MJ's little flock

[RoyalChick]

I also do really hope Mary gets to raise chicks, both for her, for you, and for us to enjoy reading about it ! But now I read about Ribh's hatch, I realise even more that I have been very lucky indeed having two hatches with no issue, and that hatching isn't always a simple thing. (We could say that makes it up for the bad luck I had with the adults health and the heavy parasite problems in their environment).

Maybe when a hatch doesn't completely work out, it should not be seen as failure, but as a learning curve ? I know you said this was your last try, but look at how things went for bdutch. Letting the hens hatch again a few months after a complicated and not completely satisfying experience, watching a co-brooding that was stressful sometimes, and a happy result after all.

I love this silhouettes, and all that they mean. Moving them to the run is a thoughtful way to say goodbye. I regret that Glynda did not see Aster grow up but I'm glad she experienced to be a mum.

Could you use a waterproof material to make the new drop door ?

I really enjoy reading about all your improvement projects. Made me think about mine :
-buy shower curtain to give a try at using those to make the run more wind proof this winter
- move the electricity from the wine cellar next to the coop into the coop, so we can have an electric light.
- find a permanent convenient way to replace the old plastic rectangles I use in the coop to block sight between Gaston and Théo
- buy a new magnet to sweep the yard. The one we use is not efficient.
- hardware fasteners : we use both nails and these :
View attachment 3976446
(I don't know what their english name is) and both keep coming out and create potential hazards for the chickens. I'd like to find an alternative solution that either stays put or is less of an issue if it comes out.

I hope Edie gets better ! What do you mean by weak ? Not as active as usual ?
I've been giving special breakfasts to Chipie since about February I think, and it definitely has an impact on her. I wish I could do dinner too, but with my crazy mob it's more difficult. Yours are a lot more polite so maybe it can work.

About tuna, the mercury content made national news yesterday because a french NGO published worrying test results on Tuna cans from many different European countries, and a study about tuna and mercury.
https://www.bloomassociation.org/en...s-a-health-scandal-on-an-unprecedented-scale/

I read the whole study and found it quite interesting. While nothing is new, it goes against a few common ideas and explains all the context.
https://bloomassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/rapport-Mercure-EN.pdf

We eat tuna about twice a month and I'm going to try to make that less often. I would recommend switching to smaller fishes for the chickens when possible !

Those fasteners are heavy duty staples.
An alternative is a screw with a washer if you are fixing something like wire mesh.
You can also use a wood baton with two screws.

 

[MaryJanet]

I found an article on The Conversation about tinned tuna in Australia.

An additional key point I had forgotten is the age of the tuna when they're canned. They're young, so they don't carry much mercury yet.

https://theconversation.com/how-muc...k-before-i-need-to-worry-about-mercury-176682

 

[ManueB]

Everyone's environment is unique and poses unique problems. I've been very lucky with parasites and bumblefoot, but there's very little forage.

So true!
In the beginning I think I did not realise how important the environment was. It takes time to see what positive and negative aspects it has and how we should adapt the way we keep our chickens in consequence.
I wish more keepers on BYC before posting an answer, would ask themselves if they are giving a solution that they feel worked for them, or something that is factually the truth.
I'm thankful that Shadrach constantly kept saying he would not give advice without knowing everything about the chicken's keeping conditions, because that made me realise it.
I appreciate Ridgerunner's posts even if I don't always agree with the content because he constantly puts out a disclaimer that he writes about what he has experienced, but that it may not happen in other contexts.

I did say that, but then I recalled my plan to expand the flock every two years (Katie and Edie were in the second expansion after a failed hatch). So it's either another hatch when Ivy turns broody or pullets. Like Mary, Ivy's not getting any younger and she did a great job incubating the chick Peggy killed. So she can have a few eggs when she goes broody.

If both hatches fail, I'll get a trio of pullets and they can quarantine in the spare coop (which would be a big improvement over last time when pullets quarantined in the back room!)

Ah, yes. I recall that now. It sounds like a good plan ! We will just miss the pictures of laundry washing chickens.
I'm sure @BY Bob would love to see Ivy with some eggs to hatch.

She usually takes a huge jump onto the ramp but last night, she took a small jump and fumbled the landing. Not like her at all.

Maybe check feet and legs ?

Heavy metal toxicity is a problem in most fish predators I believe because they eat the smaller fish who carry smaller quantities of the metals. We're lucky in Australia because the tuna are smaller (but packaged the same I believe). Smaller fish carry fewer heavy metals, so the same sized tin of tuna is not as harmful. Someone worked out an Australian would have to consume something like 40 cans of tuna a week to run into health problems.

I doubt anyone has done the sums for chickens eating tuna.

That was actually some points the study they made contradicted, although I can't say whether it's just an occasional finding, or if it would be true in most cases. They found that the specie and size of tunas they tested from cans did not impact the mercury level that much. Even the small specie like Germon were contaminated. And that canned tuna actually contains more mercury than the same fresh tuna, because the process of canning tends to dehydrate the tuna.
Of course that NGO is biased. But the study is endorsed by Foodwatch, which has been very serious in the recent food frauds and scandals it has denounced.

Those fasteners are heavy duty staples.
An alternative is a screw with a washer if you are fixing something like wire mesh.
You can also use a wood baton with two screws.

Thank you RC and MJ ! I'm just realising I have been making a translation error since I've been on BYC. Heavy staples in french are these, and I thought that is what people were talking about ! We use a totally different word for what you call heavy staple in english.

I think what I need to do, is using washers with screws systematically, because we also have screws coming off.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you RC and MJ ! I'm just realising I have been making a translation error since I've been on BYC. Heavy staples in french are these, and I thought that is what people were talking about ! We use a totally different word for what you call heavy staple in english.

I think what I need to do, is using washers with screws systematically, because we also have screws coming off.

There may be a different English word for the two kinds but I have always learned they are both staples. The lighter weight ones use a stapler or staple gun, the heavier weight ones are installed with a hammer. The heavy weight ones are much better, but still prone to pulling out and being eaten by a chicken.

I have never been a fan of tuna. It is fine, but I prefer many other kinds of fish, so I hadn't really been following the story.
I got all my mercury poisoning as a kid playing with the old fashioned thermometers - mercury was such fun when they broke!

 

[Ribh]

- hardware fasteners : we use both nails and these :

(I don't know what their english name is) and both keep coming out and create potential hazards for the chickens. I'd like to find an alternative solution that either stays put or is less of an issue if it comes out.

We call them C clips. I'm in a different state to MJ & there's nothing like Aussies for calling an item by different names. I think we're close for a dozen for swimwear.

 

[RoyalChick]

We call them C clips. I'm in a different state to MJ & there's nothing like Aussies for calling an item by different names. I think we're close for a dozen for swimwear.

But tinnies are the same everywhere?

 

[Ribh]

But tinnies are the same everywhere?

Mmmm...I think, if you're talking beer but I believe glass sizes are called various things in different state pubs I wouldn't know as I don't drink beer, not even shandies. Can't stand the yeasty smell.

 

[LozzyR]

Mmmm...I think, if you're talking beer but I believe glass sizes are called various things in different state pubs I wouldn't know as I don't drink beer, not even shandies. Can't stand the yeasty smell.

Or is she talking about aluminium motor boats?

We call them C clips. I'm in a different state to MJ & there's nothing like Aussies for calling an item by different names. I think we're close for a dozen for swimwear.

Bathers, cozzies, swimmers, budgie-smugglers (to be fair, they are a certain type of swimming attire, as are rashies), what else can we add to the list?

 

[BY Bob]

Mary says she's fine thank you.

View attachment 3976424

Such a beauty.

 

[Ribh]

Or is she talking about aluminium motor boats?


Bathers, cozzies, swimmers, budgie-smugglers (to be fair, they are a certain type of swimming attire, as are rashies), what else can we

Togs, boardies, trunks [ though like budgie~smugglers they refer to a particular type of swimwear], speedos... I've probably missed some due to regional preferences. Ooops...& there's wetsuits for the surfers.