MJ's little flock

[Shadrach]

Botheration.

By the time I found the high def setting she was on her way out.

View attachment 2990245

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At least I know where to find it now

WOW! That's some glass breaking peck skills right there!

 

[RoyalChick]

That looks like an I'm moving in posture from my extensive experience of chickens moving in as and when.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[MaryJanet]

My thoughts exactly!

I'm too old for housemates!!

 

[Shadrach]

I am a little perplexed by Phyllis then as she did lose weight while setting. Even though I removed her every day to eat. She was not fed while on the nest. She is a tiny thing but then she would eat less. Could it be she didn't eat enough when she did get up?

It could be, especially given the junior nature of Phyllis and her position in the group.
I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but ideally a sitting hen should feed twice when off the nest. The first feed when she wakes up. Then usually they go and poop and bath and caht to their mates. On their return to the nest they normally feed again to top up and this is the feed that makes the difference ime.

 

[Shadrach]

It is cooler. That's definitely part of the explanation.

But the hens have turned a corner with respect to me lately. I'm allowed to touch them a little bit now. Every night there's Peggy's ride on the escalator and I give Ivy a gentle pat, sometimes lightly brushing Mary's tail feathers at the same time. And Janet likes to follow me around.

It's at this stage should you want to handle your hens that I would start to pick them up.
Pick the hen up, hand under her body and other hand covering her back and sit down placing her on your lap. Take both hands away. She'll probably jump straight off but she will realise she didn't die from the experience.
Silly though this may seem, only do this if the hens are laying. Picking up, having their back covered by a hand seems to mean mating to most hens. They know if they are not laying you shouldn't be trying to mate with them. There are only two experiences of something on their back in hens view; it's either mating or an attack. What you need to prove is it's not an attack.

 

[MaryJanet]

It's at this stage should you want to handle your hens that I would start to pick them up.
Pick the hen up, hand under her body and other hand covering her back and sit down placing her on your lap. Take both hands away. She'll probably jump straight off but she will realise she didn't die from the experience.
Silly though this may seem, only do this if the hens are laying. Picking up, having their back covered by a hand seems to mean mating to most hens. They know if they are not laying you shouldn't be trying to mate with them. There are only two experiences of something on their back in hens view; it's either mating or an attack. What you need to prove is it's not an attack.

Got it. I'll try.

 

[MaryJanet]

I’ll upload them and post the links.

Just a reminder Loz!

 

[Shadrach]

All these chicken-inside-house photos make me a little jelly, because at the new rental, the entrance goes straight to carpet, and the chickens won’t really be on that side of the house. Makes me want to let them all inside this weekend (at the current place, before the move) if they want. If it happens, I’ll take photos!

Pffft, you can soon sort that carpet out.

 

[MaryJanet]

Another shot of Ivy in disarray

And one of Pegsy coming out of the geranium.

 

[LozzyR]

Just a reminder Loz!

D'oh, they're on my old computer which is in hubby's office! I'll see if I can get at it on Thursday.