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

[satay]

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My 2 youngest silkies. Both appear to pullets, which is a shame as I would love a replacement cockeral in the lighter colour.

So pretty sj. Funny though you wanted a roo and got hens

that doesn't happen to often.

 

[User395221]

that doesn't happen to often.

Usually it's the other way around.

What happens in "real life" with a "wild" flock? Do the boys just fight to the death or do they go off with some girls and start a new flock, or???

 

[cwrite]

Thanks Satay and Potatochip. It was a shocker of a day when she got ill as my sons cat got really ill too and had to be rushed to the vet at 11pm. Tiger is recovering, so at least he didn't loose two pets on the same day.

 

[sjturner79]

Usually it's the other way around. 

What happens in "real life" with a "wild" flock?  Do the boys just fight to the death or do they go off with some girls and start a new flock, or???

You will get some fight to death, others will submit to whoever is strongest. They work together to defend the girls and bubs against any invaders/predators. Fights to the death are less common if they have a large area to spread out in, however if the flock is too large to spread out in thier range that's when they start killing each other.

 

[sjturner79]

Don't know how you can be so sure at such a young age , but there is a 50% chance that you are correct. the top one appears to have a star comb.

Both have walnut combs. My boys would have combs signifintly wider than the beak and extending back past the eyes at this age. Thier is still a chance that I am wrong, but so far it's only my single comb defects that I can't sex.

 

[User395221]

They work together to defend the girls and bubs against any invaders/predators.

Thanks, do they have to have a certain number of "concubines" each? Do they have "their" girls, or is it just a free-for-all?

 

[Anniebee]

Rest in Peace Stampy, the sweetest chicken. We will miss your determined efforts to become an indoor chicken fed solely on cat food.

So very sorry to hear of the loss of Stampy. It is always a tragic day for all concerned.

Pleased to hear that you saved your cat Tiger ( a later post noted ) .... do you think it might have been something poisonous that they both got into ? Very strange that two pets would become so ill on the same day.

RIP dear Stampy.

 

[Anniebee]

They did have a night shelter anni which much like chickens they came back to it by themselves each night but hubby use to let them out before work 4.45am or so as they would bellow when he got up. A couple of times we found their night gate open as well. Hubby thought i forgot to lock it so didn't let me know and like Monday i didn't find it til i went out to feed them at 8am. I think for now i will just stick with my chickens . I still have the camera up down the back and i have a couple on the chickens too.

It astounds me that people do such things. Opening gates, cutting fences ?, and as someone else suggested they tend to 'hang around' to see what happens. Rather like arsonists who set fires, and then 'hover' to see the results ( among other reasons for hovering ).

Good to know you have some form of CCTV - your cameras are working. Hopefully one day you might catch the culprit with clear evidence, to give to the police.

Bustards .... these excuses for humans, are.

.........

 

[MyHaven]

Rest in Peace Stampy, the sweetest chicken. We will miss your determined efforts to become an indoor chicken fed solely on cat food.

Sorry to read of your loss.

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

cwrite aaaw, I am so very sorry to read of your loss. Rest in peace Stampy and best wishes for a speedy recovery Tiger.

I see you mention Stampy eats the cat food and Tiger got sick also .. if it was me, I would be suspicious of the cat food.

When my neighbour lost his cat to cancer, he gave us the leftover biscuits and food that he had. Both of my cats ended up at the Vet with severe gastro after they ate the biscuits. The Vet confirmed that it could have been that the biscuits were ‘old’ or stale and I have been vigilant since to ensure that any biscuits they get are fresh and have been kept in an air tight container.

sjturner79 such an adorable picture of your tiny little bubs out exploring the world with mum.

I agree with satay it is kinda funny that you wanted a roo but believe you got pullets .. may be those of us wanting pullets should wish for roosters

Yeah, like that is gunna happen; Murphy’s Law dictates that we would still get roosters

So, I have some exciting news …. We are planning a whole new coop build for the Easter Long Weekend

For those of you who do not know me well, we started out with two chickens and a kit coop. Chicken math means that we now have six chickens and two kit coops joined together to kind of make one and a front run and back run … lots of bits and pieces added here and there, extensions etc. Not exactly pretty and while not perfectly functional, adequate for their needs.

Being kit coops, while raised off the ground, they are still low and while not difficult to clean, a bit taxing on my knees, back etc.

Also, as some of you know, when there is the chance of a significant amount of rain, due to using the deep litter method in the run and also wanting to give the girls as much dry space as possible, I am constantly putting covers on and covers off to juggle keeping them dry but not letting them overheat under the covers.

Also, while the kit coops have done really well for three years they are starting to show signs of wear and tear, especially those parts exposed to the elements.

Anyways, I had my eye on a couple of larger kit coops .. I could make do with the $1,000 one but the $1,800 one would be nice

lol, in my dreams!

The problem is, while they have lots of bells and whistles, I do not really need the bells and whistles and basically would be paying that much just for the extra room. Also, they would be constructed with the same or similar grade timber and age quickly etc.

So, hubby rightly suggested that we could build one much stronger and cheaper and that is what we are going to do and the whole run will be permanently covered. Apparently he has had this in mind for a while now and pretty much had it all planned out, how it was going to look etc.

Very exciting .. I will keep you posted.