Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

@satay
Haha thanks
He's a big sook

(He's begging for a pet here lol)


@C8yJayne

I haven't had a storm here yet since having my chickens
Mine free range but they can go in their roost (which they usually do if we have a little rain) if they want to

Those blue eyes are

 

[Fancychooklady]

hi guys... do you let your flock out in stormy weather?

I lock the silkies up, their crests obscure their vision and often they will just stand in the rain and get wet through . The water doesn't roll off them because they don't have a feather shaft as such.

 

[Teila]

Howdy folks

Nice to meet you also C8yJayne.

My gals get a supervised free range every afternoon and pretty much all day on the weekends. They have lots of places to stay dry in the run and coops if it is raining and they use them, preferring to stay dry. However, if they are free ranging when it rains, they do not seek shelter and get wet. I have a Silkie and a Frizzle that really should not go to bed wet so if we do have a storm or rain heading in, I normally lock them back up so they stay dry.

Apps totally agree on the backup water containers. I have two water containers in the run, just in case.

AussieChics congrats on getting the coop done.

Jellyballoo your cat is beautiful!

Yesterday I spent the day trying to integrate Tina back into the flock on free range as she appears to have now officially cut the cord on her 5 week old bubs and was demanding to be let out. I am not integrating the two bubs at this stage as I am not sure if they will be staying (boys or girls?) and no point putting them through the pecking order trauma so young if not required. I was hoping to integrate them while mum was still protecting them but she cut the cord sooner than I expected.

Anyways, it went sort of OK, but I was exhausted by the end of the day. Spent the majority of the day scalding Cilla or Dusty and have no idea how many times I had to say “play nice”. Even Tina had had enough by 4pm and was asking to go back in the mini-run with the littlies! She slept with them last night also. Now to do it all again today .. oh joy! Lol

And, the best bit, I get to do it all again in a few weeks when Blondie cuts the cord and needs integrating back in! Oh yeah, and I will be keeping one of the chicks from the two hatches (assuming they are not all roosters) so a third integration. Yipppee! (Sarcasm intended)

I know it is natural and their way of life but the pecking order sucks!

I am looking forward to just having one happy, contented flock again and for now, sworn off any more hatches!

 

[AussieChics]

Howdy folks 

Nice to meet you also C8yJayne.

My gals get a supervised free range every afternoon and pretty much all day on the weekends.  They have lots of places to stay dry in the run and coops if it is raining and they use them, preferring to stay dry.  However, if they are free ranging when it rains, they do not seek shelter and get wet.  I have a Silkie and a Frizzle that really should not go to bed wet so if we do have a storm or rain heading in, I normally lock them back up so they stay dry.

Apps totally agree on the backup water containers.  I have two water containers in the run, just in case.

AussieChics congrats on getting the coop done.

Jellyballoo your cat is beautiful!

Yesterday I spent the day trying to integrate Tina back into the flock on free range as she appears to have now officially cut the cord on her 5 week old bubs and was demanding to be let out.  I am not integrating the two bubs at this stage as I am not sure if they will be staying (boys or girls?) and no point putting them through the pecking order trauma so young if not required.  I was hoping to integrate them while mum was still protecting them but she cut the cord sooner than I expected.

Anyways, it went sort of OK, but I was exhausted by the end of the day.  Spent the majority of the day scalding Cilla or Dusty and have no idea how many times I had to say “play nice”.  Even Tina had had enough by 4pm and was asking to go back in the mini-run with the littlies!  She slept with them last night also.  Now to do it all again today .. oh joy! Lol

And, the best bit, I get to do it all again in a few weeks when Blondie cuts the cord and needs integrating back in!   Oh yeah, and I will be keeping one of the chicks from the two hatches (assuming they are not all roosters) so a third integration. Yipppee! (Sarcasm intended)

I know it is natural and their way of life but the pecking order sucks!

I am looking forward to just having one happy, contented flock again and for now, sworn off any more hatches! 

The pecking order reminds me of high school. Watching my 2 oldest bullying the 2 I got months ago was both hilarious and horrifying. There was no pecking just a lot of pushing and shoving. 1 even walked right over the top of one. They are all good friends now of course!

 

[cwrite]

@satay
Haha thanks

He's a big sook

(He's begging for a pet here lol)


@C8yJayne

I haven't had a storm here yet since having my chickens
Mine free range but they can go in their roost (which they usually do if we have a little rain) if they want to

What a beauty!

I let my cats out with the chicks moved to the trampoline temporary day enclosure & they have been ok. I'm keeping an eye on the chicks because a determined cat could get in, but after a good look they went off.


I'm not looking forward to reintroducing snowy to the flock because she's at the bottom of the pecking order & we are already having a few face offs through the fence. Nothing too nasty though. Snowy looks like the chicks are starting to work on her nerves. Everywhere she moves there are chicks, she trip over them, she walks away & they follow her, because they just love mum. And one is determined to sit on her back & has shown it's trick to a sibling.

We have identified one roo. It was pecking everyone constantly so my daughter got to pet it in her bedroom for a few hours until we couldn't stand the LOUD cheeping anymore. The baby flock dynamics were so much more relaxed with that one chick removed. I've tagged it with a loose zip tie for observation, but I'm sure more than roo one will turn up.

 

[Jellyballoo]

Hm I didn't think about the silkies in a storm
There are afew bushes and under the steps is covered aswell as the roost
Would they be smart enough to get out of the rain? Lol

One week of QT left
Bella has warmed up to us abit but Mia is abit skittish still
She just follows Bella around like a puppy lol
Might have to try tempting her with some meal worms?

 

[Teila]

Hey Jellyballoo

As I mentioned, mine are smart enough to get out of the rain when in their run but not when free-ranging; silly chickens

Meal worms will definitely work. Beware of creating meal worm monsters though .. I only have to show them the blue container the meal worms live in and they go crazy! lol

 

[cwrite]

We are haviing our first bush fire of the season. I can't tell where it is, but must be reasonably close going by how much smoke there is. The chooks are in their run & I've damped down around the run but not much else to do. One cat MIA that will hopefully come home soon & all the windows closed.

 

[Teila]

Gees cwrite that is not good!

I hope everyone remains safe and they have it under control swiftly.

 

[appps]

We are haviing our first bush fire of the season. I can't tell where it is, but must be reasonably close going by how much smoke there is. The chooks are in their run & I've damped down around the run but not much else to do. One cat MIA that will hopefully come home soon & all the windows closed.

Keep safe and hope you cat comes home soon so you can stop worrying. Hate bushfire season, we are luckily too in the middle of town to worry but my parents have been evacuated a few times and even had the fire trucks down their back yard. Most frustrating when you know most of them are idiotic human lit fires.