My dear little hen,
COLETTE
August 31, 2009 - July 7, 2011
Friday, July 08, 2011
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Little Peeps
Haven't visited Barbara on her home territory in ages, but I made the drive down this week; a BIG goal... or rather, little goals in mind - New Baby Chicks! So I was down for the trip to the feed store right after the new day old baby chicks came in.
Baby Jersey Giant - largest of chicken breeds
Easter Egger, future layer of green or blue eggs
Lovely Silver Laced Wyandotte chick
Now, first up - how to raise the chicks. Barbara had a plan - one of her two Buff Orpington hens was broody, and spent the past few weeks patiently sitting on eggs, waiting for the eggs to hatch - the eggs being wooden aren't expected to hatch any time soon.
So! At the feed store Barbara chose some new chicks, mostly 'Easter Eggers' that lay blue or green tinted eggs. She also picked out a couple of Silver Lace Wyandotte chicks, and one or two Jersey Giants, the largest chicken breed in the world. Unable to resist, at the nth minute I decided to add two Americana chicks to my own flock so I picked out a couple of the fawn and stripped babies.
Ten little chicks on the ride home to their new foster 'Mom'
Now it was time for the big switch - convincing Miss Pink these new frisky chicks were hers. Barbara fretted over how to make the switch for weeks. So, soon there we were, at the temporary rabbit hutch that was to serve as a chick nursery. Miss Pink looked rather dubious about the fuss.
The patient 'Miss Pink', Barbara's broody Buff Orpington Hen
Finally the moment came... Barbara gingerly unloaded the peeping chicks into the pen with Miss Pink.
Barbara puts chicks into their nursery while
Miss Pink gave us dirty looks
"What the... where'd these youngings come from?"
Suddenly Miss Pink, started clucking low and fussing with her bedding. We couldn't decide if she was upset or what... but suddenly a couple of chicks pushed their way under their new Mom, as if they'd been waiting all day just to do so.
Someone's little bill peeking out from under 'Maw'
So, all in all, the 'adoption' time for Miss Pink to accept her new babies was about .002 seconds. As far as she was concerned, what the heck took those babies so long to arrive?
"If you don't mind, get lost, I've got some
youngings to get ready for their nap"
So! No worries, all ten chicks were warm and snug. Visiting the little family during the next couple of days was great. Miss Pink taught her babies to drink and eat their scratch. She was kind enough to let us handle her sweeties without pecking us... ok, she got Barbara once, but as long as it wasn't me!
It was a nice visit at Barbara's. Haven't seen Oscar, her husband or Eric, her grown son in eons so it was nice visiting with them. Barb and I made up a list of chores for ourselves and to our amazement, we actually did everything on the list. The list included putting up wiring for a new hen pen. We lined the pen 'baby wire', The small holed wire will keep the new chicks safe from raccoon paws that reach in to snag babies. I'll nick my chicks in late September when they're old enough to be on their own in my little flock.
It was a lovely visit. I made it home in time for the Forth of July so I can celebrate the holiday with my beautiful and crazy 'old' girls.
"Holiday? Heck, where's our afternoon snack?"
Now, first up - how to raise the chicks. Barbara had a plan - one of her two Buff Orpington hens was broody, and spent the past few weeks patiently sitting on eggs, waiting for the eggs to hatch - the eggs being wooden aren't expected to hatch any time soon.
So! At the feed store Barbara chose some new chicks, mostly 'Easter Eggers' that lay blue or green tinted eggs. She also picked out a couple of Silver Lace Wyandotte chicks, and one or two Jersey Giants, the largest chicken breed in the world. Unable to resist, at the nth minute I decided to add two Americana chicks to my own flock so I picked out a couple of the fawn and stripped babies.
Now it was time for the big switch - convincing Miss Pink these new frisky chicks were hers. Barbara fretted over how to make the switch for weeks. So, soon there we were, at the temporary rabbit hutch that was to serve as a chick nursery. Miss Pink looked rather dubious about the fuss.
Finally the moment came... Barbara gingerly unloaded the peeping chicks into the pen with Miss Pink.
Miss Pink gave us dirty looks
Suddenly Miss Pink, started clucking low and fussing with her bedding. We couldn't decide if she was upset or what... but suddenly a couple of chicks pushed their way under their new Mom, as if they'd been waiting all day just to do so.
So, all in all, the 'adoption' time for Miss Pink to accept her new babies was about .002 seconds. As far as she was concerned, what the heck took those babies so long to arrive?
youngings to get ready for their nap"
So! No worries, all ten chicks were warm and snug. Visiting the little family during the next couple of days was great. Miss Pink taught her babies to drink and eat their scratch. She was kind enough to let us handle her sweeties without pecking us... ok, she got Barbara once, but as long as it wasn't me!
It was a nice visit at Barbara's. Haven't seen Oscar, her husband or Eric, her grown son in eons so it was nice visiting with them. Barb and I made up a list of chores for ourselves and to our amazement, we actually did everything on the list. The list included putting up wiring for a new hen pen. We lined the pen 'baby wire', The small holed wire will keep the new chicks safe from raccoon paws that reach in to snag babies. I'll nick my chicks in late September when they're old enough to be on their own in my little flock.
It was a lovely visit. I made it home in time for the Forth of July so I can celebrate the holiday with my beautiful and crazy 'old' girls.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Titans at Rossmoor Bar
So, this morning, post dental appointment I was hanging out by the river. When taking this first photo I didn't even notice it was not an Anna's Hummingbird; it's a Black-chinned Hummer.
I decided to head for home so I drove up from the boat launch dock in Rossmoor Bar on the Parkway. Noticed there was a crowd down on a slope.
I've never even seen deer in this particular park before, much less so many well pointed bucks.
This buck is beautiful - love the dark forehead, something special to Mule Deer of the Bambi persuasion.
The sweep of the antlers on these bucks were reminiscent of elk.
And just when I thought the scene couldn't be more engaging, a wee little fawn walked out from some shrubbery. I was startled to see it was still spotted. Haven't seen a spotted fawn in quite a while, it is the season.
No idea where this baby's Mom was. I stared at the little herd of five (in sight) but no doe showed. Maybe this was Dad's custody week? Hey, I'm just saying...!
Well! Think I'll get the camera and figure out how the hell I turned on the date marking in the new little digital camera, and how the hell I can turn it back off again.
 |
| Not one of the titans |
 |
 |
| The four bucks were only nominally interested in me |
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| Four-pointer, if you don't count the tines seemingly growing from his back |
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| That's right, we're spectacular |
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| Dad? |
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| What is this stuff the big guys are eating? |
Well! Think I'll get the camera and figure out how the hell I turned on the date marking in the new little digital camera, and how the hell I can turn it back off again.
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