Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Yay! Chicks! What kind? I have 11 keets hatched so far!

Mutts... these are my last co-op batch. Selling Sat..

 

[Alaskan]

They are supposed to be pest repellant! I guess the rabbits didn't get the memo.

that is what I had heard. ... and is why I would have thought they wouldn't have been that tasty.

 

[CapricornFarm]

that is what I had heard. ... and is why I would have thought they wouldn't have been that tasty.

These are the tall ones that should get big pom pom like flowers on top IF NOT EATEN BY VARMINT RABBITS! Might have to sit up with my shotgun and wait.

 

[WVduckchick]

I did so much bad stuff as a young adult....

So far my kids have been making really good choices... I am not sure what is wrong with them. Maybe they aren't mine.

My eldest presents so poorly.... I always worry about him being in the world.... Mostly because I remember the pain I endured for having the same problems (huh... so I guess he must be genetically mine )

He is getting better.... I think I got better with age..... maybe....

Anyway.... he is getting this HUGE honor in a few weeks (first week of July), and I am in this whirlwind of proud of him and terrified that he will present poorly infront of all of these muckitymucks and ruin his reputation.

Which is just sad... because unlike me he is a VERY good kid!

I'm sure he will do fine!

She's up to 2 now, near as I can tell; yellow (which will turn white) with a few black spots, & a black Marans look-alike, complete with white bib. If there are more yet, she's keeping them under wraps...or wings.

I have at least 2 ducklings hatched under Malibu, with one zipping. She knocked one out of the nest, she has quite a mound built. I thought it was a dud, but I grabbed it and it was pipped and peeping. I put it back within her reach and she pulled it under her.

I need to catch the culprits first! Even ate whole marigold plants i started from seed!

We planted onions around the perimeter last year. The deer/rabbits still ate the tomatoes and peppers. We didn't plant this year, and surprisingly I have 3 tomato plants growing. From last years seeds? Never had that happen before.

The ducks finally ran this bunny off.

 

[WVduckchick]

Apparently some birds can tell. Had a 'bird' person in at the beagle club yesterday (thinking of conducting a bird census there), and I told her about my Phoebes and the cowbirds parasitizing their nest both last year and this year. She told me that Phoebes will not feed a cowbird chick - they will desert the nest. Which happened to the first nest last year. Since cowbirds have a short incubation period they always hatch before the host eggs. They then push the host eggs or any hatchlings out of the nest. Lazy buggers ought to raise their own kids.

I love those little Phoebes. Stupid cowbirds. Did I mention trapping a wood thrush in the duck pen a week or so ago? While trying to get it out of the pen, it wound up between the layers of netting.
I was reading about them and apparently cowbirds lay eggs in their nests too!
I did get it free from the net unharmed and it happily flew away.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Hey guys I have a broody cochin mama whose chicks started hatching the day before yesterday. She is fine with the chicks when they are under her but as soon as the pop out where she can see them she attacks them. I've started taking the chicks as they hatch. This morning one of the eggs that had externally popped last night had died in the shell. I've had to help a few out as I've noticed she isn't sitting on the eggs and keeps getting off them. Think they were losing to much humidity. This is the last egg. Not sure how long it's been externally popped for. It's not making much noise or chirping at all. Not sure if it's because it's to soon or if its stuck in the shell. I peeled some of the shell off to check the veining but still dont feel sure enough to help it out yet. Any thoughts guys?

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I'm sure he will do fine!



I have at least 2 ducklings hatched under Malibu, with one zipping. She knocked one out of the nest, she has quite a mound built. I thought it was a dud, but I grabbed it and it was pipped and peeping. I put it back within her reach and she pulled it under her.




We planted onions around the perimeter last year. The deer/rabbits still ate the tomatoes and peppers. We didn't plant this year, and surprisingly I have 3 tomato plants growing. From last years seeds? Never had that happen before.

The ducks finally ran this bunny off.
View attachment 1430084 View attachment 1430085

Good Duckies!!!

I love those little Phoebes. Stupid cowbirds. Did I mention trapping a wood thrush in the duck pen a week or so ago? While trying to get it out of the pen, it wound up between the layers of netting.
I was reading about them and apparently cowbirds lay eggs in their nests too!
I did get it free from the net unharmed and it happily flew away.
View attachment 1430093

Awww... glad ya got him loose..

 

[WVduckchick]

Hey guys I have a broody cochin mama whose chicks started hatching the day before yesterday. She is fine with the chicks when they are under her but as soon as the pop out where she can see them she attacks them. I've started taking the chicks as they hatch. This morning one of the eggs that had externally popped last night had died in the shell. I've had to help a few out as I've noticed she isn't sitting on the eggs and keeps getting off them. Think they were losing to much humidity. This is the last egg. Not sure how long it's been externally popped for. It's not making much noise or chirping at all. Not sure if it's because it's to soon or if its stuck in the shell. I peeled some of the shell off to check the veining but still dont feel sure enough to help it out yet. Any thoughts guys?View attachment 1430103 View attachment 1430103

Hi you!
I also have some chick killing cochins right now.
Nice saves! The beak looks clear enough, but I think the veins look well enough receded to open the membrane a little more, if you want. Avoid the veins the best you can. It kinda looks like the wing is covering the face??
It's probably safe to leave right there for a while too. I just like to have the chick's right eye visible, so the membrane doesn't get stuck to it, but that's just personal preference.

 

[WVduckchick]

I found this chick this afternoon. What the hell is wrong with those girls? I've never had them attack chicks before.
So I pulled one hen that had hatched another chick that was ok, took all the eggs and chicks with her to a different broody box. Those other girls can sit on their feet.
I put some Neosporin on it. Hopefully it'll live.

 

[casportpony]

I found this chick this afternoon. What the hell is wrong with those girls? I've never had them attack chicks before.
So I pulled one hen that had hatched another chick that was ok, took all the eggs and chicks with her to a different broody box. Those other girls can sit on their feet.
I put some Neosporin on it. Hopefully it'll live.

Poor thing!