An Unpleasant Chicken Day

Yesterday was NOT cool.  We went about two months without a dcent amount of rain.  Jim Howard and Greg Armbrect said we were getting some, but we didn't.  I'll bet Greg Fischal said we were, too.  But very little rain came if any.  Friday we were slated for a 60% chance on Monday, but by Sunday night it had jumped to 90%.  And the rains came.  My garden needed the rain, too.  I was carrying 5 gallon buckets out to water my veggies one at a time.  It's about a quarter acre, so my arms were a bit sore. 

As most of you know I had chicks hatch last week.  Some came Tuesday or Wednesday with more to follow Friday.  I never got an exact number, but I believe it was around 18 or so.  The bantam with the silkie rooster kept losing hers.  She hatched out 8 in total, but they were dying one at a time.  She still had 6 when we left on Friday.  Dustin, our neighbor fed and watered for us.  He's farmer's grandson. We got home late Sunday so the birds were left to sleep.  I didn't have time to check them before work yesterday, but when I got home I changed and went out to see.  It was still raining and all the birds were soaking wet.  The two hens were huddled over their chicks.  But the bantam/silkie only had 3 doing well with one squished in the mud!  It was the last black one.  I had to put it out of it's misery, and I was at the very brink of tears.  I didn't make Mike do it.  And I felt just awful!  Mike did tell me he pulled one dead chick from her that morning, and two from Bucky and China.  So I wrangled up the remaining chicks...three silkie/bantams and six from Bucky and China....nine in total.  I put them in the brooder box with feed, water, and some wheat straw for warmth.  Both hens clucked on calling their chicks, and the chicks peeped quite loudly from the box.  I felt awful for that, as well.  But I felt they would be safer that way.  I do have a heat lamp for them, as well. 

We also had a couple of pigeon squab hatch last week.  I think one of them is dead, too.  Mama was sitting on them and wouldn't let me check.  But I know one is still living.  I could see it moving.  Got another pigeon sitting on two eggs.  Baby pigeons are so UGLY!  Their beaks are way to big!  Glad they are pretty when they grow up. 

I haven't been commenting as much lately.  I've been busy as a bee in a clover field.  But I still pop in to check on each of you.  Just cause I don't say anything doesn't mean I'm not reading!  I'll try to get some pics up in the next day or two.  I have some, but they are still on the camera.  Have a pleasant day, all.

They're Here!!

We have all been waiting.

I had a hybrid bantam hen.  She is all white, but I have both parents.  They are both black with a tan or cream colored collar.  She was by herself, so I put a white silkie rooster in with her.  Well, they got busy, and she started sitting after laying about 15 or 16 eggs.  It seemed like forever ago when she started sitting.  We'll be away for the weekend, so I figured if they had not hatched by Friday, I was gonna throw out the eggs.  Yesterday afternoon I saw a little white head poking out from under her, but I could still see eggs.  She was still sitting, too.  Then I check in on her this morning before leaving for work.  I saw a black chick, but it wasn't moving.  I think it might be dead.  I told Mike just in case, so he can get it out if it is.  But since she was still sitting I let her sit.  I wll check back in this afternoon.  I can't wait for her to get up.  I'm curious as to how these chicks will turn out!  I will post later when they are out and about with some pics! 

Happy Mother's Day

Got my nephew and niece for the weekend.  Hope all you ladies have a safe and wonderful Mother's Day, in or out of America! 

Sky Watch Friday

Took this pic a few years ago a couple of miles from my parents.

Renee @ Of Lemons And Honey

If you have not been by to see Renee lately or even at all you should go see her now.  She is an amazing woman with a fantastic story to tell.  Here is a sampling. When I read this, I was wondering if it was a real story.  If so, was it her story?  Well she says it is!  It's a real nail biter!  She has started a "book" and has gotten me hooked.  And if you are like me, you want to know....the rest of the story.  Visit Renee any time at her blog http://www.oflemonsandhoney.blogspot.com/

Moonday

Whew!  Been busy with work.  Sometimes I think they are trying to kill me! Anyway, I'm not gonna use today's post as a complaining platform.  I had some pics of the moon I've been saving to share, but it seems that's the blog theme lately.  I've noticed several of you have been posting pics of the moon.  Of course, mine are not as good as some of yours, but they were really experimental pics.  I had to delete some because the moon looked more like a loaf of bread.  So, without further adieu, here's my moon.

And that's my magnificent moon! 

Thanks for the thoughts and concerns.  All is okay, and I will keep you posted!!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!  MARGARITAS ARE ON ME!!

Babies

Thought I'd give you and update on the babies.  They are getting big now.

Here are three RI Red/Black Sex Link mixed and one Black Austrolorp.  The one in the front is gonna be a pretty bird.  The Black Aussie (2nd from front) grew much faster and is a bit bigger than the others.  The third from the front is about 10 days younger than the others, but holds his own.  The one in the back has a bit of white on him that I'm convinced with turn out to be tan. 

They didn't want to be still for the photo op!  Busy little buggers, they are!

These two are also RIR/BSL mixed.  I love the light colored one.  But that's also the one who got picked on by the others.  He had no feathers on his neck.  I separated him, but gave him a small buddy to keep him company.  He's started to heal, but keeps scratching the scabs, making it bleed again.  He looks pitiful.

Just look at the poor guy's neck!

Sometimes when I get home from work I don't even go into the house.  I go straight to the chickens and/or the garden.  Last Friday I was in a horrible mood over an issue I still have to figure out.  I went back to look at the birds, and this is what I found!  She was sitting on two eggs, but only one hatched.  He's so funny running around all by himself. 

Here he is close up.  I'll probably take him away this weekend, and put him with the others.  He was always running around.  He had no deisre to look at the camera.

And of course, I could not leave out these little guys!  Aren't they just the cutest!

This cute little guy is the runt.  He's half the size of the others.  But when they are feeding on mama he's off curled up by himself sleeping! 

Here's my last baby pic.  Well, it's not really a baby.  It's the mama.  Not sure what kind of bird she is, but here nest is in our Magnolia tree.  I'm sure the baby has hatched, though, as I found broken shell under the tree.

And finally.........

SKY WATCH FRIDAY!!

P.S.  I don't know which of the baby chickens are hens or roosters.  I just used the terms he/him as general terms.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Le Fleur

Jim at The Gaudy Garden requested to see my roses, and since I only have two rose bushes I opted to make today a Flower Tuesday.  Besides, I have a bush that I have no idea what it is, and I'm hoping for a little help in identifying it.

This is my Nearly Wild Rose

Nearly Wild Rose Buds

Nearly Wild Roses from the deck

My Something Rose.  I don't remember what kind of rose this is, but it starts out red, then gets more yellow in it, before it fades to a pretty pink

A Something Bud

A fading something rose

My Something Rose Bush

Got this plant from a neighbor.  He called it Sweet Betsy.  It has these little brown pods that open up like flowers.  They smell like strawberry wine coolers.

Then there's this bush.  It looks like a rose bush, but it has no thorns.  It was growing behind the shed when we moved in, so I dug it up and transplanted it.

A close up of the leaves

And these are the flowers.  We've never seen it bloom.  We transplanted it last spring and it didn't bloom.  But this year it did.  In fact, it just started blooming this past week.  There are tiny buds all over.  Does anyone have any idea what kind of plant this is?  If it blooms  all over like this it will be very pretty.