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

 

[thistlewick]

Had to candle one of the eggs that are up for hatching because I found one on the floor of the coop -- I stuck it under Harriet and realized later that day that it was Ginger's... but there were TWO under Harriet that were from the same hen so I had to candle to see which one was developed more.

Ginger is due to hatch today/tomorrow and Harriet in 2 weeks so it would be easy to tell.

Candled it, it was FULL and looked absolutely perfect!! So I put it back under Ginger -- crossing fingers for her. I candled her other egg while she was off doing her dailies and it looked just as perfect. I hope she manages well.

So far, Tilly LOVES sharing with Harriet, and will go to bed in the nest beside Harriet and the babies go to Tilly OR Harriet. How freakin CUTE IS THAT??

The babies trust me !!! Did Tilly tell them that??!? They don't run away from my feet, it feels nice

I have championed their bug finding and nibbling many times over the past couple of days though, I think they know whose side I am on

More chickens, more mess. They kick out the shavings so much.

I have lost the will to try and keep it looking perfect and aesthetic. A little bit of shavings, who the hell cares, I have happy chickens.

It has been so wet and gross here, so hot and humid I'm over it and it's only June!

I'm seriously thinking of moving bc this weather is murder - but oh my god... so much to sell/move. I'd probably never find this amount of land again.

 

[thistlewick]

Ginger hatched a baby! I reached under her today to 'try and find the second egg' and booped a little fluff that cheeped. It's a Sophia baby, so MaranxEE Olive Egger -- she is just sitting her nest and clucking a little.

Will be interesting to see how she does!


I have too many chickens

 

[thistlewick]

Okay so Ginger was caught on camera kicking out her baby and pecking it

I didn't get a notification of activity but I just happened to walk out there to check on things about 3 minutes after she did it! The little baby is bloody. I dabbed it with hydrogen peroxide and put it in the brooder. Gave it a drink. It's wobbly and not well.



Ginger has 1 more egg pipped. Will watch it tonight and when that chick is dry I'll move it to the brooder.

She is a sweet chicken. But she did look super surprised at the chick under her. Not surprised she did this.

 

[WingItRanch]

Okay so Ginger was caught on camera kicking out her baby and pecking it

I didn't get a notification of activity but I just happened to walk out there to check on things about 3 minutes after she did it! The little baby is bloody. I dabbed it with hydrogen peroxide and put it in the brooder. Gave it a drink. It's wobbly and not well.



Ginger has 1 more egg pipped. Will watch it tonight and when that chick is dry I'll move it to the brooder.

She is a sweet chicken. But she did look super surprised at the chick under her. Not surprised she did this.

So glad you caught it fast! Good job!

 

[newchickychick]

Chicks really like to redecorate (kick shavings and poop into their feeders and waterers). Clearly filthy is the new clean!

Poor baby! Awesome job catching it so quickly. We are looking into good cameras as I speak for both inside and outside of the coop. And this definitely solidified why we need one as soon as the clucks move in.

Loving seeing your flock grow! Tilly’s babies are all so precious!
(No such thing as too many chickens. )

 

[thistlewick]

So the injured chick is rallying like crazy. Up in the brooder it ate and drank and is cheeping like mad. As I'm observing it, Tilly and Harriet both are trying to find this chick.

So was thinking I'd put it with Tilly tonight buuuutttt

I think it's too young to go with Tilly though. Hers are already quite capable. This one would not be able to follow. Harriet isn't due to hatch for two weeks. The other egg is pipped so if that one hatches it will have a buddy

If not it's got to wait a week for my incubator batch

It's freaking beautiful to watch a mother hen though.

Except she did leave a couple out in the extension that couldn't make it back up the ramp lol. I had to go in there twice today to help.

 

[thistlewick]

More chick pics

Harriet and Tilly really do get along really well and Harriet really likes Tillys chicks

Ruby snoozing on my leg

Cracker, 7 weeks old and looking lovely. FBCMaran x EE olive Egger Cockerel. He will make lots of neato egg layers!

Absolutely a Cockerel. 3 weeks old tomorrow. Cannot believe how massive they are

 

[thistlewick]

Quick update on Ginger's second chick; hatched late last night/early this morning, but was about 90% dry when I checked at chicken chores (of which I was late to, slept in )

I pulled it out and plopped it with the other chick, who is looking MUCH better but of course, it was very damaged so we will see how that goes.

Have Monday errands to do, will check back when we get back from all of that.

Keep having to rescue Tilly's chicks from the extension -- they cannot figure out how to come back up the ramp, we might put steps in on that other side to help any future chicks.

Honestly, chickens like steps. Don't know why more people don't do them. Seems nicer than a ramp.