Alaskan's Life

[Alaskan]

One of my hens took a different route and stole a chick from a group a broody had hatched. At first a fight, then she was allowed to adopt it! She's an amazing mom....as is the broody. Guess it's chicken life!

I have 9 I hatched in bator that I'm going to get into coop mode today. They're almost 3 months and need to get out of the grow out area into daily life. Prepped all yesterday to move today. I'll band them as I move them.

At some point I stopped banding.....

And as I look at my flock... purebred so pretty similar especially with MY poor eyesite... can't tell them apart!!!

I am thinking I need to start banding again... colored zip ties.

Oh.... and after typing all the posts the other day.... I was all "huh, why haven't I moved those 2 bantams from the big coop back to the bantam coop?" So.... I did.

So....

Now 4 girls, 3 males in that bantam coop. I think after the kids kill the pigs, I will have them kill one male.

By the way though..... the 3 clocks were a hoot with the new hens... all 3 were clucking amd spinning about, dragging a wing and trying to impress.

After a bunch of that one finally tried to mate... but she was too fast, and so he let her go.

 

[Mini Horses]

For years I never banded. But I did some I had bought to differentiate them from similar others... primarily for age distinction. Same with these. I have some lovely grays I bought a short time ago and 5 of these are almost same color. It will help me tell them apart. And then there's the black is black -- you get the picture.

Some people just automatically cull and replace at a given age. I don't. Plus those people often buy one breed, switch to another, color tells. If that's good for them, works for me! I have a mixed flock. Some are purebreds. If I want eggs from them as pure, they are penned and eggs collected after any other sperm has left their system. Otherwise, free range here -- all cooped at night. I am fortunate to have several pens/coops.

I love to see little bantams. So cute and the roos are so proud! Grands used to keep a few. She'd always save a few eggs when they knew we were coming to visit, for me to cook. I believe she kept them for her own pleasure to watch, plus their broody nature. They also had big hens.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I started my first flock with bantams hatched in my 6th grade classroom.

 

[Alaskan]

I started my first flock with bantams hatched in my 6th grade classroom.

As when YOU were in 6th grade????

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Yep. When I was in 6th grade. We had an incubator, and I told the teacher: "I'll supply the eggs if I can keep what hatches, AAAAANNNNDDDD if I get to tend the bator." So, it was a win-win deal for him, and I got the honor/privilege of tending the bator. I wanted to get Guinea eggs. But, at the farm that we went to... the lady couldn't find any guinea eggs. But, she found a Banty nest, so we hatched banties!!! My Dad was always an incredible mentor, and took all of my "critter collecting" in stride, and mentored me along the way. BTW, I'll save you the mental gymnastics and do the math for you... I'm 65 y.o. now!

 

[Alaskan]

Yep. When I was in 6th grade. We had an incubator, and I told the teacher: "I'll supply the eggs if I can keep what hatches, AAAAANNNNDDDD if I get to tend the bator." So, it was a win-win deal for him, and I got the honor/privilege of tending the bator. I wanted to get Guinea eggs. But, at the farm that we went to... the lady couldn't find any guinea eggs. But, she found a Banty nest, so we hatched banties!!! My Dad was always an incredible mentor, and took all of my "critter collecting" in stride, and mentored me along the way. BTW, I'll save you the mental gymnastics and do the math for you... I'm 65 y.o. now!

Do you have any of the descendents?

Pretty cool.

As a kid I would mail order the chicks for my grandmother... that way I would tend to them until they were big enough that the ranch cats were no longer at risk of eating them.... then I would bring then to her at the ranch.

It was fun.


And looking back.... it is funny remembering my kid mind.

I was way too prejudiced to ever buy any breed that lay WHITE eggs.

Not sure why that was stuck in my head!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

No. I had chickens until I was in high school. Then, I didn't get any more until after hubby and I built our house. Had them for about a decade, there-a-bouts. Then, started my current revolving flock about 17 years ago.

I've had bantams, sex links, leghorns, (white and lt brown rose comb), Dominique, Barred Rock, SLW, EE, Buck Eye, BA, and probably a few other breeds I've forgotten about.

 

[Alaskan]

No. I had chickens until I was in high school. Then, I didn't get any more until after hubby and I built our house. Had them for about a decade, there-a-bouts. Then, started my current revolving flock about 17 years ago.

I've had bantams, sex links, leghorns, (white and lt brown rose comb), Dominique, Barred Rock, SLW, EE, Buck Eye, BA, and probably a few other breeds I've forgotten about.

Of all the breeds you have had, which was your favorite, and why?

 

[Lazy Gardener]

IMO, a combination of Dominique (or possibly barred rock) AND EE. I just love the personality of Doms and EE. Those 2 breeds have small combs (rose and pea, respectively). They tend to blend into a wonderful flock. their personalities are well matched. And they provide a nicely colored egg basket. Doms also are prone to occasional broodiness, while not being pain in the butt "broody all the time". Also, if you keep a EE roo, one who does not have white coloring, he will cross with the Dom or PBR to produce delightful black sex links: Win/win/win situation: Olive eggers, sex linked, hybrid vigor. Dom eggs are medium sized, while PBR eggs are large. So, while I prefer Doms, I'm very willing to settle for PBR. I also like the personality of Buck Eye. They have pea combs, and a BE roo would cross with a Dom or PBR to produce a black sex link.

IIRC, Pea x Rose = Walnut. Rose x Single = Rose. But, Pea x Single = loose, wonky pea. In my cold winters, I prefer small combs, and absolutely won't have feathered feet in my flocks.

I was really pleased with how well the ducks wintered over. But, last winter was warmer than usual.

 

[Alaskan]

IMO, a combination of Dominique (or possibly barred rock) AND EE. I just love the personality of Doms and EE. Those 2 breeds have small combs (rose and pea, respectively). They tend to blend into a wonderful flock. their personalities are well matched. And they provide a nicely colored egg basket. Doms also are prone to occasional broodiness, while not being pain in the butt "broody all the time". Also, if you keep a EE roo, one who does not have white coloring, he will cross with the Dom or PBR to produce delightful black sex links: Win/win/win situation: Olive eggers, sex linked, hybrid vigor. Dom eggs are medium sized, while PBR eggs are large. So, while I prefer Doms, I'm very willing to settle for PBR. I also like the personality of Buck Eye. They have pea combs, and a BE roo would cross with a Dom or PBR to produce a black sex link.

IIRC, Pea x Rose = Walnut. Rose x Single = Rose. But, Pea x Single = loose, wonky pea. In my cold winters, I prefer small combs, and absolutely won't have feathered feet in my flocks.

I was really pleased with how well the ducks wintered over. But, last winter was warmer than usual.

I used to have Doms and really loved them.

The kids also thought the Doms had excellent personalities.

But..... I really needed to reduce the number of breeds I had....

And so the Doms went.....