MJ's little flock

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone

Lovely thanks @Grammy60 ! I've been for my weekly beach walk with my neighbour, I've been making a better roost for the pullets, and the washing machine and dishwasher are chugging away. When I want to be still, I go outside and watch the pullets


How about you? How was your day?

that sounds so relaxing I love your updates and pictures
My day was good and normal kids at work played hard and loud , and since temps are so cold we couldn't go out after work it was just feed everyone and try to relax before bed.

 

[RoyalChick]

Day 1 report

The pullets ate, slept, pooped, ate, drank, preened, ate, slept, took dust baths, ate some more, repeat. Then repeat some more

Most of the eating was proper food, only a little bit was feathers. Nice, healthy little poops.

Until today, I thought their tails hadn't yet grown in but now I know their tails have been plucked. I saw Peggy plucking Ivy's tail.

I'm hoping a plentiful balanced diet will put a stop to it.

But in case that doesn't work, if something comes to mind, I'd appreciate advice.

Update: I've been watching the pullets off and on all day and I haven't seen feather plucking and eating since this morning. Hopefully I'll be able to make an even better report tomorrow.

Now, if the hens were writing this message it would go like this:

plz Send heLp. Intrloprs! TAll, Featherless roostr Hopeless. No enough foood 4 alL us now. Plzzzz we neeed cwowdfundr?? Mebbbe.

However, I think they've had a quite good day out in the yard, doing their chickeny business.

One setback is that Mary and Janet have reverted to blaming Sandy for everything that's gone wrong. She's been chased away from food and mildly ostracised from group activities. So I'm sitting in the yard at present, which makes them behave. Maybe they feel reassured. Sandy and Janet are snoozing side by side while Mary keeps watch.

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I love this picture - it makes me want to settle down next to them. So relaxing. Keep the stories coming of your beautiful new additions.
Yesterday someone at work got Thai food delivered for the team and there was lots of beef curry and rice left over. I brought it home and this morning my Princesses are looking at me like 'Finally! Someone understands our needs!'. They even ate the carrots. It is only 20 degrees F here so of course I warmed it up for them in the microwave. Spoiled Princesses, but I can't resist - they looked so happy. Maggie tackled the beef strips like they were alive. She killed each one by slamming it on the ground and piercing it with her beak. When she was satisfied it would offer no resistance she gulped it down whole. I imagine that is how a small mouse or frog would fare if it got into the Chicken Palace.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Have I inadvertently brought bantams home?

Yes, I believe that may be the case but Ivy is large for a bantam and she might keep growing Maybe Peggy will grow more too.

They blinked at me! And I couldn't resist.

In 2022, the first words out of my mouth when I go to a fodder store will be, "I'd rather not have bantams because there are hawks in the neighbourhood." It's got to be my first priority.

The nice thing with the girls being mixed bantams is they look big. There will be lots of feathers and fluff. My silkies are the same size or bigger then my smallest standard California Whites, which are leghorn mixes.

 

[MaryJanet]

They look lovely MJ. If it helps any, the bantams here have a better survival rate then the cross breeds and Marans. They are generally faster and more predator aware.

Oh! That's reassuring! The hawks are not huge and fullsized hens have so far been safe. Hawks have hovered but never swooped. I thought perhaps the hens size was keeping them safe. I also need to get more cover established. That's one of my jobs for today.

 

[MaryJanet]

I love that photo. Nice relaxed flock.

I actually thought that the eat, sleep, poop, would all be separate posts with photos. I'm a little disappointed that you are already summarizing.

Today, I'll break it down a little for you @BY Bob . That way, you'll be able to read the timestamps if you wish

 

[BY Bob]

Today, I'll break it down a little for you @BY Bob . That way, you'll be able to read the timestamps if you wish

I may stay up for that!

 

[MaryJanet]

The nice thing with the girls being mixed bantams is they look big. There will be lots of feathers and fluff. My silkies are the same size or bigger then my smallest standard California Whites, which are leghorn mixes.

Although I'm delighted with Shad's insight about bantams being fast on their feet and predator-aware, I would like to see them a little bigger and with full tails.

 

[MaryJanet]

I love this picture - it makes me want to settle down next to them. So relaxing. Keep the stories coming of your beautiful new additions.
Yesterday someone at work got Thai food delivered for the team and there was lots of beef curry and rice left over. I brought it home and this morning my Princesses are looking at me like 'Finally! Someone understands our needs!'. They even ate the carrots. It is only 20 degrees F here so of course I warmed it up for them in the microwave. Spoiled Princesses, but I can't resist - they looked so happy. Maggie tackled the beef strips like they were alive. She killed each one by slamming it on the ground and piercing it with her beak. When she was satisfied it would offer no resistance she gulped it down whole. I imagine that is how a small mouse or frog would fare if it got into the Chicken Palace.

I may try that option as a treat one day. Sounds like a winner!

 

[MaryJanet]

Good evening everyone


that sounds so relaxing I love your updates and pictures
My day was good and normal kids at work played hard and loud , and since temps are so cold we couldn't go out after work it was just feed everyone and try to relax before bed.

I admire you for your work. It's not something I could do well.

 

[BY Bob]

Although I'm delighted with Shad's insight about bantams being fast on their feet and predator-aware, I would like to see them a little bigger and with full tails.

Me too. I love tails. Maleficent's has gotten quite large and she has been fanning it out lately. It is quite beautiful and gives her figure nice balance.