BYC Café

[DobieLover]

More feathers than eggs, molting season is ramping up.

Here too. Fabio started about 3 weeks ago and he was a big fat butthead this morning. Lots of shoulder dropping, then jumping out of reach when I answered his challenge.

Stubborn broody

I have a very cranky one. Tink. She stays off the nests during the day, so I haven't locked her up but look out when I take her off the nest at night. I set her in the middle of about 3.5' of empty space on the roost, between a hen and Digit and his little sisters. As I was walking away, I heard Digit start to scream and his sisters starting to panic. I went back in and teeny tiny Tink was pecking the crap out of 2.5 times her size Digit. I yanked her out of her space and stuck her between two hens that would tune her up but good if she acted up with either of them. It was quiet the second time I walked away from the coop.

 

[aart]

I set her in the middle of about 3.5' of empty space on the roost

I considered putting her on the roost instead of in the crate.
Late yesterday there was a terrible ruckus down there, one hen screaming her head off in the run. I thought predator, so went down to take a look. It was stubborn broody all alone in the run, no sign of preds. Wondered if maybe she was having trouble 're-integrating' with the flock and that's what the ruckus was about, and maybe why she was in nest at night, tho she walked right back in the coop with no fuss...and was clicking and pancaking when I grabbed her out of nest. She's still clicking this morning.

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and thanks for the coffee.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Good morning and thanks for the hot coffee!

 

[bruceha2000]

I get irked when I read other posts about how women try to manipulate their men into doing some "handy PERSON" task. Friggin' learn how to do it yourself for crying out loud!

I've got a broody as well. Little Nyx the "was supposed to be a Black Ameraucana but has 5 toes". She is a wicked nasty little thing when she is broody! Get her out of the nest and she attacks my legs!! And boy did she scream when I hauled her out in the dark last night for her trip to her "hotel room". She'll likely be there a week. She was pushing broody before we left for VA, probably spent much of the time in the nest box.

Angel (White Rock) died yesterday. When the guy who watched them came over Tuesday night to return the key and get paid she was on the ground in the corner of the coop while the others were up on the roost. Never a good sign though I've managed to save a couple that did the same thing. She was alive in the morning but looking poorly so I put her in the buster with some hay to sleep on, food and vitamin/antibiotic water. But she was dead in the afternoon. Not one I would want to lose but 8+ years is a pretty good chicken life. I still have 3 of her batch.

 

[DobieLover]

Angel (White Rock) died yesterday.

Sorry to read that but you're right. 8+ is a good long life for a chicken.

 

[Sally PB]

I'm FAR more practical than the average girl.

My MIL was surprised when I told DH I wanted a nice steam iron for my birthday. (Not for ironing clothes, for blocking knitting. lol) I absolutely LOVE practical gifts. And chocolate.

I get irked when I read other posts about how women try to manipulate their men into doing some "handy PERSON" task. Friggin' learn how to do it yourself for crying out loud!

Ditto. I just wish I were able to do the tasks DH does because he's stronger. I have to be content with being the helper on some.

Like take the metal roofing off the old house. If I had to, yeah, I could probably do it. But I've never used climbing gear or walked up the side of a metal roof. It was safer all around for me to be the "ground crew."

 

[CapricornFarm]

Yep - just fell off the face of the earth

I guess the earth is flat after all?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning Cafe. Brought a pot of coffee to share.
Happy Birthday! @aart

 

[sourland]

I guess the earth is flat after all?

Of course -"when people leave town they never come back."

"Small town Saturday Night" by Hal Ketchum.