Ladee

[DharmaGirl]

Yes, they give me a reason to get up in the morning. I put the new coop together yesterday, and Doris, the lead hen, was appalled that I hadn't asked her about it first! She wasn't sure she liked the color, or where I placed it, or who was going to live there! She lectured me almost the whole time I was out there, and I opened the doors so she could look around. She wandered off, but for the rest of the day she gave it suspicious looks, lol.

I moved Ladee again. This time into the big brooder with all her hatch mates, since the 7 week old chicks are going to live in the new coop. They are not sure they like it in there, even though it is bigger and higher, so they can test out their little wings. Ladee was laid back about it, visiting with everyone. It is supposed to be warm this week, so they might get to go outside.

What a good idea using a broom! Roosters can be mean buggers. I have two rooster chicks, 1 light brahma and 1 buff. I'd like to keep both but I don't think the neighbors would go for it. I promised one to someone anyway. I will keep one handy, lol.

Thank you for your encouragement, @ladee, it really helps, as does this thread. I want to take pictures today since it is so beautiful out.

 

[ladee]

This thread helps me too @DharmaGirl , to have any living thing with your name attached is such a compliment... I'm glad I asked you. Not only do I get to see that little girl turn into a magnificent hen... we are getting to know each other... so double blessing for me...

What got you interested in raising chickens ?? I know they each have their own little personalities... from watching my mom with her chickens. She loved those guys... And they couldn't wait to see her.. It was so awesome watching her with them. A rare thing seeing my mom happy... and all those little feathered critters made her happy...

It's good to have responsibility for something that counts on us... This PTSD consumes our lives sometimes. If we didn't have something to look forward to,or something or someone that depends on us... it would be too easy to give up some days... So I am grateful you are little ladee's mama... I'll never worry about her.

I just find it so awesome, that she is like me in so many ways.... a little girl I haven't even got to meet... and her adjusting and being social... yep, doesn't let change throw her,,, just carries on....

Maybe next time there is a major change, you will know to consult Doris first... you just don't want to hurt a chickens feelings... apparently they don't forget, but pretty sure she will eventually forgive you....This whole things brings me joy DharmaGirl... thank you from my heart... Tender hugs if you accept. Looking forward to the pictures, to see how much she has grown... give her little kisses if she will let you !!!

 

[DharmaGirl]

New update! Ladee is growing out her feathers and is in the awkward stage. She is still smaller than the others but much friendlier. I have to separate them. When they get into a big flock, they behave like they are flying on the ground, not thinking, just reacting. Hmm, who does that remind me of...me! Anyway, she gets to go outside during the day, and she enjoys that. I have a coop and run for broody hens, and I put them in there. I bring them in at night because the coop leaks. I don't know why yet.

What got you interested in raising chickens ??

I had wanted chickens for awhile, and for my son's senior project, he built me a coop! He also did an excellent paper on why everyone who can, should have a backyard coop. The less we depend on the egg industry, the less cruelty will happen to the poor chicks. I know it would be best if I were vegetarian, but I gave that up when my iron levels dropped. I could have taken pills, yes, but I do like meat.

One of my first chicks was Doris. I got two chicks and my brother named them Doris and Gladys. Gladys was the lead hen then, and is buried in the backyard. One of my mastiffs got her when she was a year old. We retrained the dogs to understand that chickens aren't food, they are friends, and they haven't been a problem around the chickens since them. Chicks, however, aren't chickens in their minds, so have to be enclosed. The dogs sit outside the pens and drool, and the chicks ignore them. We call this chicken TV. We got more, lost them to predators, we have coyotes, bald eagles, golden eagles, osprey, hawks, possums, raccoons, etc. We finally got everything predator proofed and the dogs have a dog door so they run out and chase away the walking kind. That started my journey.

There is an affliction called chicken math. You say, "I want 3 chickens", and build a coop and pick out your 3 chickens. Then you see another breed that is so pretty that you have to have it, and the feed store requires you to buy two because they need company, so you buy 3, just in case. While you are there, you see all the cute little chicks and all the different breeds, and all of the sudden you are taking home 6 chicks. Then the next time you stop in to get feed, there are even more breeds! You must have them. You finally decided on a breed to raise, and no one has any. That is good, you think, since I will be the only one once I get a roo. You can't find any, so you buy and hatch 16 chicks of a different color than you really wanted, and when you go to buy feed, there is the breed you wanted. You can't just not buy them. You just sold a roo and hen pair. Yes, I bought 2 more last week. I am glad I did, but I have one more month before I can start selling the big chicks as pullets. Which are hens under a year, but over 4 months. I hadn't planned on this many, but it worked out that way, lol. I didn't name the older chicks, since I knew I'd be selling them. I named Ladee and Rooroo, since I will be keeping them.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I forgot to tag you @ladee, to let you know there was a new post.

 

[ladee]

Love the story of how chicken addiction starts... happy to hear Ladee is being a sweet girl... and she doesn't know she's little for her age... she'll make up for it in other ways.... I love it you named the other one RooRoo... A friend of mine many years ago had a little girl that I feel in love with... I had the little girl with me all the time... her name was Jenna, but I called her RooRoo... I almost fell out of my chair when I read that!!!:cry:... This is bringing back some of the greatest memories... My favorite job I've ever had, and carrying RooRoo on my hip every where I went... thanks for the beautiful memories... And since she is getting bigger, you will have to talk to her for me... tell her I love her and RooRoo. Back together again , living the good life with you as their main Chicken mama !!! You are so sweet to share this...

I've been down all day, this made me so happy... it's the simple things in life that are the most important... the most love and care goes into those things... and you have your own issues to carry, but I promise you Ladee loves you.... you can talk to her ya know... you can tell her what's going on... she's a good listener, and is very trustworthy. Don't know about feedback... but ya never know... just listen. She may have soothing and supporting chicken noises for you...Lots of gentle hugs... and thank you from my heart...

 

[DharmaGirl]

I'll be posting pictures as soon as my camera battery charges. If I would remember to turn it off when I use it, this wouldn't happen. Well, actually after I use it, if I turned it off when I used it, well, you know.

 

[ladee]

HA, yes, I know !!! It's hard to be the 'chicken mama' , have PTSD and all the things that that sucks energy from our brains, but then to remember something like turning off the camera!!! Pbftttt, you are doing better than me, at least you know where your camera is.....
Gentle hugs for your busy brain tired life!!

 

[DharmaGirl]

I charged my battery, went out and took pictures of everything but Little Ladee. What was I thinking? I was going to sell a Polish pair, boy and girl, and the person wanted pictures so I took them, then decided I couldn't sell the little darlings, they were too cute and I wanted to breed Polish too. It was a surprise that one was a boy. I then took a picture of the coop my mom bought me for my birthday, that I painted and reinforced, then my big coop, then it started raining and I forgot all about the babies in the shop, lol. It looks nice out so they will go outside today.

 

[DharmaGirl]

Hello, @ladee! Little ladee is doing well, she is the size of my 2 1/2 months old, but healthy and pretty. I sold all the babies but Roo-roo, who's name is now Ruby since he turned out to be a girl, lol, and Little Ladee. The guy that bought all the other 3 1/2 month olds wanted her too, but no. I took them out of the pen and put them with the younger dark Brahmas. Everyone is getting along well. She pooped on me yesterday. The babies are in a coop together too, so they will all be friends for life. She is so tiny and perfect!

 

[ladee]

How awesome you are taking such good care of the 'girls' and they didn't leave with the others. Makes me feel so good she has a forever home... She may have had a 'small' beginning, but she is going to make you proud !! Her and Ruby !! Thanks for the update. Know you have been having a rough time, so didn't want to bother you on a chicken report... hope things are better for you now... hope to see a picture of her and Ruby when time and circumstances allow... sending you lots of hugs.. thanks from my heart.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I have been feeling much better, but spring on a mini farm is busy, busy, busy in a good way. I'm doing so much better! A week ago I had 38 chickens, now I have 22. I sold 16 chickens in a week! Now Sissy is broody so I ordered her some eggs, since the Polish rooster is not breeding the Polish hens. I am planting the 2 fenced areas where the babies were with broccoli, kale and grass, I put in 3 more perennial gardens in the front, made a planter out of a pallet and put that in the front for lettuce, planted my veggie garden, trimmed the hedge and now I'm mulching. I'm also planting strawberries. Yum!

 

[DharmaGirl]

I have some blurry pictures @ladee!! She is still with Eva, Rooroo, and Falcon. I went back to Rooroo because that's her name to me. I don't care if she's a hen, she answers to it. This is Lady, Rooroo and a blurry Eva.

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Lady and Rooroo and Falcon behind the stump, hoping to get some cabbage.
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Ladee and Rooroo
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this is their Little Tykes coop, It has firewood rounds inside with branches on them to provide roosts. I'm building them a bigger coop, but first I have to finish the new broody coop for Sissy.
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