MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

In other news, the youngsters have cracked the puzzle of the treadle feeder! A moment ago, I saw the two of them face deep in mid-morning snacks.

Excellent. Word is spreading!

 

[MaryJanet]

That's great !

I got one last summer, but the hens never figured it out. They were really scared of the movement and would rather starve than use it. Then I propped it open for them until I saw a vole helping itself to the food. It's now in storage.

Yours figuring it out gives me hope. Maybe I should try again once we have above freezing temperatures as it seems like the metal footplate would be rather cold .

It took a long time! And so much wasted food.

Mary (the biggest hen) worked it out first. It took her a few months to build up her confidence. I think probably the youngsters learned by watching her. The 3 hens in her peer group still haven't mastered it, but they'll eat from it once Mary has it open.

The feeder has various settings. Propped fully open, propped wide ajar, propped narrow ajar, not propped at all.

Once Mary was comfy on a setting, I moved on to the next setting. Once we'd made it all the way to "not propped at all" I provided some supplementary food in the mornings because I didn't want them going hungry. That decision may have slowed down Mary's desire to open the feeder.

Weirdly, it was advertised as needing only a week for the hens to learn! What an understatement!

 

[MaryJanet]

That's a special photo for sure.

She seems to like riding in the car and the edge of the basket is quite a comfy perch. She could stay in the basket, but no, she'd rather see what's going on.

Two more early morning drives to go. I'm really pleased with the treatment this time around. Linco followed by clavulox seems to do more for her than either alone.

Thursday I'll start adding kefir to the nightly mash to get her microbiome restarted.

 

[MaryJanet]

She checks in with Phyllis to be certain.

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Of course! Makes sense.

 

[MaryJanet]

It feels like Mary's turn for a photo.

 

[RoyalChick]

It feels like Mary's turn for a photo.

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And I am always up for a Mary photo!

 

[MaryJanet]

And I am always up for a Mary photo!

She's a sweetheart

How are your hens doing RC? All good?

 

[LozzyR]

And I am always up for a Mary photo!

I thought of you RC when I took this photo of Angel.

 

[MaryJanet]

I thought of you RC when I took this photo of Angel.

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Awww skritchy scratch!

 

[RoyalChick]

She's a sweetheart

How are your hens doing RC? All good?

I worry about Eli and her monster eggs but she seems to be coping.
Babs is beginning not to bother with the 11’ rafter roost but Eli is mostly committed to it.
Bernie is big and strong and tall and sassy and I love her even though she bites me.