Washingtonians

[Nyrial]

Hey! I had a perfectly valid reason for not going in the pond.

(And if you help me in, remember, I'll be grabbing the closest thing for balance

)

Now bow before my pullet eggs goshdarnit!

 

[weaveagarden]

Hi all.
I thought I would check in and see what was going on. Looks like everything is just the same in the loony coop.

N - Those are much lighter eggs than any of my reds lay. They all lay a medium/dark reddish brown. Those eggs look more like the eggs from my Barred rock or one of the orps. Regardless, Congrats on the eggs..... I am very proud of them. And certainly great size if the duck egg is normal sized.

R - If my Delaware is any indication, they are cold hearty. They do have a single comb. But the females have a reasonable sized one. And we rarely get cold enough weather to freeze their combs. If my girls are any indication.... my Barred Rock and my New Hampshire are both laying very well.

We are having our Christmas all day tomorrow. We went out to the Noodle Boat tonight in Issaquah. Wonderful Thai food. I had the "Whatever My Name" - Yummy!

Night all!

 

[ultasol]

Since we are on totally random randomness I think I'll share this Washingtonian's first chicken story.

About 9 years ago I got my mother some EE chicks for mother's day. She had a coop, and wanted some colored egg layers. Of course, not knowing anything about birds, I got them at the feedstore and chose the chicks that had the puffiest cheeks (but didn't look them over well). Once they were home and settled into the brooder I was dipping the beaks in water (as I saw described in a chicken book I checked out from the library) I noticed one with a very crooked beak. Upon closer examination, I also noticed one eye wouldn't open all the way, although there was no discharge.

Since these chicks were to be a present and I didn't want any gloom overhanging the gift, I took this chick home and brooded it in a cardboard box with one buddy. It had a hard time finding the food and water, so I was often hand feeding and aiding this bird. With that much time being spent on this chick, I thought it needed a name but wanted it to be fairly impersonal since I thought for sure it would die.

So I named it Retardo (I know, completely un-PC- so sorry!)

Retardo was always much MUCH smaller than the other EE. Once mature, and I was certain she would live, she was returned to my mother. By this time she was quite the pet. She loved people, loved to be carried, was always begging for treats and would come when called. The problem was her name. By the time I was sure she was going to make it she knew her name. Upon calling her Retardo would come running full tilt from wherever she was directly towards your voice. Due to the one eye her depth perception was awful, meaning often her 'coming when called' ended in her running into your leg and knocking herself off of her feet. My mother swears to this day I named that poor pullet Retardo simply so I could laugh at her yelling for her out in the yard. (It was quite a sight to see my mother, who is very proper, out in the yard calling 'Retardo' and turning bright red at the same time)..

This special hen was unfortunately lost to a hawk at slightly over a year old. To this day I remember her fondly, as does my mother, and she was the start of my love of poultry.

I suppose the lesson learned is:
A) sometimes the culls worm their way into your heart and
B) even if you think the chick won't make it, choose a better name than Retardo.

 

[herbandteas]

thanks for the laugh I really needed it so now that I have read everything I missed today I can go to sleep. For tomorrow is another long day in retail hell!!!!!

I promise myself that I won't be doing this next year.

 

[Nyrial]

Quote:
Ewwwwwwwwww


Could they have come from my NH Red then Weave? Those are my only two red hens, and the feather that was (very) stuck to them was a red one.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote:
Ewwwwwwwwww


Could they have come from my NH Red then Weave? Those are my only two red hens, and the feather that was (very) stuck to them was a red one.

By the way, VERY NICE pullet eggs! I have had other feathers stuck to the eggs before. My Marans has whit feathers and hers have been stuck to my Sexlink eggs before. I don't know how it got there but since my Marans isn't laying, and I can recognize Lucy's eggs, I know it wasn't hers. So good luck figuring out wich ones.

ETA- I just looked back at your eggs, and someone probably layed that egg on the feather and when it dried it stuck. I forgot, what breeds do you have?

 

[RonB]

ultasol
My daughter wants a retardo

She has always been the animal lover. she has always wanted the runt or the underdog or hurt animal. We have lots of wild rabbits around here. the cat next door would go after the babies. my daughter would always nurse them back to health. (if they wern't too far gone)

 

[rainplace]

You all are funny. I wish I were as witty as you all are.

ultasol, that was a great story. It was happy, sad and hilarious. Thank you for sharing!

I'm ready for Christmas to be over already. I'm still procrastinating the last little bit of shopping. I haven't wrapped anything and I'm just not looking forward to another Christmas Eve trying to get everything wrapped and under the tree. On the plus side, I was informed yesterday that Christmas dinner would not be at my house. It was going to be elsewhere. I wasn't invited either! I am so happy. It means I can do a Christmas breakfast and then send the kids on their way. Then hubby and I can laze around half nekkid and not worry about keeping up appearances. So, once I get through tonight the stress part will be over! Merry Christmas to me

Little peepers are doing great. I've moved them into the bathtub and they love all the room to run around. One of my cats tried to eat one when I was playing with them in the living room. My heart stopped until I realized that somehow the claws and teeth managed not to nick her. From now on, no cats out when I have the peepers out. I'll be moving the rabbit hutch up into the living room after Christmas as their permanent home for a while.

Hrmmm... what else?

Oh yeah, January 31, I'm going to take on the 29 day giving challenge. If you're interested in participating check out the thread I started https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=278797

I hope everyone is having a good day!

Donna

 

[Nyrial]

Quote:
I have a mixed bag.. White Rock, Black Australorp, NH Red, Production Red, Leghorns (I know it wasn't them at least!), couple EEs, A Silver Duckwing Phoenix, and Light Brahma in that pen.

The 2 reds and white rock have the reddest faces, and I'm getting definite squats out of all of them.. Snowball especially. Although my Australorp has been getting redder and starting to act very uncomfortable, Buffy (my NH) spent a lot of time hanging out close to the coop when I let them out today.

It's a mystery

Dan found another egg out there today too.


On the other hand, if the ducks don't stop laying eggs in the middle of the yard

They were doing really well in the garage, laying them in a little nest. Now, they just seem to let them rip where ever they feel like it.

Rainplace, you'll be happy to know 5 of the little peeps are doing great. Unfortunately I lost Riley the other night

 

[herbandteas]

Quote:
I am about as witty as a titty!