Valkyrie Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Crikey that comb on Copper is huge - and he/she calls herself a breeder! Being a relative novice even I can see those neck feathers are just like our poor Jiu Jiu's. Plus the breeder isn't looking after the birds very well if they are covered in lice. Name them and shame them I say - will stop anyone else making that mistake. I'll come with you as back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 TBH breeder is a bit of an exaggeration, more an "I-have-more-chickens-&-cockerels-running-together-than-I-can reasonably-keep-a-lid-on" chook mum and is selling off the resultant chicks..........let's say I've learnt my lesson and won't be going to her again & will be more careful when I do venture into the purchasing arena again Anybody who's in the Chichester area & finds an ad for cross breed bantams half way down the Selsey peninsular PM me first.....if you're local you'll have a reasonable idea of the area I'm speaking of........ I've never had any dealings with peacombed chooks , all of mine have "traditional" combs, so I think some of the blame lies on my shoulders too...I did the classic error "I like that one, that one & that one" I've just rung again & left another message............the chooks are all abed so Copper will be easy to catch & the new babies are still in the catloo which was intended to be their daytime shelter so they'll be ok to catch too & will be delivered in cardboard boxes . I've given the nursery a good scrub out with teatree oil & very hot water, flinging & rubbing DE into every available nook & will give it a pressure wash tomorrow when I "hopefully" won't have any little ones near it....I thought it was too mean to use it when the newbies were within spraying distance I'll try to ring about 6, she should be home by then if she's been to work...... Thank you for all your support, it's much appreciated, I just feel very silly at the mo Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Well good luck anyway. I've visited some "proper breeders" which leave much to be desired and not the sort of "help me I've got carried away" one - and walked away from them - never to return! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 I rang again & got the answerphone again, so hung up.......she rang back almost instantly She sounded disappointed that I'm taking the little ones back as well tomorrow morning, but I repeated that I didn't want to get attached to them & have to lose them again should they turn out to be boys as had happened with Clover & Copper She won't be there in the morning as she's at work so either her son or hubby will sort me out.......she did offer to repay me, but I said don't worry, experience etc, mind you if he sticks some money in my hand I won't say no !!! I've tucked the little ones into a box in the wooden coop which I can clean out & treat with poultry shield tomorrow rather than in the ........... Copper will be a joy to catch ! I finished putting the Nursery back together rather late this afternoon & the babies were all pecking at the door & hollering at me, waiting to go to bed...bless them Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Sorry to hear it. Is it the pekins going back Hugs for you tomorrow, its a sad day for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 No, not the Pekins, two of my Black Bitzas Copper & Clover are going or have gone back along with the two 11 week old chicks who I bought home yesterday in place of Clover...in my sig Blossom the Pekin is my chicken of fate, she lives with the Bitzas who were bought to keep her company I'm keeping Jasmine the Ara x who appears to be a girl so Blossie won't be on her own until my Pekin babies are big enough to join her in the . I wish I'd stuck with pure Pekins at the outset, but none of the ones available were big enough to put up with Miss Feistypants, hence the fact I went for bigger Bitzas, what a nightmare Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Phew the ones from yesterday is not so bad and I think I would do the same but still sorry about Copper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Sorry again Sha. Better luck next time. {hugs for you} Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Ah, {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} Sha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Only just caught up with this - sorry to hear your trials and tribulations Sha, but for what its worth I also think Copper=boy, Jasmine=girl, and I think you are doing the right thing in taking back the newbies. Draw a line under the episode and sit tight till the New Year! Who will Bloss live with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 Hi Daphne, on the say so of more expert bods than me, ie all you Omlet bods who say she's a girl ( ) Jasmine is staying with Bloss, soon I'll start freeranging the Pekin babies with Bloss & Jasmine & they can take the lead as far as where they all live & when they move in together, as has happened with all the big girls. Copper & the two newbies shot out of their boxes at their old/new home & disappeared into the melee.............except the maran x who went to the pen she was extracted from only to find that mum & the other babies had been released into the main pen & were all over the place, she/he was so confused it was sad to watch , but I was strong & departed rapidly as DD was by that time late for her pony day....it had taken so long to catch Copper, DS had to crawl under the cube to extract him in the end The son has said that mum will drop my money in by Saturday, I said not to worry too much but I shan't complain if some is found in my letter box........... __________________________________________________________ That will be the line drawn under the whole sorry affair & I have learned my lesson & I hope others will gain from it too, as is the spirit of the forum Thank you all for your support, it was greatly appreciated..........I'll go now & cuddle my two legitimate boys (Lt Sussex Bufflings). Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 That a sounds good arrangement - I presume you might get coloured eggs from the ara x or does it have to be full blooded ara for a chance of greeny/blue eggs? I'm sure the maran x will settle down after a while...oh and how's Buffy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 Buffie's fine, she went back into the flock with an extremely feisty attitude & started to give grief where grief wasn't needed, poor Hazel got a pecking on the way past to say "I'm above you" & just stayed in a submissive stance, totally accepting of whatever Buffie said to her .Lily however stood up for herself & that seemed to settle Buffie down...... we've had another short bout of impacted crop after a foraging trip into the veg patch so that's off limits again..they are less than impressed ..........the maggots came into their own again The Bufflings have now been accepted into the freerange arena...Snowdrop has almost given up beating them up as she's lowest in the big girls pecking order & is keen for them to understand that they are below her.....hopefully one of the boys will go to his new home after half term & as long as the remaining one keeps his beak shut he can stay, once he starts to crow he'll be off to a field near Guildford where the original girls came from...I he stays quiet as he's such a sweetie, hopefully they will be able to mix in with the big girls soon without fear of attack from Snowy & I'll have a spare for DD to put her much wanted guinea pigs in (we've got a base to swap onto it) Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Phew I'm quite worn out reading that so must you be, having done it all. Still I expect you are now all that's over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Its been quite an adventure for you to say the least, but i bet your glad its all over and done with now well done you xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 I am indeed surprisingly relieved Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Glad you got them sorted Sha! And I have just realised what a Bitza is! I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 Bitza this & bitza that.........a Heinz 57.....a mongrel I'm down to 19 now but will concentrate on getting the Pekins & Jasmine and the Bufflings & the big girls integrated Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Bitza this & bitza that.........a Heinz 57.....a mongrel Sha x Ooh good...that`s what I thought! How long did that take me to work out...A MONTH!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Fear not m'love - I also took a while to work it out Glad you're all sorted Sha, and fingers crossed yuo can keep the Buffling Boy Must admit thats oen reason I'm slightly hesitant to start hatching eggs, in case I have to either give up or , erm, do away with a boy that I've become attached too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) When I embarked on the "experiment" of hatching I was totally convinced in my head that should the inevitable happen & a boy hatched he would be dispatched at the appropriate time.........huh, I am such a noodle, how I could have even considered rearing or at least helping to rear a bundle of fluff into a ball of feathers which walks up my arm & settles on my shoulder only to serve him up with gravy & roast tatties I did start off on the right foot, I didn't name them...they are known by physical attributes...Yellow Legs and White Back ...I now know that should I embark on a dinner rearing exercise I need to have them very much detached & simply visit for feeding & cleaning Of course it didn't help that I nursed their mum back from the brink several times during their chickhood ....oh the experience I have gained in this past year is invaluable Re the Bitza thing, I've noticed in the past few days that Jools has Bitsas too, so it's not just me Sha x Edited for spelling & grammar Edited October 28, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Hi Sha, Only just caught up with this sad and sorry tale... what an ordeal...sending hugs, (but can't do the bracket thingy, so you'll have to use your imagination) Hugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 So glad it's not just me then Think I'll have to thing long and hard about chick rearing, and well done for nursing Buffy back, remember reading that you'd been having probs with her so really chuffed she's all ok and back with the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 When I embarked on the "experiment" of hatching I was totally convinced in my head that should the inevitable happen & a boy hatched he would be dispatched at the appropriate time.........huh, I am such a noodle, how I could have even considered rearing or at least helping to rear a bundle of fluff into a ball of feathers which walks up my arm & settles on my shoulder only to serve him up with gravy & roast tatties I did start off on the right foot, I didn't name them...they are known by physical attributes...Yellow Legs and White Back ...I now know that should I embark on a dinner rearing exercise I need to have them very much detached & simply visit for feeding & cleaning Of course it didn't help that I nursed their mum back from the brink several times during their chickhood ....oh the experience I have gained in this past year is invaluable Re the Bitza thing, I've noticed in the past few days that Jools has Bitsas too, so it's not just me Sha x Edited for spelling & grammar I've done the same here Sha. It breaks your heart. The worst thing is that when they go broody next spring I know I will fall for it all again. Do you really think it's possible not to get attached ....... I would be interested to know what happened to their mum, as I had to do the same with one of mine with chicks this year, she wasn't eating herself just giving everything to the babies. Collapsed in the garden one day and couldn't walk. I had to feed her by hand holding her away from the chicks, they were greedy little tinkers, but so adorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 My Bitsa would be very hurt if she was called a Mongrel instead!! I've got no idea what her bitsas are, probably a little bitsa Brahma and maybe a bitsa Wyandotte, but whatever it is, she's a robust old Bitsa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
