Ribh's D'Coopage

[RoyalChick]

A variety of things 2~3 deep [@ various heights & widths ]will give you something like an English hedgerow. Not only will it give your chickens hidey holes it will create a micro environment & create habitat for insects & small animals that the girls will enjoy foraging after.

Yes that sounds perfect. But to be clear, by small animals we mean mice and I already have plenty of those in the Chicken Palace!

 

[Ribh]

Yes that sounds perfect. But to be clear, by small animals we mean mice and I already have plenty of those in the Chicken Palace!

No, I don't mean mice! Toads & frogs often like hedgerows as do squirrels & rabbits. Not sure what else you might have in your area but if it's a small mammal it will probably make a home there.

 

[RoyalChick]

No, I don't mean mice! Toads & frogs often like hedgerows as do squirrels & rabbits. Not sure what else you might have in your area but if it's a small mammal it will probably make a home there.

Ah yes - I have many of all of those! I live in a clearing in the woods so have many small animals around me (and a fair number of larger ones too). Flying squirrels are probably the cutest although I do love the toads and the sound of the tree frogs.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

The other night I had to pull over and take a few pictures of the sunset.

This was the leading edge of a cold front. It made for an amazing show!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Love pepper in the branches - and many thanks for the links.
I am going to wait until there is a nasty weekend and then I am going to have a fun time figuring out what to plant come spring.
Meanwhile, I am going to take cuttings from some red twigged dogwoods I already have that are very pretty and are that sort of shape. There is a fair bit of space - it is the edge of the big field - so I think I could plant a mix of things. I am excited about this plan for improving the Chicken Palace (of course finishing it before improving it would be a good idea!). They have loads of space in the Palace grounds including two pasture runs - and they seem very happy jumping through the little chicken doors from one area to another - but when I let them out I don't like how exposed they are in the open field. A little shrub area will be perfect!

Something I have found that is a great success with my girls is comfrey.

I've planted it outside the chook run and they love poking their beaks through and picking bits off the leaves.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Suyin.
She doesn't look too bad just looking.
Her comb's a little shrivelled & pale but her eyes are bright & alert & she's still feisty in herself. Thankfully she is one of my more easily handled girls.
View attachment 2376746
Her poops are gross ~ but better than they were.

Spoiler

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And she seems to have a lot of dander.
She seems to be doing better in the small coop though I'm rotating her company around somewhat. Medh had quite a few days with her. She's not really been herself since her visit to the vet but a few days with Suyin & her comb & wattles are looking really good & I think she's back laying. She's also prepared to hustle for her place @ the feeding stations.
It was Beatha last night because she couldn't get a look in @ the food tubs.

Spoiler

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I'm not sure what I'm looking at ta the base of her feathers in that last picture Ribh, but it makes my fingers twitch to get in there with a comb and brush it out! I expect that would be a bad idea though...

Sounds like you are taking good care of her. I hope she continues to improve

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Three girls keeping me company while I read Ribh's thread. L to R Alice, Tsuki, Deana.

If you look behind Tsuki, you can just see Edwina lying at the foot of the garden bench.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

And then there was one...

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Warning @RoyalChick ! Naked chicken picture below!




The contest is still going BYBob. I don't think Alice will win though. She has to contend against entries like this

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https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...st-chicken-molt-pictures-2020.1407979/page-11

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

@Ribh , how does one do spoilers please?