I wonder about your Buckeyes in the same way, and wonder what's in store for mine, as I too was trying for a non-high-production breed, even knowing so much less than I know now. BUT...if you look at the history, breeders since the middle of the last century have been trying to "help the breed survive" and so they have tried to make them more popular by "improving" them with higher egg production, also more leg meat. How they've done that I'm not sure exactly, but if they are selecting for those "better" layers and more eggs per year, then they are selecting for all the reproductive issues that lead to earlier death. I really hate this aspect of the "heritage" breed tinkering. But I understand breeders aren't out there keeping the breed going altruistically, like some animal genetics museum. I wonder if anywhere has kept any DNA of some of these "heritage" breeds and the even older ones? We need to get the Hawaiian chickens reintroduced!
Oh, wow! I noticed their meaty, muscular thighs, but did not realize they were bred for that. Very strong legs!

Thanks to everyone for the warm comments. Tonight after work, the WHOLE FLOCK did pretty well and was active. It made me VERY happy. Ruby took a couple rests, but was better than yesterday. I’ll gladly take every good day we get. ❤️

And Minnie did a real poop!
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Okay. I admit it. I haven't been doing mush in the way of gardening. The roof is a bit of a jungle and the wing wall banks are on steroids!
This is Cillin escorting Fudge and Fat Bird up to the hay rack in the sheep field.
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Like all good roosters should, he's waiting for Fat Bird to finish sampling everything remotely edible on route.
You cant see it in the pictures but he's tapping his toes with impatience.:p:love
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That is Fudge's arse in the weeds. I took the picture more to show the lovely purple flowers on the thyme bushes. Shame the camera has washed the colour out a bit. The colour is really vivid after the rain here.
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Fabulous photos!
 
No BLU. :hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hit:hitEven Rocks-Ann my hen, has stopped laying, and begs for my attention now. She wants to be with me all day, and pecks my leg to pick her up. I usually do. Her and BLU were very close together, after Rocket had to be put down. This is a tragedy for my entire feathered family.:(
Oh, Alex... I am so sorry that BLU is gone. And someone mentioned a poisoning? I am very worried for your flock. Humans are awful creatures sometimes :hugs:hugs:hugs
 
I have a wonderful Butter update to share. Yesterday many times she stood up on her own and stayed standing for 10 to 15 minutes each time. She even tried walking, got up to 5 steps once before she had to sit down. But I think the most encouraging part was what she did yesterday evening. For the first time since her injury she laid a egg. I was soo afraid where she was in the middle of her laying cycle that one may have gotten broke inside her and a infection would set up. Butter is also getting daily massages and physical therapy to her leg and hip joint. She loves it but struggles if i try to massage her back so I do not push that issue. Pictures taken just a few minutes ago. Look at her expressions, her attitude is also coming back in spades. She may not be one of my beloved Marans, but I love this hen.
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I love her, too! Goooo, Butters!!! ❤️❤️❤️
 

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