Chris Wilson Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 One of our Silkie hens has decided the end of November is a good time to hatch some eggs, and to have 3 chicks. I gave them one night at this time of year, but they were about two weeks old today. To say they are superb mothers is an understatement. Sadly one has gone, either a rat has had it, or its got through the wire and either frozen or been taken by something. It is seriously cold here, not just at night, but numbingly cold all day. Never got above -7C all day today, so it's a long long slog thawing pipes for water troughs, and keeping up with appetites near double normal. I started at 9.00 AM and have just finished now. It's great in the summer, but when you spend all day cold and damp, and you have forgotten what your sense of touch is altogether, you start to wonder why the hell you are doing this All the dogs that live out had totally solid water bowls this morning, and they get warm water late evening with warm food. Some of them had coats totally white with frost! Good job the Russians and Turks breed `em tough. The trees in the woods looked like they'd been painted white even at 3.00 PM. I'll be glad when it warms up a bit! I think I deserve an hour or two by the fire in the pub tonight, if I say so myself http://www.gatesgarth.com/frosty/frosty.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 It must be cool having all those animals Chris, your own personal zoo... but by god it must be a lot of work! Nice photos, not too much snow down there though by the looks of things. Shame about the chick, but like you say it's a wonder they lasted at all in this weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 7, 2010 Author Share Posted December 7, 2010 We have been lucky with the snow, so far, just bleedin' cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark newman Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Im allways losing chicks normaly on a friday night. [sAD][/sAD] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 7, 2010 Author Share Posted December 7, 2010 You meed a new chat up line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Lovely shots Chris. Looks like some quality glass on the front of your camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Nice pictures. No doubt very cold but looks very peaceful compared with central Yokohama. I'm flying back with the missus next Thursday and all these pictures I keep showing her of ice and snow aren't going down too well. The Japanese aren't known for their tolerance of the cold ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRalphMan Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Some great photo's there Chris, wish I hadn't looked at them before I warmed up after getting to work, I feel even colder now. Now the Geeky question, what camera is that as it looks to take pretty decent photo's with plenty of detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcAB10 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Agreed, great quality pics there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Sorry to hear that Chris. One of our old girls, a magpie, has just come into full moult so she is not looking so good just now. Also, the snow in the yard looks interesting as it is bejewelled in her black feathers. Just hope she can survive the cold now with hardly any feathers on her breast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 It's a Sony DFC-F717 that's been dropped out of the roof light onto the back lawn, and dropped into a sink of hot water in its time. Great camera, so glad the Nikon I originally bought went wrong on the first day I had it and I took back only to find neither of the other Nikons Jessop's had in stock worked, either. This takes FAR better photos and was cheaper. It was probably obsolete years ago. I just set on automatic and push the button. Hope the magpie recovers, a bit cold for going around half naked. About to check on the chicks now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Nice shots Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Thanks for the kind words on my David Bailey skills The two little chicks seem fine this morning. Once they get to about a month old they'll become pretty robust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 All the dogs that live out had totally solid water bowls this morning, and they get warm water late evening with warm food. Some of them had coats totally white with frost! Good job the Russians and Turks breed `em tough. The trees in the woods looked like they'd been painted white even at 3.00 PM. http://www.gatesgarth.com/frosty/frosty.html you want to try and do my job, ima zoo keeper and we have well over 300 animals all of which had frozen waters! try defrosting all of thoses its a b**ch lol I can sympathise with spending all day in the sucky weather :/ but its worth it in the long run! how are the other two chicks doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drift_bear Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 you want to try and do my job, ima zoo keeper and we have well over 300 animals all of which had frozen waters! try defrosting all of thoses its a b**ch lol I can sympathise with spending all day in the sucky weather :/ but its worth it in the long run! how are the other two chicks doing? sounds like you have an awesome job! being a zoo keeper must be pretty good!! nice shots chris and glad the chicks are doing well still! its been un-bearable up here with us! cant wait to see the back of this weather, hate the snow as it is lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 job awesome yeah as with all jobs has good and bad things but it is very rewarding especially when you manage to breed animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 you want to try and do my job, ima zoo keeper and we have well over 300 animals all of which had frozen waters! try defrosting all of thoses its a b**ch lol I can sympathise with spending all day in the sucky weather :/ but its worth it in the long run! how are the other two chicks doing? Is that at the Isle of Wight Zoo? They specialise in tiger conservation, don't they? It's a place I'd like to visit someday. The two chicks were OK this evening, they have been pretty active today, and have started "fluttering" about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 No I work at a place now called Seaview wildlife encounter, it used to be called flamingo park, its most a bird park but we have, otters, wallaby's, meerkats and penguins (i no they are a bird to) lol. But yeah your right about the iow zoo the are a big cat specialist but they have a few primates too. Seaview is the biggest and the best though Glad to here your chicks are ok, are they your own private collection or are you an attraction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Just a hobby collection. Emus, wallabies, eagle owls, turaccos, kookaburras, lots of pheasants including peafowl, chickens of course, 4 highland cattle, including a stroppy bull, 11 dogs ( Anatolian Karabash, Russian Black Terriers and a pair of Bouvier des Flandres and a Komondor. I am looking for a female Bennetts wallaby..... Some of them in last January's snow at: http://www.gatesgarth.com/jan_snow/jan_snow.html Even this modest collection can be daunting at times, hope the weather on the Isle is kinder to you soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 That awesome for a private collection you would probably enjoy coming to seaview, if your ever down here get in contact I would be more than happy to see if I could take you around n show you what we have. What touraco's do you have we have a pair of white cheeks, a pair of buffons and a pair of green crested and a couple of spairs which arnt paired of. here is our website http://www.seaviewwildlife.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathanc Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 wow...you have a peacock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 A pair of white cheeked http://www.gatesgarth.com/jan_snow/DSC08944.html Will definitely be in touch if I get over that way. Would love to have a look around and take in the I of W Zoo as well, that's very kind of you! I see they have Lemurs as a speciality, my friend has about 6 ring tailed, and I have always fancied having a pair. His is a far more elaborate collection than mine, he got me into all this when we moved out here into the sticks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 4 peacocks and about 5 peahens. Will be breeding next year, chicks and hatching eggs for sale.... The neighbours will love you.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 awesome! and just had a look at your pictures that is a very nice little set up you got there! When I move out I intend to do something similar to you only on a much smaller scale at this time, although my ultimate goal is to start my own park! you must be very proud of your set up as it looks awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 Only one today, not looking good, probably rats that are getting hungry in the cold weather. Fingers crossed, nothing much can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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