Ribh's D'Coopage

[BY Bob]

The main problem with moulting hens.

This is Fudge and Moon. Both are having what looks to be an unconfortable moult.
It's Moon's first moult and Fudge's second. The last moult for Fudge was seriously worrying. She spent hours on her own in unsafe territory looking for the things moulting hens crave.
This bank is the dump bank for hay and straw. Of course, as it composts, it produces a plentiful supply of bugs which the moulters here hunt for.

View attachment 2393009View attachment 2393010View attachment 2393011

These two are up here on their own. I dragged one of the house dogs up for a while and she sat watch while I fed Tribe 2.
This bank is a notorious hawk strike site. Quite a few chickens have died on this bamk over the years. Fudge has seen something and is fully alert.
View attachment 2393012View attachment 2393013

This is where she seen something. The Goshawk hunts up on that ridge. They have an almost perfect view of the bank the chickens are on. A rooster up here with them will watch that ridge and give the alarm when he sees a hawk drop out of the trees. The hawk does just drop out of the trees and head for the ground. It crosses the filed below about a foot off the ground and out of sight of the chickens.View attachment 2393015

The next thing the chicken knows is there is a hawk coming up the bank underneath the trees you can see.. The straw is not easy to run on. The chicken has about two seconds to make the bushes to the left of the picture. When Mel was attacked she went right into the woods.View attachment 2393016

This is Moon, oblivious to the fact that Fudge has seen somthing.View attachment 2393017

Fudge left the site shorly after but Moon was still digging. Fortunately the ducks who have an excellent view gave the somehow allerted Moon to a possible danger. This is Moon tearing down the track to make it to the bamaboo clump on the left of this picture. She's very exposed and on her own.

Nobody got struck this time. If they were not moulting this is much less likely to happen.View attachment 2393018

My gosh that was scary. My heart was in my throat. I'm so glad everyone was OK.

 

[BY Bob]

That is very worrying & Moon sticks out like a sore thumb! Glad everyone is ok. I am rather fond of Moon.

I read somewhere that white chickens were more likely to be attacked by hawks. Something about how they stick out against the background. Moon is lighter colored and surely contrasts with the ground.

 

[BY Bob]

As predicted Mhari is now broody.
She was really put out when she thought I was going to let Wrold sit.
She is now in the Little Coop cooling her nether regions.
She is pretty stubborn so she could be there some days.
When I went to move her I found her hogging 3 Campine eggs & Luna was in the box next to her. When I got back Luna was on the 3 eggs & more worryingly was tossing nesting material around like a broody. She has never gone broody on me & I'm hoping she's not about to start.
​

It just never ends for you, does it?

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Oysters? Just so happens,I have a pic!View attachment 2391938

Do you always carry a picture of oysters in your wallet?

 

[Ribh]

It just never ends for you, does it?

The nature of chickeneering is to constantly resolve issues as peaceably as possible. You get aggro; I get broody. Each is problematic in its own way.

 

[BY Bob]

The nature of chickeneering is to constantly resolve issues as peaceably as possible. You get aggro; I get broody. Each is problematic in its own way.

So true.

 

[featherhead007]

Each one of us, needs (And deserves) an emotional support ...........rooster!

 

[featherhead007]

Do you always carry a picture of oysters in your wallet?

I keep them all tucked away in a cloud!

 

[drstratton]

As predicted Mhari is now broody.
She was really put out when she thought I was going to let Wrold sit.
She is now in the Little Coop cooling her nether regions.
She is pretty stubborn so she could be there some days.
When I went to move her I found her hogging 3 Campine eggs & Luna was in the box next to her. When I got back Luna was on the 3 eggs & more worryingly was tossing nesting material around like a broody. She has never gone broody on me & I'm hoping she's not about to start.
​

Several of my hens will do that...they tuck any nearby eggs under themselves & toss nesting material around...but so far haven't gone broody! Maybe that's all Luna was doing...

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

The main problem with moulting hens.

This is Fudge and Moon. Both are having what looks to be an unconfortable moult.
It's Moon's first moult and Fudge's second. The last moult for Fudge was seriously worrying. She spent hours on her own in unsafe territory looking for the things moulting hens crave.
This bank is the dump bank for hay and straw. Of course, as it composts, it produces a plentiful supply of bugs which the moulters here hunt for.

View attachment 2393009View attachment 2393010View attachment 2393011

These two are up here on their own. I dragged one of the house dogs up for a while and she sat watch while I fed Tribe 2.
This bank is a notorious hawk strike site. Quite a few chickens have died on this bamk over the years. Fudge has seen something and is fully alert.
View attachment 2393012View attachment 2393013

This is where she seen something. The Goshawk hunts up on that ridge. They have an almost perfect view of the bank the chickens are on. A rooster up here with them will watch that ridge and give the alarm when he sees a hawk drop out of the trees. The hawk does just drop out of the trees and head for the ground. It crosses the filed below about a foot off the ground and out of sight of the chickens.View attachment 2393015

The next thing the chicken knows is there is a hawk coming up the bank underneath the trees you can see.. The straw is not easy to run on. The chicken has about two seconds to make the bushes to the left of the picture. When Mel was attacked she went right into the woods.View attachment 2393016

This is Moon, oblivious to the fact that Fudge has seen somthing.View attachment 2393017

Fudge left the site shorly after but Moon was still digging. Fortunately the ducks who have an excellent view gave the somehow allerted Moon to a possible danger. This is Moon tearing down the track to make it to the bamaboo clump on the left of this picture. She's very exposed and on her own.

Nobody got struck this time. If they were not moulting this is much less likely to happen.View attachment 2393018

Just as well you and the house dog were doing rooster duty for them.

Moon certainly does stick out like a sore thumb as Ribh said.

I am always impressed by your observation skills Shad. It is like reading a documentary. I read this to Hubby who is also impressed.

I learn such a lot from your posts