Quite Simply, Chook Chat

[Feral007]

It's not just one doing it, although she does the more than the others I guess. I've put the little one on her own tonight. Couldn't cope with another of the same tomorrow morning. I need to work out which other one is the 2nd dominant one and try to put both of them in the other run. I don't want to put all 3 of the battie's out, as I think my other birds would not be above a few pecks at Delilah. She seems to attract attention.

[Glutton4...]

Wel well well! I've heard of it happening, but never witnessed it myself. Until today.

One of my ex-Batts was treading another. The 'victim' didn't seem very impressed. The dominant one got off, and shook, just like my Cockerels used to after the 'event.' I then noticed 'her' comb and wattles are enormous, but the rest of her still looks just like a Hen.

Time will tell, I guess.

I'll get pictures tomorrow!

[Feral007]

Delilah must not have been in the chook house when we locked up last night. I thought she was suished in with one of the others in the end nestbox (as she normally did) and had decided to leave her in there rather than separate her as we had the night before. She was so upset at being alone. But seems she was outside. And a fox got her. Poor little thing. Didn't get much time out of her cage

[Glutton4...]

Sorry to hear that, Feral. Nature has it's way of dealing with the sick, and at least she's not being bullied by the other vicious little wotsits any longer. Still very sad though. Do you want my He/She?

[Feral007]

No thanks G4, I've got enough trouble with chooks turning into roosters!

[Nicos]

Awww...poor Delilah we've locked one out at night a couple of times- don't feel bad- these things happen.

Bit of good news though.....

my gal is still sitting on her 4 eggs
day 21 is Easter Sunday!

..they are a right mix of Heinz 51 varieties

One is a white Light Sussex xCayenne bantie
two are LSxPekin bantie x Cayenne bantie
One is Cayenne bantiexPekin bantie x Cayenne bantie

so it'll be interesting to see what arrives!

The LS x Pekin bantie is the only gal in the group with a walnut comb so I wonder if her babbies will have them?

[Glutton4...]

Eggciting time for you there, Nickers. Got your camera charged?

[Nicos]

Always charged!!!!

[RichmondHens]

Good luck with your little ones Nicos.

Sorry to hear about Delilah Feral. That's really sad.

G4, I had a Minorca hen who turned into a sort of cock. Grew really large comb and wattles, stopped laying. Didn't crow though and didn't tread, although the resident (real) cock sensed a change and started to drive her away just like he would another cock. Shame really, she had been a superb laying hen for the previous two years, and then came out of the winter moult/break and just starting turning into a cock. So we turned her into a casserole!

[Glutton4...]

This is an ex-Batt, probably not enough meat on her to make it worth the effort. I must say, the other Hens did look slightly worried!

I forgot to get a picture, too - will try to remember tomorrow.

[Nicos]

The dressed weight of most of my cockerels is usually less that 750g. Well worth eating in the form of a casserole- the meat and bones make a very yummy stock!

[petal]

I have just cooked 4 scrawny ones for the cats/ dogs- better than culling and sticking in the bin- its a lovely nutritious meal for them.

[Nicos]

OMG!!!...what a start to the day!

OH was letting 'Squalk' out for her Daily and she refused to budge....started gently lifting her out of the nest - to be greeted by 3 little yellow faces...and a chirping hatching egg!

I thought they were due on Sunday- so I went to triple check the dates- only to realise it's a Sunday - Sat calendar ( normally we have a Mon- Sun) so day 21 is in fact tomorrow.
All 4 hatching 1 day early too!

Well done that lass..te he!

[Nicos]

Yey!....the 4th one has hatched-all yellow with a few small black splodges....awww!
Mom not too happy being disturbed when I took out the shell so I'll leave her in peace for a while ( that's one of the down sides of having a real live mommy)

Happy? moi????


Every single time is still as exciting as the first!

[Feral007]

Love looking at little chickens, but couldn't kill the ones that turn into roosters, so we'll just enjoy your hatchings