Joy and Sadness

Phoenix is doing much better. Will most likely go back out to the pen tomorrow. I brought my Polish chick in to keep her company.
I think Kopy Kat will be glad. She pecks his nose when they are both on my lap. LOL!

First white egg today! One of the CA Whites insists on sleeping with the big birds. Found it in the box this morning. I was begging to wonder if they were ever going to start laying.
This is my first venture with white layers. At least next Easter I won't have to buy store eggs. Son already decided he's having bacon and eggs for breakfast in the morning.

Found another clutch of broken light green eggs today. Has to be the Americanus. The banties are more blue and they lay in the house.

Have named on of the Splash Silkies Adolph. Little bugger got ahold of my arm this morning and would not let go until I pried his beak open. So much for their wonderful, sweet nature. Keeps it up and he will be called Re homed. He's trying to crow. Him and the other larger Splash do battle every morning. Entertainment while filling the ducks pool.

Lost one of my DE's today. Gladys. Misfortune with the GSD, Amadeus. She didn't show at supper. She's always  late. So later checked the yard. Thought maybe she might have gone on the highway side of the fence. She's so people friendly someone could have picked her up.
Went back inside and was by the front door talking to DH. He's the one who wanted these birds, so he was concerned. They follow us around the yard like puppies. Heard the dog make his bark he does when he has a turtle trapped. Looked and saw feet up. She was in bad shape. Just pray it was quick. Dog is being muzzled until we can set up an area behind the trailer so he can't get near the birds. He attacked my male guinea a few months ago.
RIP Gladys! You will be missed.

Phoenix

Phoenix is about 17 days old, I'm almost sure a Silver Laced Wyandotte chick.
On Monday while feeding the lil' one's my 3 DE pullets decided to play paratrooper and dove into the baby pen. I'm not for sure if that was the cause of Phoenix's injuries or not. When I went out to feed everyone in the PM she was laying there half dead looking. One eye swelled shut, large spot of missing feathers on her upper back and one  leg drawn up with toes curled.
So I brought her in, gave her some sugar water with a syringe. Put her under a light in our bathroom. Kept giving her water over the eve and tried to get her to eat. Didn't really think she was going to make it. She spent most of her time laying sorta sideways. Was able to stand/walk a bit but you could tell her one leg hurt.

Tuesday
Woke up to peeping early AM. Went to check and she was standing on both legs. Eating, drinking on her own. Gave her some Gatorade in her water when we got home. Eye still closed, but otherwise acting like a normal chick.

Wednesday
Imagine my surprise when I opened the bathroom door and she was on the floor! Her box was on the vanity and that's a long way down for a little thing.
Legs are both fine and her eye is starting to open up. Put her in a short tote on the floor. Come back later, yep, she's out again.
Now she's enjoying a pet carrier complete with perch on my printer on my desk. She also likes to watch the news. LOL!
Last Easter I bought our son one of those chicks that peeps if you touch the metal dealies on the bottom. So he brought it out and she would talk to it. Guess she thought it was one of the yellow chicks from the pen who somehow aquired blue bunny ears. : )

Hot, hot, hot - the weather

Well the lil one's are still all with us.
Close call over the weekend. One of my Brahmas somehow got it's head under the corner of the pen. I was able to get it out, THANKFULLY! And the problem has been since remedied.
All are doing fine despite the heat. It's just now June and it feels like July here.
No heat lamp during the day. They have a box fan pointing at the pen. And DH and I got a set of windows put in there last night. We still have to rabbit wire the inside so I can leave them open at night.
They are starting to get tail feathers and think they can fly. LOL! They are such a treat to watch now.

Of course this means giving the duckies extra attention.
I was outside the run yesterday talking to them. (you have to squat down, to get them to come near). The DE trio decided time to visit Mom, they follow me all over to a point, they don't venture far from the houses yet. The ducks started cocking there heads to get a better look at. I wonder if they do remember them. They were in seperate totes in our bathroom until the ducks got to big. Bought a day apart from the same place.
The ducks do seem to be enoying their bath now. I bought one of those under the bed storage containers. 2 of them can get in it at one time.
They got their first taste of tomatoes this week and love 'em. Duck salad as my son calls it. Dandylions and maters.

Foster update. We did rehome 2 of the foster kitties. DH decided I could keep one. Yep, what's one more cat? Currently asleep on my mousepad. KopyKat. He's well, black with a reddish/orange tint for now. With tabby stripes. Guess he thinks that will take my mind off of more chickens for the moment. Ha! I'm trying to figure how to get some Runner ducks.

The broody hen left the nest. So I guess no new chicks of my own for awhile. Of course now another thinks she's broody. So between that and the heat, eggs are down.
Been thru this before. It will straighten out. Eventually.