What did you do with your flock today?

[ChicksnMore]

I'm so excited! I finished my whatever pens and the duck pen! Well, I still need to add a properly angled roof to the whatever row and to the other new pens that I want to move my big birds into. They have temporary, safe roofs...just not smart roofs. Nothing's complete, none of the birds (except the ducks) are in the pens I want them in when I'm done....

O man...I'm far from done! Ugh.
But, I'm far enough along now that I feel comfortable enough with how my birds are living. So it's time to switch to getting my garden back in order and everything ready for our long trip.

This is the first time I've gotten birds before I had a set up for them I was happy with. It was great motivation to get me back on my feet though and I'm happy with the progress.

So I moved Bonnie and Clyde today and decided to give them some alone time to bond better. So I'll wait and watch for a bit before moving Peeky and Chubby in with them. Clyde is tightly bonded to Peeky and Chubby... it'll be so much better for all three if Clyde bonds tightly to Bonnie.

Their water bowl for now is small, but they're happy enough and it'll be a simple drain and refill while we're gone.

I just love Clyde. Think he's my favorite because he's always the first to run up and nibble the treats out of my hand. I swear he asks for treats!

 

[kurby22]

I'm so excited! I finished my whatever pens and the duck pen! Well, I still need to add a properly angled roof to the whatever row and to the other new pens that I want to move my big birds into. They have temporary, safe roofs...just not smart roofs. Nothing's complete, none of the birds (except the ducks) are in the pens I want them in when I'm done....

O man...I'm far from done! Ugh.
But, I'm far enough along now that I feel comfortable enough with how my birds are living. So it's time to switch to getting my garden back in order and everything ready for our long trip.

This is the first time I've gotten birds before I had a set up for them I was happy with. It was great motivation to get me back on my feet though and I'm happy with the progress.

So I moved Bonnie and Clyde today and decided to give them some alone time to bond better. So I'll wait and watch for a bit before moving Peeky and Chubby in with them. Clyde is tightly bonded to Peeky and Chubby... it'll be so much better for all three if Clyde bonds tightly to Bonnie.

Their water bowl for now is small, but they're happy enough and it'll be a simple drain and refill while we're gone.View attachment 3233593View attachment 3233595View attachment 3233597
I just love Clyde. Think he's my favorite because he's always the first to run up and nibble the treats out of my hand. I swear he asks for treats!

Look at those cute duckies! I love them!!

I too love the Polish! I am going to keep them as long as I can…just wish I had a hen to go with them!

So I think I told you all that poor Mr. Fluff has been battling dry pox but I caught it before he spread it to the flock. Well it’s taken awhile to get him thru it and he wasn’t eating :-( Today, he’s eating!! I hope this means he’s thru the worst of it.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Look at those cute duckies! I love them!!

I too love the Polish! I am going to keep them as long as I can…just wish I had a hen to go with them!

So I think I told you all that poor Mr. Fluff has been battling dry pox but I caught it before he spread it to the flock. Well it’s taken awhile to get him thru it and he wasn’t eating :-( Today, he’s eating!! I hope this means he’s thru the worst of it.

Yay for Mr. Fluff!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I wish my yard was big enough for a true rooster flock. Ugh!

Ok...how big wouls it need to be in order to have a separate rooster flock?!

Gonna be pondering my choices a bunch!

Cuz I got a bunch I'm pondering here too that keep popping up male!!!

 

[TropicalBabies]

I think the roosters that get handled a lot as chicks are prone to turning mean when the hormones kick in.

Oh wow! I have never heard anyone say this and actually have the opposite opinion myself but it sure gives me something to think about. I value your opinion greatly ♡

Hi gang!
@FBMcrazy8 It just dawned on me your coop and run remind me of Field of Dreams! Such a cool feel to having a corn field behind you ♡ love it!

So, for me, today is/was a day to remember patience forsure.
Last eve coming back up a few young kids in trucks had some kind of chase or tag game going and proceeded to start passing cars on a windy, double yellow, mountain road. It became quit dangerous and I had no tolerance for their game but being on a scooter I had to let it play out though I voiced my opinion via hand signal at my turn when it really got wild. I thought about getting in my truck and finding them, getting photos of license plates, calling parents, shooting out tires... grrrr . Well, island is small enough I know I will be able to find trucks, who they are, find family and voice my opinion that way. Patience.
Got down the mountain and realized I had left my phone. Ok.
Checked on mama and she had a crushed chick that contaminated the 3 remaining unmatched eggs... ☹ got that all cleaned out. So, 3 total out of 7 viable eggs.
Checked incubator and had one pip. Lock down was yesternoon. Then electric promptly went out, so fired up the generator and had to reset incubator...
Loaded up brooder, washed floors, washed dog towels, got my hair cut, PO, bank and up. It was so hot and humid I felt terrible leaving any of my babies down. I turned on mister and fans and hope that helps. Up here it is cool and raining.
I will go pick up chicks tomorrow or next day. May give mama another buff chick or two. Not sure...just going to hope all turns out well.
On another thread i follow the majority thought is to let the broodies do the hatching and raising. This is my side by side test... and "test" seems to be the optimal word. I do prefer incubators myself but thought what a great time to compare. ♡
On the upside. Really like my hair cut and the coolness of Koke'e and my sweet kitty's who were waiting for me... and chickens too.
Tonight I bate the dog trap.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Now that I am done with my big complaint session lol.

@ChicksnMore . Your ducks are soooo cute ♡♡♡ Duck people sure make it look easy lol. I won't be fooled though! Plus I can't get cute ducks like that so ...

 

[ChicksnMore]

Oh wow! I have never heard anyone say this and actually have the opposite opinion myself but it sure gives me something to think about. I value your opinion greatly ♡

Hi gang!
@FBMcrazy8 It just dawned on me your coop and run remind me of Field of Dreams! Such a cool feel to having a corn field behind you ♡ love it!

So, for me, today is/was a day to remember patience forsure.
Last eve coming back up a few young kids in trucks had some kind of chase or tag game going and proceeded to start passing cars on a windy, double yellow, mountain road. It became quit dangerous and I had no tolerance for their game but being on a scooter I had to let it play out though I voiced my opinion via hand signal at my turn when it really got wild. I thought about getting in my truck and finding them, getting photos of license plates, calling parents, shooting out tires... grrrr . Well, island is small enough I know I will be able to find trucks, who they are, find family and voice my opinion that way. Patience.
Got down the mountain and realized I had left my phone. Ok.
Checked on mama and she had a crushed chick that contaminated the 3 remaining unmatched eggs... ☹ got that all cleaned out. So, 3 total out of 7 viable eggs.
Checked incubator and had one pip. Lock down was yesternoon. Then electric promptly went out, so fired up the generator and had to reset incubator...
Loaded up brooder, washed floors, washed dog towels, got my hair cut, PO, bank and up. It was so hot and humid I felt terrible leaving any of my babies down. I turned on mister and fans and hope that helps. Up here it is cool and raining.
I will go pick up chicks tomorrow or next day. May give mama another buff chick or two. Not sure...just going to hope all turns out well.
On another thread i follow the majority thought is to let the broodies do the hatching and raising. This is my side by side test... and "test" seems to be the optimal word. I do prefer incubators myself but thought what a great time to compare. ♡
On the upside. Really like my hair cut and the coolness of Koke'e and my sweet kitty's who were waiting for me... and chickens too.
Tonight I bate the dog trap.

Wow what a day you had! Those kids playing sounds scary...hope they learn better the easy way with no one getting hurt!

I've just never had a rooster turn mean if it starts life as just a chicken before it becomes a pet, but have had roos loved on as babies do that. You've definitely got good insight and instincts...and I'm sure just as much experience as me...not to mention happy happy birds ! So maybe I'm just overly wary or it's from growing up raising meat birds. It's probably a lot of why I like the breeds I do though...I can start handling them later and get some crazy sweet birds. Talking to them, watching them and offering treats is all it takes and next thing you know some are jumping on you and letting you pet them...some even like hugs . Well, that and because no one expects me to butcher my little guys...lol. I don't feel I have time for things I don't enjoy anymore.

Poor little babies! I feel like I get better hatch rates with incubators too. Whenever I can, I get hens to go broody on fake eggs though to give the babies to just because I love watching the mom's and babies together. I've found once the mom's have been sitting the fake eggs for the normal time, they'll except any baby you offer them for one to two weeks. I bring the mom and babies inside and place them all in a brooder...lol. Probably silly and definitely not necessary, but it makes me happy and I think it makes the birds happy

Hope the dog trapping goes well!

 

[ChicksnMore]

@TropicalBabies forgot to ask...let us know what you think when your done with your side by side babies!

 

[kurby22]

Ok...how big wouls it need to be in order to have a separate rooster flock?!

Cuz I got a bunch I'm pondering here too that keep popping up male!!!

Haha well, we’d have the space if all of it was usable! Our lot is over 13,000 sq ft., but a huge chunk of it is a pool, with a deck and landscaping, as well as patio and an outdoor kitchen area. The areas suitable for chickens are all in the same general part of the backyard so I’m running out of space! If my husband isn’t careful I’m gonna turn our shed into a coop too Most of the boys are well behaved and leave the ladies alone…but some just can’t help themselves. With Puff gone, and Ferdinand going soon…things may mellow out a bunch and I can keep them all. They’re all very well behaved boys and most are itty bitty

 

[kurby22]

Oh wow! I have never heard anyone say this and actually have the opposite opinion myself but it sure gives me something to think about. I value your opinion greatly ♡

Hi gang!
@FBMcrazy8 It just dawned on me your coop and run remind me of Field of Dreams! Such a cool feel to having a corn field behind you ♡ love it!

So, for me, today is/was a day to remember patience forsure.
Last eve coming back up a few young kids in trucks had some kind of chase or tag game going and proceeded to start passing cars on a windy, double yellow, mountain road. It became quit dangerous and I had no tolerance for their game but being on a scooter I had to let it play out though I voiced my opinion via hand signal at my turn when it really got wild. I thought about getting in my truck and finding them, getting photos of license plates, calling parents, shooting out tires... grrrr . Well, island is small enough I know I will be able to find trucks, who they are, find family and voice my opinion that way. Patience.
Got down the mountain and realized I had left my phone. Ok.
Checked on mama and she had a crushed chick that contaminated the 3 remaining unmatched eggs... ☹ got that all cleaned out. So, 3 total out of 7 viable eggs.
Checked incubator and had one pip. Lock down was yesternoon. Then electric promptly went out, so fired up the generator and had to reset incubator...
Loaded up brooder, washed floors, washed dog towels, got my hair cut, PO, bank and up. It was so hot and humid I felt terrible leaving any of my babies down. I turned on mister and fans and hope that helps. Up here it is cool and raining.
I will go pick up chicks tomorrow or next day. May give mama another buff chick or two. Not sure...just going to hope all turns out well.
On another thread i follow the majority thought is to let the broodies do the hatching and raising. This is my side by side test... and "test" seems to be the optimal word. I do prefer incubators myself but thought what a great time to compare. ♡
On the upside. Really like my hair cut and the coolness of Koke'e and my sweet kitty's who were waiting for me... and chickens too.
Tonight I bate the dog trap.

That does sound like a busy and rather tiresome day! I spent about an hour outside tonight helping coach my daughters soccer scrimmage and my Fitbit said I got 132 cardio mins! Guess between the 101 degrees and pacing and yelling at 8-9 year olds to stop doing a lot of “not soccer” things my heart was working overtime!

I got to spend a glorious 1.5 hrs this morning sipping my coffee with the chickens before 8 am. It was cool with a breeze and felt so calming. They’re so good for my stress relief even if I’m constantly stressing over them I definitely have seen both sides of the rooster viewpoints so I think like always it depends on the bird! Puff and Fluff are good examples—brothers, same environment, same flock, same age…all things constant including the love and attention. Puff was more curious, bold, and friendly while Fluff was more cautious, scared of things and friendly. Puff got less huggable and less friendly and started treating my presence as a threat as he got older while Fluff stayed the same and has never once been aggressive to a person. He lets Aria cart him everywhere, he gets hugged and loved and will spend all day on the couch with me. It’s been interesting to watch and learn their behaviors and responses to us.

Lunch, as he’s now affectionately called, has decided he’s a tree bird. His brother and sister both got out of the run when small enough to fit underneath and my dog “played” with them. My husband made a joke about how the dog doesn’t get Lunch but does have breakfast and dinner…so that should be the survivors name. Aria thinks Daddy is mean and calls him Peanut. Hehe, my husband’s sense of humor does not impress her Anyway, I’m a bit worried he’s going to discover that the bird netting only goes up so far since the trees are quite tall and bushy and end up being somethings Lunch anyway. Might need to move him to the bantam run now that Fuzzy has cut ties and gone broody again.

I got a really nice picture of Elsafish today, suits her Queen of the Bantams title quite well She’s the boss and everyone knows it! Even Nohope who is now at least 3X her size now is afraid of her haha.

And last, but definitely not least…I got a nice picture of Miyuki today too! She’s just so pretty