Peeps in Europe!

[abpatchy]

Today, while my daughter (Alexandra) was cleaning out the run, "Resi" our Amrock approached her and sat down by her foot. Alexandra has been timid in petting the hens so I saw that this was the perfect time. I told her to just reach down and hold her still, don't let her get up if she tries, then I explained to her what was happening. Slowly, she reached down and held her. No reaction from Resi at all, so I told Alexandra to release her and keep on cleaning. That she now had a new friend. Slowly she tried approaching the other two hens, "Bella" and "Flecky". Bella, who is at the top of the pecking order, finally submitted, but Flecky was to fleet of foot to be touched.
After filling up the sand box, Resi went over and started digging her hole. Alexandra sat there laughing and I told her to reach down and slowly spread sand on Resi's back. I got a reaction from both of them that I did not expect....Resi rolls over and lets Alexandra pour sand all over her and even rolled to the other side! They spent a good 10 minutes doing this. Then! Bella saw what was happening and squeezed herself into the sandbox and was wanting the same attention that Resi was getting! It was funny! So here she is dusting both hens until Resi finally got up, shook off and went looking for food. So Alexandra treated Resi to her time in the sandbox, dusting her.
So my daughter went from being timid with them to being besties with two of them in a matter of minutes!

Fantastic!!!! Where is the camera when you need it!!!

 

[Shadrach]

Today, while my daughter (Alexandra) was cleaning out the run, "Resi" our Amrock approached her and sat down by her foot. Alexandra has been timid in petting the hens so I saw that this was the perfect time. I told her to just reach down and hold her still, don't let her get up if she tries, then I explained to her what was happening. Slowly, she reached down and held her. No reaction from Resi at all, so I told Alexandra to release her and keep on cleaning. That she now had a new friend. Slowly she tried approaching the other two hens, "Bella" and "Flecky". Bella, who is at the top of the pecking order, finally submitted, but Flecky was to fleet of foot to be touched.
After filling up the sand box, Resi went over and started digging her hole. Alexandra sat there laughing and I told her to reach down and slowly spread sand on Resi's back. I got a reaction from both of them that I did not expect....Resi rolls over and lets Alexandra pour sand all over her and even rolled to the other side! They spent a good 10 minutes doing this. Then! Bella saw what was happening and squeezed herself into the sandbox and was wanting the same attention that Resi was getting! It was funny! So here she is dusting both hens until Resi finally got up, shook off and went looking for food. So Alexandra treated Resi to her time in the sandbox, dusting her.
So my daughter went from being timid with them to being besties with two of them in a matter of minutes!

Great story Papa John.

 

[Shadrach]

Update on the wardrobe to coop cabinet project here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/scramblin-rose-coop-build.1323707/#post-21677595

That's coming on well.

 

[Erba]

OK its official now I have one pullet and one cockerel..dead give away was the light one is developing spurs and the brown one is the pullet. Keeping both because they are special, my first homemade chickens! lol
Will be incubating again for an October hatch, because on the 23 September I'm going to visit my Mum and Sister in Wales, so its easier for the chicken watcher to look after my flock without baby chicks.
I am also in the process of pimping my new incubator, already swapped the fan out and have ordered a humidity sensor. Fan was too loud and now I can hardly hear it. The humidity reading is way off though and the new sensor is a bit bigger and hope it works better. The temperature is spot on though and the turner is working great.

I am hoping to get some eggs in the incubator on the 30th September, better late than never, eh?

 

[Papa John59]

Anyone else fermenting feed or sprouting their own fodder?
Okay, so after reading everything I can, I have decided to start fermenting my feed and sprouting fodder for the winter. All the farmers are telling me that we are in for a hard winter, not like the past 4. So I want to get them some fresh greens and fodder is the easiest way I think. One farmer even gave me a kilo of barley to start with. Well, he does come to my house and drinks my whiskey so I think its an even trade off.
Last weekend, I recently had to chance to buy 125kg of dry scratch feed for 50€ so not being rich, I did it.
My first batch of fermenting will start today and the fodder, well I need to get a few things at the local 1€ store tomorrow.
The wife thinks I've gone crazy, doing all of this for our ladies, BUT she likes the fresh eggs everyday and its keeps me busy/out of her hair .
So again, anyone else doing this? Let me know! I'm always willing to learn from your efforts!

 

[abpatchy]

I am planing on letting some wheat grow for them. Greens will do them good as well as the yolk color is going to be much nicer. I got grow lights for the peppers and tomatoes so I'll just use them to grow that as well. Are you just using barley?

 

[abpatchy]

John, FYI... they have said this coming winter will be harsh and cold for years... I don't believe it until I see it.

 

[Erba]

I ferment their mixed grain feed mostly through the colder months. My chickens love it. In summer it goes off a bit to quick though, so I don't bother. That stuff is pure energy feed, and you actually feed less for more through fermentation.

 

[Papa John59]

@abpatchy...I'll start with the barley and then if I don't mess up to much, I'll try other grains to mix it up for them. Like they say, "variety is the spice of life." Grow lights, hun? So you must have a large space to grow everything in. We have an enclosure between the house and garage, but it will be full of palm trees and my 25 year old lemon tree. Have already brought the lemon tree in as we have had frost already. I hate this time of the year when you have to bring everything back inside.

@Erba ......Thanks for the info about the summer months. I recall my mother fermenting in a big 55 gal barrel and using a shovel to get the feed out. Have you fermented pellets? I was thinking about trying that as well. Just to see what my girls like.

OK, gotta go start bringing wood in for the winter, everyone have a great weekend, stay warm and dry!

 

[abpatchy]

@abpatchy...I'll start with the barley and then if I don't mess up to much, I'll try other grains to mix it up for them. Like they say, "variety is the spice of life." Grow lights, hun? So you must have a large space to grow everything in. We have an enclosure between the house and garage, but it will be full of palm trees and my 25 year old lemon tree. Have already brought the lemon tree in as we have had frost already. I hate this time of the year when you have to bring everything back inside.

Big place? Not really! I use one of those shelf greenhouses that my hubby mounted the grow lights to. The lights were like 25 Euros on amazon. Doesn't take much space and it works.
In spring (starting January) I'll grow my peppers and others stuff... tomatoes in early March. And yes eventually my living room looks like a greenhouse. Feels like a slalom course. And come May I'm just grateful that they can be moved to the garden... which is also at a Kleingartenverein.