Ribh's D'Coopage

[BY Bob]

I can't say it's been a real good day.
The Littlies are slowly getting used to things.

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The Vorwerks are mad as hatters. One or other of them was standing in the water tray all day.
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The big girls spent the morning screaming. I eventually went into the coop to spend some time & hand out treats & in the process found what Luna was so upset about. There was a very long, very dead rat wedged in an almost inaccessible corner. They all knew it was there but luckily no~one had attempted to eat it. I removed it & the flock was immediately calmer. *sigh* I try but I don't always get it first time round. I'm now worried neighbours are poisoning....

Aoife then proceeded to beat up Wrold & force her out of a nesting box so she could use it. Never mind there were 3 empty boxes. All the big girls have been forcing both bantams of the nests so Wrold went downstairs & proceeded to roll Ha'penny's egg out from under the stairs so she could sit on it undisturbed.

I think the whole lot of them have lost their collective minds!

Yes they have been confined for a few days. I can't do a full on quarantine but I do what I can & it's not so bad. There is dustbathing spots, stumps, roosts & deep leaf litter for foraging; food, water & extra treats but the girls are fed up with bantam broodies bokking away all day!​

How hot was it? I have heard of chickens standing in the water on hot days. Maybe it's that.

 

[BY Bob]

You're doing an amazing job!! I barely cope with four hens. Four!

Yes. I know right? I have 6 and that is a lot for me. Their problems have totally scared me of from getting more. I do not think I could handle it.

 

[RoyalChick]

One doesn't have to go for the full on experience.
Just having a bit more space for the flock you have might be appealing. Like Kris, I wouldn't recommend trying for a full on farm. The work load is enormous. Many people I think who head off to the country to live the homesteading type life do not understand the amount of sheer hard work that's involved. Even if one had plenty of money and can get the groundwork done by tradies (been dying to use that word ) the day to day stuff still needs doing.

Good use of the word tradies. I upgraded for space a while back with retirement in mind but I don't think I will go for big animals - I do enjoy growing my food and I will expand the number of chickens for sure. But I am not up for coos. I did think about goats but they are quite a handful.

 

[Ribh]

Yes. I know right? I have 6 and that is a lot for me. Their problems have totally scared me of from getting more. I do not think I could handle it.

They're not usually much trouble ~ well, they will escape their run but that's more an annoyance than trouble~ but just @ the moment everyone seems to have their beak out of sorts.

 

[Shadrach]

A touch of By Bob's way back machine.
Tribe 3.L to R Donk and Myth, Dink and Notch and the lovely Gedit.

 

[Shadrach]

Today.
Hurry. I've had a lot of problems getting a good picture of her recently. This one isn't bad.

 

[MaryJanet]

Shad is a tough customer & his chickens have a great advocate in him. Unless the troll also poisoned the shrubbery will grow back but it is a nasty, nasty business & for the life of me I have no idea why a person like that would choose to live in the country. Have a hug too. It sounds like we're all going to need some this morning.

I haven't seen Shad's post yet but I'm frightened to.

 

[Ribh]

It's getting hysterical. We're heading out in a moment so I went to check both lots of girls. Wrold is in a nesting box. Alpia was sharing with Luna. She knew Luna was laying & was waiting patiently. She looked @ me as I slid my hand under Luna & her beak was there before me rolling that egg towards herself. Luna got up in a huff & Alpia looked on in disbelief to find the egg had mysteriously disappeared!

 

[Ribh]

I haven't seen Shad's post yet but I'm frightened to.

His chickens are all fine.

 

[MaryJanet]

Today.
Hurry. I've had a lot of problems getting a good picture of her recently. This one isn't bad.
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Hurry is lovely looking hen!