Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[FirewifeJess]

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Holy crapamole! I just went out to look and the chicks were chirping like crazy and Lucy was clucking. I have NO idea how, but Dartha my Australorp was in the nest box with them all and she had laid an egg! And she was looking at the babies and even nuzzled one. I hope she's broody next

When Marmalade had her quarantine area, everyone else was SUPER JEALOUS.  At one point, Pudge got into her outside area, squeezed in through the tiny door into the coop for bantams, and laid an egg in her cage in the house.  Those Australorps are naughty girls.

Yes they are! One of my EEs is also super curious and wants to see the babies because they're chirping a lot. She's standing in the unused nest box with just her head over the partition staring sweetly. Lucy is not amused.

 

[FirewifeJess]

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Holy crapamole! I just went out to look and the chicks were chirping like crazy and Lucy was clucking. I have NO idea how, but Dartha my Australorp was in the nest box with them all and she had laid an egg! And she was looking at the babies and even nuzzled one. I hope she's broody next

When Marmalade had her quarantine area, everyone else was SUPER JEALOUS.  At one point, Pudge got into her outside area, squeezed in through the tiny door into the coop for bantams, and laid an egg in her cage in the house.  Those Australorps are naughty girls.

Yes they are! One of my EEs is also super curious and wants to see the babies because they're chirping a lot. She's standing in the unused nest box with just her head over the partition staring sweetly. Lucy is not amused.

 

[itsren]

Hey TerrorBird - I just wanted to say congrats on getting your bird's picture on the front page. I saw that this morning and recognized your name. Great photo!

 

[Farmin Momma]

Quote: I told DH that when we move (and get settled in) I want to have bees as well. Really looking forward to them.

My coop is finally done....ahhh.

So beautiful, you did a Great job! Enjoy the clean look of it while it lasts.

Oh look at the momma! I don't want to make you more worried, but I had a broody last summer and she took the chicks just fine for the first day. Then she killed two of them, one on the second day and one on the third. I am sure your girl will do just fine, but I understand your caution.

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just like with a bator set on yer hands and ONLY look in through the window ! ! !

I can't see this and let this go. Being called a "helicopter" mom is a derogatory statement. I quit volunteering at my kids' school after a staff member called me that. I decided that it wasn't worth my giving my time and effort (for free) to help the teachers if I was going to be called names for doing so. After that, they started sending notes home stating they needed volunteers. Yet, I have no desire to go back into the classroom. They lost a very active volunteer over name-calling.

I wish the name-calling on this thread would stop. It makes me not want to come here.
Please do not be offended by what I am about to say. But IMO don't take your self, your kindness, or your valued time away from the school just because someone can't think before they speak. Words are just words, you are the bigger person for what you were doing. Also I do understand though as well, putting your self there for help and feeling the way they made you feel when you are there to help.
I do not think that Totalcolour made that comment in a mean way. And does not seem that Jess took it as a bad thing either.
Just my two cents.

 

[TerrorBird]

Hey TerrorBird - I just wanted to say congrats on getting your bird's picture on the front page. I saw that this morning and recognized your name. Great photo!

Thanks! It's one of the few times my phone has taken a good picture. NEED AN ACTUAL CAMERA!

 

[walady944]

boy, that chicken math is contagious; I did it too and am wondering where to put all these babies due to arrive in one week.
Lynn

 

[walady944]

Oh, My, this is glorious; great job, Farns.
I want one like it!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

So the "new" Blackie (an OE, DH's shoulder buddy) scared the living daylights out of me today. I went into the greenhouse to sit and watch them in the tractor and saw this black bird with a huge face muff. What!??? I was horrified to think I may have brought the wrong chicken to auction. Only the boys had face muffs yesterday! DH looked at her with me, held her - she went up on his arm. We *think* the little with the face muff is his shoulder buddy! We're not absolutely sure though. I guess she could be Snow.

But the one I thought was Snow went up to my shoulder like she usually does. I studied pictures that I took yesterday, and she's gotta be one of the "she's" because her comb is not like the combs on the 2 OE boys we took to auction.

How do they change so stinkin' fast? And how do you keep track of "who's who" when they look so much alike?

Colored zipties

Quote: Colored zipties

Just checked on the brood again. They seem fine, and Lucy isn't hurting them, but she's a bit distant and isn't "mothering" them either. Whenever I pull them out from under her she pecks gently a little bit but mostly ignores them. Hoping her instinct will kick in soon, maybe they just need more time.

One of the Speckled Sussex is quite tenacious and every time I pull her out, she pecks at Lucy's wattles. Over and over again. It's hilarious. And Lucy isn't hurting her back, just sitting there letting her do it. Maybe that's a good sign.

If Lucy is a good momma and trust you, she will not react much to you handling the chicks. Mine was this way toward me, she would fluff a little when I approached and watch me intently, but when she saw I was not hurting anyone she would go about tending to the other chick.

Quote: But it also gave you a chance to document fertility in the eggs.

My coop is finally done....ahhh.

Very nice

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Quote: Yes they are! One of my EEs is also super curious and wants to see the babies because they're chirping a lot. She's standing in the unused nest box with just her head over the partition staring sweetly. Lucy is not amused.
Do not trust any of the other birds around the chicks yet. They seem nice and then when they are within striking distance, they will peck, and usually not nicely. You have to wait until Lucy brings them out to them in a week or so. She is still coming out of her broody trance, it takes a day or so.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I also sent ChickAudie an email. I saw nothing that would have triggered her post.

Itsren, if she does not want the chicks after they hatch(don't know if she will respond to contact from any of us) then I will take them back, unless someone else wants them.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Do not trust any of the other birds around the chicks yet. They seem nice and then when they are within striking distance, they will peck, and usually not nicely. You have to wait until Lucy brings them out to them in a week or so. She is still coming out of her broody trance, it takes a day or so.

OK so maybe that's what the deal is with her. Still in a broody trance? Oddly enough, when I went out to check on them a minute ago they weren't in the nest box anymore, they were all walking around next to mama on the linoleum floor of the coop and she was talking to them a bit frantically...like the same cluck over and over again. I wonder what happened? Did she take them down there or did one or more venture down the ramp so she had no choice but to go down there too? I put them all in the giant brooder cardboard box in the coop with food and water. It's 2x3'...is that enough for a while? Will she poop in there?(meaning, will she hold it or do her business in there?I can clean it out...). The other hens have access to this box though because I don't have any type of lid Not sure what to do but it's not good if her chicks can get away from her like that, she'll be forced to make decisions first time mamas shouldn't need to make