MJ's little flock

[Shadrach]

Two HUGE announcements

First one. The pullets showed almost no interest in roosting in the little coop. They tried hard to get past the hens into the henhouse and eventually suceeded. Although in this very moment I can hear someone being pecked... Probably Peggy because she sandwiched herself between Mary and Janet. I think that's her best move in the circumstances. Janet is between Peggy and Sandy the Enforcer.

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Ivy used the gift of flight to roost way up high on the rafter. It's not going to be comfy for her feet, but there's no pecking up there at all. Smart girl. I'll put padding around the rafter tomorrow.

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Second big announcement!!!

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It's a little egg!! And it's so blue! It looks grey in that photo, but it's blue blue blue!! Hooray!

I don't know which pullet laid it. Maybe Peggy. She seems older and Ivy is obviously still getting bigger every day.

So much for being 13 weeks old when I picked them up two weeks ago, crikey.

I've just done my rounds and for the first time everyone in Tribe 1 is on a roost bar.
It helps that Fat Bird has take to roosting on the lower bar with Mel. So that's most senior and second in command both on a lower roost.

 

[Ribh]

There is a tornado on the ground about 60 miles from here. It's going to be a wild and woolly weather day before all is said and done. How about some rain for my friends in Australia?
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We have rain...Do you have rain, MJ?

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning MJ

 

[MaryJanet]

Here you go... The second pic suggests I'm not going anywhere until it melts... That's my driveway in the second...View attachment 2020407View attachment 2020408

Brrr! Looks delightfully chilly!

 

[MaryJanet]

So happy for you!

It was hard going for Peggy but she's her saucy little self this morning. I wish her Aunty Sandy would stop grabbing her by neck, but that's going to take a lot more time. Sandy is so proud of her new status, she's going to be over-diligent in the exercise of her powers for weeks yet, maybe months. Mary's a good defender though and she prevents too much harm. Janet frightens the pullets without even trying - a kindly bok makes them leap into the air and scatter.

 

[MaryJanet]

Good evening everyone


I am Thank you

That is great news

It's so easy to not sleep right. Do you have a bedtime routine?

 

[MaryJanet]

You have done so good with them. Congratulations! And a blue egg without even trying to get coloured ones. Just amazing.

I am so proud of you and the little ladies. I love that Ivy. She is truly a bird. 🕊

I'm still not quite over it. Last night I thought perhaps someone put it there to prank me. What an absurd thought, of course one of the pullets laid it.

Ivy is delightful. Her evasive manoeuvres are brilliant, her scampering about is endearing, and she's clever, really clever. Not to mention fascinating in her appearance - her leg and feet feathers, her little crest, her dark lacing on gold feathers, and her sweet little tail trying to get established!

She's an awesome little chicken!

 

[MaryJanet]

Good! You should.

I'm sorry Bob!

 

[MaryJanet]

There is a tornado on the ground about 60 miles from here. It's going to be a wild and woolly weather day before all is said and done. How about some rain for my friends in Australia?
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Scary!

We had a drop last night. Not much of one, the bureau of meteorology says nothing fell, but I saw and heard it.

 

[MaryJanet]

I've just done my rounds and for the first time everyone in Tribe 1 is on a roost bar.
It helps that Fat Bird has take to roosting on the lower bar with Mel. So that's most senior and second in command both on a lower roost.

That's interesting because it's the opposite of what people say should happen. But then, your tribes have strong familial bonds with very few introduced new chickens. So it makes sense they'd do things their own way. Are Fat Bird and Mel getting on a bit? Maybe they're not as agile as they once were.

Come to think of it Shad, would you have written an article on how chickens age by any chance?