{Farm} Flock Update

Hello Friends.

Today I wanted to share a coop update with you. The flock has been through quite a bit of change in the past few months and I wanted to share them with you.   

First Clutch to Hatch

 In August, I was fortunate enough to have one of my Rhode Island Red hens go broody. I wouldn’t have jumped at the opportunity if I didn’t have a rooster in my flock (more on him later.) Sweet Pea had a successful 100% hatch rate with the 6 eggs in her clutch. Sadly, it was her last hurrah as we lost her a week after hatching her babies. Then, about a month or so ago, I lost one of the teens to the dogs. The fault was entirely mine because it was accidentally left in the dog’s pen during an emergency situation with my grandmother’s cat. Mistakes happen though and we learn from them.  The other 5 chicks are doing well which is good news- that is except for the fact that they might all be roosters… As of right now, I only have two confirmed roos. My grandmother wants to put them in the freezer, but I don’t know if I can do it because they are my first group hatched out by myself. We will see what happens. 

2nd Clutch to Hatch

Two months after the first batch hatched out, I had one of my Black Sex Links go broody. I tried to put her off, but she wasn’t having it. I finally gave in and allowed her to set a few eggs. She hatched out 3 chicks. Unfortunately we lost one early on that wasn’t quite finished. The other two survived and are thriving with mom. It is so much fun to watch momma bird interact with her kids. She shows them food, keeps them warm and wards off any threat to her chicks – the wrath of a mother hen is a sight to behold when her chicks are in danger. We have several hawks and a falcon that reside in our neighborhood. The falcon seems to have taken an interest in the chicks. It has made several attempts to capture the chicks. The first time was thwarted by my grandmother seeing it and knocking on the window, scaring it off. Its second attempt was near the fence. It came down out a tree in the neighbor’s yard after them. She pushed them into the chicken wire around a plant and set herself between them and the falcon. She puffed herself up and let out this horrible screech! Needless to say, the falcon changed his mind and both chicks are still with mom. All this work on momma hen’s part, I hope at least one of her chicks is a hen. 
 

 

Bertram

Our other defender in the flock is our addition of a rooster back in February of this year. Bertram has certainly earned his keep as man of the coop. He has provided us with fertile eggs (as is evident by the success of the two clutches that have hatched out) and kept the girls safe from the hawks in the neighborhood by getting them to a safe hideout until the hawks are gone.  
 I have come to understand the different calls he has. When he lets out this growl of sorts, I automatically turn my eyes to the sky to see where the hawks are. It never fails. Aside from that, I enjoy hearing him crow. It is just a bit of the country life in the city. 

 Winter Wonderland

As winter settles in here in the Sierra Nevada range of Western Nevada, I have begun the task of winterizing the coop. The girls have slowed their egg production and are packing on a little fat store for the winter. Winterizing the farm isn’t too complicated with only chickens and bunnies. Getting the coop ready consists mainly of adding more hay to the floor to add a bit of extra insulation. I also load up the nesting boxes with Timothy Hay. The hens like munching on it while they are laying. This year I have decided to give the girls a proper rest. I won’t be adding any artificial light in regards to putting a lamp in the coop. Some will say they need it to stay warm, but I don’t subscribe to that theory anymore. If you are worried about your hens, put your cold hands under a hen in the winter to warm them up and you’ll see just how warm they stay on their own. If the weather gets down below 0, then I will consider adding hot water bottles to the coop for them to snuggle… But with a mild winter forecasted, I don’t think I will have to worry about that.

I hope you enjoy this little update.

Love Always,

Miss B