Poultry Power

We had out first hatch of chicks! I am so excited. I got a new incubator and it's really cool .  It is a Brinsea and holds 20 eggs or so, and has a humidity pump. Well, the pump is not working and we are working with the company to resolve this. But the incubator is great.

 

We had seven Black Copper Marans, three Blue Copper and three Wheaten chick hatch. I had a Wheaten hen go broody so I gave her the chicks and she is a great mom. She gives the Border Collies the evil eye as they pass her cage.  She took to  the babies right away hop all over her.

 

Then I had another Wheaten hen go broody. I had a  chance to snag two Cream Legbars rooster chicks that were one week old so stuck them under her and she took to them. They are so happy to have a mom that they pester her all the time. Another friend gave me a five week old Cream Legbar Rooster so now I have three roosters. I am getting some hens. The Cream Legbars are a very rare breed and lay a beautiful blue egg. I plan to start a flock with them.

 

This year I have decided to raise some rare breed of chickens as well as my standard hens. Once I figure out my foundation flock, I will sell my extra. It's a cool hobby and I am limiting my rare breeds to the Marans and Legbars.

 

One of the Black Copper Marans hens has decided to be my pet. She follows me and eats out of my hand. The Marans hens are very friendly and lay a dark, chocolate egg. So between my leghorns, Easter Eggers and the brown egg layers, I get a great color choice of egg colors.

 

My other laying hens are Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, Leghorns, Silkies and Cochins. I have ducks (runners) and Guineas. I also have Endem Geese but don't collect their eggs. They just wander all over the farm and give their opinion on everything.

 

Low Input Lambing & Kidding

Here is a great document you can download on managing lambing. It is put out by Cornell University, Animal Science Department.

 

 

 

A Resource Guide for Managing Lambing and Kidding Efficiently Without Sacrificing Animal Well Being

Glow in the Dark Sheep

A team of scientists from Uruguay have genetically modified a flock of nine young sheep, causing the lambs to glow in the dark whenever they are exposed to ultraviolet light.

 

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Getting Plucked

Yep, true either way.

 

Dixson meets Sarah

Dixson adores Sarah. Sarah likes to play coy. Dixson follows Sarah around and just wants to play. But Sarah will play when she wants to and usually the pup that she picks to play with, will get the short end of the stick. Meaning,  the pup will be pounced upon!

So Sarah likes to get comfy in my chair. Dixson want to play. Sarah was annoyed as she was sun bathing.

Hey Dixson, quit bugging me!

Let me show you my sharp claws!

 

Well, she decided the best defense was to ignore him. She decided she had to scratch her ear and after than took a snooze. Finally, Dixson wandered off.