MJ's little flock

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Day 3 report

The hens were very calm all day. Only one alarm was heard and that was first thing in the morning from Mary.

Lots of eating, drinking, dust bathing, and snoozing. Mary laid an egg.

Ivy's tail feathers were still purple this morning and not bleeding. Mind you, I was up and opened the roosting box door at 6, so Peggy hadn't a chance to become bored.

Same as yesterday, once the hens were in the yard, I caught Ivy for a tail spray and herded the pullets into the henhouse. They had a lovely day.

Until 4pm.

That's when I switched the hens and the pullets.

Ivy didn't mind in the slightest. The moment she felt the sun on her back she went weak in the legs and laid out her wings. When she'd had enough of that she went exploring.

Peggy thought there had been some terrible mistake made. Why were the big hens in her henhouse?! She demanded an explanation from Janet and Mary, neither of whom said anything reassuring.

At this point Sandy was rather worried too.

View attachment 2009663

This ruckus continued until Peggy found the water dispenser.

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Then she calmed right down. Poor thing must've been thirsty. Why she didn't think to use the water dispenser in the little coop will remain a mystery.

Sandy was still anxious so I thought lerhaps I'd better intervene with some tasty treats. So I made two plates of mash for the big hens and one for the pullets.

Problem solved.

Everyone tucked in and was happy.

View attachment 2009669

At this moment, Mary is muttering about the change in routine but there are two delighted little pullets investgating the yard in the vicinity of the woodshed

Once the pullets turn in, I'll get ahold of Ivy and spray her tail again, but otherwise my chicken chores are done for the day.

You are a very clever and observant Chook Mum MJ.

The new girls sound like they are settling in nicely, well done! When it comes time to expand my flock I'll try to remember your experience.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

I'm loving the progress reports MJ

 

[Shadrach]

Barking Bracket out and about with her four chicks. She's good at keeping under cover, I'll give her that much.

 

[MaryJanet]

Have you thought of redirecting her pecking to something else? Perhaps hang a corncob in the small coop?

That's a great idea!

Tail pecking hasn't been a problem since I thought to put the pullets in the henhouse and since Ivy's tail has been sprayed with cetrigen. Peggy is very relaxed in there. She's confident of her food sources and water.

But if Peggy starts up again, I'll hang a corn cob as you suggest. I won't do it yet, because I'm keeping it as my secret weapon in Peggy's learning.

 

[MaryJanet]

Barking Bracket out and about with her four chicks. She's good at keeping under cover, I'll give her that much.
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Why do you call her barking Shad?

 

[Shadrach]

Why do you call her barking Shad?

Do you have the expression barking mad in Australia?
She's mad and has had some neurological damage, probably when she hatched.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nuerological-or-something-else.1318208/

 

[MaryJanet]

We do, I knew what you meant but not why that's her nickname.

That's a fascinating thread.

Mary sleeps with her chin raised but nowhere near stargazing like Bracket was.

Does Bracket still stargaze from time to time?

 

[MaryJanet]

You are a very clever and observant Chook Mum MJ.

The new girls sound like they are settling in nicely, well done! When it comes time to expand my flock I'll try to remember your experience.

It's been very interesting. More so than I anticipated, that's for sure. Still, I like an opportunity to observe, read, and learn, and I'm not an anxious person, so it's all good.

I've made a vow to get pullets at the start of my long summer holiday in 2021-22. The more time to watch over new ones, the better, especially if there are behaviours to adjust.

In future, I may avoid buying from that fodder store and their breeder. It seems clear their husbandry is not up to scratch. On the other hand, at least I can give the little ones a better life. So the jury's still out.

 

[Shadrach]

We do, I knew what you meant but not why that's her nickname.

That's a fascinating thread.

Mary sleeps with her chin raised but nowhere near stargazing like Bracket was.

Does Bracket still stargaze from time to time?

I watched as carefully as I could for a couple of weeks and I didn't see her stargaze.
I pretty confident now that apart from being very odd, she's over whatever it was. If it should ever reoccur I'll deal with that then. Atm she seems a happy hen and as outwardly normal as any of the others.
I have a sort of rule after a few years of dealing with injuries mostly. If a chicken doesn't eat on it's own after three days then they are probably not going to make it. I kill them as quickly as possible after that. I hate the thought that by trying to keep them alive I am in fact prolonging their suffering.

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh crikey!

I saw BY Bob's sad news and thought I wanted to be with the chickens.

Earlier this morning I had set up a small pen in front of the henhouse for the pullets to sun themselves if needs be.

You can see Peggy perched on the threshold.

Anyway, this is what I saw by the woodshed.

She must've hopped the fence!

Of course, the hens wondered what I was up to and came to investigate. I'd like to say the four of them sat around singing the songs of their people, but as I'm sure you can guess, there were three scuffles, one for each hen.

Ivy is quick on her feet though and suffered no real harm. She's still in the big yard, but keeping her distance from the hens.

The big surprise was Sandy. She was the meanest of the big hens and made Ivy cry out in pain and panic. It reminded me of the time Mary made Sandy cry out.