Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

That is his favorite spot isn't it!

Not quite. He likes to lie next to me but in summer it gets too hot. The top of the lounge is his 2nd option, then the floor in the breezeway.

 

[Ribh]

Who needs a rooster...lol...as I said your girls are characters! Hopefully the neighbors didn't notice!

Crossed on that one ~ especially when I own Patricia who looks & stands like a rooster but has been laying large brown eggs for the past 4 years!

 

[drstratton]

Crossed on that one ~ especially when I own Patricia who looks & stands like a rooster but has been laying large brown eggs for the past 4 years!

At this point, I think it's safe to assume Patricia is a hen...

 

[Ribh]

The big girls weren't in any hurry to go to bed tonight. Mind you, the top rail is incredibly squishy. They are squeezing 14 up there most nights. Only the lowest ranked girls are on the 2nd rail: Gloriana; Portia; Desdemona. Desdemona is right @ the bottom. I'm keeping an eye on her to make sure she gets enough to eat but so far she seems to be doing ok.

I'm opening the gate early. With no~one broody everyone can come & go to lay & they are choosing the nesting boxes. This means everyone is getting plenty of space most of the time & I have had very few issues.

Today was a little weird. I let the girls out early & they were all happily rummaging in the run ~ almost unheard of. Usually somebody [looking @ you Aoife!] jumps the fence & I'm on round up duty but nope. Everyone was as good as gold. I heard the alarm go up but ignored it. The girls alarm @ all sort of things, mostly nothing ,& after a few moments of alertness everyone goes about their business. When the commotion didn't die down but became frantic I went out to investigate. No~idea what they'd seen but every single chook was in the pen. The Littlies had gone to roost as high as they could go & the Big Girls were in a huddle screaming about whatever it was. Probably not a hawk as they seemed more intent on the bushes outside the pen so my best guess is a monitor lizard or snake, probably lizard. It took a good 20 minutes before Soda deemed it safe to lead everyone back into the run & they stayed close to safety all day.

 

[drstratton]

The big girls weren't in any hurry to go to bed tonight. Mind you, the top rail is incredibly squishy. They are squeezing 14 up there most nights. Only the lowest ranked girls are on the 2nd rail: Gloriana; Portia; Desdemona. Desdemona is right @ the bottom. I'm keeping an eye on her to make sure she gets enough to eat but so far she seems to be doing ok.

I'm opening the gate early. With no~one broody everyone can come & go to lay & they are choosing the nesting boxes. This means everyone is getting plenty of space most of the time & I have had very few issues.

Today was a little weird. I let the girls out early & they were all happily rummaging in the run ~ almost unheard of. Usually somebody [looking @ you Aoife!] jumps the fence & I'm on round up duty but nope. Everyone was as good as gold. I heard the alarm go up but ignored it. The girls alarm @ all sort of things, mostly nothing ,& after a few moments of alertness everyone goes about their business. When the commotion didn't die down but became frantic I went out to investigate. No~idea what they'd seen but every single chook was in the pen. The Littlies had gone to roost as high as they could go & the Big Girls were in a huddle screaming about whatever it was. Probably not a hawk as they seemed more intent on the bushes outside the pen so my best guess is a monitor lizard or snake, probably lizard. It took a good 20 minutes before Soda deemed it safe to lead everyone back into the run & they stayed close to safety all day.
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No broody's that's great news Jehane! I'm glad that whatever spooked them disappeared, hopefully it stays gone! It's great that they are so alert to their surroundings and the littlies listen to the older girls when danger is around...real or imagined!

 

[RoyalChick]

Isn't the ground frozen? How would they get in now?

No they aren’t getting in now, and even before the freeze I have gone for weeks without any.
But there are still a couple of places where joins between pieces of hardware cloth could allow for mouse entry at ground level. The mice haven’t found them yet but I have become super paranoid and am not leaving anything to chance!

 

[RoyalChick]

The egg cups are sold out. I think you got the last ones! Mrs BY Bob is jealous now.

I am sure they will be back.

 

[RoyalChick]

OK. I'll let you know when I've got hold of a copy. My library probably holds a copy but I'd best order my own on~line. I can see me being super slow on this one.

I will try and join you both in this journey (test?). I have never got through one either. But maybe with age I will find it easier.

 

[RoyalChick]

I have ordered a copy from Book Depository [free postage! ] they are normally pretty fast.

I am late to the table but am fine trailing behind.

 

[RoyalChick]

Would you like to join this insanity, @BY Bob? It's probably not your thing but I'd hate to exclude anyone interested & I'm sure MJ wouldn't mind.

I am in but need to see if I have a copy or order one now. Don’t want to hold you up though.