Eggs

I drove out to yesterday to pick up the eggs we had requested a week ago. Its always an adventure. Sage got to see the baby piglets and we saw bendy wendy the duck. WE had to get the eggs that had been laid that morning from the araucanas and the buff orpingtons. We came away with a mixed bunch but its always exciting and isnt this how we fall in loive with new breeds!?!?!?!?

Excited again

Because we have eggs. Well, Vicky does, but I know that means we're on our way to starting the next hatch.

Once again Poultry Valley have let us down with the order.

Out of the 8 eggs I wanted, only 3 are what I ordered. That woman is crazy! However, I'm pretty stoked with the replacements!!!! LOL.

So thought I'd put up some pics of what we'll be getting.....

white orpington

langshan (hoping for a girl this time!)

blue laced barnevelder

Also getting an araucana and a blue laced wyandotte, but not sure what the lacing is from gold or silver, so can't put pics of that up.

Tomorrow eggs will arrive via courier from Nelson. There will be more beautiful eggs for us. I can't wait to receive them and start our journey again.

Crossing fingers for more girls.

Broody question answered....

I was talking to Vicky today and mentioned how I was worried that Wendy kind of sits up off the eggs after she's had her time off for eating drinking etc. I was worried that the eggs would loose some heat. Although the two days I've seen her do this have been very hot!

I googled and found this link where I found some info that helped ease my worry.

Here's an excerpt.

A hen's break will normally last anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. This will not harm the eggs; in fact, it has been shown to be beneficial to their development. Sometimes, if it is a hot day, the hen may stay off the nest for up to an hour. Or, if it is cold, she may come off for only a few minutes.

Whew. Feel much better about that now!

Lucys turn

so its finally our dear Lucys turn to become a mama. it didnt take her long to get broody, as i expected. she was funny, sitting on some golfballs til she laid her last egg then she rolled the balls out. a few days ago i added 2 brown eggs, one light one dark just to be sure she'd accept them and to up her numbers (from one) before we get the fertile eggs. today i moved Lucy out while i moved the eggs into our broody box whiich i then put in the place the white cupboard (where she had been) had been. she was not happy about things, took ages in her bath and refused to go inside so i had to put her in myself. hopefully she will be settled in there tomorrow.

the big house is all ready for Rita when she wants to lay in a week or 2!

Heres Lucy taking her sweet time in the bath

3 little girls

We got home last night just after the girls had 'gone up'. they looked so sweet all together on one branch. We thought you'd like to see how high Grace goes!

Starting again

We are starting this amazing process all over again.

Vicky is picking up eggs from Poultry Valley and I'm getting eggs shipped from Appletons.

The current order from Appletons is as follows:

4 plymouth rock/2 campine/4 barnevelder and 2blue laced wyns

I have asked if they can add in another 2 eggs. Either 2 buff Wyandottes, or 2 blue laced silvers. Hoping to hear later today as they are shipping tomorrow. Cross fingers. Will update once I hear.

Eggs are arriving Thurs, and we're meeting on Sat to swap. To say I'm excited is a major understatement. Bring it on!

Feeling sad today

Last night we lost Tuffy. Our little Araucana. She was beautiful, and by far the most friendly of our hatched chicks. Matt would carry her around with him everywhere.

After finding her unwell, and not knowing what to do, we broke the 'no vets' rule and took her to the vet. She was treated for an infection with antibiotics and I was told to feed her 2 mls of electrolytes every 10 mins.

I did this and she looked better in the afternoon, but giving her some food, she very quickly went backwards. At 10pm, she gave one final flutter across the room, then died.

I was there with her the whole day. As were the kids. We looked after her and loved her.

Today we buried her. We miss her incredibly.