Companihens chickens

[Shadrach]

Quite unsure why

You're stealing his potential offspring.
Some roosters are more sensitive to this than others. Short term answer is don't take any eggs while he's around.

Taken from this article.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

Taking his hens eggs. Roosters and some mature cockerels know about eggs and nests. I had one rooster in particular who got very upset if he caught me taking eggs from one of his hen's nests. I’ve had others who are completely fascinated by piles of eggs. They strut and cluck around the nest and even sit on the eggs for short periods of time. Both hens and roosters will defend a nest containing eggs.

 

[Companihen]

You're stealing his potential offspring.
Some roosters are more sensitive to this than others. Short term answer is don't take any eggs while he's around.

Taken from this article.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/

Taking his hens eggs. Roosters and some mature cockerels know about eggs and nests. I had one rooster in particular who got very upset if he caught me taking eggs from one of his hen's nests. I’ve had others who are completely fascinated by piles of eggs. They strut and cluck around the nest and even sit on the eggs for short periods of time. Both hens and roosters will defend a nest containing eggs.

Thank you.... I'll read the article again.
Cleopatra his favorite hen is broody. Probably explains his possessiveness around the eggs atm as he hasn't had a problem with me collecting previously. Or maybe I just wasn't aware he was cross bur ue hasn't gone for me like he did that day. I'll be more careful not to offend him each day. He hasn't attacked me since but he doesn't seem so relaxed around me anymore

 

[Companihen]

Greedy is ailing. She hasn't laid this year. And her comb has gone floppy although still a good colour. Over the last week or so she has been slower and hasn't seemed quite herself. This morning her backside was covered in yucky poop. She ate corn I chucked in the run and was still moving around but she seems not right. Possibly the same as the copper maran we lost last year, they're oldish now and I wonder if they have some egg laying related illness. For now I'm just observing how it takes her.

 

[Companihen]

Percy is clearly involved in the wild nest making business thing. The chickens have been shut in the run last 2 days and only just letting them out today. Percy ran to this nest and sat there calling the hens over I hoped the hens would have forgotten!

Greedy backside and poop. Doesn't look good. She waddles slowly around, enjoyed the scraps and was on the perch last night. Looks like I have some cleaning to do later

 

[Companihen]

Greedy is plodding on, she's very slow but still moves around the garden. Eats and drinks. The images don't really show.but her comb is almost purple.
Cleopatra hasn't sat today so hopefully she'll forget being broody as I'm not sure I need that just atm. I've taken eggs from under her for 5 days.
Everyone else is laying and we'll as far as I can see. Pepin and Pinch are crazy as ever and prefer to lay in the garden. I'm sure Pepin lays out somewhere but I haven't found where.
Percy and Armand keep close tabs on each other but nothing more than a minor scuffle here and there.

 

[Companihen]

I wonder if Grey will try broody again soon, shes very aggressive near the food and definitely wants everything and flouting her top if the pecking order status. I will be tempted to get eggs in and let her sit if she's goes broody properly... but we have a house move and a few other things hanging over us in the not too distant future so I'm not sure it would be wise.

Greedy was sitting in a eggbox at 3pm yesterday. I hoped she would peacefully pass in the night. But she is still alive, just, today. Walking around the garden and pecking a bit at the grass. I fed her some blueberries and a small amount of ham, she drank some water too. Poor girl, should I leave her or help her along the way. Never know the answer to this question.

Percy is escorting the hens to lay and standing guard at the house while they do, particularly for Pepin and Cleopatra.

Everyone else seems healthy and active. But I hate red mites, and we don't have a particularly good house for getting rid of them. I use permethrin spray wherever I see them and powder and DE powder in eggboxes, around the perch ends and where the chickens seem to sit in the house. But they're there I know it