![Closeup of a brahma mix hen in Costa Rica Closeup of a brahma mix hen in Costa Rica](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHfMNg6LAcI3edefEZyPVN1g9KR6tmnJN-zoQGo2PfM44pf7lukoQ0pI5Dn_rO8nFs_gK-9O6Gl3sTfVWezk3I0bE188UJ3FrDI-v2GV7qkDc3trFm2zQMkwhNeVA62uONoNwfKC1GXdydNAWdeUHq_J9B7hrMOdS5rnhKrNTC4RjM0pWm2sMOh4M/w320-h213/DSC_5955.JPG) |
Brownie in the nest box. |
Blondie began laying eggs so I knew her days of being a mother were over. She was reunited with the adults. Brownie was the first to pick a fight with her, but Blondie quickly let her know she still has superiority in the pecking order.
![Two young brahma mix cockerels. Two young brahma mix cockerels.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBiy-WQOm0zq-cHUKDGaWaIwFVsG7xLIuLmF11W2xJc0zO5KahnP5e8mCNA7yXw1TOltEDd1hqvsPwfB5S4TYzQzW378K8E2gH2288OoEorkHPTPJ8ajq4xhydo9tidAulbykLJhENjWR3Mrhi7Me-YqNAXifS4g283LLkOGysWOj5fq0v684Rtso/w320-h213/IMG_5550.JPG) |
Brahma mix cockerels, the one on the right was in question. |
Up until this week I was hopeful one of her young ones was a girl. One of our workers looked at them and told me they were both cockerels. I showed him how I thought one was a hen. I'd seen her make a hen vocalization. I thought the dark feathers on her neck were a hen pattern. However, some things seemed male to me like the comb and how they play fight like boys. The determining factor was me hearing the little rooster crow, it's a boy! Three hatched this year and all were roosters! Oh well, this forced me to increase my knowledge about chicken breeding and nutrition. I may try again at the end of this year.
![Brahma hen in Puriscal, Costa Rica Brahma hen in Puriscal, Costa Rica](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jUwkgjSKDjF72p9C6clzPe4Er41SDZs7j6Etn8rNHSOAQQ9RNoH0M-ejGNECaG-vEE4Sl9J8nojeTdDG7KmF_ZO-MRCJxAe9ia05KADozML9dqYgxmBs_N2Yf5YAcF1WH_bDL32yjSmQ_0IRsNg9bFbje6C-XMO8dG5GfvaX0OCBuekSulpjnELK/w320-h213/DSC_5944.JPG) |
Grey Neck |
Meanwhile, the flock seems healthy. They are laying 3-4 eggs a day. Mini went broody, but I was able to persuade her out of that by locking her out of the coop (where the nest boxes are) two nights in a row.
![Outdoor sink for raising chickens. Outdoor sink for raising chickens.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32PomPQdkv83gi6pVFOaypPAGS0HlNHvK8vNVtaBOWDwzKXoQXqL5gYDx36r4Dt9WiQOEZQjYdonQ2Xn7ACVwZpNa3gsl55zDOohoEouv6Q9C7WAYMjHNPCt1Xvf1qniD6bicpQZe1vfkYENA1xu2MEKIO9zddPeOiheSvNc5xYdCpH3BBq2ThBvP/w213-h320/DSC_5960.JPG) |
Chicken sink station. |
The old sink from the Alchemical Lounge was uncovered during the great clean-out last month. I found a home for it by the chicken palace. I am very happy to have a work station to clean out the chicken feeders and waterers. I had been using a faucet which worked, but was awkward. The new set up is a big improvement.