MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

Oooohhh, that’s what I was thinkin... I wish they’d do away with ours.. I hate it ... dark at 5:30! That’s ridiculous!

It's really hard on the chooks. They get free range time after work when they can be supervised. Once DST hits, no more free ranging. It's dark.

 

[MaryJanet]

Pranked by hens

Since Wednesday and until this evening, I'm caring for the three hens and their two pet cats who live up the street. This morning I planned to not let them out of their run because I must go home to give Sandy her bath and clean up after Blossom was sick. However, they pranked me and while my back was turned, opened the door and let themselves out (I was making neat piles of grain for their breakfast).

So I've surrendered for an hour or two.

I'm not entirely sure how to get them back in their run. Janet, Mary and Sandy go anywhere for lettuce but I've been informed these girls are not so readily lured.

 

[WhoDatChick]

It's really hard on the chooks. They get free range time after work when they can be supervised. Once DST hits, no more free ranging. It's dark.

I know.. it really stinks! No after work work for hubs to get done.. although I don’t think he minds that ... but to be dark right after work .. you really can’t get much done... and you are right... poor gals

 

[MaryJanet]

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Get those armpits dry Sandy!

The aftermath...

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.

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.

 

[Ribh]

Thanks, MJ. Believe it or not I don't own things like hair dryers ~ & irons ~ so I won't be trying this any time soon.

 

[BY Bob]

Pranked by hens

Since Wednesday and until this evening, I'm caring for the three hens and their two pet cats who live up the street. This morning I planned to not let them out of their run because I must go home to give Sandy her bath and clean up after Blossom was sick. However, they pranked me and while my back was turned, opened the door and let themselves out (I was making neat piles of grain for their breakfast).

So I've surrendered for an hour or two.

I'm not entirely sure how to get them back in their run. Janet, Mary and Sandy go anywhere for lettuce but I've been informed these girls are not so readily lured.

View attachment 1925716

Mealy Worms

 

[BY Bob]

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.

View attachment 1925859

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.

View attachment 1925862

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.

View attachment 1925868

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

View attachment 1925871

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

View attachment 1925876

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

View attachment 1925878

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.

View attachment 1925888

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

View attachment 1925892

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

View attachment 1925895

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

View attachment 1925898

Get those armpits dry Sandy!

The aftermath...

View attachment 1925900

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.

View attachment 1925904

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.

Nailed it the first time, great job.

We actually use the kitchen sink. Smaller area, deeper water. Easy to bleach afterwards. We also use Dawn dishwashing soap. If it is good enough for oil soaked ducks, it should work for chooks!

Here is Daisy (greatest hen ever) enjoying a bath.

 

[MaryJanet]

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.

 

[MaryJanet]

Daisy was rather a debonaire hen with that comb.

 

[MaryJanet]

Egg laying personal best!

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