MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

I soooo hope so! Naturally they don’t vaccinate for Marek’s, nor could they tell me if the mamas were long-lived, so I guess we’ll just cross our fingers.

So much of chicken-keeping is hoping for the best

I'm glad you didn't give up though

 

[MaryJanet]

What a wonderful story!

Isn't it amazing! Lassie come home but for chickens

 

[BY Bob]

Today's forecast is even hotter than yesterday's. So the river chickens are out and about again. The pullets will have their door opened once the robovac has done its work in the back porch. They'll probably remain in the sleepout until Aunt Peggy sends a rocket in there to shake them out of their complacency.

I've come to the conclusion that the misting system is not good for Janet. The last two times I've turned the misting on, she's had a flare up the day after. She's slow and puffed up this morning.

So I'll let the hens out before the heat is at its worst and they can take to the shade for coolness.

Have you ever cleaned the misting system? There could be bacteria build up in the system. A little bleach might clean that right up for you.

 

[BY Bob]

Btw, when I was in Sydney I was rabbitting on about the chickens (as usual) when someone told me the most amazing story about the floods up in Queensland a couple of years ago. Someone's coop was wrecked and their chickens were swept away but 8 of them walked home!! They showed up a week later!

That's amazing. What a story they must have.

 

[BY Bob]

Edie just exterminated another fly! Brilliant! She doesn't eat them, she leaves their remains where they fell as a warning to any other flies that dare encroach upon her territory.

Why not eat them? Does she not know they are tasty. Aurora will clean those up for her.

 

[BY Bob]

Ok. I was very sad when Tegan died. I’ve been treating Nyssa for a respiratory problem since then and we’re actually on our way to a local(ish) zoo to get some new girls. My reasoning is that, if we lose Nyssa as well then Snowy will be on her own. As sad as I have been this year (I’ve lost four girls; River, Penguin, Lottie and Tegan), I’m not quite ready to give up on my chicken journey yet.

It has been a tough road for you and yours.

 

[BY Bob]

Introducing our new girls

We’ve just been to the zoo and purchased three (hopefully) pullets (not sure how old; ‘a couple of months’ is the best I could get). They are:

Angel (named and chosen by my son)
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Bella (left) and Gizelle (right)
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They’re a barnyard mix, which is what I wanted. I think Bella is the one making baby-peeps, she could be about 16-18 weeks old. She’s tiny and has some Frizzle in her.

Just darling. I can't wait to see more of them.

 

[micstrachan]

Mine love the car. I truly believe that like dogs they love to see the world from a car.

Remember Lilly's first car ride?

I remember this and love it! I wish I had done this with Cashew the day she was euthanized. She was struggling to breathe sitting down in her carrier. I’ll have to remember this for next time I have a swollen hen, struggling to breathe when she sits.

 

[MaryJanet]

Have you ever cleaned the misting system? There could be bacteria build up in the system. A little bleach might clean that right up for you.

I'll try to work out how that might be achieved. It's a closed system that takes clean drinking water. I could maybe put some bleach in the filter then run water through?

 

[MaryJanet]

That's amazing. What a story they must have.

Isn't it incredible! It really highlights how clever chickens are.