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Sesame (the Smokey Pearl with the dark grey face/legs) has developed a dot of black feathers almost *exactly* over her vent.  Can't put the chicks out in the small run yet during the day because out weather has turned cold/windy, threatening thunderstorms. When we do start putting them out during the day, the cam will be off for those hours.
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Jun 5, 2022 02:39
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The weather is nice, not a cloud in the sky and it's warming! So later on when the kid gets up (she got back from a con yesterday and is pooped) we'll take the chicks out into the small run for the day! The cam will be turned off for the hours they are outside, turned on again when they come back in this evening. This will be the first step in safely acclimating them to the outdoors. We'll also get them a new dirt clod today. If all goes well, this is the final week of Chickam and the chicks will be turned out into the flock for good this weekend. I'll be sure to take new pictures of the little beasts before we do. This has been one of the more troublemaker-laden groups, LOL. And it's ALL of them. Constantly jumping out/knocking each other off the edge of the box. With much vocal drama. I keep finding them wandering the dining room/kitchen/living room, especially at night when there is light in the room then go to. Nosy Parkers, every one of them. EDIT--Yesterday didn't work out, so... The babies are going outside to the small, enclosed run for the day NOW, the livestream will resume this evening when they come back inside. Everyone wish them well on their first day outside! Velvet Sparrow fucked around with this message at 15:53 on Jun 7, 2022 |
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Jun 6, 2022 16:03
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Chica wow boom! Thanks.
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Jun 6, 2022 16:11
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I'm so excited for them, I hope we can get some pictures of them in the flock going about their business in the future, too, they have many stories to write
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Jun 6, 2022 18:37
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Thank you for all of this, and megatron thanks you too. Latest picture, he's turning into a round shape and smashing fluffs, so we can say with certainty that out of this year's batch there was an extra little one who made it too. 
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Jun 9, 2022 20:41
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learnincurve posted:Thank you for all of this, and megatron thanks you too. What a beautiful snek. A fine reptilian.
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Jun 9, 2022 21:46
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The chicks have been spending the days out in the small run and our weather is holding, so on Sunday the kid and I will get pictures of them and their fluffy little butts will get booted out into the flock for good--and Chickam will end for this year. Then I have some major investigating on our equipment to see what is causing our problems. But until then, they insist on sleeping atop the protective cage we made for the laptop (they kept walking on it and changing settings) next to the brooder box. They ignore the pole across the top of the box, or even the edges of the box itself and all seven insist on packing together like this:  The old towel is there so the laptop doesn't get pooped into oblivion. But THIS is how Bu Lu sleeps, silly girl. 
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Jun 11, 2022 07:50
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The best darn hens right there.
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Jun 11, 2022 12:43
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This is the gang coming together for a photo shoot
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Jun 11, 2022 13:38
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Man they are HUGE
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Jun 11, 2022 13:40
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have good happy lives CHICKENS
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Jun 11, 2022 14:55
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Velvet Sparrow posted:But until then, they insist on sleeping atop the protective cage we made for the laptop (they kept walking on it and changing settings)  But they're looking great, feels like they're growing like crazy every time I see them.
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Jun 11, 2022 15:14
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Honestly it is such a miracle to think that just two months ago these absolute babies were just small little eggs and now they're teenagers about to rock the park!
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Jun 11, 2022 15:26
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It was so wonderful as it is every year to watch this miracle of life from the start, hurdles and valleys and dirt clods and all. Big thanks to the velvet sparrow family for continuing to host this.
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Jun 11, 2022 20:22
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They are adorable, I love the chicken pile  Thank you for everything you do to run this!
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Jun 11, 2022 23:02
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Velvet Sparrow posted:But THIS is how Bu Lu sleeps, silly girl. So proud of this strange, feathered child.
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Jun 11, 2022 23:28
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bu lu rules
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Jun 11, 2022 23:37
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This thread always makes me smile.
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Jun 12, 2022 16:17
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Thanks for hosting another year of chickam, VS! Despite all the troubles it was still very enjoyable, and I hope you can figure out what's up with your gear without too much stress and/or money spent.
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Jun 12, 2022 17:15
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Prof. Crocodile posted:This thread always makes me smile. I'm sure it does, Professor Crocodile
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Jun 12, 2022 17:16
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Okay, decent chick pics taken...not great, as they ALL gave us trouble. I'll get them posted on my blog later, with a link to it here and on our Twitter Chickam page. Last chance to see the chicks, the kid and I are trimming their wings right now (there will be MUCH hollering) , then they'll go outside for good and Chickam will end. They'll be in the small run today, at dusk they go into the big run with the adults (darkness minimizes bullying) and tomorrow run the yard with everyone else. Thanks for everyone sticking with us, I know the last two years have been a baby chick snuff film. I'll get it figured out, I promise. EDIT-- Baby chick pics! Not the best quality, but hey. Uncooperative subjects and dark, thunderstormy weather which my camera HATES. https://jackshenhouse.blogspot.com/2022/06/baby-chick-pics-at-two-months-old.html Velvet Sparrow fucked around with this message at 23:21 on Jun 12, 2022 |
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Jun 12, 2022 21:28
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Best of luck chickens!!  Thanks again for Chickam!
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Jun 12, 2022 21:39
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Why do the feathers need to be trimmed?
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Jun 13, 2022 01:02
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I think it's because some chickens, depending on size and such, can fly relatively well and like to get away, which can lead to them being hit a car or ending up as meal for some other eager animal roaming the streets. You cut off half of a single special feather on one side of the chicken, which makes their balance go funky and they don't even try to get airborne. As far as I know, apart from being unable to fly they do not notice that their feather is cut short and they can't feel pain there or anything, so it's probably like having an annoying hair cut. I just remembered reading about this, though, might be wrong and there are more or other reasons to do it. Also kaom posted:Best of luck chickens!!
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Jun 13, 2022 08:54
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We sometimes used to trim our chickens' wings when we were able to let them roam out in the yard just so they wouldn't get any ideas about flying too much or hurting themselves making clumsy landings. The feathers on their wings stick out enough that trimming them down is perfectly safe, it really is like giving them a haircut and and the discomfort is just how receptive they are to being held and having their wings moved around. It's also fun when you forget to do the trimming. Sometimes we'd go out in the evening to make sure all the chickens were rounded up. The tamer ones often go back into the coop on their own, but some of the fancier ones would be like "we're forest birds now" and we'd find them roosting eight feet up in trees instead 
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Jun 13, 2022 15:29
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best bale posted:Why do the feathers need to be trimmed? Yup, exactly as others have said. Youngsters are light in weight and brains, and not being wise to the ways of the world can easily fly over fences (or leapfrog from one object to the next and make it over that way). The yards around us are home to dogs that would happily kill them. Once they get older and heavier, and realize that chickens belong on the GROUND and that dogs are dangerous, they'll be okay. Generally we only trim wings on the little bantams once they get to be adults. I've got enough of a problem that the adult bantams have discovered that they can get up into my plum tree (when it bloomed they LOVED the blossoms), so the d'Uccles hang there like fruit and shred the leaves, the stinkers. The kid is constantly going out to pluck banties out of the tree. Also, the babies are doing great out in the yard, Day 2 of being mixed with the flock. Mostly they are hanging around in the run, as expected.
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Jun 14, 2022 01:57
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Thank you the extremely informative and thorough replies! Captain Hygiene posted:some of the fancier ones would be like "we're forest birds now" and we'd find them roosting eight feet up in trees instead Velvet Sparrow posted:The kid is constantly going out to pluck banties out of the tree. Both of these are amazing
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Jun 14, 2022 03:55
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Velvet Sparrow posted:Also, the babies are doing great out in the yard, Day 2 of being mixed with the flock. Mostly they are hanging around in the run, as expected. Thanks as always for blessing the internet with these fine friends.
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Jun 14, 2022 05:06
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