Silkie saga

[TwoCrows]

Wow, you had multiple aviaries? Thats so cool. And what a neat quail Einstein was! Thanks for sharing the story, I can only imagine how aggravating it was, yet in retrospect it is quite comical

Foxxy is our dog, but if Jersey was out, I'm curious if she'd come to my aid. She's the BA who bites and flogs me, then will let me hold her and pet her. She's a fighter until she's a lover, lol. In her coop, if I need to catch a chicken to check them or give them calcium, Jersey and two of the others will attack me as soon as whatever hen I'm catching starts making a fuss. It's harmless on me, other than a few peck marks on my hands, and I'm happy that they would likely do the same for their flock mates if something actually was attacking so I don't get after them. Girls got to stick together

I'm not sure if the pointy vs poofy head fluff means anything or not. It worked for the hatchery chicks, other than Cappy Llama who has the head poof of a male but everything else of a female IF, and it's a big IF, this theory works, I have 7 cockerels and 9 pullets, which is actually quite feasible. Interestingly, the two with the slipped tendons and the one that seems to have weak legs, all look to be cockerels... coincidence, or wishful thinking as it will be easier for me to cull them? I still think culling is the right choice, still struggling with the follow through the black silkie I was hoping would be a pullet, has a broad poof, so really hoping I'm right! Of the 6 satins, I think only 2 are pullets, one is a partridge and one is a blue. Silkies are supposed to be very hard to tell gender on, and they are still really young, so it will be interesting to see if this theory works or not. Even if it is 75% accurate, it would be helpful for knowing who to keep or even being able to tell buyers what it is somewhat likely to be.

Have a wonderful day!

Ah yes, Foxxy is the dog. Don't know why my mind went to chicken. BUT....dogs can be very smart and tuned into situations like this and Fizz will no doubt learn you have a body guard. Keep Foxxy around when ever you think you might encounter Fizz and maybe it will all work out!

Yes culling is not a job I like to do. I've taken the lives of a couple of birds and it just doesn't sit well with me. My hubby can't do it either! So I find homes for them or keep them if need be. I stopped hatching because I just don't know what to do with all the boys I hatch! I pawned off a few to my Vets Vet Tech, Maria. She has a huge spread, keeps turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, horses etc.... But I think she cringes when she sees me coming anymore, so no more hatching! But yes it definitely helps to be able to get a head start on genders if possible just so you know where things are going.

Have a lovely day my dear!

 

[2ndTink]

When I was feeding tonight there was a rucus in the run with the young pullets. I saw Base running all over with something dangling from her beak, everything she'd get to a corner of the run she'd stop and start thrashing it on the ground. Due to its floppiness I guessed it was a mouse, confirmed once I saw the tail flailing around. It was hilarious, Base had it, lost it, had it again, tug of war broke out a few times between her and the others. The last I saw of it, a SLW was trying to shove what remained of the carcas down her gullet. I looked away for just a few seconds and never saw a trace of that mouse again. I gave the girls fresh grit tonight to help entice then to grab some extra to help digest that ick.

Last night I moved their nesting box to check that they hadn't laid an egg between it and the divider wall, out of sight from the door. 2 big mice and a smaller one ran out. So I got the zap trap from the shop and stuck it in there. I suspected the mouse they ate was zapped and then they ran off with it. Sure enough the trap was knocked over with a drag mark in the dust inside of it. I know they can get nasty things from rodents, but maybe they can join the rodent control crew with the dog and eliminate our mouse problems

Base and her prize.

Tug of war:


First egg! I'm assuming it's from a SLW pullet, there is one EE that looks ready to lay, but I'm hoping she will lay a green egg. Whoever laid it, it's eggciting to have a first egg!!!!!

 

[TwoCrows]

When I was feeding tonight there was a rucus in the run with the young pullets. I saw Base running all over with something dangling from her beak, everything she'd get to a corner of the run she'd stop and start thrashing it on the ground. Due to its floppiness I guessed it was a mouse, confirmed once I saw the tail flailing around. It was hilarious, Base had it, lost it, had it again, tug of war broke out a few times between her and the others. The last I saw of it, a SLW was trying to shove what remained of the carcas down her gullet. I looked away for just a few seconds and never saw a trace of that mouse again. I gave the girls fresh grit tonight to help entice then to grab some extra to help digest that ick.

Last night I moved their nesting box to check that they hadn't laid an egg between it and the divider wall, out of sight from the door. 2 big mice and a smaller one ran out. So I got the zap trap from the shop and stuck it in there. I suspected the mouse they ate was zapped and then they ran off with it. Sure enough the trap was knocked over with a drag mark in the dust inside of it. I know they can get nasty things from rodents, but maybe they can join the rodent control crew with the dog and eliminate our mouse problems

Base and her prize.View attachment 3617886

Tug of war:
View attachment 3617887

First egg! I'm assuming it's from a SLW pullet, there is one EE that looks ready to lay, but I'm hoping she will lay a green egg. Whoever laid it, it's eggciting to have a first egg!!!!!
View attachment 3617888

Good morning!!

Ugh...I hate mice especially when they get into the coop. It's hilarious when they chase each other when one has something, isn't it?! My birds find can lot of live centipedes, some of these creepy crawlies are a half inch thick, and 6 inches long! Yikes they are disgusting! And they chase each other relentlessly, ripping the thing apart. It's funny but I definitely get out of the way. Back to mice, I keep traps permanently set behind the nest boxes and up in their attic, places chickens can't get to but mice can. Base sure looks proud of that mouse!

Congrats on that first egg!! Always egg-citing when somebody starts laying!

We are finally getting rain, the summer monsoons never arrived this summer. But it took these hurricanes to dump so water on our dry parched land! What ever it takes I guess.

Well, I hope you have a fabulous day today, weekend is right around the corner!!

 

[2ndTink]

Good morning!!

Ugh...I hate mice especially when they get into the coop. It's hilarious when they chase each other when one has something, isn't it?! My birds find can lot of live centipedes, some of these creepy crawlies are a half inch thick, and 6 inches long! Yikes they are disgusting! And they chase each other relentlessly, ripping the thing apart. It's funny but I definitely get out of the way. Back to mice, I keep traps permanently set behind the nest boxes and up in their attic, places chickens can't get to but mice can. Base sure looks proud of that mouse!

Congrats on that first egg!! Always egg-citing when somebody starts laying!

We are finally getting rain, the summer monsoons never arrived this summer. But it took these hurricanes to dump so water on our dry parched land! What ever it takes I guess.

Well, I hope you have a fabulous day today, weekend is right around the corner!!

Uck!!! 6" long centipedes!?! I'm going to have nightmares now I bet the chickens love them though! The way they compete for food, or even what they think might be food, is hilarious. I'm ordering another 2 pack of the zap traps, really could use 4 but they're expensive, but I'm sure they've eaten more food than a trap costs... nasty things.

No pullet eggs today, but I know it could be up to 2 weeks before whoever laid these to lay again. Patience... so hard!

We finally got a little rain too! It's been basically bone dry the last 3 weeks, it didn't rain hard but it did sprinkle for an hour or two. This has been such a dry year.

Look at this floof! This little chick has such a tail poof



And... Cappy Llama, squatted when the rooster ran up to the run fence yesterday (maybe a pullet then?), but I finally got some photos this morning and there's quite the comb... the pullet or cockerel mystery continues!

 

[TwoCrows]

Uck!!! 6" long centipedes!?! I'm going to have nightmares now I bet the chickens love them though! The way they compete for food, or even what they think might be food, is hilarious. I'm ordering another 2 pack of the zap traps, really could use 4 but they're expensive, but I'm sure they've eaten more food than a trap costs... nasty things.

No pullet eggs today, but I know it could be up to 2 weeks before whoever laid these to lay again. Patience... so hard!

We finally got a little rain too! It's been basically bone dry the last 3 weeks, it didn't rain hard but it did sprinkle for an hour or two. This has been such a dry year.

Look at this floof! This little chick has such a tail poof
View attachment 3619528
View attachment 3619529

And... Cappy Llama, squatted when the rooster ran up to the run fence yesterday (maybe a pullet then?), but I finally got some photos this morning and there's quite the comb... the pullet or cockerel mystery continues!
View attachment 3619531
View attachment 3619532

Good morning!

And happy weekend! Hopefully you made it safe and sound.

Oh goodness, that floofy tail is adorable! ❤ And look at that face, cuteness overload for sure!

Cappy is looking beautiful these days. Praying she's a she!! I've seen lower ranking males squat for higher ranking roos so yeah, you can't be 100% sure yet, but the squatting is definitely a good sign!

Glad you are getting some rain too. It's been murky for several days now with some rain. Still not enough though. Rain chances continue until next Wednesday so hopefully we get a few inches by then.

Enjoy your day my dear! Give all those cutie pies some lovin for me. Tell Fizz to behave too!

 

[2ndTink]

Ah! I totally didn't get the news out that Maple the EE laid her first egg Thursday! It's a really nice green color, a different shade than my others. I like to blow the first eggs out and add them to my little basket of egg memories. I got the SLW egg done, it cracked but held together, Maple's egg completely collapsed when I tried to blow it out, so I'll try again on her next one. They have oyster shell available and are still on flock raiser.

 

[TwoCrows]

Ah! I totally didn't get the news out that Maple the EE laid her first egg Thursday! It's a really nice green color, a different shade than my others. I like to blow the first eggs out and add them to my little basket of egg memories. I got the SLW egg done, it cracked but held together, Maple's egg completely collapsed when I tried to blow it out, so I'll try again on her next one. They have oyster shell available and are still on flock raiser.

WOW those are gorgeous eggs!! Oh that's fabulous you blow out first eggs! Lots of people do that, I've never done it but it really sounds like a fun way to preserve the moment!! Love it! ❤ Enjoy these colored eggies!

 

[2ndTink]

WOW those are gorgeous eggs!! Oh that's fabulous you blow out first eggs! Lots of people do that, I've never done it but it really sounds like a fun way to preserve the moment!! Love it! ❤ Enjoy these colored eggies!

Maple laid a second egg today, it's bigger than the first one by a little, I'll try to blow it out for the collection. My hubby got me a Fortnum and Mason little wicker basket for my birthday a few years ago so it's my egg basket.

I picked a bucket of pairs this morning from our trees, they're organic (they are massive so even if we wanted to spray they're over 30ft tall) so have to dodge all the wormy ones. Then I spent the day prepping and cooking them, I have about 8 hours invested into 1/2 cup of pear syrup, 6 cups of roasted pear halves, about 4 cups of pear butter / sauce, and a batch of biscuits baked in a little pear juice and brown sugar. A lot of work and not much to show for it, but everything tastes really good so that makes it somewhat worth it. I have a bucket of apples to do next.

I moved the silkie chicks out to the screen porch "grow out pen" this morning. They haven't ventured out of the brooder box yet. When I walked in this afternoon the light partridge popped out and came running toward me, so that was cool they should adjust pretty quickly and be running around enjoying the space soon. They've really grown in the last few days again. I gave them some scrambled eggs this morning, they really enjoyed that

Cappy Llama was checking out a nesting box, but I'm still thinking cockerel. Cockerel until an egg pops out

 

[TwoCrows]

Maple laid a second egg today, it's bigger than the first one by a little, I'll try to blow it out for the collection. My hubby got me a Fortnum and Mason little wicker basket for my birthday a few years ago so it's my egg basket.

I picked a bucket of pairs this morning from our trees, they're organic (they are massive so even if we wanted to spray they're over 30ft tall) so have to dodge all the wormy ones. Then I spent the day prepping and cooking them, I have about 8 hours invested into 1/2 cup of pear syrup, 6 cups of roasted pear halves, about 4 cups of pear butter / sauce, and a batch of biscuits baked in a little pear juice and brown sugar. A lot of work and not much to show for it, but everything tastes really good so that makes it somewhat worth it. I have a bucket of apples to do next.

I moved the silkie chicks out to the screen porch "grow out pen" this morning. They haven't ventured out of the brooder box yet. When I walked in this afternoon the light partridge popped out and came running toward me, so that was cool they should adjust pretty quickly and be running around enjoying the space soon. They've really grown in the last few days again. I gave them some scrambled eggs this morning, they really enjoyed that

Cappy Llama was checking out a nesting box, but I'm still thinking cockerel. Cockerel until an egg pops out

Good morning!

Congrats on the second egg from Maple! Super egg-citing! I would love to see this basket if eggs when it's all done! ❤

Oooh, pear butter! That sounds positively delicious! I love pears, I bet yours taste SO much better than store bought pears?? I've never eaten a pear picked fresh from a backyard tree. I know how much work goes onto making butters and preserves, but it's definitely worth it!

Awww....adorable photos! Such cute babies!! ❤ I love their digs, cute little Peep hole to look out or into. Cappy does look a bit masculine there, are you planning on keeping him if he is a he? Cappy sure is gorgeous! ❤

Well, time for more coffee ! I hope you have a fabulous day today!

 

[2ndTink]

Good morning!

Congrats on the second egg from Maple! Super egg-citing! I would love to see this basket if eggs when it's all done! ❤

Oooh, pear butter! That sounds positively delicious! I love pears, I bet yours taste SO much better than store bought pears?? I've never eaten a pear picked fresh from a backyard tree. I know how much work goes onto making butters and preserves, but it's definitely worth it!

Awww....adorable photos! Such cute babies!! ❤ I love their digs, cute little Peep hole to look out or into. Cappy does look a bit masculine there, are you planning on keeping him if he is a he? Cappy sure is gorgeous! ❤

Well, time for more coffee ! I hope you have a fabulous day today!

Good morning!

We have three pear trees, two were planted in the mid 90s from what I can see on an old photo of the house that was left behind. They are gigantic and the pears are small but incredibly sweet and juicy. You usually end up with juice running down your hand. I completely understand why the bugs and worms can't stay away from them. Much better than store pears, but they are delicate so I know they wouldn't handle storage and shipping.

I'll get more silkie chick photos today, I went out this morning ans JetPack came running toward me again, made it about 6 ft from the box of safety, stopped and made himself as big as possible, stood up on his tiny toes, and posed. I wish I had my phone with me to get a photo. It was adorable. And hopefully not a sign he's going to be a dominant jerk toward me...

I think my initial guess thay Cappy Llama was a cockerel all those weeks ago, is true, he's just not the same at all as Nu and Heavy who have been crowing for a few weeks now. Cappy Llama is cute, smaller than all the others, but he doesn't have the right toes, his back toe is really thick, just one instead of two, but not even fused looking, just a big fat toe, and it has 3 nails. I'm not planning on keeping him as we will be keeping JetPack and maybe one other from the hatch we did. If I do breed I really want to try for at least breeder quality. I wish you were closer I would absolutely give Cappy Llama to you! I need more coops

I still have to find a way to get the grow out coops moved from my friend's place, she's about 40 minutes away. They won't be good for winder though, unless I enclose the top part. The one just has the back covered with the other 3 sides just wire. I think they'll be great for breeding pens, broody pens, and grow outs.