Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

Some nights when I go and check on the tribes they are are scrunched up like that.

We've had a drastic & fast temperature change. The girls are feeling it & Lavender's naked for all intents & purposes.

 

[Shadrach]

I think this is @Ribh thread, isn’t it?

So it is!
Of course I know which thread I'm on....

 

[Ribh]

Every morning my manager as a call with his direct reports. The first thing he does is go around the entire team and ask you what the highlight of your weekend was. I knew todays was going to get strange because I was going to say the new girls going to bed where they are supposed to in the big coop.

So the whole call stops and everyone wants me to explain how you integrate chickens into 1 flock. Afterwards I get emails asking more chicken questions, along with requests for videos to show their children.

I should have told everyone last week about bathing Lilly. Opportunity lost.

They won't know if you tell them about Lilly's bath next time. In the big picture time's not linear so I'd do it.

 

[Shadrach]

I have tried to explain to the others where I live.
They see me doing things with or around the chickens and say that when they even approach the chickens they run away.
I tell them they have to talk to the chickens and announce who they are. I have my own call sign that I use when I get close to where I think, or know chickens are. Chickens here do this.
When a chicken approaches their tribe, or each other they make a call.
This call in my imagination contains all the information about the callers status and juniors tend to make way for seniors on the basis of this call. If they don't, they get a warning peck.

 

[Ribh]

I have tried to explain to the others where I live.
They see me doing things with or around the chickens and say that when they even approach the chickens they run away.
I tell them they have to talk to the chickens and announce who they are. I have my own call sign that I use when I get close to where I think, or know chickens are. Chickens here do this.
When a chicken approaches their tribe, or each other they make a call.
This call in my imagination contains all the information about the callers status and juniors tend to make way for seniors on the basis of this call. If they don't, they get a warning peck.

Well, yes. Of course you do. It's only polite. I always announce myself when I enter the pen after dark because I know the girls can't see me. It's just the same as calling out to your neighbour: Anybody home? as you come through their back door before being invited. Good friends can do that round here but you are expected to announce yourself in case anyone needs to put their trousers on. That sort of thing. When I was free ranging I had a call the girls all came to. Now the girls have a better idea of my whereabouts than I do of theirs & they call out to me before they can even see me properly.

How anyone can think animals dumb I have no idea. They adjust for our inadequacies. Cat's don't verbalise in the wild. It is an adaption for their stupid humans. My Kirby is prone to driving my whole neighbourhood insane. If I call him & he's some distance away he will verbalise [loudly] as he weaves home. I am expected to answer so he knows where I am, so we have this duet going until he gets picked up & cuddled.

I like to walk along our foreshore but I have to sneak away or both cats will join me & yes, they yowl until they catch me up. It's very definitely a :Wait for me. I'm coming! Yowl.

 

[Shadrach]

Bear with me. I may be having a senior moment. I have a folder of pictures to post and I can't remember if I've posted some. I forgot to delete them after use.
Notch and Knock. Knock is a very aggressive hen and we've been having a few problems at roosting time. Knock particularly dislikes a hen called Myth and has been attacking her if she is in the coop when Knock and the chicks go in.
Anyway, Notch seems pleased to have her to himself after she had been broody.

Knock and her youngsters.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Tonight we were 13 on the top roost.
Aoife had to be hoyed out of a nesting box ~ again !

One of the campines had missed out of a top spot so @ least she had company. It has been a cold wet old day so all interfamial rows are on temporary hold.
View attachment 2046634​

Three of my girls were roosting on the perches last night.

Now to convince Deana and Edwina to get out of the nesting boxes

 

[LozzyR]

Now to convince Deana and Edwina to get out of the nesting boxes

Good luck with that!

 

[Ribh]

Ugh. What a horrible, horrible, traumatic evening!

I went out to say goodnight to the girls & Lavender & Mhari were both in nesting boxes. Lavender desperately wanted to be on the top roost with everyone else & had several falls attempting to get up where she has always roosted! In her present state she just can't battle her way amongst all the other bodies. I was busy trying to convince Mhari she really did want to roost ~ which she didn't, & doesn't, & made a terrible fuss about. Eventually Lottie hopped down onto the lower roost & I though Mhari would settle ~ until Lavender discovered her. Mhari got back in a nesting box & Lavender snuggled up with Lottie. They often pair up so that was a good outcome & if Lavender loses her balance during the night, not so far to fall. I'm worried about her. She has dropped just about every feather she owns & is all quills & fluff & obviously her centre of equilibrium is off. With Lavender settled I moved Mhari yet again. She looked super peeved but settled so Lavender has someone either side which is good because our temps have plummeted. Suyin is also showing signs of having a heavy molt. All her hackle feathers have gone & round her tail looks like it's starting to go. This will not make her happy!

However when we got back from the mainland [more bits out; there won't be much left of me shortly ] there were 5 eggs! Ha'penny [she's one of my white layers] & Morrigu ~ also white but lots smaller~ Beatha [blue], Luna who lays a nice good sized brown & Hepzibah, who lays a beautiful tan egg. After a couple of eggless days it was a sight for sore eyes!

 

[LozzyR]

Ugh. What a horrible, horrible, traumatic evening!

I went out to say goodnight to the girls & Lavender & Mhari were both in nesting boxes. Lavender desperately wanted to be on the top roost with everyone else & had several falls attempting to get up where she has always roosted! In her present state she just can't battle her way amongst all the other bodies. I was busy trying to convince Mhari she really did want to roost ~ which she didn't, & doesn't, & made a terrible fuss about. Eventually Lottie hopped down onto the lower roost & I though Mhari would settle ~ until Lavender discovered her. Mhari got back in a nesting box & Lavender snuggled up with Lottie. They often pair up so that was a good outcome & if Lavender loses her balance during the night, not so far to fall. I'm worried about her. She has dropped just about every feather she owns & is all quills & fluff & obviously her centre of equilibrium is off. With Lavender settled I moved Mhari yet again. She looked super peeved but settled so Lavender has someone either side which is good because our temps have plummeted. Suyin is also showing signs of having a heavy molt. All her hackle feathers have gone & round her tail looks like it's starting to go. This will not make her happy!

However when we got back from the mainland [more bits out; there won't be much left of me shortly ] there were 5 eggs! Ha'penny [she's one of my white layers] & Morrigu ~ also white but lots smaller~ Beatha [blue], Luna who lays a nice good sized brown & Hepzibah, who lays a beautiful tan egg. After a couple of eggless days it was a sight for sore eyes!

Poor Lavender! I hope her feathers come through soon. Is the roost order not settled yet, or has there been a disturbance?