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Archive for the ‘Chickens’ Category

Spring Babies

Posted in Animals, Chickens, ducks on June 28, 2017| 1 Comment »

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These two cuties are the newest addition to the flock. The chick was born yesterday, and the duckling today. These two ducks are sitting on another few dozen eggs, so we are hoping for  several more in the next few days.

Aside from the two new mommas, there are another 4 ducks and 1 chicken sitting on eggs.

So far this season the hatching rate has been very low. We have 4 juvenile ducks and 7 juvenile chickens. We had 5 ducks and 1 chicken sitting a few months ago, but a rat snake and possum got into the coop and ate the majority of the eggs.

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The juvenile ducks are currently in their awkward stage. This one’s wings are a bit too big for his body.

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Here are a two of the seven juvenile chickens. We currently have 3 Bielefelders, 3 Maran/Bielefelder mixes, and 1 White.

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It looks like our new Bielfelder rooster is doing his job.

 

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Animals are Pretty Amazing …

Posted in Chickens, ducks on May 22, 2015| 2 Comments »

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One of our ducks, Priscilla, is super friendly but a notoriously terrible mother, hatched 3 guineas but then quickly abandoned them. We had 3 tiny guineas running around the chicken yard. We weren’t sure how they were going to make it, until our lone chick, just 3 weeks old, took over momma duties.

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Not only did she show them how to eat, but lets all 3 climb under her for sleeping and protection.

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Elsewhere in the chicken yard, we have a chicken and duck raising 7 ducklings together. They sat together on the nest for 28 long days and once they hatched, they are sharing duties.

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Here’s another momma with ducklings. Wait a duck raising ducklings? Something’s wrong around here …

We currently have 15 ducklings, 1 chick, and 3 guinea keets

*Sorry — all pics with iPhone this time

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All Bees Welcome

Posted in Chickens, citrus, Flowers, Spring, tulip on March 31, 2015| 2 Comments »

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After a very long winter (by Texas standards), Spring has finally arrived!

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The bulbs … Tulips, Narcissus and Hyacinths

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Irises

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Front bed — Betony and Lantana. Nestled up against the house, this lantana bloomed all winter

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Bluebonnets — mine are a little late, but coming along

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Wisteria

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My first Mountain Laurel bloom ever!

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Yucca Bloom

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The veggies — tomatoes and peppers are planted. A few winter veggies are still going, and I’m letting things bolt for the bees

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Citrus

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Even the chickens know it is spring. Here are two sitting on eggs. One is using an old rabbit nesting box. We’ll have to keep an eye on her, as she’s about  feet up in the air.

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Just a Normal Thursday

Posted in Animals, Chickens, tagged on February 27, 2014| 3 Comments »

Not that I’m complaining, but my normal everyday after-work routine can be a little hectic.

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On my way home from work I stopped real quick at The Natural Gardener (luckily on my way home) and grabbed some Juliet’s, since I didn’t grow these from seed, some basil and a few silver pony foot. By stopping today I don’t have to fight the weekend crowds.

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After arriving home, I filled up the feed buckets and fed Marshal and the Lambs (still no names). I threw the ball around with Marshal for about 10 minutes as well.

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While out there, I filled up my bowl with greens, radishes, and carrots for tonight’s salad.

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I reset the traps with peanut butter and dog food.

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I then migrated to the chicken area to spray some antibiotic on our chicken with an eye infection. I set a few traps in the chicken area as well.

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And gathered eggs

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I then pulled out a lamb roast for dinner.

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All the while, pet Frankie and say hello to Rose and Carl. Carl makes it easy since he follows me around everywhere.

Now off to cook dinner.

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New Rooster

Posted in Animals, Chickens on July 2, 2012| 6 Comments »

Priscilla

Over the past few weeks we’ve had CRD (Chronic Respiratory Disease) spread through the flock. We lost Priscilla, our Light Sussex. She went in a matter of 12 hours. After this we started giving antibiotic shots to the chickens when they showed severe symptoms (difficulty breathing and rattle in the chest). Several of them also had goopy eyes, sometimes to the point of being glued shut. We tried to let their own antibodies deal with the illness, if possible. Several of them were able to do this, but more than half required shots.

Barry

On Tuesday Barry (our Buff Brahma rooster) started wheezing after a few days of minor symptoms. We gave him a shot. That day the weather hit 109 degrees. Between the illness and the heat it was too much. My daughter found him dead at about 3 in the afternoon. In hindsight, we should have brought him inside, but it’s our first time with chickens, and especially with illness. We were very sad to lose our rooster.

New Rooster

On March 6th of this year, our first chick hatched. We weren’t ready to deal with a chick so we brought it over to a friend of ours who raises chickens. She was kind enough to raise the little guy. After losing Barry, we decided to finally go pick him up. He’s not crowing quite yet and doesn’t seem to know he’s a Rooster, but he’s fitting in well. It’s nice to have Barry’s son as a replacement. He is half Buff Brahma and half Rhode Island Red.

 

 

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