The Fraggles

[jsr5]

So How are your babies handling the move and exploring the new surroundings?

 

[sean_wonder]

They're handling it like champs! No signs of stress except for a little peck wound on Cheryl's beak. They seem to feel the need to re-establish the pecking order every time they move places and Cheryl... hasn't been doing the best in the hierarchy regard. Try as she might, she's the smallest. Clementine, the biggest, doesn't seem to be high or low. She uses her size to get what she wants, but she really doesn't seem to have want of anything. Chickie Minaj is looking more and more like a boy every day. She has a single comb, which is weird considering EEs normally have pea combs and silkies normally have walnuts... we did find out, however, that Chickie loves pickles? She had one bite, considered, and ran away with the rest. We had to pry it from her, and she scrabbled to gobble it up before we could. She was punished with diarrhea afterwards, but seems to have fully recovered to her wary, standoffish self. Chickie is always on guard, even during treat time. I really hope she's not a boy, though. She has so much personality, and she's so sweet with her tummy rubs and her cuddles.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Pics

 

[BY Bob]

Pics

I agree. More pictures

 

[rjohns39]

I agree. More pictures

X3 Sean I'm glad you're still posting. After your last and then silence I feared you had abandoned us.

 

[jsr5]

With the silence I had feared the worst that the move revealed some unforseen danger so glad to hear your babies are fine and growing. And they like pickles. I'm sure they would be ok in moderation as the vinegar can be somewhat helpful. I know mine love cucumbers if you cut them open lengthwise for em . they dont like onions though. tomatoes and grapes are fun to watch them with.

 

[sean_wonder]

Don't worry y'all! Still posting! I've been avoiding the pictures because I really, really hate the file submission on this site. Therefore! I am making an instagram dedicated to capturing my sweetlings! See the girls on @breakfastpoopers !

Yesterday it was barely fifty degrees with crazy, freezing winds. Nonetheless, the girls got shy of two hours worth of coop time before mommy got too nervous and shoved them all in her shirt for a nice warm cuddle and a heater-free day in the garage. Feeling like a horrible chicken mom, I took Goose inside for a couple hours of television watching, though she slept through most of it. I learned that Goose is incredibly similar to Chickie, in that she never wants to be caught but also never wants to stop being snuggled. The only difference is, Goose will run up to me any time I say the magic, treat bearing words-- "Hey pretty girls!" No matter how many times I've duped her. Chickie, on the other hand, waits until there's a squabble or a food chase before swooping in, pecking mommy's hand as hard as she possibly can, snatching a worm and sprinting to the far corner of the brooder in the hopes of creating a food run.

Today is a toasty 64 degrees with some wonderful sun and light breeze! So naturally, mommy cruelly snatched all the protesting babies from their brooder and threw them in the coop like the evil giant thing she is! As always, they love it out here. They immediately started gobbling up tidbits, making their first dust bath divots, and laying on their sides to soak up the warm sun on their tummies, trilling all the while. When grandma came outside to watch them, she was worried there was something wrong. After all, it's not every day you see a bird sprawled on the ground with its legs up, tummy exposed, and wings spread, despite the drooling dog pacing around their coop. As always, Cheryl decided it would be a grand idea to charge at Chickie. It would seem Cheryl rather enjoys drama. She's built like a Serama, that one. Big squirrel tail held high, tiny body and wings too big for her own good. She's also developing a cute little hairdo, though not nearly as epic as Clementine's. Cheryl's certainly not the boss of anyone, but she's not about to be placed in the order without a fight. As per usual, Chickie's right hand man Princess decided to challenge the dog. While Chickie sees no threat from him (and thus, the fraggles collectively could care less how much he drools at them), Princess has made it her mission to dominate him. She pecks his nose, and stares him down any second he passes an eye her way. I'm sure once she's bigger than two gulps for him, they'll have a squabble. In the meantime, it always makes me laugh to see Princess put on her tough guy stance against our sweet, clueless pupper.

 

[sean_wonder]

Just found a picture my mom (chicken grandma) took of the babies in their cake box before I met them. Thought I would share.
Tiny little Scrambled is on the left of the baby with her back turned to the camera. I hope she got to taste her first mealworm in heaven.

 

[sean_wonder]

Howdy friends! The chicks are five weeks old and spent their first night outside last night! It went swimmingly. I'm so proud of my baby girls.

Anyway, recently when I have brought the chickens inside for cuddles, I've seen them open their mouth and pant as if it was too hot in here. However, our house is hardly warmer than it is inside, so why are the chicks panting despite the cool temps? While they pant they are actively choosing to cuddle up to a warm human, and are completely free to move around and explore what I'm doing, so I don't really think it's stress... but I have no idea what's going on.

 

[jsr5]

Do you wear perfume or a deodorant with lots of smell to it? How about atomizers and stuff for aroma in the house. That could be it though I can't recall that being said before but might explain the panting if it is choking them up a little I know some perfumes and house deodorizers cause me to choke up nowa days. and not knowing where its coming from they would still want their cuddles time kinda a control what ya can and let the rest sort out itself kinda deal. I dunno could it be crop adjusting and you are mistaking it for panting. Are you giving them goodies in quantity or feeding them at the same time? As they fill up their crops they will open their beaks a bit and kinda stretch out their necks almost like a human with a crick in their neck. it repositions the crop either for comfort or to allow pigging out on a few more goodies.
Check this out went and picked up my banty babies today. Ready to head home here.

Made it home can't decide what they like more the food the heat lamp or the water. I love how lively they are noticeably more than the ones I've gotten at the farm store.

And while we were away all day. our incubator was busily working away on the suprise eggs from the clutch we found one of our hens hiding out trying to hatch.

Suprise!!!!! 11 had hatched one was still in the bator when this pic was taken still too wet to take out. And a 12th has a big old pip made and is taking a breather before unzipping. so has been a momentous day and the crazy chicken people ranch

Edit to add that there are about 28 or 29 bantams in that bunch even with pictures I can't quite be certain of the count. I bought 25 they threw in (gently I"m sure) a few extras. which will be really cool if I don't lose any to chickie sids or anything.