MJ's little flock

[Ribh]

Apologies, MJ. Shad & I seem to have moved our broody discussion onto your thread. Hope you don't mind.

One of the Campines dropped her egg randomly in the pen this morning. I suspect Tuppence as it is slightly smaller & lighter than Ha'penny's usually are. She's still not quite 100% though improving. I am keeping them in this morning hoping it will discourage Ha'penny but as she's a stubborn chook it's probably a useless exercise.

 

[Ribh]

I’m impressed with Charlie’s garden nest, I walked right passed her when I was looking for her! She still uses it if the girls are free-ranging and she needs to lay.

At least you know where to look! Ha'penny will change locations now she's been discovered & robbed. *sigh*

 

[LozzyR]

At least you know where to look! Ha'penny will change locations now she's been discovered & robbed. *sigh*

Thanks for the tip! I’ll make sure Charlie doesn’t find somewhere new without me noticing!

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning everyone

 

[MaryJanet]

Cleaning.
The blue part of the flame from a blow torch kills every known mite and bacteria that troubles chickens. It also kills the eggs.
I prefer not to use chemicals for cleaning. You do however need the right type of coop.
Bee keepers have been using blow torches to clean hives for years.

That is very good information. My coop is made of metal. I may get myself a blowtorch.

Would a chef's blowtorch be ok for the job?

 

[MaryJanet]

I have wondered previously why that is an idiom here, when China isn’t on the other side of the globe from us!

The English must've sent it over with their convicts.

 

[MaryJanet]

Essentials:

most of the things you've said MJ plus:

*A kitty litter scoop and bucket

*Rake (they like to scratch all the dirt and mulch in front of the run gate to make it hard for me to get in)

* measuring jug for adding feed to feeders

*grazing frames

* herb frames or plantings against the outside of the run

*dust bath under cover

*perches

*Trees and shrubs for shade (roots protected by wire or stone)

*old logs for perching and finding bugs under

* I also love my chicken observation stools in the run. I have 2 shaped like mushrooms!

Your grazing frames are such a great idea. I'm going to make a few.

 

[MaryJanet]

This is Moon (white) and Hurry.
Moon si the daughter of Mel and granddaughter of Ruffles.
Hurry is the daughter of Ruffles.View attachment 1995585
This Donk, daughter of Dink, granddaughter of Cheepy. Donk is a complete nutter and gives me more stress than any other hen here atm. She's almost impossible to catch during the day, hardly eats commercial feed and makes nests and lays eggs out of the coops. She's a pro tree climber and incredibly difficult to spot in the undergrowth. View attachment 1995586
This (L to R) Treacle, son of Cillin grandson of Otic, great grandson of Mini Minx.

Hurry, as above.
Fat Bird.
Tackle daughter of Fudge, granddaughter of Ruffles.
Cillin, son of Otic and grandson of Mini Minx.
Fudge Daughter of Ruffles is at the back.View attachment 1995587

I appreciate your family trees Shad. That type of information is not known to those of us who buy our new birds. Really special.

 

[MaryJanet]

Apologies, MJ. Shad & I seem to have moved our broody discussion onto your thread. Hope you don't mind.

One of the Campines dropped her egg randomly in the pen this morning. I suspect Tuppence as it is slightly smaller & lighter than Ha'penny's usually are. She's still not quite 100% though improving. I am keeping them in this morning hoping it will discourage Ha'penny but as she's a stubborn chook it's probably a useless exercise.

View attachment 1995872

Don't move on my account, it's a public forum

 

[Ribh]

MJ: when are your CCLs arriving? I can't wait to *meet* them & I am so thrilled for you that you got them!