Thistlewick Smallholding - Chickens & Sheep (for now)

[thistlewick]

Yes, that trip to Orkney was with my ex and some ex family and we had a "schedule"

I now travel much more relaxed and like to see the places off the beaten path much more.

I have been to many places of my own accord in the UK that would not even register as touristy and they are always the absolute BEST places. I used to keep a photo blog, but I took that all down years ago.

I hope you don't miss your chicks too much, I wonder if they will stay with the man's daughter indeed haha

 

[thistlewick]

So, the past few days I have gotten a few less eggs and I haven't seen a Chocolate egg in 2 days and THAT is bizarre as she never misses (poor thing)


So my husband and I were moaning about how it's too hot to go looking for a nest and just being crabby old people when I turn around to do something-or-other in the hen house to actually catch sight of:

This is UNDER the brooder. I don't know WHAT made me look back there -- and I was JUST SAYING how 'no one ever goes back there, they must not like tucked away places'

HAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHH how wrong I was!

Well it's only been 2 days, I gathered them. I left the little indent of bedding -- it's in the hen house, its nice and quiet and secure -- they can lay back there if they want to. Let's see if they keep going.

So I have another green egg layer finally -- Ayu (who is broody at 18 weeks old lawd), Francoise and then someone.... else of the new batch is laying. I have a sneaking suspicion it's Elayne -- who was supposed to be a "Calico Princess" but doesn't look like one, she looks like Coffee -- almost exactly to a T -- and they are Starlight Green Eggers (even though Coffee lays a warm, darker brown egg)

That day at TSC was a clusterf((( lol

I am surprised I did get the Light Brahma;

Lil Peep got her name bc as babies she YELLED all the time. Everyone else was quiet but her. She is now shy shy shy shy and I barely see her. So this pic was a treat. She floof.

Cracker crowed for the first time today - he's 15 weeks old. He is VERY good and mindful. He was the first chick we hatched ourselves.

Caught Spitfire being very photogenic. She squatted for Oscar today and he was like 'oh, I don't have to chase you? No thanks' and didn't get on her >< What a brat he is. Speaking of Oscar - @wrathsfarm how is he looking>?

He needs to grow his tail - but his coloring?? His beak is perfect and his comb and wattles look lovely. Just wondering if he needs more copper on his back? He's only like 19 weeks old though.

Dolly, our Golden Campine looking amazing!

 

[wrathsfarm]

At 19 weeks he's still growing. I see the mahogany just starting on his wing bay, so let's give him some time yet to fill out and get that tail.

Keep posting pics of him. If Oscar is comfortable with you and the camera, get a photo shoot focusing on just him, in his relaxed state. Overall pics... Both sides, behind, above back, front, close up of face, eyes and comb both sides and a close up of his leg stance. He needs to be in his relaxed state so take your time and get lots of pics, dedicate your time (when you have it) to just him. If he alerts or is skittish that throws his head and tail up and these are not his correct stance. Then weed thru your pics getting the best ones that show his correct stance and coloring.
Cameras like to change coloring especially so pick the ones that show him and his true coloring as you see him everyday.
That's when we can get a proper overall evaluation on him for SOP. But like said, he's still young, he's got a lot of growing to do and he'll change at his first juvenile molt around 18 months...
Where he's at now I'm selecting for major DQ's only. Body type, tail set, vulture hocks, copper extending too far down the breast for example in my breeders.

Overall I quite like him. His chest is starting to fill out, his copper looks nice, his comb and eyes do look nice so far with proper amount of leakage in his chest. We need to see what that tail is going to look like.

 

[thistlewick]

@wrathsfarm thank you so much!!! he is very comfy with me, I can absolutely get loads of pics of him as he grows - I will start an Oscar folder in my chicken folder haha

 

[wrathsfarm]

@wrathsfarm thank you so much!!! he is very comfy with me, I can absolutely get loads of pics of him as he grows - I will start an Oscar folder in my chicken folder haha

Great...looking forward to seeing more pics.

 

[thistlewick]

loads of pics last evening; quite a frenetic evening - Chuck fronted and pecked me -- realized I was wearing the same thing the first time he did it -- a bright blue tie-dye flowy dress! Changed, came back out and sat down within a foot of him and he was fine.

Both times, he didn't seem like he WANTED to be aggro at me. Like it was against his will, but he couldn't help it. He just doesn't give off bad vibes lol

Will see how he goes if I never wear that dress again and he is back to normal.


So this is what happens when you throw a lot of scratch on one part of the grass:

^^ how cute is this little guy??

So this was the LAST of about 70 that flew over, they were huge and looked all black and were flying over -- the roosters of course halfassed called, but none of the girls were afraid of them, so whatever they were, they were not a threat. Wish I would have gotten a pic of the huge cluster of them flying over, but I was too busy staring like a fool LOL

 

[thistlewick]

Tilly been sitting a nest ALL DAY.

TILLY. Miss LADY. I thought letting you brood chicks would CURE YOU OF THIS AFFLICTION.

Guess not. If she attaches to that nest, I'll stick a couple eggs under her why not. She's a magnificent mama.

Ayu still broody - she's too young to let it follow through though I think - she is all of 19 weeks old. She's sitting on fake eggs right now, will take them away from her at about the 3 week mark. She snatched the most popular newest nest -- bc of course she did lolol

 

[thistlewick]

Going to pick up some *actual* Ameraucana hatching eggs today - gonna throw them under Tilly, because yeah she's broody -- lawd I really thought letting her hatch babies would get her out of the mindset but nope.

The lady had Lavender and Chocolate - two colors I didn't really want but now I will have some totally different chickens so that's kind of cool.

Just getting 6, 3 of each - we will see how it goes.

My older bunch were sus of ice -- I used to do it for them last summer but they were babies and forgot, I guess -- so I had to lure them in with scratch to let them know it was safe/cool.

Blisteringly hot yesterday and today.

The littles LOVE the pan of ice, though - they just stand in it. lol

Chuck was in a good mood because I was wearing full tie-die same-type dress (not just blue) and he didn't care at all. I wore it on purpose to see what his deal was.

The clouds were clouding last evening.

 

[thistlewick]

The lady gave me 1 each extra, LAWD so 4 lavender 4 chocolate (mottled, possibly) Ameraucanas under Tilly. She was DELIGHTED to receive them.

Last time Tilly managed 8/8 but these might not have the same coverage Chuck manages

We will see in 3 weeks!

 

[WingItRanch]

The lady gave me 1 each extra, LAWD so 4 lavender 4 chocolate (mottled, possibly) Ameraucanas under Tilly. She was DELIGHTED to receive them.

Last time Tilly managed 8/8 but these might not have the same coverage Chuck manages

We will see in 3 weeks!

Chicken math strikes again!