Ribh's D'Coopage

[Marie2020]

Having decided I'm not the ogre from hell, I am getting a lot of firsts from Beatha.
It is so special when a hen finally decides to trust you.
So, as I was rounding the girls up tonight because it is wet & freezing cold, Beatha was doing her in, out, in out thing when all of a sudden she squatted @ my feet. I was so shocked I nearly stepped on her but managed to bend down & give her a good rub~a~dub~dub. She waited patiently & really seemed to enjoy it. As she's one hen I've never really been able to handle this is huge for her & me. Even Ha'penny is easier to handle than Beatha has ever been. Not sure what's brought about this massive change of heart.
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She looks so sweet.

How are you keeping?. Sorry I've not been around

 

[micstrachan]

Phyllis just finished up sitting for 35 days.

Did she finish on her own, Bob? Or did you have to end it for her?

 

[BY Bob]

That is long!

Yes. I had to break her in the end. I took all the eggs and hauled her out of the nest box. She tried again the next day when others laid but I did the same thing and then she finally gave up.

 

[micstrachan]

Yes. I had to break her in the end. I took all the eggs and hauled her out of the nest box. She tried again the next day when others laid but I did the same thing and then she finally gave up.

Thanks. Flo is in broody jail today, but Millie is in her fourth week if sitting. I think it’s time to break out a second dog crate.

 

[Ribh]

She looks so sweet.

How are you keeping?. Sorry I've not been around

Wouldn't worry, Marie. I've not been round much either. We're having wild weather & rain. Not the sort of weather to make my chickies happy.

 

[Marie2020]

Wouldn't worry, Marie. I've not been round much either. We're having wild weather & rain. Not the sort of weather to make my chickies happy.

Take care my friend. Sending you my very best wishes ❤
I really love seeing your beauties

 

[Shadrach]

WEDNESDAY WHEREVER...​

has a bit of a story to it today. I rang round to see if anyone sold nesting boxes. My regular produce store doesn't, but this one does.

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I rather like this one but it is a bit of a drive in heavy traffic. It is big on Aussie atmosphere. And it is packed to the rafters with stuff. It combines pet, garden & farm stuff all in one place & if it had been a nicer day I would have had more of a wander but things being as they are I had a lot to do on a wet, cold day so didn't linger.

And the staff are not as good as my regular one. The one I usually go to everyone keeps animals so if I want to ask chook questions they find the chook guy. If I want something for the cats, the cat person is fetched. This one didn't even know they sold nesting boxes even though they were literally staring @ them across the counter!
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Behind the windmill there are ponies or small horses~ I don't know enough about either to know which they keep & Ted's Corner is the chicken run. Thanks to the wind everyone was sheltering @ the far end of the run so while I know they were black with white ear lobes I didn't get a good enough look to know if they were Minorcas, Anconas, Valdarno or something else entirely. But here is one of the boxes. I got 2 doubles but may need to go back next pay day for a 3rd double. We will see how we go. The girls had a good sticky as soon as they arrived. They always seem to know when something is for them!
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While built along the same general principals as the last ones I got they are slightly sturdier with screws to hing the lid, an air vent @ the back & seem quite spacious. I read somewhere that chickens don't like white so that's what I told the salesperson: anything but white. He suggested red & black. Funny bunny! I ended up with green, which I hope the girls like as keeping conditions mean the boxes needed some sort of weather proofing. I will do the outside of both then do the inside if enough paint is left over.
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They look okay Ribh. Do you think they'll use them?

 

[Shadrach]

Mine seem to like the straw in their nest boxes. Some of them are very good at nest building. And then there is.....

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Awww, don't be mean to her. Some things we have to work at.

 

[Shadrach]

Having decided I'm not the ogre from hell, I am getting a lot of firsts from Beatha.
It is so special when a hen finally decides to trust you.
So, as I was rounding the girls up tonight because it is wet & freezing cold, Beatha was doing her in, out, in out thing when all of a sudden she squatted @ my feet. I was so shocked I nearly stepped on her but managed to bend down & give her a good rub~a~dub~dub. She waited patiently & really seemed to enjoy it. As she's one hen I've never really been able to handle this is huge for her & me. Even Ha'penny is easier to handle than Beatha has ever been. Not sure what's brought about this massive change of heart.
View attachment 3194227

It's strange isn't it. One might have thought that once they had all seen one trust you then they would follow suit. It doesn't seem to work like that.

 

[RoyalChick]

It's strange isn't it. One might have thought that once they had all seen one trust you then they would follow suit. It doesn't seem to work like that.

Diana and Maggie both squat when I approach them - which I assume means they think I am their rooster or in some other way 'above them' in the order of things.
Dotty will squat for Maggie and Diana.
Dotty will beat the crap out of me if she gets the chance.