Rooster Report March 3, 2012

Jail Bird-  Rowdy Boy Tibbs

 A rooster known as Rowdy boy Tibbs has been caught and is being held in the local jail on three charges of aggravated assault.  Officials say that according to witnesses,  the assaults occurred on three separate days within the last week and involved the same victim each time.
Defense attorneys were said to be scrambling around eggs-citedly  as they prepared  to go before the judge this afternoon.
 Family and friends report   that the female  victim was uninjured during the violent attacks.

First March Arrival

 In other news, the first chicks of the season began arriving today.  The front runner was a light Brahma / silver laced mix who was quickly followed by others as well as some giant Cochin.  At last report all appeared healthy and were busy jockeying for the most comfortable positions next to the windows with the best views.

Breaking Ground in Backyard Acres

And finally, after months of stalls and delays caused by finances, labor negotiations and Husband approval, ground was broken yesterday as the Chicken Little Corp.  began the clearing and clean up of land slated for a new development in the upscale community of Backyard Acres.  Sources said contractors were committed to using recycled materials during construction and hoped revenue would be enough to continue the company's sustainable living adventure.

New Quail babies are here!

Things have been extremely busy around here since I started college and then the holidays crept up on me!  Matter of fact, I have been so busy that I actually forgot I had 6 quail eggs sitting in the incubator until the exact day they should have hatched.  Realizing I had not prepared for the quail to hatch ( I forgot to add water to the incubator to up the humidity, and forgot to turn off the automatic turner too!) I was not expecting for any to hatch.  However,  just in case, I added water, turned off the auto- turner and locked the incubator down with every intention of tossing out the eggs two days later.

24 hours later and we have 6 of the cutest, tiniest valley quail chicks I ever saw.  Doesn't matter that they are the first valley quail chicks I ever saw either, I am convinced they are the cutest!  All of them are smaller than my thumb!  I can't wait to watch them grow into beautiful, mature birds.

One of these is Not like the Others...

  As you can see, the Mille Fleur D'uccle chicks have grown quite a bit in the past couple of months.  However, today when I went to feed and water, something just struck me as odd.  Can you see it?

Some one is missing his spots right in the middle of the picture!

This is actually one of two chicks that hatched last month.  Obviously too small to put in with the big chickens, he fits in quite well with these guys!  I don't think he realizes he is different than the others, and I have decided not to tell him :)

New Life

There it is!  The first sign of life!!  After 3 weeks of  carefully calibrating  temperature and humidity,  gently turning each egg  3 times a day, and a lot of patient watching,  we had a pip!  A pip is when the baby chick makes it's first hole in the egg as it prepares to break out.   Here, on the left side of the egg you can see where it started.   

 It was hard to stop pressing my face against the tiny window of the incubator so I could watch nature's drama unfold and enjoy the beginning of a new little life, but  my breath kept fogging up the plastic and I decided I should get a picture or two anyway.  This picture is the next phase called the "zip".  The chick makes a crack all the way around the egg so that it can emerge and hatch.  Between each stage the chick takes a break and rests.  It's hard work being born!

                                                                                     Success!!!  Happy Birthday Chick #1!!!!

                                                                                     And then, Almost 24 hours later............................ .Happy Birthday Chick #2!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are waiting to see if the other two eggs will hatch in the next 24 hours.  We will keep you updated!!