Ladee

[ladee]

That is so sweet. No wonder you love you chickens so much. They all have their little personalities...are you sad when you give them away, or do you not get attached too much because they are still babies? My mom raised chickens... have no idea what breed they were, but either Japanese or Chinese chicks with little top knots of feathers... She loved her chickens... they were not for eating... they were for making her happy.. And they did...

I could have some out at my nephews farm, but unless I could build a sturdy roost for them,the coyotes would get them and I just don't have any extra money.... they are a joy to have tho....

Glad Little Ladee is taking care of her friend, Nubs.... my namesake makes me proud!!! Gentle hugs to you for being such a good mama to all the babies...

 

[DharmaGirl]

I do get attached, especially to the ones I have to work hard with. I will keep Nubs and Ladee since they are attached to me too. I find once you name them, they are part of the family. My son had a pet rooster once, and he attacked me over and over. I worked a lot to change his and my behaviors, so that we could get along, but the last time he attacked I had to knock him out to get him to stop. I still have scars from him. He was given away to someone who would use him for food. I didn't want him bred, since disposition is genetic, and he was hand raised so he had no reason other than bad genes. I also didn't want to waste what became dinner for someone, since even though I didn't want to eat what had been a pet, someone else got a meal. Otherwise it is often heartbreaking when a hen dies, or I have to sell them because I have too many.

This morning a hen was making so much noise I was afraid someone would call the police, so I went out to check, and she was mad because someone was in the "good" nesting box. The "good" box is whichever one she wants to lay in. I have 16 layers, and 8 nests for them. Only 1 is the good one, and everyone has to lay there. I find eggs in the middle of the coop from chickens who couldn't wait anymore. Silly girls.

The chickens you described sound like my Polish hens. Here's a picture.

The red hen is not a Polish, but the rest are.

 

[ladee]

YES !!! Aren't they some sassy little ladies with those head feathers.... !!!!! So I got the country wrong, but still knew it was a chicken !!! LOL... I'm learning...

Happy you are keeping Nubs too... not good to separate the friends.... thank you from my heart for keeping me updated and sharing pictures of your precious babies.... lots of hugs for you and kisses for Ladee and Nubs...

 

[DharmaGirl]

Nubs has not improved. His leg doesn't work at all. I am beside myself. How will he get around? I took the splint off and decided to let him figure it out. Nature is amazing that way. I put another chick in with them, in case Nubs passes away from failure to thrive, and brave little Ladee put herself between the chick and Nubs for as long as I was out there with them. My mom bought me a cute little coop for my birthday, I painted it and put polyurethane on it. It would be perfect for Ladee and Nubs, and the new chick who needs a name. For awhile at least. I'm also going to raise Polish. I have two chicks, Yoplait and Dannon. I put a cup of yogurt out for them, and I wondered how the little cup could have been "licked clean" when they have beaks. Then I saw the Polish chicks with their topknots covered in yogurt! It was so funny! Please pray for Nubs, as he tries to make his way in the world.

 

[Gs172003]

Dang it you are making me want to fire up the incubator!

 

[ladee]

Prayers for little Nubbins... he may just surprise you.... he looked healthy, and I feel Ladee will help him... so who knows.. lots of prayers for you, and for Nubs and the poor chicken that gets between Ladee and Nubs...

 

[DharmaGirl]

Sad news - Nubs didn't make it. You can do everything possible you can think of, and chicks still die. He fought the good fight until it was too much for him, then he just shut down. Maybe there was something else going on that I didn't know about. I'm sorry. I put 3 healthy chicks in with Ladee, and when I checked her early this morning, they were running around like normal chicks, having a good time. They were trying to fly. I'm glad Ladee is able to enjoy being a chick. She still looks for her friend when I come in. It is so sad. I had to have a good cry. I know these things happen, but it doesn't make it better.

 

[DharmaGirl]

fire up the incubator!

What will you hatch? My next effort will be Polish, but I have 2 hens that go broody at the end of the summer, so I will let them do the hatching.

 

[ladee]

Poor little Nubs... Makes my heart hurt... But he had his purpose... and he is a perfect little chick now.. so no suffering, no pain...
Glad to hear the babies are getting along... lets hope little ladee isn't bossy like her namesake... !!! Thanks for the report and I know you are sad.. especially because you tried so hard to save him... saying a little prayer for Nubs, and for little ladee to make new friends and be the best chickens in the land.... gentle hugs @DharmaGirl , it's hard being a chicken mom... but he knew he was special and got lots of attention and love..

 

[Gs172003]

What will you hatch? My next effort will be Polish, but I have 2 hens that go broody at the end of t...

If I do it copper marans and olive eggers

 

[DharmaGirl]

Thank you @ladee, I feel a little better. Little ladee is adjusting to her new friends, she really likes "flying" around with them and playing king of the mountain with the food bowl. They spill more food than they eat, lol. When I come in, though, she follows me with her eyes looking to see if I brought Nubs in. My dark Brahma hen took care of a chick that died, but she took care of her for 2 months. She still runs up to the baby pen to look for her friend. She looks each one over from top to bottom to see if they are Alice. It still makes me cry. I never knew chickens were so smart and loving. I hope she goes broody, she will make a wonderful mom. Ladee too. She is the one we called tiny chick, because she came out of a small egg that I didn't think would hatch. She was the last to hatch. Her body and head are delicate looking, beautifully perfect, and even though she might be too small to show, she is perfect the way she is. I love her expressive eyes. I am so happy you wanted a chick named after you. It makes my day happier to let you know how she's doing.

@ ZoogaI, I have two olive eggers. They are F1. If I can find an F1 roo I could breed, but I gave away the roo so I can't send you any eggs. I want to keep a Buff Brahma roo, and put a crow collar on. It is not really tight, but it keeps the crowing from being too loud. I would love to have Black Copper Marans. I have a Cuckoo Maran. She is 3 1/2 years old and lays every day except in the winter. She also has gone broody once a year, and raises her chicks. She was my first chick ever.

 

[ladee]

Was going to check and see how all the babies are getting along... you read my mind, and posted before I had a chance to ask...

Glad to hear little ladee has friends to get her mind off her loss.. Like you said, never imagined chickens to be so much more than squawking, crowing, little piles of feathers...

This beautiful woman I was a caregiver for lived on a farm. She had always had chickens, and a huge garden, she worked all her life. I loved this woman dearly. Still do... She taught me how to get the eggs without being afraid of being pecked, talked to them like they were her kids, which they were... when she was strong enough to go outside... they would follow her all over the place..

There was a long shelf in the carport.. hens and one rooster would roost there at night... And that rooster was LOUD... I would have to be there at 6 am, before long he would get started.. was having a particularly bad PTSD day, and went out there with the broom to 'sweep' him off the shelf... O MY, the noise that ensued with him going berserk and the hens squawking...what chaos... Gma, was laughing when I came in... so frustrated and feathers in my hair from when they all took off in different directions... !!! She did get me to laughing about it all.. but damn that loud rooster!! Got to where all I had to was walk out the back door and he would leave.... He was beautiful tho. Have no idea what kind they were... I needed you for 'Chicken Education' back then... I would have appreciated them so much more...

Hope you are doing better behind little Nubs going to the perfect little chicken farm.... he gave it the good fight. Sending tender hugs for the loss of one of your babies. Sounds like your 'coop runneth over' this year.... And thank you for taking care of little ladee. I'm positive she is getting better care than I ever did. So that is a beautiful form of hope... Glad you are our resident 'chicken lady'.... and am having so much fun knowing there is a little ladee chicken out there, putting her little feet prints on this earth...

I know your PTSD is rearing it's ugly monster head... but you have been given a huge purpose. I know it's a lot of work and worry. But those guys know they are loved and being taken care of... what a beautiful part of yourself you are giving to the world... tender hugs.