What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Yes, part of her 5. They joined mom for breakfast shortly after that photo. Gave flock papaya, Hope and her kids too, but don't think kids got much if any, after tidbiting 1 sec. mom gobbled the snacks up. Guess the kids will learn to be faster.

Sounds like Stan tidbitting the girls! He will go berserk making tidbitting noises for a few seconds then it's "No one want this delicious bit of cheese??? No? Oh well, I guess I'LL just have to eat it then..."

 

[Shetland lover]

This chick just hatched this morning.

Congratulations! What a happy looking chick, it almost looks like It's smiling!

 

[Shetland lover]

This is probably where I should have posted this originally.
I have chickens brooding on duck eggs, because the broodies were stubborn, and I don't want more chickens right now.
Broody hen #1 hatched out 3 ducklings a couple of days ago, and was still sitting on this one.
Broody #2 chased her off the nest today.... After this little dude had pipped last night.
I found the egg, already fairly hatched, but cold. Little duckling was peeping, and starting to shrink wrap, so I put some Neosporin on the membrane and put the egg under broody #2, as broody #1 had stopped sitting in her nest. (I didn't know why at that point).
I came back and checked 10 minutes later and the duckling (sans egg) is out of broody #2's nesting box and is cold. So I ghetto-rigged an incubator with a heat lamp and warmed the duckling back up, and put the divider in the brooder between the 2 hens, as apparently broody #2 is a judas.
Apparently I really should have gotten an incubator, as I am now worried about the eggs under broody hen #2...
So, it's an adventure. The duckling doesn't like being under the heat lamp, so it's now tucked into my shirt. I figure I'll put it under broody #1 tonight after she's asleep.View attachment 3544809

Adorable baby! And naughty broody#2. Bad (nearly) momma!

 

[Shetland lover]

Ferdy has revealed a new talent - teleportation!
Gladys started fighting Stan, so Ferdy being Ferdy, leapt to his son's defence. The ungrateful little bugger turned on his dad and Gladys washed her beak of the whole thing and went back to eating.
I seperated them and put Ferdy in the (fully enclosed) run with Clara and Pru, locked them in and left Stan on the lawn with Gladys and Penelope.
Went out 2 hours later to find EVERYONE stood happily together on the lawn!
Obviously, Ferdy can't actually teleport but somehow he got himself and two of the girls out of the run without opening the gate - unless he locked it behind him on the way out....
I have checked the whole run and there's nary a gap anywhere he could of used. 'Tis a bona fide mystery!

 

[kurby22]

Ferdy has revealed a new talent - teleportation!
Gladys started fighting Stan, so Ferdy being Ferdy, leapt to his son's defence. The ungrateful little bugger turned on his dad and Gladys washed her beak of the whole thing and went back to eating.
I seperated them and put Ferdy in the (fully enclosed) run with Clara and Pru, locked them in and left Stan on the lawn with Gladys and Penelope.
Went out 2 hours later to find EVERYONE stood happily together on the lawn!
Obviously, Ferdy can't actually teleport but somehow he got himself and two of the girls out of the run without opening the gate - unless he locked it behind him on the way out....
I have checked the whole run and there's nary a gap anywhere he could have used. 'Tis a bona fide mystery!

Magic Cochins!!

 

[NagemTX]

I introduced about forty 3 week old chicks to the grow out pen that has twenty-eight 8 week Olds in it. Oh they have a nearly one year old with them as well. Her name is Judy and the roosters like her to much. Everything fine so far!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Yesterday was busy. As I had hoped, after removing the last egg Hope felt free to leave the nest with her gang and I was able to clean it out and delouse the box. She was not happy about all of the ruckus but she did a great job of not over reacting. So far, she is a 5 ☆ mom. For being a first time mom.... 10 ☆.
Happy Aloha Friday!View attachment 3544310
A clean box and fresh nesting materials gave them a good night and nice morning.
The generous soak of 10/1 vinegar/dish soap was a quick killer of live mites on all surfaces- did the trick within seconds but i let it sit for 15 min (normally 30). Pyrethren spritz on moms hot spots seems to be working as this morning I did not spot any mites. In a few days she will want to take her brood out into the run and I will reclean her box and hit the pen killing new hatches and stragglers, repeating in 5-7 days everytime needed.
I am also treating the flock and their boxes and coop
Lots of extra house and yard cleaning this month.
Did last 2:30 am wake to feed kitties yestermorn.
Focusing on bags, home and MIL services in Aug. Flowers, food etc.View attachment 3544341

I'm in love with your broody set up!

This chick just hatched this morning.

Adorable baby and flock you have!

This is probably where I should have posted this originally.
I have chickens brooding on duck eggs, because the broodies were stubborn, and I don't want more chickens right now.
Broody hen #1 hatched out 3 ducklings a couple of days ago, and was still sitting on this one.
Broody #2 chased her off the nest today.... After this little dude had pipped last night.
I found the egg, already fairly hatched, but cold. Little duckling was peeping, and starting to shrink wrap, so I put some Neosporin on the membrane and put the egg under broody #2, as broody #1 had stopped sitting in her nest. (I didn't know why at that point).
I came back and checked 10 minutes later and the duckling (sans egg) is out of broody #2's nesting box and is cold. So I ghetto-rigged an incubator with a heat lamp and warmed the duckling back up, and put the divider in the brooder between the 2 hens, as apparently broody #2 is a judas.
Apparently I really should have gotten an incubator, as I am now worried about the eggs under broody hen #2...
So, it's an adventure. The duckling doesn't like being under the heat lamp, so it's now tucked into my shirt. I figure I'll put it under broody #1 tonight after she's asleep.View attachment 3544809

Aww...poor little ducky got a rough start! Glad you found it in time twice. Hope the rest of broody 2's hatch well

 

[ChicksnMore]

I introduced about forty 3 week old chicks to the grow out pen that has twenty-eight 8 week Olds in it. Oh they have a nearly one year old with them as well. Her name is Judy and the roosters like her to much. Everything fine so far!

40 and 28!
I'm curious what breeds your growing and hoping for pics!

 

[NagemTX]

40 and 28!
I'm curious what breeds your growing and hoping for pics!

In the 40ish there are from Cackle 37ish and 8 TSC bantams. The bantams are all cochins. The ones from Cackle are 5 Silver Laced English Orpingtons, 5 Golden Duckwing Phoenix, 6 Silver Duckwing Phoenix, 5(4) Black Ameraucana, 6(5) Lavender Ameraucana, 5 Chamois Spangled Appenzellers Spitzhauben, 6 Golden Spangled Appenzellers Spitzhauben.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Hubby's being a sleepyhead this morning so we might get a late start. Just means I can relax for a bit this morning .

My friend came to pick up his peas while I was out an about yesterday. He took one look at the two little black shoulder pea chicks, called me and told me they're white and those two are for me. I scratched my head and double checked when I got home. Yep...those two are little black shoulder babies. All white with the beginning touches of color on the wings. So they'll hang out with the baby Javas til I get home. Means I'll probably have time to get pics of them before he picks them up. Baby black shoulders are beautiful little color changers

He also wants to give me a pair of 4 year old silver pied peas. He knows I love the silver pieds. What a darling! So I have some thinking to do about whether to accept his kindness. That'd mean some rearranging. And I'll have to figure out a way to repay his kindness...but I seem to recall he wanted some geese and I have a bunch of babies growing up. So think I'll see if he wants a pair once they're sexable.