MJ's little flock

[LozzyR]

MJ, unfortunately my neighbors dog also liked my Australorp and subsequently used it as a rag doll and left it dead with a broken neck, here she is, or was
View attachment 1949028

Poor baby.

 

[LozzyR]

Phew, caught up MJ! Now just need to get stuck back into @Ribh ’s thread... (takes deep breath, jumps in).

 

[Ribh]

Phew, caught up MJ! Now just need to get stuck back into @Ribh ’s thread... (takes deep breath, jumps in).

You don't have to read it all. We gasbag a lot..

 

[BY Bob]

Inspired by @BY Bob, how I came to love chickens

My story is not as interestimg as his and I could sum it up in one sentence: "Dad kept leghorns in the backyard when we were kids" but there are some funny stories too so...

They didn't have names but that didn't stop me interacting with them. We got the chickens when I was 3 and they'd all passed by the time I was 8.

One of the characters in a book I'd read could hypnotise chickens, so one day I got one of mum's shiny necklaces and went outside to swing it in front of a chicken, saying "You are feeling sleeepy, very sleeeepy" until Dad came out and said, that's not going to work, love. Didn't stop me trying over and over. I'm pretty sure one of the chickens thought she was hypnotising me instead, and you know what? Maybe she was, maybe she was.

Another time, I discovered that if I poked a blade of grass through the wire of the coop, they'd eat it! Fun!! So that kept me amused for a year or so. They also liked it when I picked and opened almonds for them.

Another time Dad enlisted my brother and I in helping him catch the chickens so there wings could be clipped, which sounded horrific! But father must be obeyed unless he shouts, so we stood out there in the backyard, one kid on each end of an upside down laundry basket, waiting patiently while Dad herded the chickens between us so we could drop the basket and catch the chicken! Except I had other plans and was too slow on purpose, saying "sorry Dad, sorry." Next day, out at the coop, poking blades of grass through, tears in my eyes, saying, "Never you mind Chickens, you've still got your wings and I will protect you." Looking back on it now, I realise Dad's chicken entrapment scheme was doomed to fail from the get go. They were fast and flighty those leghorns, but even a slow mover will be quicker than a pair of anklebiters on a laundry basket.

So these chickeny shenanigans endeared them to me. These old memories are so special, it's no wonder I took about five minutes to decide on chickens once I had a backyard that was my own

Chicken love runs deep

I love your story and your defense of the leghorns! Poor babies. Cutting their wings off is just mean. [Being silly, I have clipped wings]

I am glad that I inspired you to share. It is a very sweet innocent story. Those leghorns were lucky to have you as a friend. Just as we are all lucky to have you as a chicken friend.

 

[BY Bob]

She remembered there was an old one who couldn't fly up to the roost so I took it upon myself to put her up every night for a couple of years. But I have no recollection of that at all.

Look at what a great chicken friend you were. Better than even you knew. You must have been a sweet little girl to show that compassion to a silly chicken.

 

[munchkinlover]

I have 2 Australorp girls and a Rooster, among other breeds, and Molly & Lucy are beautiful. The rooster, Reuben, is absolutely gorgeous!!!!! He is king and revels in that fact. Very protective and loves his girls. He greets me at the door of the run every morning and lets me know if I didn't get up early enough to let him out. I could sit for hours and watch him and the others. I keep watching for any feathers he may have lost hoping to get a good one. Thanks for sharing your beautiful girl

 

[MaryJanet]

I love your story and your defense of the leghorns! Poor babies. Cutting their wings off is just mean. [Being silly, I have clipped wings]

I am glad that I inspired you to share. It is a very sweet innocent story. Those leghorns were lucky to have you as a friend. Just as we are all lucky to have you as a chicken friend.

Poor Dad - imagine being mistaken for someone who mutilates chickens when really all he was trying for was a little less escapism from his leghorns

 

[MaryJanet]

Look at what a great chicken friend you were. Better than even you knew. You must have been a sweet little girl to show that compassion to a silly chicken.

They were great confidants of mine those hens I used to talk to them whenever life was overwhelming.

 

[MaryJanet]

View attachment 1950630 I have 2 Australorp girls and a Rooster, among other breeds, and Molly & Lucy are beautiful. The rooster, Reuben, is absolutely gorgeous!!!!! He is king and revels in that fact. Very protective and loves his girls. He greets me at the door of the run every morning and lets me know if I didn't get up early enough to let him out. I could sit for hours and watch him and the others. I keep watching for any feathers he may have lost hoping to get a good one. Thanks for sharing your beautiful girl

Such a handsome chap! Very green! Do your Australorp hens' tails curve downwards or point upwards? In Australia, the Australorp tails curve over and down.

 

[MaryJanet]

Poor Mary

It's 2.50am and she has a checkup with Dr Hill the bird vet at 9. So I had to take her off the roost and put her in one of Blossom's cat boxes. She's too wild to be handled during daylight. At present she's sleeping again (I assume). I put her in the bathroom with a towel over the top to keep the dawn from waking her in a few hours.

Janet's going as well, it's a double appointment. But I can usually catch her without too much fuss. So I'll leave her be til 8.