dust bath queue picture

[warren]

Bella is enjoying her bath but the other two are getting impatient.

Actually, Bella has stolen the bath which they made earlier, and won't let them in. Notice how purple her comb is towards the back. She is nearly 3 years old and still laying 4-5 eggs per week.

 

[blue fire]

there you go. the

are not capitalized

 

[warren]

Thanks Blue Fire.
Now for my next question, how did you copy my picture onto your post? I did not know it could be done.

 

[blue fire]

I used the address on your first post and put the

beside it.

 

[warren]

aaah..thanks

 

[blue fire]

No problem

 

[spook]

Ever notice how it looks like a moon scape after the hens get done dusting!

 

[seriousbill]

Great picture, Warren!

Here's one of mine. My pullet is taking a bit more of a pro-active approach, as you can see

 

[warren]

Lovely birds seriousbill. And you managed to get a sharp focus too!

How did you get your older birds to accept the younger one?

The instinct to dust-bathe must be very strong as usually my older bird will not let the younger ones anywhere near her. She is vicious towards them. When she eventually got out of her bath she did not seem able to walk properly. She must have got pins and needles in her legs. That gave them time to get to a safe distance.

 

[seriousbill]

Thank you

Actually, those three are all the same age, 21 weeks. One of the pullets is laying and the other, as you can see from her smaller comb, is not. Those two pullets are great favorites with the cockerel in the pic. I do have birds older and younger than these. It is tricky to get the older birds to accept the new ones, but I have found that cockerels are the great levellers of the chicken world and help to keep the older and younger females together as a cohesive flock.