Thistlewick Smallholding - Chickens (for now)

[thistlewick]

I don't have any calcium but I fork over a ton for extremely fancy shaved oyster shell lol

She's never had a shell less egg before. I'm gonna keep an eye on her tomorrow and see what she does.

I'm very grateful I can be out there with them so much.

We put the Easter Egger bunch down in the floor brooder pen. They were out growing the smaller one. 8 chicks is too many for there!

We blocked off the doors. The big girls don't pick on the teens at all anymore. They forage together quite nicely in the evenings and whenever anyone comes back to lay.

So now the EE bunch (and my own 2 hatched chicks!) get to integrate!

Here is the mystery chick. I think it's my blue laced red wyandottes chick, bc it was a light tan egg and it's a rose comb? Hard to tell

 

[Shadrach]

we're adding sheep soon

Don't do it!
I had ten years of sheep in Catalonia. I did try to like them but...
We had a ram so we had lambs. Major problems in getting them to drink from their mum due mastitis, just not knowing how and mum not able to teach them. One wasn't allowed to kill your own sheep so there is an added cost.
If one is going to do any kind of ranging with the sheep, even with the few we had (6 to 10 and ram) you need a sheep dog. Seriously, it's the best advice I have for people thinking about sheep. No dog and you'll learn at considerable expense both in mental andphysical health that sheep are the most stubborn. destructive. dirty, greedy, easily paniced, uncooperative species.
I found them hard work partly because we shut them in at night and trying to keep them in a prticular area.
A couple of goats which you can tether on a running chain if necessary will eat stuff the sheep wont and give you goats milk and probably kids.

 

[WingItRanch]

Don't do it!
I had ten years of sheep in Catalonia. I did try to like them but...
We had a ram so we had lambs. Major problems in getting them to drink from their mum due mastitis, just not knowing how and mum not able to teach them. One wasn't allowed to kill your own sheep so there is an added cost.
If one is going to do any kind of ranging with the sheep, even with the few we had (6 to 10 and ram) you need a sheep dog. Seriously, it's the best advice I have for people thinking about sheep. No dog and you'll learn at considerable expense both in mental andphysical health that sheep are the most stubborn. destructive. dirty, greedy, easily paniced, uncooperative species.
I found them hard work partly because we shut them in at night and trying to keep them in a prticular area.
A couple of goats which you can tether on a running chain if necessary will eat stuff the sheep wont and give you goats milk and probably kids.

Tell us how you really feel!

The funny part is I've told people I want goats and everyone around here says don't do it. That sheep are much better and easier. Less troublesome (according to the Texas locals).