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[Rudies Roost]

Lucky you! I hope you enjoyed Switzerland

Loved it! Cold but amazing! Not much snow so skiing wasn't the best but still fun. Had a few days in Chamonix, France too and a couple of days in Geneva too. Can't recommend it enough

 

[Rudies Roost]

Aaawww glad you/re feeling a bit better love- it will take time.

Regarding daddies I can't comment- only keep girlies ha ha x

Thank you all for the good wishes and support! I am starting to feel a bit better about it all, have been very fed up the last few days.
I am starting to think about cracking out the incubator again and trying to hatch some more. Last years hatchlings have started laying and they're such small eggs it's adorable! The one cockerel left out of my Scots Grey hatchlings has finally started crowing, but he scares himself (and the rest of the flock) silly when he does it! He flaps his wings and almost looks like he's having some sort of fit, though I'm sure he will come to terms with his new found voice soon enough. Bruce, who is the father of the rest of last years chicks, doesn't seem to happy with another cockerel around, but he isn't beating him up either, so at least that's a good thing. I am now left with the decision whether to keep Bruce and get rid of the other cockerel, or keep the little one and get rid of Bruce. I can't keep two around, I'll have far too many chicks!

Good luck with the decision. I end up keeping my cockerels, but in some strange twist of fate, nature (fox or illnesses) seem to cart off my excess boys. I'm currently down to 1 splash silkie cockerel. However, i do think that my Buff Orpington "hen" Ophelia is infact a Phil....he/she is not crowing or laying (scared of said silkie cock despite being 3 times the size of him!) but sporting a massive big comb and dancing beautifully for my ladies.....just what I don't need. The silkie cock has plenty of silkie hens to reproduce with but I have no other Orps sadly. Oh, the stress! If they live happily together, personally, I leave them be (i had 4 cocks at one point....my poor girls!).

 

[timon]

Hi. Welcome to all the new people & Happy new year everyone.

It really is sad when girls and boys are ill, but it sounds like everyone does try to keep them in the best health.

I had a fox attack at the weekend, and my rooster, who I thought was a wimp, must've taken it upon himself to stand up to it & protect his girls. Sadly the poor guy was dragged off into the night, and the girls are being brave without him.

 

[Rudies Roost]

Hi. Welcome to all the new people & Happy new year everyone.

It really is sad when girls and boys are ill, but it sounds like everyone does try to keep them in the best health.

I had a fox attack at the weekend, and my rooster, who I thought was a wimp, must've taken it upon himself to stand up to it & protect his girls. Sadly the poor guy was dragged off into the night, and the girls are being brave without him.

Oh nightmare. Same happened to me last Summer, lost my gorgeous Rhode Island Red roo (Rudy...who my username is after) and his son too, they must have valiantly fought the dog fox (which came back the next morning but got a face full of lead courtesy of my o/h who was waiting for it!) but to no avail. Bless them, I did shed many a tear for my lads. Sorry for your loss - he did his job and kept your ladies safe.

 

[Gge23]

Hi. Welcome to all the new people & Happy new year everyone.

It really is sad when girls and boys are ill, but it sounds like everyone does try to keep them in the best health.

I had a fox attack at the weekend, and my rooster, who I thought was a wimp, must've taken it upon himself to stand up to it & protect his girls. Sadly the poor guy was dragged off into the night, and the girls are being brave without him.

Yes, I managed to keep Dave alive for 6 months after he hatched on his back and couldn't walk, complete miracle how he just kept trying to fight it. Just would've been nice if he could've pulled through.
I'm sorry for your loss also, I don't know what I'd do if a fox attacked my lot. Touch wood I haven't seen any around where I live, so hopefully I will never have to know that pain.
That being said, I know where there is a cockerel up for grabs!

 

[timon]

Oh nightmare. Same happened to me last Summer, lost my gorgeous Rhode Island Red roo (Rudy...who my username is after) and his son too, they must have valiantly fought the dog fox (which came back the next morning but got a face full of lead courtesy of my o/h who was waiting for it!) but to no avail. Bless them, I did shed many a tear for my lads. Sorry for your loss - he did his job and kept your ladies safe.

So I realise foxes are only doing what's natural, but it's very sad. I'm sorry about Rudy x2...
My 5-yr old took it pretty rough - her favourite girl 'Mrs Brown' who always came up to and said hello to everyone also died. Postman, builders, amazon delivery guy - everyone loved her. I'm hoping one of the girls I have left will turn broody and I can slip some eggs under. Baby chicks would be very cute and might help her bond with another. Is broodiness a completely natural process, or can it be encouraged?

 

[timon]

Yes, I managed to keep Dave alive for 6 months after he hatched on his back and couldn't walk, complete miracle how he just kept trying to fight it. Just would've been nice if he could've pulled through.
I'm sorry for your loss also, I don't know what I'd do if a fox attacked my lot. Touch wood I haven't seen any around where I live, so hopefully I will never have to know that pain.
That being said, I know where there is a cockerel up for grabs!

I remember reading about your struggle with Dave !
You couldn't've done more.

Tell me more about the cockerel you're talking about.

 

[Gge23]

So I realise foxes are only doing what's natural, but it's very sad. I'm sorry about Rudy x2...
My 5-yr old took it pretty rough - her favourite girl 'Mrs Brown' who always came up to and said hello to everyone also died. Postman, builders, amazon delivery guy - everyone loved her. I'm hoping one of the girls I have left will turn broody and I can slip some eggs under. Baby chicks would be very cute and might help her bond with another. Is broodiness a completely natural process, or can it be encouraged?

I'm not sure it is something that you can make a hen do. I know some breeds are more broody than others, especially silkies! I've only ever had one of my hens go broody, a dark Sussex. All my other chicks I hatched myself with an incubator and brooder.

 

[PaulaMc]

Hi. Welcome to all the new people & Happy new year everyone.

It really is sad when girls and boys are ill, but it sounds like everyone does try to keep them in the best health.

I had a fox attack at the weekend, and my rooster, who I thought was a wimp, must've taken it upon himself to stand up to it & protect his girls. Sadly the poor guy was dragged off into the night, and the girls are being brave without him.

Oh what a nightmare!!! So sorry.

Sending big hugs x

 

[Gge23]

I remember reading about your struggle with Dave !
You couldn't've done more.

Tell me more about the cockerel you're talking about.

He's the last of my Scots Grey cockerels. By some twist of fate he has never been ill, not had what all his brothers had, and is flourishing into a beautiful looking gentleman. Got massive bright red comb and wattles, 6 months old, and just started crowing the other day. Bruce (my original cockerel) has been showing him all the moves he needs to pull with the ladies, but currently without success, and a lot of head pecking. He is rather small at the moment, about the size of a fully grown bantam cockerel, but I'm sure he will get double that size. They have the same markings as a cuckoo maran, and are confused with them a lot, but they are built differently and stand differently, with the Scots Grey having more of a steely plumage. He truly is beautiful!
Wish I had a photo to show you!