Thursday, July 25, 2019

Chick update

July 25, 2019

Looks like we got a second one this morning but then she moved the babies off of three eggs. I am wondering if one was bad and cracked open because there was an unpleasant odor and three eggs left. It is possible that there were three babies that hatched but, she had abandoned the last three eggs so I just buried them. Two had been long enough that I don't think they would hatch and the third was questionable. I hope she is happy with here two babies and that they grow well. I am excited for a better look at the chicks.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Baby chick

June 23, 2019

We have a baby chick. Stir-fry hatched one baby, she still has 5 eggs we will give a couple days to see if they hatch out at all...


Saturday, July 13, 2019

Macaroni

June 13, 2019

Our youngest has spent most the year asking for an orange kitten. We missed our chance months ago. Her sister expanded her vision of other possibilities. Yesterday we notice the shelter we like, had several more kittens. They headed out thinking they were getting a tabby, but came home with this one.
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The shelter named her Macaroni. Our daughters liked her name.
She is cute.

Friday, July 5, 2019

Broody Hen

June 5, 2019

Tuesday the 2nd we noticed one hen on the nesting box extra long. She has done this before, but at bedtime when she was still in the box we knew we had a broody hen! We were excited. Our Rooster has been active among our hens and though we have a mixed flock and know our chicks will be interesting, this is still  exciting to us. We moved her and her eggs to the Broody coop and she settled right in. We have given her food and water right by her and open the door for her to get fresh air and sunlight during the day, and close it at night to keep her safe. We know she has 4 eggs. We are debating candling her eggs or just leaving her to her business and seeing what happens. I am so excited!!!

Update:
I have read about if you leave the Broody Hen with the others some become a little crazed and the other hens act afraid of her.
Today we put a better hinged gate on the broody run. (The old one was just a pallet tied to the post. Our quick fix when we needed somewhere to stash a few chickens someone gave us, for a couple days.)
Just as we were about to head inside, my Sweetheart noticed Stir-Fry (our broody hen) digging in the garden. Head feathers bristles like when she is annoyed. She was furiously digging so we guessed she wanted worms. We went to help her and dug up sections and gave her a pile of worms. She ate through them, then was wandering a bit more. When we were pretty sure she had enough worms we were trying to help her back into the coop area. She was NOT happy!!! When we did get her back in though she headed right for her eggs (Side note:  Happy, happy, she laid another egg so there are 5 there now!!! Yeah!!!
She seemed to be the epitome of the jokes of crazed hormonal pregnant woman seeking their pickles and ice cream! Help where you can then get out of their way!