Hatch is Complete

Five pheasant peeps hatched.  All are healthy.  The last one just hatched out this morning.  Here are a two more pictures.  

The peeps were put in the small brooder very early this morning.  A couple were still getting their legs so to speak.  These peeps are much smaller than a chicken peep but they will grow fairly quickly.


The picture above doesn't quite show it,  but looks like one of the peeps is slightly lighter in color and could be another golden roo.

The picture above shows the peep just out of the egg.  Still has a little pieces of the shell. 

The female hen in the 'birdhouse' has been sitting for a week now.  Last year that hatch didn't go well.  Hopefully this time is different. Meanwhile, these little ones will need tending to.

The Buff Orps are growing like weeds, at a month old.  They will join the Barreds when they get a little bigger.  Meanwhile the Barreds at three months are filling out and looking more mature these days.

The Hatch is Happening!

Wow, amazing!!!!  Here is #6 who bravely hatched out more than likely only an hour or so ago.  The peep is still wet and is only an inch and half big..  #C is zipping and could actually see its 'chipping' movement through the slightly larger hole now.  #9 is still pipping.

#C

Here a picture of #6's egg after the hatch.

Amazing stuff!

Another Scourger of a Day

The temperature feels more like late Summer. Here's a picture of a future egg layer. She is almost 5 weeks.

# 6 and # 9  and #C Red Golden Pheasant eggs appear to be pipping when the peep works a hole into the shell for it's inevitable emergence. The next step will be zipping which can take upward of 24 hrs after pipping. At a quick glance you wouldn't notice the small tiny crack, but if you look carefully you can see a raised bump or tiny crack.

#6 egg obviously was the first egg to pip. 

I'll be documenting this hatch as I can. #6 and #9 are more oval eggs.  # C is a rounder egg.  Hopefully more of the eggs will begin pipping.  I'd like to get worthy hatch.

Memorial Day Weekend

Honoring our brave heritage of people who sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy today!

The temperatures here have been hot with the accompanying humidity. The Buff Orpington chicks have been moved out of the brooder. We split the 30 between three of us. So now we are down to a manageable amount. At four weeks they are still a little young yet to turn them out with the Barreds.
The Buffs are still cute and a bit shy but that will change now that I can get on their level with them instead of seeing me reaching over the brooder and looking down on them like a flying predator would do. The Barreds are very friendly. Now I can pick them up and hold them without any fuss.
There are 9 red golden eggs in lockdown in the incubator. Hatch day is suppose to be today. Not much going on other than some of the eggs appear to have moved slightly. It is a waiting game at this point to see if there is a hatch. It has been twenty two days since the eggs were placed in the bator. That is the normal hatch time. Every morning those eggs have checked for temperature and humidity, mimicking nature.

Horses on the Farm

Basic training with the Saddlebreds most of Saturday.  Mariah and I are literally learning the ropes.  She will be on Flirty and I'll be on Ace.  Now that's quite a combination given Ace is a large gelding and I am a 'wee lass'.  The horses here have good temperaments on their own.  Some have had mild training.  Jack and Rena are yearlings.  They are just getting comfortable with being touched. 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all our wonderful Mom's! It is hard to image the Buff chicks are now three weeks old and taking up a lot more room in the brooder! They are growing, and the little combs are now a noticeable development. They will be out of the brooder soon. We are going through the starter feed quicker and I put a gallon fount in with them to make sure they have plenty of fresh water. They continue to feather out.

The Red Golden pheasants have been busy. The hen didn't go broody when I had thought she might. So the eggs are being incubated. I didn't want to run the risk of losing the eggs and I am under some time constraints as well in being around for the hatch. So I gathered up the 15 eggs and began the process last week. Candling thus far shows signs of a potentially good hatch.

Weekends are a time for me to get caught up on the farm.  The Buff Orpington chicks at two weeks are changing . . . feathering out with darker buff color.  Lost one.  What's with that? :(  with the Barreds there was a smaller chick now known as "Pooh".  The same with the Buffs, her name is "Puff".

The Red Golden eggs have been set in the bator.  Unfortunately this picture you can't see the eggs.in the turner.  I'm hopeful but I question this batch.  I candled the eggs, but don't consider my self an expert.  Time will tell.  Will know more in a few days.

I live in two worlds.  I work in a city with all the goings on and then spend my down time in the country by choice.  Life in the country is honest hard work and I enjoy it the most.  It is uncomplicated and the gain and benefit is realized more directly to ones efforts.  So here is a picture on the way to the 'city', I had to brake for the wild turkeys.   The picture isn't a close up but I hope it gives a sense of some of what I get to enjoy way into town.

1st Real Thunderstorm

Got an inch and an half of rain last night.  Creeks are up and really flowing.  Satellite internet of course went out.  No phone this morning.  Know what; Life is still Good!  Everyone is safe and the farm lives on.

Week Old Pullets

Buffs Orp chicks at one week.  Because of their lighter color it is easier to see certain features developing.  You can see the wing feathers starting to grow out and they are getting the start of tails.  These little ones are doing very well.  When the Barreds arrived it was the end of February and though the Winter was mild it was still cold.  So the time in transport was probably more stressful to them.  All 30 are bright eyed and full of energy.  Some are skittering around and doing little wing flaps as though they are on the chase.  There are more of them as well and that gives them a strong sense of security.  They don't mind being handled either probably because of the number of them it doesn't take long to scoop one up like it did when there were only 9 in the huge 100 gallon livestock watering trough.