Ribh's D'Coopage

[BY Bob]

This one.

Now I see it does carry nothing forward. Hold on.

 

[BY Bob]

Now I see it does carry nothing forward. Hold on.

This one

 

[Shadrach]

You know that we all value your opinion. I hope that you also know by now that I do very little handling. However I do work hard to create an environment where they choose and want to be with me. Hopefully to the point they will jump in my lap and spend time with me.

I am however vexed and frustrated by my inability to check Aurora out. I do think I should have handled her more as a pullet. She was so desperately afraid of me touching her then and remains so now. Perhaps I could have taught her that nothing bad was going to happen. She learned nothing from any of the other hens I have. No one volunteers to be picked up but once so corralled no one else fights to get away. The rest tolerate me checking then over and that is plenty for me. I feel I have failed Aurora in this and other ways to where I have problems with her. She fights so hard I worry I'm going to hurt her just trying to look her over.

It's a bit difficult for me Bob as I know you and most here appreciate. My keeping circumstances are different and I think that my view of chickens is as well. Not to the extent to which I feel like an alien but I do tend to favour my view of chicken keeping and at times come accross as judgmental.
My veiw is on these three threads that I'm among friends and I'll be forgiven if I come accross badly.
Unfortunatley for you lot that means a lot more opinionated posts!

 

[Ribh]

She did respond but it was weirdly embedded in your post. Essence was:
1) Don't have grit but can get some
2) Ignored blueberries but fought over them when they discovered them in the bedding

On #1 I think you need finer grit than the bigger ladies have - I got a small bag of 'chick grit' which is the consistency of very coarse sand.
On #2 I forgot that - mine were the same - they wouldn't eat anything they didn't find for themselves

Now it's chick grit. I'm not sure I can get that on the island but it explains why they were pigging on the tub of sand I put in for dustbathing. I took it out. Guess it had better go back in.

 

[Ribh]

It's a bit difficult for me Bob as I know you and most here appreciate. My keeping circumstances are different and I think that my view of chickens is as well. Not to the extent to which I feel like an alien but I do tend to favour my view of chicken keeping and at times come accross as judgmental.
My veiw is on these three threads that I'm among friends and I'll be forgiven if I come accross badly.
Unfortunatley for you lot that means a lot more opinionated posts!

Ah well, I don't think we're short on opinions on these threads.

 

[BY Bob]

I do understand and I wasn't being critical.
Life was much easier for me with Ruffles and Fat Bird before Cillin.

Please trust me, I did not take it as critical. I really don't know how much you have read or going long you have followed so I was explaining in case you did not know.

Coincidentally, BY Bob just asked me if I wanted to move out to the country to have more chickens, a rooster like Ned, and a bigger garage, etc.

 

[Ribh]

This one
View attachment 2438063

The comment got caught up in the quote for some reason.

Grit I haven't done but I have plenty & can put some out easily. I tried the Blueberries yesterday. The big girls loved them, the littlies ignored them ~ until they suddenly discovered them hidden in the mulch this morning & all out war broke out over who got to scoff them.

 

[BY Bob]

Yup, at their age you can feed them whatever they will eat, within reason of course. It's quantity and how often that is often the problem. With some people, as soon as they discover a chicken will respond to treats they sit there feeding the chicken just to have it respond and be close by.
A cheese treat here is about two millimeters square. They may get two or three like this in a day.
I know, I'm mean.

And only 1 walnut.

 

[RoyalChick]

Now it's chick grit. I'm not sure I can get that on the island but it explains why they were pigging on the tub of sand I'm put in for dustbathing. I took it out. Guess it had better go back in.

I dunno - I think I would just give them grit and let them look for any teeny tiny pieces in it. If you can't get chick grit, could you get grit for a pet budgie or other small caged birt?
I would only give sand if it is really, really coarse - like you can see the grains. Yours are quite big now - I was talking when they were like a week old and small enough to settle down in the palm of my hand - yours look like they could pick up bigger bits of grit. I think they will select the right size for themselves as long as they have options.

 

[BY Bob]

She did respond but it was weirdly embedded in your post. Essence was:
1) Don't have grit but can get some
2) Ignored blueberries but fought over them when they discovered them in the bedding

On #1 I think you need finer grit than the bigger ladies have - I got a small bag of 'chick grit' which is the consistency of very coarse sand.
On #2 I forgot that - mine were the same - they wouldn't eat anything they didn't find for themselves

Ah, that's what happened. Thanks for explaining @RoyalChick

I bet they eat the blueberries now when @Ribh hands them out.

Yes, chick grit is a little smaller. That is what I use.