Ribh's D'Coopage

[WhoDatChick]

Well, Ruby (head hen) is about to get the boot if she doesn’t chill out! She has been challenging me.. when I am petting ‘her’ ladies... I have to keep telling her they are MINE.. including HER ... so I’ll “peck” her but she will bulk up and peck me right back.. so then I pick her up and carry her around like a football.. head facing back.. or put her in my lap and make her sit and stay awhile! Some days are worse than others so it could be worse when she has PES.. (pre egg syndrome) ...

 

[WhoDatChick]

Here’s where she got me today...

 

[Ribh]

Well, Ruby (head hen) is about to get the boot if she doesn’t chill out! She has been challenging me.. when I am petting ‘her’ ladies... I have to keep telling her they are MINE.. including HER ... so I’ll “peck” her but she will bulk up and peck me right back.. so then I pick her up and carry her around like a football.. head facing back.. or put her in my lap and make her sit and stay awhile! Some days are worse than others so it could be worse when she has PES.. (pre egg syndrome) ... View attachment 1896708

Oh. Dear. And that there is my whole issue with most of the reds...mind you, if you get rid of her the next head honcho is likely to be similar. I have a favorelle X causing issues but she's getting sat on [literally] by those higher up the pecking order. You might need some rooster training tips off those threads to get her to back down, not that I think reds are easy to intimidate or back up. They're stubborn chooks. Some of the more dominant breeds. I very deliberately steered away from them though I know they are often lovely chookies & wonderful with their people ~ I just don't have the patience to deal with the dominance issues.

 

[Ribh]

Here’s where she got me today...View attachment 1896710

And yes, I see *Sydney* & the Opera House...

 

[WhoDatChick]

Oh. Dear. And that there is my whole issue with most of the reds...mind you, if you get rid of her the next head honcho is likely to be similar. I have a favorelle X causing issues but she's getting sat on [literally] by those higher up the pecking order. You might need some rooster training tips off those threads to get her to back down, not that I think reds are easy to intimidate or back up. They're stubborn chooks. Some of the more dominant breeds. I very deliberately steered away from them though I know they are often lovely chookies & wonderful with their people ~ I just don't have the patience to deal with the dominance issues.

She is mostly fair with all the gals.. but she has some bad days of trying to tell me what! That’s a no-no sista! And next up is Maryn my black Australorp.. she will come around me and peck at my legs just a bit too hard so I am already fighting her off ... but for the rest of my gals.. I can pat and hug.... and even kiss.. yes, today I kissed my first chicken ... it was bound to happen sooner or later.. I just can’t help myself ... those darling Cochins are just too cute not to kiss

 

[WhoDatChick]

And yes, I see *Sydney* & the Opera House...

... I just couldn’t resist.... those are my pj’s

 

[Kris5902]

Ouch! And I thought my roosters were bad... beware of attack hens??? I hope things work out for you, she looks pretty. And yes, Chickens do be crazy!

@Ribh I think one or maybe two lap chickens aren’t too, too bad... but if too many of them start getting the idea, it could get even more hairy! Try being less popular?

 

[Ribh]

This afternoon I thought I had managed to bluff everyone into staying on the ground when there was a soft whir & gentle thud. Lottie had landed on my shoulder & there she stayed while I organised everyone else. *sigh* At least she's tiny & she doesn't fuss.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

So delicate! What are they called? I don't suppose they grow in sand?

Well, it's a native orchid so dendrobium something or other. In the bush they grow in bark on trees or on rocks. They like free draining medium. Mine are sitting in tree fern stumps filled with pine bark. I imagine there would be some native to your area too MJ

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

My chickens are mad. Complete lunatics. Utter nut jobs.

During the colder months I've been feeding the girls about 3ish so they are ready to roost with full crops by the time it's getting cold & dark. Now the weather is improving & the days getting longer I have been gradually extending feed time. It has not been appreciated! By 3 all the girls are milling @ the end of the coop where they know the feed bin is stored & as soon as they hear the lid rattle there is a great commotion. You'd think I starved them rather than issue generous amounts of top quality feed, treats & scraps!

Anyway our set up is I keep the treadle feeder topped up so there is food available almost constantly. Occasionally the girls get it right down to dust but normally there is still food in it & I just do a top up. However flock dynamics mean I need a 2nd station & I do Lottie & Tuppence separately. This means I enter the coop carrying the large tub for topping up & what's left is set down for the girls, & I have the smaller tub inside it for Lottie. The girls know this perfectly well ~ just like they know I will top up the feeder, then set down the large tub & only then perch on the door frame & call Lottie. Chooks like routine so I am predictable!

Well, those nutters had a collective brain fart the other afternoon. With the run fence collapsing it is difficult enough to negotiate into the pen without every chook I own milling underfoot but they've mostly got enough sense to not get stepped on. However this particular day Patricia, Suyin AND Ha'penny all decided they couldn't wait & flew up to perch on my arms for first dibs @ the food. ..@ which point Lottie decided they were eating her food so flew up to join them, only she perched on the tub rim & madly flapped her wings for balance! I couldn't see a thing. The girls on me were squabbling over who could reach the food. The ones on the ground where going ballistic because it wasn't fair they weren't getting anything & I was madly trying to disengage birds while not dropping the whole caboodle in a feathery mess!
There is a reason I didn't want lap chickens! How did this happen?

Oh dear.... You are very good at describing the situation Ribh

I'm glad you just had Lottie to deal with this afternoon!