fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

I had to play chicken Tetris again this evening...

My dh walked the dog, and reported a lot of noise coming from the coop. It's after dark, so I investigated. Martha had about 3' of roost to herself, wouldn't allow the pullets or Dominiques to come near. Hannah was on the ground, trying to get up on the roost after dark.

Zacchaeus was making a lot of noise, upset. I inserted myself into the situation.

I moved Martha all the way to the left, then put Silas the 5 month old cockerel next to her, she wouldn't peck him, he's too big. Then I placed the Dominiques in the middle as buffers, pullets to either side. I picked up Hannah from the ground, put her next to head hen Rahab on the right. Hannah moved to the left and started pecking one of the pullets, who burrowed under a Dominique to escape. But I fixed Hannah. I spoke quietly to Zack, picked him up and placed him between Hannah and the pullets. You see, Hannah is the groupie, happiest snuggled next to a rooster. Hannah won't peck Rahab, either, so she's contained.

I'll be glad when the hens finish molting, and the pullets start laying, hopefully there will be less drama!

The final results:

 

[kcan2]

Hannah won't peck Rahab, either, so she's contained.

Is this because Rahab's rule of thumb is "Peck and Be Pecked?"

The ladies look well settled into nice chicken muffins for the evening - to you goes the title of Professional Chicken Arranger!

 

[fuzzi]

Is this because Rahab's rule of thumb is "Peck and Be Pecked?"

The ladies look well settled into nice chicken muffins for the evening - to you goes the title of Professional Chicken Arranger!

Chicken Muffins!

Is that like Chicken Nuggets?


They do look chunkier than usual. I've been feeding them a little extra due to their hard molts in which some appear to have lost weight, but the larger rations are being phased out since most are doing well. The only hen still looking bedraggled and smaller is Tamar, and I am keeping an eye on her.

No eggs, day 4...

 

[kcan2]

Chicken Muffins!

Is that like Chicken Nuggets?


They do look chunkier than usual. I've been feeding them a little extra due to their hard molts in which some appear to have lost weight, but the larger rations are being phased out since most are doing well. The only hen still looking bedraggled and smaller is Tamar, and I am keeping an eye on her.

No eggs, day 4...

Have you ever tried feeding sardines? I know they are talking about sardines over on Shadrach's thread, and besides my being grossed out handling sardines and reluctant to offer them to my picky chickens, I may give them a try. I have a hen who has seemed to be in an on-and-off prolonged molt since July! I think she is about done now, but it just seems exhausting to be her.

 

[fuzzi]

Have you ever tried feeding sardines? I know they are talking about sardines over on Shadrach's thread, and besides my being grossed out handling sardines and reluctant to offer them to my picky chickens, I may give them a try. I have a hen who has seemed to be in an on-and-off prolonged molt since July! I think she is about done now, but it just seems exhausting to be her.

I've considered sardines, but not yet tried them.

For protein I've been giving them some dry cat food, which they LOVE.

 

[1muttsfan]

And dry cat food is nutritious and a lot cheaper.

I gave the chickies a huge pile of leaves, took them about 25 minutes to completely spread it all over the run.View attachment 3976704

 

[fuzzi]

And dry cat food is nutritious and a lot cheaper.

I gave the chickies a huge pile of leaves, took them about 25 minutes to completely spread it all over the run.View attachment 3976704

The weather continues to be mild, so I am postponing the mowing of the leaves.

I have a grass catcher on my push mower, which makes it handy for vacuuming/chopping leaves. Unlike our neighbors we don't have pines, only one in the northwest corner. Instead we have live oaks and a huge sycamore, oh, and three cedar trees, but they're not deciduous.

 

[fuzzi]

A little chatter in the early evening...that's mostly the Sussex:

 

[1muttsfan]

If you want talkie birds to have a conversation with, none are as gabby as Speckled Sussex, both large and small.

 

[fuzzi]

My new shirt, my FIRST chicken shirt!