fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

Three hens slipped out of Coop Deux this afternoon when the door didn't close as usual. I was able to herd one of the Dominiques back into the coop, but I had to net Julia, one of the game birds. Phoebe, the other game bird, flew over the fence into a neighbor's yard. I got in my car and drove around the block to get permission from the neighbor to go in their backyard to retrieve my chicken. Then Phoebe flew back over the fence and INTO THE WOODS.


Neighbor: "I've never seen a chicken fly like that."


Back home I walked on the edge of the woods, no Phoebe. Stupid bird. I went inside for a few minutes, went back to check on the first coop.

Phoebe was pacing back and forth on the woods side of the fence. I cautiously approached and she flew back into the woods.


Feral cat Wisp was there, and started stalking.


Phoebe exploded upwards, Wisp chased her, then Phoebe landed on top of the first hoop coop.

I threw some chicken feed on the ground. She eventually came down, went under the shed.


Around and around.

FINALLY I saw Phoebe pacing next to her coop. I opened the door a little, propped by a metal stool AND SHE WENT IN.

No more game birds.

 

[Molpet]

Three hens slipped out of Coop Deux this afternoon when the door didn't close as usual. I was able to herd one of the Dominiques back into the coop, but I had to net Julia, one of the game birds. Phoebe, the other game bird, flew over the fence into a neighbor's yard. I got in my car and drove around the block to get permission from the neighbor to go in their backyard to retrieve my chicken. Then Phoebe flew back over the fence and INTO THE WOODS.


Neighbor: "I've never seen a chicken fly like that."


Back home I walked on the edge of the woods, no Phoebe. Stupid bird. I went inside for a few minutes, went back to check on the first coop.

Phoebe was pacing back and forth on the woods side of the fence. I cautiously approached and she flew back into the woods.


Feral cat Wisp was there, and started stalking.


Phoebe exploded upwards, Wisp chased her, then Phoebe landed on top of the first hoop coop.
View attachment 4318554

I threw some chicken feed on the ground. She eventually came down, went under the shed.


Around and around.

FINALLY I saw Phoebe pacing next to her coop. I opened the door a little, propped by a metal stool AND SHE WENT IN.

No more game birds.

Treat train. Certain bucket with treat and when they come to you they get treats.
No way we can chase down a chicken in the woods.

 

[fuzzi]

Treat train. Certain bucket with treat and when they come to you they get treats.
No way we can chase down a chicken in the woods.

The game birds are not smart, just reactive.

 

[1muttsfan]

If speckled Sussex get out they are more likely to come knock on the door and ask to come in and watch TV

 

[fuzzi]

I gave Dinah three Sussex pullet eggs since she's been broody. She's at her maximum coverage, couldn't handle one more.

 

[fuzzi]

Three hens slipped out of Coop Deux this afternoon when the door didn't close as usual. I was able to herd one of the Dominiques back into the coop, but I had to net Julia, one of the game birds. Phoebe, the other game bird, flew over the fence into a neighbor's yard. I got in my car and drove around the block to get permission from the neighbor to go in their backyard to retrieve my chicken. Then Phoebe flew back over the fence and INTO THE WOODS.


Neighbor: "I've never seen a chicken fly like that."


Back home I walked on the edge of the woods, no Phoebe. Stupid bird. I went inside for a few minutes, went back to check on the first coop.

Phoebe was pacing back and forth on the woods side of the fence. I cautiously approached and she flew back into the woods.


Feral cat Wisp was there, and started stalking.


Phoebe exploded upwards, Wisp chased her, then Phoebe landed on top of the first hoop coop.
View attachment 4318554

I threw some chicken feed on the ground. She eventually came down, went under the shed.


Around and around.

FINALLY I saw Phoebe pacing next to her coop. I opened the door a little, propped by a metal stool AND SHE WENT IN.

No more game birds.

Flighty Phoebe is the chick at the end, pink leg ring

View attachment 4316779

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Flighty Phoebe is the chick at the end, pink leg ring

She was a blur of motion even at that age!

 

[fuzzi]

A couple days ago Abigail, one of my Dominiques, was still on the roost at 9am. Later she was hiding under the wheelbarrow. I examined her, no sign of illness, injury, crop was about half full.

I mixed up some slippery elm bark in water, syringed it in her mouth. She was resistant, and Silas was suspicious.

She had several drinks of water afterwards.

I noticed she was subdued yesterday, hanging back from the others, but ate some grape bits.

This afternoon she appears to be more like her old self, eating with the others!


Pancake Dinah

Tomorrow is Day 7 of sitting on real eggs...

 

[fuzzi]

Yesterday's haul!

Eggs at top are from Coop Deux. Two are OEGB but the other two are larger, from either of the Dominiques and probably Esther.

Eggs at the bottom are all from the Sussex. Only the one on the right appears to be a pullet egg...so that means the big gals are laying, yes! Notice the Sussex eggs are all different looking, yet all from the same breed...

 

[fuzzi]

I've been sick this week, but my fever broke Wednesday morning. I'm feeling better, but my energy levels are still pretty low.

I've been living off bone broth from my freezer, and I know it's helping!


This afternoon I was outside, checking on the chickens, and noticed my cabbage transplants needed water. My spot-watering reservoir (a large planter pot) was almost empty, so I turned on the hose to fill it.

And wound up rinsing out two rainbarrels that were about empty, that had a little scummy yellow pollen water inside.


And filled them up with fresh water.

AND sawed off a cheap hose fixture from the rainbarrel faucet.

Now I'm resting again, but I feel BETTER.