Vomit and Chickens

Nathan started Saturday, Quin Sunday, I started on Monday, and have continued all the way through, Ava started in the middle of the night Tuesday, and Emma in the middle of the night Wednesday.




Stomach flu is nasty.

And this one is painful.  Like, your stomach HURTS.
It hurts to move.
It hurts to breathe.
It hurts.




Yesterday I was trying to make supper for Quin and Nate, who are feeling better,
and I very nearly passed out.  I was soooo dizzy.



But, I feel a little better today.

I even did school with the kids this afternoon.



So, that’s what’s been going on here.


Fun stuff.









But, my chicks are growing!





And I have some pictures.

Here is three different breeds of black chicks that I have.

On the far left you can see a little Barred Rock bum.
Middle is a Black Sex Link.
And on the right is a New Hampshire/Barred Rock cross.

And here is some info on them:

Barred Plymouth Rock
This veteran of all the brown egg breeds is still available in quantities. For many years, they were almost extinct, as many poultrymen were carried away with the new crossbreeds. Every superior breed will prove its worth in the end, and these have made a comeback mainly because of their good meat qualities, combined with good brown egg production. People in the fly-tying business say that the Barred Plymouth Rock cockerels carry the best "cape feathers" for that type of use. Both pullets and cockerels are grey barred in colour, with the pullet being a bit darker. Pullets will weigh 5 to 6 lbs. at end of lay.

New Hampshire X Barred Rock
This cross produces a very hardy chick, as it springs from two of the oldest common breeds, which nick together exceptionally well. These are unusually quiet birds, and very attractive. Pullets have a beautiful red comb on a jet-black body, laced with brown on the neck and breast. They lay a good-sized brown-shelled egg and reach 6 lbs. at end of lay. Males are a dark barred colour.

Harco Black Sex-Link

This specially developed layer is one of the top egg producers of large brown eggs. The Harco Black Sex-Link is known and used worldwide, and performs well in all types of conditions. Its extensive breeding background shows up in the large and jumbo eggs. The pullets are jet black with a bit of red tinge on the neck and breast. They grow to about 5 lbs. at end of lay. The males are a dark barred colour, similar to Barred Rocks.

Here’s my white ones.  They are a Columbian Rock cross.

Columbian Rock X Red
This proven crossbreed has been with us for over 30 years, and today bears the distinction of being one of the hardiest breeds to be found. These birds have a beautiful colour pattern – basic white with black lacing on their necks, and black-trimmed wing tips and tails. End-of-lay body weight is 6 lbs. for pullets. The pullets are an exceptionally quiet bird in the laying pen.

And here you can see my reds.
The head in the left is a red, so is the teeny little one beside the Columbian Rock.
Isn’t she tiny?
The rest all have their tail feathers already, but not her.
She’s teeny.

Shaver Red Sex-Link
This bird was developed here in Ontario, Canada, by Shaver Poultry Breeding Farms, and we are pleased to make it available to our customers. This top producer is doing well all over the world. Test results from Europe and Canada show that it equals most other brown hybrids. Body weight at 18 weeks is about 3 1/2 lbs., and after one year of laying about 4 1/2 to 5 lbs. Egg production at 72 weeks of age can be 305 to 315 eggs. Pullets are reddish-brown in colour with white underfeathers. Males are white with a few red markings on the feathers.

So, pretty boring post, right?





Unless you have an unhealthy obsession with chickens, like I do.







But you know what?

Chicken Butt.