Thistlewick Smallholding - Chickens & Sheep (for now)

[thistlewick]

Chicken math strikes again!

I wasn't gonna waste a perfectly good broody -- I didn't have to do a SINGLE thing for her chicks, they all survived, they all thrived - and are 9 weeks old and lovelllyyyy so, I figured, why not get some more actual Ameraucanas lol

 

[wrathsfarm]

What about Ayu?

A dozen BCM eggs for her you say?

Well, I'll agree with that....

 

[thistlewick]

What about Ayu?

A dozen BCM eggs for her you say?

Well, I'll agree with that....

I don't anticipate her being ready to deal with chicks -- I could be wrong, but when this girl is off the nest she's running around batshit crazy LOL

She kinda IS crazy, typically - and FAST and... zany af. I just don't see her behavior as being calm enough to let slower baby chicks catch up to her.


Tilly had to go broody four times before I let her hatch any hahah, will wait and see if Ayu keeps trying.

She picked the newest nest that EVERYONE loved, bc it's huge (it's just a converted side table I got for $5 at auction)

and a bunch of hens still lay in there lolol plenty of space!

 

[Skyeknight]

She picked the newest nest that EVERYONE loved, bc it's huge (it's just a converted side table I got for $5 at auction

These are the easiest "nestboxes" to get! All of mine are either old kitchen cabinets or those smaller inside coops that are way too small.

 

[thistlewick]

These are the easiest "nestboxes" to get! All of mine are either old kitchen cabinets or those smaller inside coops that are way too small.

Yeah tbh, I love the look of just a bunch of various bits and bobs. We have "official" nest boxes and then, repurposed crates, nightstands, etc

 

[thistlewick]

Y'all these cockerels/rooster.

Chuck is feeling so insecure some evenings. Oscar is trying to chase everyone. Cream WENT AT CHUCK full attack mode, but Chuck was busy flying up to the fence, and was oblivious to it LOL

the 10 week olds are crowing every morning like WHAT even Cracker and Cream barely crow at 16 weeks old

It's a lot. I am considering my life choices lol

Also loads of baby cockerels we will have to get rid of, as we will have ~50 hens when everyone grows up and so, 5 boys. Lalalalalalaaaa.


I
Don't
Want
To
Pen
Anyone
Up
!

So it's a whole... thing to decide what to do.

Yall look at this Chuck Jr looking exactly like his papa as a mini me cuddled up with Hunter his little pullet GF. (Whoopie and Scarlett in the back, photo bombing)

LOOK AT THESE RASCALS

I'm gonna go measure and cut some OSB to screw on there slanted so they WILL STOP THIS monstrosity. Every night for a week I go and move them one by one, MUCH to their completely embarrassment and dismay. Do they learn? NO.

You can see Tilly just minding her business down there.^^ hehe

someone is laying a lovely green egg now, I think it's Elayne as she looks identical to Coffee and Coffee is a starlight green egger. I think I've said this 900 times in my posts. lol