| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 21 2009 : 09:24:06 AM
They started hatching yesterday. The hen was sitting on 8 and 5 have hatched out so far. They are all black like Barred Rock. Too darn cute when they're little buggers. The momma has not gotten out of the nest yet. So I had to reach in the nest to get the egg shells out and while I was in I went ahead and gave the chicks a few swallows of water. SO hopefully they will all survive.
I have also discovered a mystery hen. I always thought I had only 7 hens. Well, today I counted 8. I thought at first that the momma hen was out and I looked and she was still on the nest. I counted a few more times and sure nuf there are 7 hens outside plus her. That is so strange. I bought 5 at the auction. 2 died. Then my SIL brought me 4 hens so that is just 7, right? Unless one came back to life, I don't know where the other one came from. My DD is calling to see if her hubby brought another one home and didn't tell me. But that's ok. Just means my flock is growing.
I go Friday and get my 15 Buffs and a roo. Plus I'll probably get a few B.R. too and maybe some Auracanas. What fun. This little farm is growing fast the last week.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be. |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| twzlrwho |
Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 2:27:46 PM
That's great Kris! I'm glad they are doing well. I have chicks due to hatch Monday. I hope my hatch rate is close to yours. I go tomorrow to pick up some hens. I don't have anything old enough to lay and really am wanting some fresh eggs. Anyways, congrats and have a good weekend!
 Christina
Work like you don't have to, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching :) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 12:56:02 PM
I went today and got my Buff chicks and roo. I got 16 plus 4 Barred Rocks, too. They are such cute little fluff balls. It's warm enuf to keep them in the laundry without a heat lamp. I'll turn it on tonight. It's about 85 here today. I hope they don't have heat stroke.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 23 2009 : 05:18:46 AM
I went out last night to get my dog in for the night and heard chicks chirping really loud. So went to see what was wrong with them. Momma had gotten back in the nest box and the 3 newer yellow chicks couldn't get in. They were all just sitting near it and it was cold, too. I put them all in under momma hoping they would make it. This morning they are all back out of the nest box. The 5 black ones were all eating but the 3 yellow ones were still under momma. Poor traumatized little chickies. They'll probably stay under all day. Tonight I will make sure they all get in.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be. |
| nampafarmgirl |
Posted - Apr 22 2009 : 2:53:29 PM
my chickens are hatching May 11 and I pick them up May 12. Ca you all beleive that I am taking the afternoon off work to go get them when I could easily have my unemployed HB go get them and save my PPL time? Some farm girls (ok, me)have a screw loose.....I cant wait!
Oh, I have heard of chickens coming back to life. (dont laugh)
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
| Especially For You |
Posted - Apr 22 2009 : 2:19:33 PM
isn't that just like a man!!!
tina |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 22 2009 : 10:06:32 AM
The hen is off the nest and ALL 8 eggs have hatched!! I had gotten some eggs from the egg people up the road and stuck 3 under her a day after she started setting. So they must have hatched over night. They are yellow-orangey. So cute. Just little fluff balls. And such a good momma too. I had left a little container of chickie feed in the corner and she had turned it over and they were all eating.
It is so funny to watch her scratching and a chick's in the way. It just goes flying. It's probably not too funny for them, but I always get a kick out of it. And they are always ok.
So 8 new chickies now. Russell Crowe is strutting around like he knows what's going on. Proud daddy.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be. |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Apr 22 2009 : 07:35:21 AM
Chickens have a mind of their own, and some are more determined to do their own thing than others. I had one group a few years ago-- about 5 or 6 birds-- that were CONSTANTLY on the road (again, led by a stupid rooster). One by one they were hit by cars. No matter WHAT I did, I could not keep them away from it. Honestly, I worry more about the people driving past then I do about the chickens! I don't want any HUMANS to get hurt because of one of my birds.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Apr 21 2009 : 6:32:07 PM
Baby chicks are doing great. I had to go back in and grab them to give them more water. I'm just throwing chick feed in the nest right now for them since momma won't get them out yet. I have chicken wire across the middle of the hen house so nothing will get them. Like a duck.
As far as the mystery hen, she looks like an Aracana hen. Her legs are blueish. And she's bigger than the rest which are probably some type of game hens. It's just really weird.
Sorry about your birds, Tracy. I have had that happen a few times, too. And I love the Leghorn breed. They are great layers.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be. |
| Annab |
Posted - Apr 21 2009 : 4:40:46 PM
I could just sit there and watch baby chicks all day
|
| twzlrwho |
Posted - Apr 21 2009 : 4:07:07 PM
Kristin, I'm so happy for you!!! Congrats! That is hilarious about the mystery chicken. You will love your Buff Orps. I know I love mine. They are the sweetest things.
Tracy, I too love leghorns. I just adopted a white roo. The other roo was gonna kill him. He has gashes and has been pretty tramatized yet he is the most docile sweetest thing. And I just love their blood red eyes.
CONGRATS Kristin hugs
Christina
Work like you don't have to, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody is watching :) |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Apr 21 2009 : 12:35:36 PM
Oh how things DO grow on the farm, don't they Kris?
I've had MANY "Mystery" chickens over the years. Must be the "Chicken Fairy" that drops them off. (LOL!!!)
The most reacent unexpected addition we've had was a rooster that "adopted" us about 2yrs ago. A beautiful Dark Brown Leghorn. I'd never had that breed before, though I've had just about every OTHER kind of Heritage and commercial chicken breed known to man!! (LOL!) I liked him so well I bought 2 white and two Dk brown Leghorn Pullets last year. The girls are doing GREAT, laying GOBS of really BIG eggs (surprising for their size!), but, alas, Mr. Rooster is no more. He started leading some of the hens out to the road this past Winter, and he got hit by a car. It was a sad day, but one I expected. Needless to say, none of the birds go near the road anymore.
I wouldn't worry about the chicks too much. If your hen is a good mother she'll teach them all they need to know, and your flock will expand even MORE! Have fun with those new babies, ALL of your new babies!!! Hugs~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
