Ribh's D'Coopage

[Shadrach]

There was a lot more squabbling again last night birds on & off roosts but eventually everyone managed to find a spot on the top roost.​

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I hope you won't mind me mentioning that your top roost is a bit high. It looks from the picture that is a hen stands fully their combs will hit the roof.

 

[Ribh]

I hope you won't mind me mentioning that your top roost is a bit high. It looks from the picture that is a hen stands fully their combs will hit the roof.

The picture is deceptive, Shadrach. They can stand upright without braining themselves but the roosts need to be changed anyway. They are too close to the nesting boxes & the angle is bad for anyone on the 2nd or 3rd roost; they get pooped on. Not sure when I'll be able to get the man to change them though. It's not a job I can do myself.

Thank you for noticing & commenting.

 

[Ribh]

I love your roosting stories Remember how I took out the flimsy roosting perches and put in sturdy ones? I also removed several natural tree branches they had for a year without using, and which were taking up some roosting space. Well, there are no fights at roosting time any more.

Between the roost reconfiguration and Sandy's survival, something shifted and they're a calm little flock now. Touch wood!

Funny how something little sets everyone @ widdershins ~ or settles them right down. They were so calm & settled & it was a great little flock. Now I have these feather monsters & everyone's upset & @ odds with each other. Only Lottie & Luna seem immune to the general upset.

What a beautiful rug!

Thanks, MJ. I quite like it too.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

Jeannie, so sorry you're dealing with feather pickers

 

[Ribh]

Good evening folks

Jeannie, so sorry you're dealing with feather pickers

Me too, Bob! I'll give everyone a few days & hope for an attitude adjustment.

 

[rjohns39]

Me too, Bob! I'll give everyone a few days & hope for an attitude adjustment.

Hoping right along with you

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe they would be happy with dropped feathers instead, if you put them in the feeder?

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone
Hope you have time to relax this evening.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

The dragonfly rug is finished!

I think this would make a nice baby rug in soft baby wool.​

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That's gorgeous Ribh! You can really see the dragonflies and the colours work really well together. You would never guess it's made of "leftovers".

This afternoon was the afternoon I lost it. I have feather pluckers! I've identified my 4 major culprits: Soda [alpha BR], Lavender [My Frizzle], Suyin [my wannabe, Favorelle X] & Patricia [BR]. This afternoon Soda kept going for Hepzibah [BR & a top girl]. The poor girl is not only denuded around her tail but I suspect she has been self~mutilating as well as her tummy is almost completely bare & if anyone is going to go broody it will be this girl. She's a nest sitter & an egg hogger as well.
Both my Campines have had their rumps plucked bare as well so I put both Soda & Suyin in the small coop. I considered Lavender as well but I seriously don't think she could manage to get up the ramp into the smaller coop. Patricia is more of a follower so I've left her too.

I really, really was hoping to avoid this. Tonight was heart breaking. I had Soda circling the pen trying to get back with the flock, then @ roosting time Suyin kept calling & got terribly agitated. She didn't go to roost until it was nearly too dark to see.

My pecking order was already upset by losing Pebbles. No~one messed with that hen! Now it seems I must shake it up again to give those being bullied a break. I'm hoping Luna will rise to the challenge & assume leadership. She's calm & fair & everyone seems to get on with her but I can see me having to pull the other 2 bullies out too. And no, I don't think they are protein deprived. They get fish, mealworms & scrambled egg as routine treats. They have plenty of space & things to entertain them.

Oh dear, how vexing. Your chooks have no excuse to be bored or neurotic what with all your environmental enrichment and that view!

I wonder if there is such a thing as a chook psychologist?

 

[Ribh]

That's gorgeous Ribh! You can really see the dragonflies and the colours work really well together. You would never guess it's made of "leftovers".



Oh dear, how vexing. Your chooks have no excuse to be bored or neurotic what with all your environmental enrichment and that view!

I wonder if there is such a thing as a chook psychologist?

Yeah. My man. He's the self proclaimed animal psychologist for the neurotic animals I seem to collect.