Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[TOMTE]

Happy Wednesday!

Finally lap chickens! With bribery anyway...lol I had 4 in my lap today!

Nom, nom!
Willow and Phoenix!
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The last one!!!!

 

[drstratton]

The last one!!!!

I know right!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

The last one!!!!

I love how her eyes are half-closed against the inevitable squirt!

 

[drstratton]

I believe my girls are becoming sky aware. I'm not sure what they heard, but they all bolted under the chokecherry tree for protection! I've been worried about that now that Roo is gone.

 

[drstratton]

I love how her eyes are half-closed against the inevitable squirt!

The look of ecstasy for a delicious bite! Lol

 

[TOMTE]

I believe my girls are becoming sky aware. I'm not sure what they heard, but they all bolted under the chokecherry tree for protection! I've been worried about that now that Roo is gone.
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I've found it handy to teach the girls what "hawk" means, so if I manage to spot one before they do (rare), I shout "HAWK!" and they watch it and make a decision about what to do from there. Sometimes they freeze and do hawk caution trills, sometimes they decide it's not a threat and go back to foraging (usually someone keeps watch while the rest have their heads down). Or if I hear the hawks calling anywhere near I just tell them "watch for hawks" and they usually stop and look around for a moment before continuing on their way I use it for any bird of prey, not just hawks. I wouldn't be surprised if they have more sophisticated language/sounds for different types of birds of prey among themselves, though!

 

[drstratton]

I've found it handy to teach the girls what "hawk" means, so if I manage to spot one before they do (rare), I shout "HAWK!" and they watch it and make a decision about what to do from there. Sometimes they freeze and do hawk caution trills, sometimes they decide it's not a threat and go back to foraging (usually someone keeps watch while the rest have their heads down). Or if I hear the hawks calling anywhere near I just tell them "watch for hawks" and they usually stop and look around for a moment before continuing on their way I use it for any bird of prey, not just hawks. I wouldn't be surprised if they have more sophisticated language/sounds for different types of birds of prey among themselves, though!

Thank you, I'll have to try that! I'm really not sure what they heard. Birds had been calling, might have been a car in the distance.

 

[drstratton]

I'm not very observant sometimes. While I did notice that Willows feather crest was fuller than Meadows, I didn't notice until today that Willows tail feathers are also longer. Meadows face is more red than Willows. Curious to see if Meadows tail feathers will catch up.