MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Morning chickeneering

Thanks to a headache, I woke up late this morning, 8am. I shot out of bed to let the pullets out of the fox-proof roosting box. They have access to food and water in there, so it's not a life-threatening situation, but it's close quarters. They took a minute or two to come down the ramp into the day.

In the meantime, I opened the door for the hens to come out into the yard.

I was closing the henhouse door when I thought maybe the pullets would like to sample it's offerings. So I used puppy play pen panels to make a chute from the door of the little coop to the door of the henhouse.

Courageous Ivy went first. She slowly led the way along the chute, looking all around as she went. Peggy followed along behind.

As they dawdled along, I saw Ivy's tail feathers had been pecked again and were bleeding. Her actual flesh appears to be intact. I blame myself for leaving them in the roosting box til 8. I'll try to get hold of some of that blue stuff today to camouflage her injured feather shafts. As I apply the blue stuff, I'll take a good look at her skin back there. I hope to confirm she's ok back there.

So now they're in the big henhouse, digging through the bedding. I can hear the bedding being flung against the walls of the henhouse. All the distractions in there and all the feeding options I hope will provide Peggy with something to do besides peck at Ivy.

 

[MaryJanet]

Me too. I love tails. Maleficent's has gotten quite large and she has been fanning it out lately. It is quite beautiful and gives her figure nice balance.

I learned yesterday that Janet wags her tail when she's cranky! She was pecking at the wire of the little coop, trying to assert herself over the pullets. When she gave up, she ran off in a huff, wagging her tail!

 

[Ribh]

Morning chickeneering

Thanks to a headache, I woke up late this morning, 8am. I shot out of bed to let the pullets out of the fox-proof roosting box. They have access to food and water in there, so it's not a life-threatening situation, but it's close quarters. They took a minute or two to come down the ramp into the day.

In the meantime, I opened the door for the hens to come out into the yard.

I was closing the henhouse door when I thought maybe the pullets would like to sample it's offerings. So I used puppy play pen panels to make a chute from the door of the little coop to the door of the henhouse.

Courageous Ivy went first. She slowly led the way along the chute, looking all around as she went. Peggy followed along behind.

As they dawdled along, I saw Ivy's tail feathers had been pecked again and were bleeding. Her actual flesh appears to be intact. I blame myself for leaving them in the roosting box til 8. I'll try to get hold of some of that blue stuff today to camouflage her injured feather shafts. As I apply the blue stuff, I'll take a good look at her skin back there. I hope to confirm she's ok back there.

So now they're in the big henhouse, digging through the bedding. I can hear the bedding being flung against the walls of the henhouse. All the distractions in there and all the feeding options I hope will provide Peggy with something to do besides peck at Ivy.

With plenty to do & lots of new stimuli I'd be hoping the pecking would stop of it's own accord. I ended up using a coal tar cream [ not recommended on broken skin] because it tastes absolutely disgusting & I couldn't get my hands on any of the blue stuff.

 

[MaryJanet]

That's a good tip. If all else fails, I should be able to get coal tar cream from the chemist.

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning everyone

I admire you for your work. It's not something I could do well.

Thank you sometimes I really need to hear that- so thank you my patience is not what it was

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Although I'm delighted with Shad's insight about bantams being fast on their feet and predator-aware, I would like to see them a little bigger and with full tails.

I fully expect that they will fill out very nicely. Silkies are slow to mature, so it may take a little time for them to fully come into themselves even though they are only part Silkie.

My BG is a silkie cross and he is bigger then both his mom and dad.

 

[Ribh]

That's a good tip. If all else fails, I should be able to get coal tar cream from the chemist.

Don't use it on raw or broken skin. I'm pretty sure it would sting & irritate but judging by the faces the hens were making the taste is a terrific deterrent.

 

[MaryJanet]

I've got hold of cetrigen, which is purple, insect-repelling, and antiseptic.

Unfortunately I could only get the aerosol and not the pump spray. The CFCs are not great, but also it'll sound like a snake hissing and might be scary for chickens.

Still, it's the best I could find, so I'll give it a try.

 

[MaryJanet]

I fully expect that they will fill out very nicely. Silkies are slow to mature, so it may take a little time for them to fully come into themselves even though they are only part Silkie.

My BG is a silkie cross and he is bigger then both his mom and dad.
View attachment 2008781

That's very reassuring.

Also, he's gorgeous!!

 

[MaryJanet]

Purple tooshi

The good news is Peggy twice inspected her favourite roving nibble spot and both times decided, "No! Purple is yukky! I refuse to eat it! No, please remove it from my sight. Plus it smells funny."

So I'll spray Ivy morning and night for a week then see how we go.