MJ's little flock

[LozzyR]

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.

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You can see Peggy perched on the threshold.

Anyway, this is what I saw by the woodshed.

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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.

I think Sandy’s realised she’s no longer bottom of the pecking order and is securing her place.

 

[MaryJanet]

That's clear, yes.

I have an hypothesis about her beak and her ability to establish a place in the pecking order. It's going to be very interesting observing the interections between her and the little ones.

 

[LozzyR]

That's clear, yes.

I have an hypothesis about her beak and her ability to establish a place in the pecking order. It's going to be very interesting observing the interections between her and the little ones.

Both Lucy and Chickie have trimmed beaks and are/were higher up the pecking order than Bessie and Charlie. It appeared to be attitude from them and youth/inexperience from the pullets, given they were both twice the size of the Isas. When I get my Faverolle pullets, I suspect Charlie will be lording it over them.

 

[MaryJanet]

Both Lucy and Chickie have trimmed beaks and are/were higher up the pecking order than Bessie and Charlie. It appeared to be attitude from them and youth/inexperience from the pullets, given they were both twice the size of the Isas. When I get my Faverolle pullets, I suspect Charlie will be lording it over them.

Interesting! In Sandy's case, she tried hard to not be last but failed against the other two with their pointy beaks and smaller combs. Sandy's big floppy comb was an easy target for the other two.

I hope she gets to be not bottom now.

 

[Ribh]

Interesting! In Sandy's case, she tried hard to not be last but failed against the other two with their pointy beaks and smaller combs. Sandy's big floppy comb was an easy target for the other two.

I hope she gets to be not bottom now.

As they say ~ it's not the size of the chicken, it's the size of the fight in the chicken. I think Sandy will be fine as she's a layin' girl & that alone give her a certain status. There aren't a lot of them so it shouldn't get too vicious.

 

[MaryJanet]

Ivy has worked out where to find pellets and how to get a hold of them! She's a very clever chook.

Meanwhile, Sandy and Peggy are having a staring contest through the door of the henhouse

 

[MaryJanet]

Ivy loves being out and about in the big yard!

I've done another swicheroo and put the hens in the henhouse for a couple of hours so the pullets can roam.

Ivy has gone a-wandering and had three big flappy scampers plus some nibbles of this n that.

Peggy remains encamped by the henhouse door. She's had one flappy stand-tall if you know what I mean - I'm sure you do.

The yard gives them a chance to be as far away from each other as they like, which must be nice considering they're in close proximity most of the time.

 

[MaryJanet]

Sandy

She was chowing down on what remains of the pullets mash when a sunbeam washed over her.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Ivy loves being out and about in the big yard!

I've done another swicheroo and put the hens in the henhouse for a couple of hours so the pullets can roam.

Ivy has gone a-wandering and had three big flappy scampers plus some nibbles of this n that.

Peggy remains encamped by the henhouse door. She's had one flappy stand-tall if you know what I mean - I'm sure you do.

The yard gives them a chance to be as far away from each other as they like, which must be nice considering they're in close proximity most of the time.

I can definitely picture those calisthenics!

 

[MaryJanet]

I think tomorrow is the day for all five to be in the yard together all day long.

This afternoon we tried 30 minutes all together and now I'm convinced the pullets can outrun the big hens. Or maybe the big hens lose interest?

Anyway, I'm sure there's enough space for the pullets to outrun the hens.