Thistlewick Smallholding - Chickens & Sheep (for now)

[thistlewick]

So I miscounted; Tilly hatched EIGHT babies. I am not surprised I miscounted lol But now I got them all in a pic so I will learn them:

Tilly absolutely *ruled* the hen house today. She wouldn't let anyone in AT ALL for hours. By the end of the day, she was more relaxed.

But she was terrified of the waterer:

She kept making scared noises at it -- so the chicks watched Custard at the nipple waterer and I know 2 day old chicks aren't supposed to be able to do it but...

I found it wildly interesting how certain hens got a pass from Tilly as 'safe' around her babies. It was the nicest hens. Custard. Pudding. Blanche. Tilly didn't mind them coming in.

Anyone else? NO. lol

But lockup was... lol Tilly went back up to her nest.... but the babies couldn't and she was clucking at them and they couldn't get to her so what did they do?

THEY PILED ON HARRIET -- who is broody in the nest BELOW Tilly. LOLOLOL I did not get a pic, I didn't have my phone and I was too busy on my knees reaching under and behind Harriet to put the babies with Tilly and I'm pretty sure I got all eight but ya know what? Harriet didn't seem to mind ONE BIT. Not a single bit. She has just been broody, observing Tilly all day from her little spot in the corner nest tucked away. I bet she kinda liked the babies cuddling her. Who wouldnt?

Anyway, when I got them all (I think?) up to Tilly she stopped clucking and Harriet settled down.

Since all the babies / adolescents / teens are kind of different flocks, I've come up with names for them all;

Teens are just that - the teens. I will call them the teens until they start laying lol

The bunch of 6 Easter Eggers + Cracker (the first chick we ever hatched ourselves) I am calling the Cracker Jacks

The batch of 11 that we hatched ourselves 2 weeks ago I am calling The Lollipop Guild because they are SO freakin sweet. Ruby, the little red chick snuggles my neck under my hair. Like come onnnnnn I didn't realize they could be so snuggly. It's very charming. We don't pick them up. We just sit with them and they jump all over us.

The 2 week olds are *very* brave indeed

 

[thistlewick]

So yesterday I went on a crazy road trip around NC to pick up hatching eggs -- I figured I didn't have to buy them online, LOADS of people sell good quality eggs, the two people I found were LOVELY!! Had excellent birds and I am super excited.

12 Welsummer
8 Ameraucana

in my new Brinsea incubator :O I had no business getting it. lol but I reasoned it was just a 1-time purchase for good times the rest of the time I've got here. YOLO (cringe, sorry I said that LOL)

I am really hoping I don't have 100% efficacy with the eggs, because OH MY GOD

Tilly has turned out to be a magnificent mother. I wasn't sure because of how she wanted to kill those other chicks we tried to introduce her, but turns out, she's just super smart. She knows who her chicks are haha

taking them out in the grassy pasture yesterday. They were out for hours. She dust bathed, but not in the typical spot, the lean-to "Spa" that's too far away for safety for right now. Nope, just in a little tiny spot of dirt right outside the hen house by the fence. They all crowded around to her watch her. I don't have my phone a lot of the time when I go out there to hang with them/do chicken chores so I miss a lot of photo opportunities.

It's pouring rain this morning, and I've left them locked up for now because I personally don't want to go out there in the pouring rain, and I peeked on them on the camera, anticipating chaos...

But no. Calm peaceful quiet.

I need a third camera out in the outside part of the hen house lol