MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Full tummy = nap time, qed.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm very satisfied with the sleepout as a temporary chicken coop. It's large enough. It has light, direct sunshine, and sufficient ventilation. The two doors were also a bonus, allowing access from within the house and from the yard.

Today I'm going to take the sewing table away in an attempt to encourage proper roosting. When the pullets are ok with roosting, I'll start transitioning them to the big coop after dark. By then, Mary should have returned to non-broody roosting habits and the river chickens will be almost out of quarantine.

 

[MaryJanet]

Will we? Or won't we?

Maybe we will.

No! Quick, everybody inside!!

 

[MaryJanet]

Someone pulled Mary's nest apart.

She doesn't seem particularly bothered by it, although she's still tukking rather than bokking.

 

[MaryJanet]

One of the river chickens, maybe Christa, laid this nightmare.

I guess the broken end came out first and cracked under the weight. Although, it landed on a plastic surface, not straw. So that's a hard(ish) landing.

Among the other eggs in the fridge.

Weight.

I'm comfortable claiming it's twice the size of Peggy's egg.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm sure the flock will be happier with 9 hens than 4.

I've been wondering whether the egalitarian pecking circle will persist. Surely Janet, Peggy and Mary will find other people to discipline?

They most assuredly will.

 

[BY Bob]

A nice photo of Katie

View attachment 3338466

That is an amazing photo. The detail in her feathers is amazing. What a beautiful interesting chicken she is.

 

[MaryJanet]

That is an amazing photo. The detail in her feathers is amazing. What a beautiful interesting chicken she is.

Her yellow legs get me every time.

 

[ManueB]

I'm still a little stunned he didn't charge me for it

??

Well, I would definitely make him some kind of x-mas presents since he gave you time for free. Vet time is valuable.

One of the river chickens, maybe Christa, laid this nightmare.

View attachment 3338613

View attachment 3338617

I guess the broken end came out first and cracked under the weight. Although, it landed on a plastic surface, not straw. So that's a hard(ish) landing.

Among the other eggs in the fridge.

View attachment 3338621

Weight.

View attachment 3338623

I'm comfortable claiming it's twice the size of Peggy's egg.

View attachment 3338626

I get many strange eggs from my ex-batts since they have turned two. Strange shapes, fragile shells, broken eggs...I try to follow up on who lays what but I don't start worrying about it unless there are many in a row. Typically if one of them doesn't lay for one or two day the next egg will be huge and/or strange.

 

[MaryJanet]

Well, I would definitely make him some kind of x-mas presents since he gave you time for free. Vet time is valuable.

I get many strange eggs from my ex-batts since they have turned two. Strange shapes, fragile shells, broken eggs...I try to follow up on who lays what but I don't start worrying about it unless there are many in a row. Typically if one of them doesn't lay for one or two day the next egg will be huge and/or strange.

Good point, I will send a card with a small gift.

It's good to be reminded about the eggs. I had a hen called Sandy who was probably an ex-battery hen (someone had clipped her beak). She had reproductive health problems but never laid such a whopper that I recall.