This is a nice pic of Tippy, nice to see them close like that!
I am watching the Buckeyes because one or both of them laid a thin-shelled egg (got two, and two good ones) this week. I am seeing the Spuds eat oyster shell but not the Buckeyes. I hate to give either of them pills, it is stressful for them. They are on Nutrena Feather Fixer which is slightly less calcium than a Layer would be. But I have seen Hazel take crushed eggshells.
Eggs - with several hens of the same breed it's hard to tell which one laid what unless you see them in the act and figure it out. I can tell the Orpington eggs versus the Buckeyes, it is a pale tan versus the darker brown, but that's all.
I think today Anna laid her first egg! Very small but cute. She herself is a small thing, so I'm hoping her eggs don't get too big anyway. She's been squatting in a funny way: she stays crouching, holding her wings out. Just holds that position, even after I've stroked her. Doesn't move, stays squatting. Today for the first time, and only once, she did stand up, fluff and ruffle. She's learning!
@Ponypoor I also wanted to ask why you don't want the chickens choosing where they sleep. Looks like there's plenty of room in Hen House A, and they all didn't pile in there, some chose the other HHB. What's your goal?
Chickens really need to be all together to feel right as a "flock" it seems. This is on my mind - if I were to get a few more chickens; my current coop will hold six standard size comfortably, more if the nesting area is opened up and other spaces provided for nest boxes. I know they all may decide to pile into one coop even if I provided a second one, and if it's too hot for all of them in one coop, it would not be good for them. The solution might be one big coop. Omlet has come out with one, twice the size but twice the cost $$$$. Maybe build one.
