Story Away!

[Chickensfan]

...no idea....Bunsnpupsnchick, any ideas?

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

Don't know about happy happy, but happy weird.

Last evening I go out to check for eggs, give the chicks their night-night scratch, etc. Basically the prep to put the 2 month olds in their temp coop until I get more roost bars in the big chicks coop. I still have to put each of them in it. No one is willing to go in & stay by themselves. With the heat, can't bring myself to lock them in either. Anyway....

As I'm walking my mess of a yard I find an egg...it doesn't look like 1 the 3 older girls lay. Bigger than a bantam, but not the color/size/shape of my red sex-link. It dawns on me...the americauna "triplets" were a bit older...I thought maybe a few weeks when I got them, but now I'm wondering if closer to 4 months old. The other chicks are to lay bantam or white eggs or brown. This one to me looks like a tan with a green wash over it. Rather that's how I'd paint the color.

I don't think it's Hops as she had an egg in her box yesterday & I know I checked the day prior. I don't think I missed this egg the day prior as it was out in the open. There's no way I could see this belonging to a white layer. Would have to be a tan/tinted. It is close in size to Hops' egg. I do at least check eggs daily, if not a couple time with the heat.

Then just a bit ago I went out to turn on the mister & found a Marshmallow in by their food! Normally she either lays in an unfinished box or on top of the coop. She holds court from there & gets into arguments with my roo...like 10 minutes full blown, loud, back & forth. She's even been on the house roof (no eggs) a couple times during one of their tiffs. I know it's hers as it looks just like what she does. I can't see the other cresteds laying yet too.

So, I'm thinking my chicks are messing with me. I know Marshmallow isn't happy....I went to check for any eggs & she started yelling about me & the 2 little dogs in her coop. Even got in the coop after I was out & started pecking at the pups. Indy got out asap, but poor Piglet was trapped by her & then the roo behind Marshmallow...so Piglet bared teeth & growled a bit while trying to move forward. Yes, that's when I had stepped back over from hearing the commotion & scooted the chickens from Piglet so she could get out. Never happened before.....I'm wondering if she might be getting ready to go broody.

Just to help put folks at ease about the pups..they've been trained to leave the chicks alone. Indy (chihuahua) is actually shorter than all of them, Piglet (chiweenie) just about the same height to some, definitely when she sits. Never had a problem with either of them chasing the chickens. Just Piglet egg shopping when I tried to teach her to collect them & bring them to me....she tried to keep them & eat them. So, we cut that training short & went to don't touch unless I say so. They were both, um let's say...helping to clean the coop.

First pic is last night & second just now...trying to get better for size/color compare




So, bit of weirdness from my corner.

 

[henny1129]

Posting to subscribe!

 

[Chickensfan]

woah! nice story!

Don't know about happy happy, but happy weird.

Last evening I go out to check for eggs, give the chicks their night-night scratch, etc. Basically the prep to put the 2 month olds in their temp coop until I get more roost bars in the big chicks coop. I still have to put each of them in it. No one is willing to go in & stay by themselves. With the heat, can't bring myself to lock them in either. Anyway....

As I'm walking my mess of a yard I find an egg...it doesn't look like 1 the 3 older girls lay. Bigger than a bantam, but not the color/size/shape of my red sex-link. It dawns on me...the americauna "triplets" were a bit older...I thought maybe a few weeks when I got them, but now I'm wondering if closer to 4 months old. The other chicks are to lay bantam or white eggs or brown. This one to me looks like a tan with a green wash over it. Rather that's how I'd paint the color.

I don't think it's Hops as she had an egg in her box yesterday & I know I checked the day prior. I don't think I missed this egg the day prior as it was out in the open. There's no way I could see this belonging to a white layer. Would have to be a tan/tinted. It is close in size to Hops' egg. I do at least check eggs daily, if not a couple time with the heat.

Then just a bit ago I went out to turn on the mister & found a Marshmallow in by their food! Normally she either lays in an unfinished box or on top of the coop. She holds court from there & gets into arguments with my roo...like 10 minutes full blown, loud, back & forth. She's even been on the house roof (no eggs) a couple times during one of their tiffs. I know it's hers as it looks just like what she does. I can't see the other cresteds laying yet too.

So, I'm thinking my chicks are messing with me. I know Marshmallow isn't happy....I went to check for any eggs & she started yelling about me & the 2 little dogs in her coop. Even got in the coop after I was out & started pecking at the pups. Indy got out asap, but poor Piglet was trapped by her & then the roo behind Marshmallow...so Piglet bared teeth & growled a bit while trying to move forward. Yes, that's when I had stepped back over from hearing the commotion & scooted the chickens from Piglet so she could get out. Never happened before.....I'm wondering if she might be getting ready to go broody.

Just to help put folks at ease about the pups..they've been trained to leave the chicks alone. Indy (chihuahua) is actually shorter than all of them, Piglet (chiweenie) just about the same height to some, definitely when she sits. Never had a problem with either of them chasing the chickens. Just Piglet egg shopping when I tried to teach her to collect them & bring them to me....she tried to keep them & eat them. So, we cut that training short & went to don't touch unless I say so. They were both, um let's say...helping to clean the coop.

First pic is last night & second just now...trying to get better for size/color compare




So, bit of weirdness from my corner.

 

[Chickensfan]

in a crazy way!

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

in a crazy way!

Yep. I always seem to get the oddballs for critters. Keeps life entertaining though. Right now I've an unfinished dog door that I have to block with more than a towel hanging as the chickens come inside. If you open the back door my little Freddie thinks it's an invitation to come in. Right now I'm getting the chicken evening line up...so off for the treats & put them all to bed. Sigh....I don't want to lock them in for 3 days or so way too hot for that. It's getting old putting them in their coop every night.

 

[Chickensfan]

Yep. I always seem to get the oddballs for critters. Keeps life entertaining though. Right now I've an unfinished dog door that I have to block with more than a towel hanging as the chickens come inside. If you open the back door my little Freddie thinks it's an invitation to come in. Right now I'm getting the chicken evening line up...so off for the treats & put them all to bed. Sigh....I don't want to lock them in for 3 days or so way too hot for that. It's getting old putting them in their coop every night.

well, oddballs can be a good thing. my little roo (in my avatar) "Hats" likes to pose for pics and walk around like a bandit lol.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

well, oddballs can be a good thing. my little roo (in my avatar) "Hats" likes to pose for pics and walk around like a bandit lol.

That'd be awesome to see. Of course it never fails that when they something you want a pic of you don't have a camera with you....Copper one of my oebg cockerels flew into my big tree & did the strut pose while I was trying to round everyone up. Then after I get ahold of Ducky, white cochin cockerel I believe, Freddie flies up & lands on Ducky. This is after Freddie flew up and landed on my chest...guess someone's wanting attention! I'm a bit worried that Freddie & Ducky might be attached/bonded. Definitely need to rehome the extra boys sooner rather than later. I don't wanna...but I gotta.

 

[Chickensfan]

aww. sorry you gotta rehome some. i have the same issue. except, i am getting more hens to balance it out, so they don't get overmated.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

I'd do that except I've 5 boys in the 2 month old group....my older roo needs more than 3 hens. He mates all 3, but Toodles is his favorite. My plan was 14 with hopes they'd all be girls or maybe 1 boy...also thought I might lose a few since last year I lost over half of the chicks I picked. Course, this year...only 1. If I were to keep all 5 that'd be 6 roos...if I figure 5 hens per roo then I'd need 30 hens. Right I'd have 2 (9 2month olds +3 older = 12)

Not sure how, even with mix of sizes, that would work in my yard. The lot is 75'x110', if I had my front yard fenced it'd be different as I'd have that space to capitalize on. If the average is 3' of space per bird..900'...hmmm could work. My dogs are inside most of the day & the buns really go wherever.

I just would need a bigger coop or more coops. Which I can't manage either right now for a whole host of reasons. Does give me something to think about.

Right now I'm trying to get everything set before I fly to Florida on 8-31 for 10days so it's pretty automatic. I've the dog door to finish, mister to put up, auto water to do, & some sort of auto feeder. Plus, I should be able to the few week old babies I keep outside by then. My Dad's coming down twice a day to feed/give my chi is medicine & to take care of the chicks & buns too. So, the more I have automated the easier it'll be & less I have to worry about. I don't see my Dad hanging her for any longer than he has to...I'm hoping he'll spend a bit of time though so the pups especially won't go crazy. The chicks will need a bit, but should get by with the night time snacks & morning checkup.

Sorry for the brain dump...I ramble at times.