Hello dear friends.

I am still a wreck and I do not think the guilt will go away for some time yet, if ever. It hurts to even look at the big black girls, and there are 5 of them.

I did not want to go outside Saturday evening. I had to though. There were eggs to be collected, evening snack to be fed and the littles are let out the last hour or so before roosting time. I tried focusing on the chicks while they played. The big girls would have none of it. Holly and Raven along with Spot and Dottie decided of all times it was the day to chase the littles. I was ready to ship all 4 off to KFC before the evening was out.

Today I spent most of the afternoon outside with everyone. I found a forgotten bag of cherries in the fridge and I handed them out. Their special snack seemed to satisfy all the adults and when I had the chicks out tonight they left them alone. I should have brought out my camera but I did not. The chicks were in rare form today. They all had the zoomies and were putting on a show. The silkies were hopping and flapping everywhere. There is a Mirror that is beside the building that was once in a yard sale. This evening George discovered his reflection. He raised his hackles at himself. He charged the mirror and pecked his reflection. He would then run around like crazy for a second and come back and repeat the performance. Watching them play I could not help but laugh a little at them. I am letting them loose in the evenings because it is easier to round them up in the coop after the adults get on the roost. I was sitting on the building ramp waiting on the evening roosting squabbles to finish before I put the chicks up. They came on the ramp and decided they were all going to sleep either in my lap or beside me tonight. I sat with them like that until I just had enough light to see what I was doing.

Blueberry and Bunnies loss is deeply felt and their presence is missed. Those that remain, adults and chicks, they let me know they are still here and need me. They are here to make me laugh and make me yell at them and vex me.
Awwww. They know you hurt and are helping to heal you.
🥰
 
Mugs Monday

Raven - she an old girl for a production breed, 5 yrs old, and she is doing great, yesterday she laid an egg which has excellent shell quality.
DED92F2F-A232-44FE-9A64-A279B4EDBB53.jpeg
EA73DCAE-A720-4AA2-BB20-B0B57A679ECB.jpeg
 
Hello dear friends.

I am still a wreck and I do not think the guilt will go away for some time yet, if ever. It hurts to even look at the big black girls, and there are 5 of them.

I did not want to go outside Saturday evening. I had to though. There were eggs to be collected, evening snack to be fed and the littles are let out the last hour or so before roosting time. I tried focusing on the chicks while they played. The big girls would have none of it. Holly and Raven along with Spot and Dottie decided of all times it was the day to chase the littles. I was ready to ship all 4 off to KFC before the evening was out.

Today I spent most of the afternoon outside with everyone. I found a forgotten bag of cherries in the fridge and I handed them out. Their special snack seemed to satisfy all the adults and when I had the chicks out tonight they left them alone. I should have brought out my camera but I did not. The chicks were in rare form today. They all had the zoomies and were putting on a show. The silkies were hopping and flapping everywhere. There is a Mirror that is beside the building that was once in a yard sale. This evening George discovered his reflection. He raised his hackles at himself. He charged the mirror and pecked his reflection. He would then run around like crazy for a second and come back and repeat the performance. Watching them play I could not help but laugh a little at them. I am letting them loose in the evenings because it is easier to round them up in the coop after the adults get on the roost. I was sitting on the building ramp waiting on the evening roosting squabbles to finish before I put the chicks up. They came on the ramp and decided they were all going to sleep either in my lap or beside me tonight. I sat with them like that until I just had enough light to see what I was doing.

Blueberry and Bunnies loss is deeply felt and their presence is missed. Those that remain, adults and chicks, they let me know they are still here and need me. They are here to make me laugh and make me yell at them and vex me.
:hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs
Chickens will make you cry and chickens will make you laugh, they will make you feel sad and guilty and they will fill your heart. They will make you wonder how they can be so smart and savvy and be gone so easily.
Try to give yourself the grace that you give your grandfather 💚.

Monday mugs.
Laure had me worried the last two days. She's almost over a hard moult from having being implanted a month ago. Suddenly she lost control of her legs, she kept stumbling and couldn't walk without falling. I've seen other hens have that issue while moulting, but never that bad.
There is a bit of improvement today so I'm hoping she recovers, just making sure she gets enough varied food.
IMG_20240923_110323.jpg

Gaston.
@Ponypoor : Gaston is moulting and he has been walking away from Théo for about two weeks whereas he normally completely dominates him - he is three times his weight. But he is afraid to fight now and I think it's the moult. So it could have played a role for Mr P. Rooster dominance has a huge psychological aspect I find, being able to make a show of strength and self confidence.
IMG_20240923_110307.jpg

Lulu (with Kara behind).
IMG_20240923_111444.jpg

IMG_20240923_110307.jpg

Fun chicken fashion : we had a storm.this morning and Piou-piou is wearing mud platform shoes.
IMG_20240923_101856.jpg

IMG_20240923_135524.jpg
 
:hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs
Chickens will make you cry and chickens will make you laugh, they will make you feel sad and guilty and they will fill your heart. They will make you wonder how they can be so smart and savvy and be gone so easily.
Try to give yourself the grace that you give your grandfather 💚.

Monday mugs.
Laure had me worried the last two days. She's almost over a hard moult from having being implanted a month ago. Suddenly she lost control of her legs, she kept stumbling and couldn't walk without falling. I've seen other hens have that issue while moulting, but never that bad.
There is a bit of improvement today so I'm hoping she recovers, just making sure she gets enough varied food.
View attachment 3950010
Gaston.
@Ponypoor : Gaston is moulting and he has been walking away from Théo for about two weeks whereas he normally completely dominates him - he is three times his weight. But he is afraid to fight now and I think it's the moult. So it could have played a role for Mr P. Rooster dominance has a huge psychological aspect I find, being able to make a show of strength and self confidence.
View attachment 3950011
Lulu (with Kara behind).
View attachment 3950012
View attachment 3950011
Fun chicken fashion : we had a storm.this morning and Piou-piou is wearing mud platform shoes.
View attachment 3950013
View attachment 3950015
Love the shoes!
 
:hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs
Chickens will make you cry and chickens will make you laugh, they will make you feel sad and guilty and they will fill your heart. They will make you wonder how they can be so smart and savvy and be gone so easily.
Try to give yourself the grace that you give your grandfather 💚.

Monday mugs.
Laure had me worried the last two days. She's almost over a hard moult from having being implanted a month ago. Suddenly she lost control of her legs, she kept stumbling and couldn't walk without falling. I've seen other hens have that issue while moulting, but never that bad.
There is a bit of improvement today so I'm hoping she recovers, just making sure she gets enough varied food.
View attachment 3950010
Gaston.
@Ponypoor : Gaston is moulting and he has been walking away from Théo for about two weeks whereas he normally completely dominates him - he is three times his weight. But he is afraid to fight now and I think it's the moult. So it could have played a role for Mr P. Rooster dominance has a huge psychological aspect I find, being able to make a show of strength and self confidence.
View attachment 3950011
Lulu (with Kara behind).
View attachment 3950012
View attachment 3950011
Fun chicken fashion : we had a storm.this morning and Piou-piou is wearing mud platform shoes.
View attachment 3950013
View attachment 3950015
And with that jaunty tail feather sticking up - it makes a statement!

Re: roosters - yes I feel the moulting had a huge thing to do with this whole fighting thing. I cannot wait until Mr P finishes his moulting, hopefully the ladies will stop pecking at him then!
 
If he's the only wizard you have, must be Rincewind.
I dunno, he looks a little too good at magic to be a Rincewind 😆 and Rincewind isn't known for his ability to grow a beard, either...

I do also have this wizard that my dad painted when he was younger
1000030620.jpg

Who also doesn't have a name yet

Tax! Video of the girls' first free ranging day yesterday :)

 

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