Awww… I’m so sorry, Shad! May I ask at what age she was started on layer feed?
My sister isn't sure and the breeder she got the last two hens from isn't responding to the question.
It's a really common problem that slips under the radar over and over again. Plus, in the UK all flock types feeds are quite hard to find and a lot more expensive than the standard layers pellets. Of course, by the time the damage is apparent it's no longer the breeders problem.
 
It all sounds reasonable to me Bob.
I do have to warn you that the last hen I decided to move at night still needed moving five years later.:rolleyes:
This was Dink who did not like all the roost time bickering, not that hse couldn't hold her own, and decided that going up the magnolia tree until bucket boy lifted her down and placed her on the roost once everything had quietened down was by far the more civilised way of going to bed.
I think you'll be a bit like me though and come to enjoy it.
It is kind of nice to have a reason to hold her if even for a minute. She is calming down at the sound of my voice which is also kind of nice now. 5 years seems like quite the commitment though. I hope it takes hold sooner than that. 😆
 
Actually, I suspect egg #2 from Nellie. Later I found a blue one...slightly bigger than the first blue egg. So, 3 new layers: Nellie for the white, Splash for the blue and, Cuckoo (?) For the stepped on brown one...
That is exciting!
 
I have spent a fair amount of time watching Isabella and so far she seems fine.

Her face and comb are pale, a light pink like a pullet who hasn't reached point of lay. She laid her last egg eleven days ago.

She has eaten her layers mash, wheatgrass fodder, and picked through table scraps from the compost. There isn't much scope for foraging now as most plants are dead or dormant and the ground is pretty frozen.

Her feathers are sparse all over with one visible bare patch of pin feathers on her neck/chest area. She is dropping lots of feathers.

My best guess is that this is just what a first heavy molt looks like. This is my first time navigating this with my hens. I have ten who are around 1.5 years old, four of whom are obviously mid-molt, dropping feathers steadily.
From your description I would say it is molt related. I hope the photos of mine have helped.
 
Abject Fear

I got my coffee this morning and headed out to supervise and visit with everyone this morning. It is a spectacular day. Not a cloud to be found, brilliant blue sky, warm sun, it just couldn't be nicer in the fall. I expected to find the littles cheeping away scratching around and the big ladies scratching away under the magnolia tree.

What greeted me was dead silence and nothing moving.

No song birds,no chickens, nothing. My heart sank.

I found the 6 big girls huddled under the apple trees, not moving. Stark still.

My heart sank. The littles!

I ran to The Hut, hoping they had stayed inside like they normally do in the morning.

They were not there. Still not a sound at all in the yard. Where will the littles.

A frantic search started. I could not find them anywhere. I searched for the tell tale white of the poofy heads as they blended in so well with the leaves, etc.

Nothing.

Then I saw floofy head. Thank God! But it was only 1. I had found Legertha but no Sylvie to be seen.

Legertha was hunched down in this corner alone, quiet, and unmoving.

View attachment 2872229

I figured that if Sylvie was still around, she would be nearby. I searched frantically but could find no sign of her.

As there was no predator around that I could see, I peeped at Legertha. Hoping that I could get a reaction that might spark a reaction from Sylvie. In my heart I was already certain that she was gone. Or else she would have been with Legertha. After a couple of peeps from me, Legertha peeped back and got up. I must of said the right thing? 🤷‍♂️

Legertha got up and started peeping frantically and went under the grapevines like she was looking for Sylvie.

I followed. Here is what I found.

Sylvie was hidden in the corner of the big run under my chair.

View attachment 2872223
She was not responding to Legertha. So I zipped into the run and gathered her up. She was fine. I brought her out to Legertha and now they are sitting in the run extension making this purring sound. Can you hear it?

It is pretty clear that the hawk returned this morning. The song birds just alarmed argain and everyone dove for cover although this time I don't see the hawk. I'm going to have to stay out with them all day at this point or lock them up for a while.

😬 😬😬😬😬😬

:hugs:hugs:hugs

They did so well!! Little champions.

Could it have been the hawk who shredded Sansa's tail recently?
 
Fwiw, you can mod the nerf guns by removing the restrictor and it will shoot with greater velocity (and stings more).
My kids have about 20 modified about the house...I haven't done one myself, but have been shot with plenty of them :eek:
I may need to Google that!
 
Back for More

Well, I know exactly what it was. It was a hawk and it is after the littles. Just as I posted the other post, it attack again. This time it was foiled because I surprised it. I was on the deck and saw it coming in. I jumped up and started after it causing it to alter its flight and land on the fence. It did not wait for me to reach out before flying away.

It is a juvenile hawk smaller than my full grown hens. The red tailed hawks which we have here are larger than a normal hen. Here is where the hawk landed.
View attachment 2872269

There must have been an alarm because the littles had time to hide. I did not hear it but I was bent on intercepting the attack.

The littles are hidden in this photo. Can you find them?
View attachment 2872275


The littles are now locked into the big run. I just can't risk them free ranging. I will try opening it up right before dusk. Mostly so Phyllis could roost there if she wanted. I guess I will be outside a lot for the foreseeable future.

I really don't know how to get rid of it aside from shooting with the nerf gun.

:he
They're so good at hiding!! The candy corn colour is perfect camouflage.
 

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