We need some Good News!

I have 23 eggs in the incubator right now, all are EE mixes.  Tomorrow they will have been in incubation 14 days and are due to hatch next Tuesday on the 21st with them going on lockdown on the 18th.  I don't think all 23 will hatch, though I am hopeful.  I have already had to throw out 2 for lack of fertility.

As I stated in the last post, there will be another order in the spring with Polish, Barred Rocks, and maybe some EEs and maybe a Phoenix or two.  I have decided no more ducks, though I never know until I see them.  I have problems controlling my impulses (associated with OCD, I'm still fighting).  Now, I'm not so sure how good that news is, but it's not bad news so it's good news.

Our numbers are still going strong, even though we lost several, we added a few new faces.  Three Silkies, actually.  Names are still pending, but they are beautiful.  I picked up Cinnamon, Goldie, and No Name last week.  I have no idea what their history is, other than their pens were dirty because No Name is stained...  gross...  Don't confuse No Name with Poof.  They are the same variety, but not the same chicken.  ;D


 I was thinking about buying more Silkies because they are natural broodies.  They go broody often, and they are excellent mothers saving me time and the headache of having to get the temperature and humidity just so.  When these guys came available, I immediately jumped at the chance.  I may be getting a rooster to breed Silkies, though it would be for my purposes, not to breed to make money or anything.  I find Silkies have a good use on my "farm," and I plan to use that use to it's fullest.

Remember last post, I said I kept two of Labelle's hatchlings, and one of the hatchlings as well as Labelle perished?  Well, that left the other little baby all alone.  She didn't mix well with Poof's babies.  They pick on her and the poor girl was all alone.  Well, that first night I went out to put everyone up, and that little girl has taken up with the new Silkies, more with Cinnamon.

Labelle's baby and Cinnamon

The new Silkies have been free ranging with the others during the day, and they just seem so happy but at the same time confused.  It's as if they are thinking, "This must surely be a dream."  They are so sweet!

  The other bigger chickens are doing well, and they haven't shown me any signs that would say otherwise.












Here are some pictures to show some of the younger faces in their grown-up feathering.

Dora

 The Salmon Faverolle features a couple of guests as photo-bomb outcry.  Chemi, the SLW on the left is flashing her fan, and Lavender Orpington is showing off his comb.

One of the Wonder Twins is gracing us with her presence.

 Cluck Norris is an OE I bought with the Maran and Blue (posted in past post).  His color has grown in so nicely, I can't see myself getting rid of him before breeding.

Red.  Oh, Red!  She's the best production-bred chicken I have ever met.  She is so people friendly, she lets me pick her up, take her to the coop, get any eggs that may be laying underneath her.  I doubt I'll ever breed her or even buy another, but I'm not going to say I won't or never will because I don't know what my impulsive decisions will make me get another in the future.  Breeding them is not an option because she is a sex-link that is a cross between two different breeds, and they do not breed true.

Ducks!  My wonderful white ducks...  Nemo, Daisy, and Donald are laying out, enjoying the peaceful weather.  It stormed later, but they don't mind that either.  You'll see one of the Phoenixes in the background.  They have grown to be be very unique.  They are also pretty friendly, though they don't like being touched, they love getting fed.  

R.I.P.....

I've had a few deaths, and it's very devastating, and way too heartbreaking to me....  They either happened because of other people or something I can't name.  This post is to honor their memories.  If chickens go to Rainbow Bridge, I hope these guys are there.  Skipper could use feathered farm animals to herd.

The beautiful blue EE who's eggs were a beautiful mint blue was found laying in the floor of the coop one morning.  I have no idea what happened to her...  She had no name, though I often called her Blue.  It didn't really stick, but I couldn't think of a name that matched her.  She was a bit skittish, but she was still one of my favorites.







A neighbor's dog got out and chased my chickens.  She killed Barb, my sweet Barred Rock, and she scared Angel so bad, she flew over the field behind my house, and I didn't realize she didn't didn't come back until the evening....

 Left: Angel

Angel was the very first hatchling I ever hatched out it my incubator.  She had two other siblings who passed from a fox about a month before her.  I hope those guys are also waiting on the other side.  (Don't judge my sentimentality for my chickens!)  ;)

I have two eggs who came from the same person Angel came from plus eggs out of one of my mother's girls who looks a lot like Angel.  I'm hoping I get another girl similar to Angel.

Right: Barb

Barb, my sweet Barb...  She was one of the few who wouldn't mind my picking her up.  <3

It is thanks to Barb that I will be buying more Barred Rocks in the future.  

Labelle hatched out 8 eggs.  Two were mine, and I kept them for Labelle to raise, both pullets.  Lucky me!  Until tragedy struck...  Something attacked and succeeded in killing one of the babies and Labelle.  LABELLE!  She was arguably the most awesome chicken ever...  

There are also more Polish in the next chick order....  Polish are excellent layers (the ones I have had, anyway), and they are super comical.

Sadly, I have no pictures of Labelle's baby.  She was a gray OE mix between Bandit and Myrtle.

Dory...  I didn't really know what Dory was.  She could be a Rouen or a Mallard, though I suspected the latter.  She had been flying 6-7' about once or twice a day either because something startled her or she was excited about food.  The thing about Mallards, they fly...  Not just a few yards across the yard, but they are migratory WILD ducks that usually end up flying away with their flock, but the Pekins I have don't, and they are the only flock she knows.

The kids didn't close the door all the way, Poppet (the sighthound!) found the door cracked, she slipped out, and Dory flew away...  She hasn't returned, and I'm in a huff about it...  She could be dead, or she may have just flown away never to return.  I'm hoping she is alive and just discovered her natural routes, but I was reminded why I never want to buy an unknown again.