MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

We will just miss the pictures of laundry washing chickens.
I'm sure @BY Bob would love to see Ivy with some eggs to hatch.

That was such a special moment! We would be spoiled if we saw such a thing too often.

He would be thrilled!

 

[MaryJanet]

Maybe check feet and legs ?

I did, but as usual, they look like normal chicken feet and legs. No swellings, nothing looked out of place, no heat.

 

[MaryJanet]

They found that the specie and size of tunas they tested from cans did not impact the mercury level that much. Even the small specie like Germon were contaminated. And that canned tuna actually contains more mercury than the same fresh tuna, because the process of canning tends to dehydrate the tuna.

Were they able to check the age of the tuna? I'd go check for myself but I don't have long before I have to go to work.

 

[BY Bob]

Everyone's environment is unique and poses unique problems. I've been very lucky with parasites and bumblefoot, but there's very little forage.

I did say that, but then I recalled my plan to expand the flock every two years (Katie and Edie were in the second expansion after a failed hatch). So it's either another hatch when Ivy turns broody or pullets. Like Mary, Ivy's not getting any younger and she did a great job incubating the chick Peggy killed. So she can have a few eggs when she goes broody.

If both hatches fail, I'll get a trio of pullets and they can quarantine in the spare coop (which would be a big improvement over last time when pullets quarantined in the back room!)

Where I live, they're called staples.

I keep catching them with the magnet

She usually takes a huge jump onto the ramp but last night, she took a small jump and fumbled the landing. Not like her at all.

It's still a struggle to single out a hen. I prefer to give everyone special meals and that's what I've done tonight. They're finishing up their dinner bowls while I write this reply. Sardines blitzed with pellets, grain mix and a little chick crumble.

Heavy metal toxicity is a problem in most fish predators I believe because they eat the smaller fish who carry smaller quantities of the metals. We're lucky in Australia because the tuna are smaller (but packaged the same I believe). Smaller fish carry fewer heavy metals, so the same sized tin of tuna is not as harmful. Someone worked out an Australian would have to consume something like 40 cans of tuna a week to run into health problems.

I doubt anyone has done the sums for chickens eating tuna.

I once did the sums for chickens eating apple seeds. It was interesting. Mine get all the apples they want.

 

[RoyalChick]

I once did the sums for chickens eating apple seeds. It was interesting. Mine get all the apples they want.

I did apple pits for people because a few ground up and mixed with ground almonds really enhances the almond flavor. You have to eat more than you can imagine to have any issue!

 

[BY Bob]

I'm sure @BY Bob would love to see Ivy with some eggs to hatch.

I check in every day to see if I might be so lucky. She will be a splendid mum. I just know it.

 

[MaryJanet]

I was locking the back door when I noticed Mary was off the nest, for the first time since Monday.

She still has four intact eggs.

She's had a poop and now she's having a feed.

 

[MaryJanet]

I did apple pits for people because a few ground up and mixed with ground almonds really enhances the almond flavor. You have to eat more than you can imagine to have any issue!

There's a lot of food fear to contend with. Sorting fear from knowledge takes time many of us just don't have.

 

[MaryJanet]

At my place, every summer there's very little forage for the hens to eat.

Would lucerne chaff be an adequate forage supplement? I believe lucerne is called alfalfa elsewhere.

As a hay, it has very twiggy stalks that might cause crop impaction. But as a chaff it might be ok

Any thoughts?

Here's a photo: https://d2j6dbq0eux0bg.cloudfront.net/images/6621056/1583900958.jpg

 

[MaryJanet]

Perhaps all the different hays in chaff format would be a good way to go