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merlotti

Introducing Wilson, Betty and Keppel

By merlotti, in Chickens, Eggs and Hatching

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merlotti Chicken Eggspert

merlotti

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Hi all,

 

Couldn't wait to share pics of our new ex-batts. One slighty more battered than the other two but all looking more confident this morning. And we even had two eggs, although Betty did stamp on on one to get it out of the nest box so she could lay hers! We'll be having words about that when she's settled in a bit more!

 

Wilson SDC13050.JPG

 

Betty SDC13047.JPG

 

Keppel SDC13048.JPG

 

Betty's Egg SDC13054.JPG

 

he he - we're very excited about it all, but also quite worried about whether they'll find the water, etc. Come on girls, you can do it!

 

Merlotti x

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merlotti Chicken Eggspert

merlotti

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Yes - Betty did do well...AFTER she'd stamped on WIlson's egg! Not good but she'll learn! They're doing well today. Definitely Keppel who rules the roost, but the others give as good as they get if they're bothered. All have now found the glug and grubs, they love the grit and have even had a go at afew cabbage leaves and pieces of pasta too!

 

Wilson has gone a bit mad (I think it's the fact she's had more food than ever before in her little life) and is currently running up and down the side of the run! Am pleased she's so lively to be honest. The cat thinks they're fab but can't be bothered to do anything about them, and they don't seem to min him either: mind you, there are currently two sets of mesh between them...

 

Am now officially obsessed and just need to finish the roof on the run so they can have that extra space. Will be a while before I put the eglu higher on the outside though and theyu're currently confused with the stick in there and only Wilson can jump off it. The other two sort of stumble over it. Will have to wait til they're strong enough to climb without help!

 

Am loving them already, and thanks for all the lovely comments.

( yes...when they ALL line up along the edge and sand-dance, I'll get it on video!)

Merlotti x

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merlotti Chicken Eggspert

merlotti

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They've been on their own for the first day now and were so pleased to see me when I got home. Keppel jumped on top of the run, so she must be feeling a bit fitter already, then Betty tried to copy her with less successful results!

 

I've topped up the grit as they've already gone through a little tub. Also freshened the water and topped up their crumb. Anything else? Oh yes - collected three lovely eggs! There were two in the nest box and one just outside, but actually inside the Eglu this time: Think that one must be Wilson's. One of the others is lighter, and as we haven't seen one from Keppel yet, think that must be her's , with the darker more speckledy one belonging to Betty. All around the 60g mark - waht 'size' does that make them?

 

They're much more excitable now, so I've added a shiny CD so they can look at themselves and have a bit of fun.

 

Please let me know what else I should be doing...

 

Thanks, Merlotti

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Dizzy-Deb Frequent Layer

Dizzy-Deb

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Aww congrats on your new ex-bats. I bet they are loving their new environment. :D

 

I should be getting mine on 7th Nov, a bit nervous about the condition they will be in.. but sure like yourself with the good advice from the great people on here will soon be enjoying life.

 

Love your girls names. :D:D

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merlotti Chicken Eggspert

merlotti

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thanks Debs,

 

I was nervous about their condition too, but we've only got one who was very small and with no wing feathers. The other two, however, are quite fat! They've really come out of their shells though today and were so happy to see me this evening! They even went to bed when i put a torch in the eglu to entice them in!

 

Anyway, I'm sure you'll be brilliant with them...only two days in and loving ours: they've each got their own personality too!

 

Merlotti

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Charlie7 Chicken Eggspert

Charlie7

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I've topped up the grit as they've already gone through a little tub. Also freshened the water and topped up their crumb. Anything else? Oh yes - collected three lovely eggs! There were two in the nest box and one just outside, but actually inside the Eglu this time: Think that one must be Wilson's. One of the others is lighter, and as we haven't seen one from Keppel yet, think that must be her's , with the darker more speckledy one belonging to Betty. All around the 60g mark - waht 'size' does that make them?

 

In the United States an egg bigger than 57 g is LARGE and an egg weighing more than 64 g is EXTRA LARGE. :)

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merlotti Chicken Eggspert

merlotti

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ooh - I thought for a minutes you were cross with me but, :| no...you were upset and angry with the way they've been trated. Yes, I agree with you, it does make you angry. I can assure you, though, that they're very quickly getting over it and were soooo excited today! Made me chuckle and I couldn't tell them off for being naughty as it was so lovely to see!

 

Merlotti x

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merlotti Chicken Eggspert

merlotti

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They learn so fast!

 

Last night I got home just as dusk turned to dark and had to encourgage them in with a torch. Tonight, OH returned about half 8 and found them all tucked up nearly asleep! Bless - amazing how quickly they learn. He even rummaged around under them and found three more eggs, although they're smaller than the previous days'. Is this as they're settling into a new diet and regime and aren't eating all day every day? !eggbrown!!eggbrown!!eggcream!

 

They're definitely becoming cheeky very quickly dancing cloud - i'll not be putting them in touch with yours as i think by the sounds of it they'll learn more naughty tricks than they already have! :angel:

 

They're also eating all their crumb porridge that I'm making for them before work, but i don't know when. Does it matter that it stays out all day if they don't eat it til later?

 

So many questions - I'm still very much learning and think I will be for a long while yet!

 

Thanks for all your lovely messages - can't wait to ge the roof on the big run and give them a bit more space in the day, or the try out the free-ranging at the weekend!

 

Merlotti x

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merlotti Chicken Eggspert

merlotti

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Quick update on them:

 

Looking at the photos, I think they're looking better already! I'll take more tomorrow in order to compare. It's a big day as we're putting the roof on the run so we can let them out into a bigger space while we're out during the day. It's also the first time we're letting them into the garden to free range so it's all very exciting :dance: and not a little daunting! :?

 

I've been making them their crumb porridge every morning and coming home to the pots mostly buried under the woodchippings in the run. Sometimes I couldn't even find the pots first time!

 

They all stopped laying for one day and think they must be getting used to shorter hours of light and not having food 24 hours a day. The last two days we've had 2 eggs and I think it's out little one who's not laying - mind you, I'd rather she feathered up a bit and got herself well first.

 

So, I'll let you know how we get on tomorrow and whether we eventually catch them to put them to bed tomorrow evening - they've learnt to do it themselves this week, which is just so clever, but I don't think they'll want to go back once they've had free run of the whole garden!

:)

Merlotti x

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