NY chicken lover!!!!

[armorfirelady]

So, I was out with the birds tonight and noticed that my favorite, the BO is starting to develop spurs. SHE squatted for me last week. I'm waiting for an egg any day. They're not the little "buds" that all my girls have, these are no kidding spurs just starting to grow. 

Some one pleeease tell me they have seen a hen with spurs before. (S)he is my favorite in this years flock, and I really hope I don't have 3/8 roos.

Yup I have seen pictures of hens with spurs, if my memory is gook I think it was a leghorn? Don't quote me on that tho

 

[Pyxis]

So, I was out with the birds tonight and noticed that my favorite, the BO is starting to develop spurs. SHE squatted for me last week. I'm waiting for an egg any day. They're not the little "buds" that all my girls have, these are no kidding spurs just starting to grow. 

Some one pleeease tell me they have seen a hen with spurs before. (S)he is my favorite in this years flock, and I really hope I don't have 3/8 roos.

I have a barred rock hen with a spur on one leg and huge wattles. I think she was head hen wherever she came from.

 

[Lynzi777]

I am sooooo loving this weather! I know I said I love the heat but my favorite season of all is fall! I love the hoodie and jeans weather and today was good hoodie and jeans weather!! Just got in from playing "rooster in the middle". My son wanted to have a catch in the backyard which we haven't done yet since Gru arrived. Well we started throwing the ball back and forth and he starts going after it. At first I thought he was going after my son and I got nervous. But once he caught the ball he stopped. Then he threw the ball to me and he came running my way. It was so funny. We were laughing. The chickens have learned the ball is not food. So it was funny to see it happen all over again with this huge rooster.

Gotta get back outside to get all the tenants in.....

 

[Cass]

Thanks Cass

Here's a new one for me. I noticed my blue Wyandotte had some ugly looking feathers, like she's been mounted by a rooster. Problem is we don't have a rooster. So I'm in the yard with them today and I see our SS mount her. Huh?! I'm assuming she's the boss or at least thinks she is. Should I toss her in jail for a week or so? I've never seen her fight with the other girls but she's obviously been doing this for a few weeks at least. This is the first time I've caught her in the act.

Chris

Rename him/her "Pat". LOL (remember SNL?) Sometimes the head hen will take on the rooster role including trying to crow.....so I wouldn't worry about it, unless she is actually hurting the other hens. If you put her in chicken jail, she will reenter the flock lower on the pecking order, for sure....however then you will have weeks of pecking order disputes to listen to....so it is your choice what to do about her behavior.

 

[ChickPrincess]

What does everyone do with the dust in the bottom of their feeders? I hate dumping it out. Seems like a waste of feed.

Chris

You could add it to scrambled eggs.

 

[ke5hde]

Rename him/her "Pat". LOL (remember SNL?) Sometimes the head hen will take on the rooster role including trying to crow.....so I wouldn't worry about it, unless she is actually hurting the other hens. If you put her in chicken jail, she will reenter the flock lower on the pecking order, for sure....however then you will have weeks of pecking order disputes to listen to....so it is your choice what to do about her behavior.

I do remember Pat. I guess I'll just leave her alone for now. I haven't seen her actually hurt any of them. She'll be moving out along with some others in the fall anyway. I certainly don't want to deal with the pecking order problems again.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Evening all. Its cooling off nicely here and I am loving it. So are the chickens. Daddy Legolas has been taking the wives and children around the front yard and finding food for them. Thankfully Litttle Man and his wench are in another part of the front yard. His other two wenches are still busy being broody. Tonights menu for the hordes was rice, hummus and cat food. Dh was able to distribute it without losing any limbs. Those red sexlinks are ruthless when it comes to food. At least everyone got a nice bump of protein tonight. My cat went crazy when she smelled the cat food so I had to dig out her can. She cant eat the cheap stuff so she only gets one as a treat from time to time.

Ran out to see what dh wanted. He had peeled back the bark on a couple of logs he had laying by the silkie pen. White grubs everywhere! I made a great rendition of a roo calling his hens to food and the sexlinks and barred rock came running. The bark was like a plate the these girls feasted mightily tonight. I think the one red sexlink is going to explode as she ate so many of those grubs!

Enjoy the cooler weather folks. My diva hens are laying on the grass in front of their coop enjoying the cool breeze and the cool ground. They look like high society ladies reposed on their lounges!

Sounds like a perfect night for your flock!!!!!!!! Love reading your entertaining posts, Pharm!


TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I am sooooo loving this weather! I know I said I love the heat but my favorite season of all is fall! I love the hoodie and jeans weather and today was good hoodie and jeans weather!! Just got in from playing "rooster in the middle". My son wanted to have a catch in the backyard which we haven't done yet since Gru arrived. Well we started throwing the ball back and forth and he starts going after it. At first I thought he was going after my son and I got nervous. But once he caught the ball he stopped. Then he threw the ball to me and he came running my way. It was so funny. We were laughing. The chickens have learned the ball is not food. So it was funny to see it happen all over again with this huge rooster.

Gotta get back outside to get all the tenants in.....

I am also much fonder of this cooler weather. I'd take it any day over what we had going there with high humidity and temps in the 90s F. That was misery for me and I worried for the chookies. Hilarious to picture your new roo trying to run down the ball...how cute!

Rename him/her "Pat". LOL (remember SNL?) Sometimes the head hen will take on the rooster role including trying to crow.....so I wouldn't worry about it, unless she is actually hurting the other hens. If you put her in chicken jail, she will reenter the flock lower on the pecking order, for sure....however then you will have weeks of pecking order disputes to listen to....so it is your choice what to do about her behavior.

LOL at the "Pat" reference! Used to love those skits on SNL...those were some of my favorites (also Church Lady) and can still picture the androgynous character!

TOB

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: I am trying to be organic as possible ..best for our family & our chickens..

What does everyone do with the dust in the bottom of their feeders? I hate dumping it out. Seems like a waste of feed.

Chris

You could add a little water to it ...or milk . Make it like mush or oatmeal . They should still eat it .
I started adding a little water to their food ..I hated the way they wasted the food flinging it all around ..
Then I discovered fermented food ..no more dust

 

[Breella]

I saw someone on my paper route walking a flock of either Barred Rocks or Cuckoo Marans across their yard the other day. This AM I left a note with the BYC web address for them. I really like their coop and wish I could see it up close. looks to be a shed convert like mine (but theirs looks nicer, at least from the street)

Cold AM but felt so nice!