

 

[kathyinmo]

Do you remember the broody sistas?

Remember the hawk killed one of my girls a while back? Then, the next day, right in front of us, that darn hawk came down and went IN the little coop door where one of the broody sistas was standing, and killed her. She was brooding, and had just got up to go eat and poo. Her sista was still on a nest of eggs. I told DS to just let them set, because I could not break them.

Today, you know I am hatching Delawares. I hear peeping and see pips. I go outside to get a little work done, and I am hearing things. .... Wait, what is that? I'm outside in the breeder barn. ..... OMG, she is hatching, too! She had pooped all over those eggs, so I had no hope of her hatching. I had considered removing the ol poopy things, but decided to just wait for this (incubator) hatch. My plan was to give her a couple chicks from this hatch I am having today. My thinking being that maybe she would finally get up off that nest! I have her in a little dog house, inside one of the breeder pens, with the other Silkies. I did screen off the door, to keep the others out, awaiting my hatch.

SO .... I get in there to look ...... awwwww, I see one! I feel around, and I find 2 shells but only one baby. Thinking I am so smart, I pick up an egg. I will just tap on it, to see if I hear peeping. Hhmmmm, the egg feels light as a feather >>>>>> tap ..... POP..... It exploded ! ALL OVER ME ! ! ! In my face, my hair, my shirt and jacket. OMG ..... the worst smell I have ever smelled ! ! !

Do you wanna hear more, or should I stop here?

 

[joletabey]

KATHY!!! YOU CAN'T STOP NOW!!!!!


Cyn-

It sounds like they will have a great home, and be loved!

I went out in the drizzle to re-secure some of the overhead netting, and dang if my little rain hating family didn't come out and be miserable with me. They complained and moaned, but they stayed out with me while I worked - I am not too worried about "a wet chicken is a sick chicken" because I turned the heat lamp back on in the coop and they can dry off and warm up.

KATHY WHERE IS THE REST OF THE STORY??????