What better way to spend a lazy Sunday morning than dust bathing in the sunshine -- with your sister and her chicks.
These two first time mums are doing a great job.
Last year they were both good aunties; and now that they've been allowed to hatch some chicks of their own they've turned it into a bit of a team effort.
Look at the tail feathers on the little black chick. That's definitely a pullet!
If you have girls setting eggs this season a few rules to follow:
- Ensure they have water they can dip their underside in (not just your usual drinkers) -- they may need to raise the humidity in the last few days before the chicks hatch
- Remove the water dish when the eggs begin to hatch or fill it with stones -- chicks can easily drown
- Ensure you clean up the broody's horrendous smelling poo every day -- it will attract flies which can then make her flyblown as her skin is fragile after spending week incubating the eggs
- Don't feed her a diet too high in protein
- Ensure she has access to plenty of fresh greens
- Dust her chest and under her wings with Pestene when she begins to incubate then again once the hatching is over
- Remove any eggs that fail to hatch within 72 hours of the first chick hatching -- she needs to get the chicks out and drinking; don't sacrifice their health and well being on a 'maybe' that hasn't hatched yet
- It's the longest 21 days of your life but don't interfere with the hen in the last few days -- picking her up to check the eggs will just spoil the perfect humidity and temp she's working ahrd to achieve
- Enjoy!
It has been a while between posts so there's much to report on...
Introducing the first ever gold designer backyarders.
There is a silver laced on the left for comparison, but her brothers and sisters are the first gold laced.
They're going to a lovely garden in Montmorency when their mother decides they're big enough -- right now they lift her right off the ground when they snuggle up for a nap.
I splashed out on new accommodation this season for the broodies to sit in peace and raise their babies for the first few days.
The problem with keeping them separate is that when they all head in at dusk there's a bit of confusion about who belongs with who.
It think some of the cousins have been having few sleep-overs but no-one seems to mind.
We have lots of chicks at the moment (I stopped counting at 40) -- but Miss P is making it her business to ensure they all receive an equal share of love, handling and attention.
Note to self: must buy MORE watermelon today.
She cuts it into tiny pieces then rolls it in chick crumble for their special snacks. I really should plant some as it's costing a fortune.
Speaking of gardening...
Plant mint -- I have discovered that rats and mice hate the stuff, which is great news for us!
Your comfrey and tansy should be growing at a great rate right now too -- as soon as the tansy begins to flower put a bouquet in the layer boxes to make it unattractive to lice and mites.
Mites are cunning little things that only come out at night so the first you'll even know they're a problem will be because the chooks are suffering from anaemia.
Bunnings also have a new triple strength pyrethrum spray that remains effective for 20 days. I bought it on the weekend and am going to make it part of my routine to spray the inside of the chookhouse whenever I do a clean-out -- just in case.
Some of these little lovelies may even be yours if you're on the waiting list.
My plan is to touch base with people this week. Keep your fingers crossed that there are plenty of pullets and not many cockerals.
