MJ's little flock

[Ribh]

Egg laying personal best!

Today Mary laid her 9th egg in row!
Way to go Mary!

That's Australorps for you! Good girl, Mary!

 

[drumstick diva]

By Bob, thank you for your plug for my movie thread. Everyone is welcome to post about movies they have seen and liked or hated. We all have different tastes. Can't find any movie I want to see this week.

 

[BY Bob]

I was just thinking I should use the laundry sinks next time. Waist height, deep sides, smaller capacity. But as this was the first time, I chose the option with the deepest sides to discourage jumping out. I know now that deep sides aren't really necessary - it's more for my peace of mind than anything else.

Next time I'll use warmer water too.

It's a learning process. You did great!

 

[BY Bob]

Daisy was rather a debonaire hen with that comb.

She was. Thank you. She was the greatest hen ever. Here is a selfie she took showing off that comb.

 

[BY Bob]

By Bob, thank you for your plug for my movie thread. Everyone is welcome to post about movies they have seen and liked or hated. We all have different tastes. Can't find any movie I want to see this week.

I wish I could go to the movies more often. I do like checking in on your thread to learn about what people think about movies. I just have little to contribute.

 

[Grammy60]

Good Evening MJ I loved the bath pics she was such a good girl.

I love going to the movies, but I just can't do crowds anymore and then the cost of going is so expensive now. I love hearing about movies though because then I can watch for them to come out on Amazon or Netflix.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks Great job MJ

 

[MaryJanet]

Hi and thanks everyone! It turned out to be much easier than i expected

 

[WhoDatChick]

Sandy's bath

Sandy's butt was more poopy than fluffy and I had heard of people bathing chickens, so I decided to give it a try.

First, I did my homework, by which I mean I searched for "how to bath a chicken" on YouTube and watched about 15 videos.

Then I checked the temperature forecast. 32C (89.6F). Good. That's warm enough for any remaining damp feathers to dry out completely in an hour or two.

I started out by preparing the tub. I put three squirts of non-soap body wash into luke warm water - really it was on the cool side of warm. The body wash stuff is very mild on skin.

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Then I got everything else ready: towels, hairdryer, flannel, willpower, lettuce treats. More willpower. Calm. Calm. Calm.

I fetched her and gently carried her in and lowered her into the tub.

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She said, "What. Is. This. Malarkey." and tried to hop out, hence the enclosing shower curtains.

She walked around a bit. Got used to it. I realised I had not prepared enough water, so I turned the taps on again. She barely noticed. We ended up with water over herwings but not over her back. I watched her for a while as she walked back and forth. After a soak, I applied the flannel to her pooper shooter to see if the cakes would come off. Yes, some. A bit more soaking. A bit more careful and gentle rubbing with the flannel. Success! All cakes removed

Then I lifted her out and wrapped her in a towel.

It was a while before I remembered to take more photos. Sorry folks.

She was wrapped in the towel for about five minutes. I was dabbing her all this time.

Then I started the hairdryer. Low air, low heat. At first she was frightened into being a statue.

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But after a while, she liked it and started preening!

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I found it easier to place the hairdryer on the floor and feed her lettuce.

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She enjoyed not competing for lettuce and she enjoyed the hairdryer so much she began positioning herself in front of it!

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I did not place the hairdryer so close, she stepped over to it.

With the heat and air both low, it took a long time for her feathers to dry. Maybe 45 minutes. She was a very good girl all through the drying.

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The hardest part to dry was under her wings. I lifted each one gently and tried to aim the hairdryer under there, but it was very awkward for us both. In the end, I thought it was hot enough for to dry off properly outside.

But first, a picture of her pristine fluffy butt

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I gently picked her up and put her back in the chicken yard. Her Captain came to check on her.

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After a minute, Sandy made her happiest noises and started preening again.

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Get those armpits dry Sandy!

The aftermath...

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Things to remember for next time: bathe a chicken immediately before cleaning the tub, have treats handy, deeper water.

Things to do differently next time: take my glasses off first so they don't fall in the poopy bath water.

That's one clean and fluffy Sandy back to her normal lifestyle.

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Rating: 10/10 would bathe a chicken again.

Upon reflection, the bath gave me lots and lots of time to give her a proper inspection. I was delighted to observe a clean and healthy vent and a full crop. Her keel was aa bit sharp but maybe that's her breeding. I also had a close look at her tail feathers which have been damaged since before she came to live with us. I realise now she only has half her tail. I'm looking forward to her moult and re-feathering. She's going to look very different with a her full plumage.

This was really great! And very entertaining.. glasses in the poopy water ... looks like you did a great job.. as I’ve never done this but may have to considering our convo over on Bob’s thread...

 

[WhoDatChick]

She was. Thank you. She was the greatest hen ever. Here is a selfie she took showing off that comb.
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You should have entered this for the calendar!