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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

A chick hatched an hour ago.  I was reading Rene's email and just when I
got to the part where she stated she couldn't have chickens, I heard a
loud chirp.  I went in the other bedroom to check and lo and behold,
there she was.  Of the 26 eggs in the 'bator, three more are hatching.
It is interesting to me that I am getting early hatches.  In round 1 of
hatching, 16 of 22 hatched on Day 20.  I am using the same setup as
before, why change a good thing.

Yesterday, after having the 8 oldest 'free' birds in the old coop since
Christmas Eve (they were hatched 10/10 so they are 13 weeks old) I
allowed them out to free range near dusk while I stood watch over them.
 One of them is a RIR type rooster(mom is RIR, dad is Blue Laced Red
Wyandotte).  He has that RIR attitude, and had the 'balls' to fluff and
fly up at me when I picked up one of his girls.  These chickens have
been, from the beginning, easy handlers, even Mr. Rooster liked to be
petted, but his freedom went to his hormones and his protective instinct
kicked in.  I'd been contemplating what to do about him-should I keep
him as a replacement(he looks like he will be big), or should he become
Curry Chicken?  His actions yesterday sealed his fate.  :)  I already
have one good rooster who is big and gentle.  With 50+ chickens, I
believe I will have the opportunity to pick another rooster if I need one.

I had 46 chickens a few hours ago, now I have 47 and hope to hit 50 by
dinner.  :)

Bev



--
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will
not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius
will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the
world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone
are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve
the problems of the human race"

~ Calvin Coolidge