Quite Simply, Chook Chat

[Munch]

Hang on in there Jules , im far from an expert but when we candled at 8 days we had no doubt that one was not fertile, but left it for a few more days just in case. When we checked again we were still not sure.

It was the first to hatch and is the biggest! lol

[julesapple]

We're hanging on in there.....it's far too early to give up hope yet. It's just so silly to be disappointed after not wanting to hatch any eggs at all this year and all the hassle in our house a few days back. We've all got over that, and we're looking forward to little fluffies running about on the grass now. To be honest, I'm not worried about the Seramas but I do want some large fowl girls to hatch.

Jules

[RichmondHens]

The really dark shelled eggs are almost impossible to candle accurately. We have the same problem with our Welsummer eggs. We don't bother candling them as a rule, just wait and see what comes.

[RichmondHens]

I've been wandering around looking at all our youngsters and sexing them. Of the first 8 (which are now 14 weeks) we only have 2 pullets, and out of the next lot of 17 I think I may have a grand total of 5 pullets!

[baldrick]

My two are staying with us now whatever they are. They think Im their mum, come when they are called, tweet for me to fetch them in for the night as soon as they get cold in the outside run, sit on their perch in a dog cage and watch telly or listen to music with us in the evenings....erm anyway from now on I will be very very harsh hearted. No baby chicks in the house, no names and no teaching of tricks...at least til I know whether they can stay in the family or go in the freezer. Chickens, learning curve...nuff said!

[polo]

I've been wandering around looking at all our youngsters and sexing them. Of the first 8 (which are now 14 weeks) we only have 2 pullets, and out of the next lot of 17 I think I may have a grand total of 5 pullets!

Bad luck there RH!

[petal]

I've been wandering around looking at all our youngsters and sexing them. Of the first 8 (which are now 14 weeks) we only have 2 pullets, and out of the next lot of 17 I think I may have a grand total of 5 pullets!

on the bright side - lots of lovely casseroles?

[RichmondHens]

on the bright side - lots of lovely casseroles?

Probably lots of roasts, they will be big birds, all either Light Sussex, Light Sussex crosses or Indian Game crosses. The crosses were always destined to be roasters but I had hoped for a few more pure LS pullets. They are looking superb, hope they taste as good as they look!

Hatched five Cream Legbar crosses on Thursday - they are fathered by the little Araucana cross cock who has bumblefoot. Dead cute and the crest is already evident. Slightly disappointed by the colouring as four are almost entirely black (???) and one buff. Expected a bit more variation but we'll see how they feather up. Can't decide whether to set any more of these. Also expecting six indian game to hatch Mon/Tues.

BTW Horlicks is now going broody! Husband wants to let her sit on something but I can't decide. Hope your lot are all doing well.

[julesapple]

We lost an egg the other day...Thursday, I think. Morag crushed it. No sign of any blood inside though, looked just like an ordinary egg. Curiously, Morag keep rolling one egg out of the nest and down the low ramp on to the grass. We popped it back underneath her twice. I don't know if this is the same one. Maybe she knew something we didn't?

Jules

[Glutton4...]

I've lost several eggs recently - one of my young'uns (last year's babies) has gone broody, she keeps getting in the nest boxes that have been laid in, and crushing the eggs underneath her. She's half Bantam, so weighs nothing, I guess she's just so eager to sit, that she throws herself on them. When I turfed her out the other day she had two stuck to her chest! Daft tart!

[Suechooks]

I opened the pophole on the Hybids coop this morning. They normally all come dashing out. However I'd opened the others up and cleaned out before I came back to them. Still no one in the run. I opened the main door to clean them out and there was Sneezy dead on the floor (she'd been under the weather so not surprised). None of the others would come off the perch until I'd removed poor Sneezy. Strange things chooks!

[polo]

I opened the pophole on the Hybids coop this morning. They normally all come dashing out. However I'd opened the others up and cleaned out before I came back to them. Still no one in the run. I opened the main door to clean them out and there was Sneezy dead on the floor (she'd been under the weather so not surprised). None of the others would come off the perch until I'd removed poor Sneezy. Strange things chooks!

What a shame Sue x x

[petal]

I'm irritated today by someone who bought 2 buff orpingtons a month ago and it seems has managed to kill them somehow and is demanding her money back -' how dare I sell her sick birds...' if this is so - why are their siblings jumping around outside still??!!!!!!

[Suechooks]

I'm irritated today by someone who bought 2 buff orpingtons a month ago and it seems has managed to kill them somehow and is demanding her money back -' how dare I sell her sick birds...' if this is so - why are their siblings jumping around outside still??!!!!!!

Petal - this happened to me last year - I was the buyer though! One developed Mareks paralysis and was PTS by the vet and her sister got it a few months later. The seller was devastated as her birds were (and still are) fine as were all my others, and she felt that they'd picked up the virus on her land before I had them but the stress of moving had activated it.
However I am a realist and I know these things do happen, so in fact only told her in case she had problems with any more.
I guess its all a matter of attitude. It does rather put your back up when someone is so aggessive.

[frias]

I opened the pophole on the Hybids coop this morning. They normally all come dashing out. However I'd opened the others up and cleaned out before I came back to them. Still no one in the run. I opened the main door to clean them out and there was Sneezy dead on the floor (she'd been under the weather so not surprised). None of the others would come off the perch until I'd removed poor Sneezy. Strange things chooks!

That's sad Sue. I had a similar experience last year when one of my ex-batts died during the night. None of the others would step over her to get out.