Ribh's D'Coopage

[BY Bob]

Yes, I know, Bob ~ & I know it could also be so much worse. My girls aren't even being really mean, just ostracizing them, but I'm not set up for the long slow integrations I prefer & they couldn't be left with the littles. The littles should have a much easier time of it. It will be weeks before they join the tribe but of course everyone knows they're there. Most days I have to physically carry India & China down to the lawn where they can socialise with the Littles & enjoy the grass unharrassed. The big girls prefer to be under the fruit trees dustbathing & snoozing.

You are doing very well by them. I love having to carry chickens. It happens so infrequently that it is a real treat. Try to treasure these times.

 

[bruceha2000]

Gretel has again taken to thinking the "feed room" ladder from the lower (animal) part of the barn to the upper (tractor and storage of way too much junk) part is a good place to roost for the night. Thus every night for the last 2 weeks she has gotten a ride to the coop (right next to the "feed room", separated by hardware cloth). Thanks to @Shadrach suggestion on how to get a chicken on your hand/arm, it is really easy. She knows the drill, steps back onto my hand and steps off onto the roost when we get to the coop.

Or whose desk chair....
View attachment 3696335

You don't need a chair since you don't have a desk

 

[MaryJanet]

Gretel has again taken to thinking the "feed room" ladder from the lower (animal) part of the barn to the upper (tractor and storage of way too much junk) part is a good place to roost for the night. Thus every night for the last 2 weeks she has gotten a ride to the coop (right next to the "feed room", separated by hardware cloth). Thanks to @Shadrach suggestion on how to get a chicken on your hand/arm, it is really easy. She knows the drill, steps back onto my hand and steps off onto the roost when we get to the coop.


You don't need a chair since you don't have a desk

For me, Shadrach's approach to picking up a chicken was a game-changer!

 

[Ribh]

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Gretel has again taken to thinking the "feed room" ladder from the lower (animal) part of the barn to the upper (tractor and storage of way too much junk) part is a good place to roost for the night. Thus every night for the last 2 weeks she has gotten a ride to the coop (right next to the "feed room", separated by hardware cloth). Thanks to @Shadrach suggestion on how to get a chicken on your hand/arm, it is really easy. She knows the drill, steps back onto my hand and steps off onto the roost when we get to the coop.

The Shad method of removing outside perchers is widely used. My bantams would line up on the truss just outside the coop & wait for me to carry them in each evening.

 

[RoyalChick]

The Shad method of removing outside perchers is widely used. My bantams would line up on the truss just outside the coop & wait for me to carry them in each evening.

It’s like a queue at a taxi rank. They are just waiting for their ride.


Was it Portia braying like a donkey?!

 

[Ribh]

It’s like a queue at a taxi rank. They are just waiting for their ride.


Was it Portia braying like a donkey?!

Yep. Shockers! And yes, that's Portia. She's really noisy.

 

[BY Bob]

The Shad method of removing outside perchers is widely used. My bantams would line up on the truss just outside the coop & wait for me to carry them in each evening.

I just love that video.

 

[Ribh]

Ha'penny is the oldest hen in my tribe. She must be over 7 now & up until a month or so ago she was still laying regularly. Sure, some of her eggs were very thin shelled but most were ok.
Then suddenly there was nary an egg in sight from her. Her comb was still nicely red so I assumed she was hopping the fence & laying in the neighbour's garden. He went all over it with a fine tooth comb ~ no eggs. I think she is done.
She is the most experienced hen I have so worth her weight in feed ~ apart from the fact she is a very pretty girl indeed!

 

[Ribh]

These 2 are starting to grow up.
They have been hovering @ the door when I go to let everyone out & hang round the periphery as the big girls begin foraging but they are still tentative & reluctant to venture far from the coop as though it would disappear on them. Most days when I go to check on everyone they are huddled behind the nesting boxes.

As soon as the lawn is in shade I grab them & bring them down to the house where they feel safe but I've had to round them up & carry them back to the coop of an evening ~ until today.

Today Portia was honking @ the door anxious to get me moving towards the food bin. Portia knows the took~took call means come~&~get~it & was hot on my heels. To my surprise China & India followed her lead & all 3 made it back to the coop unaided. The new girls seem to have been accepted though so low on the totem pole they barely exist. Still, another step in the right direction!

 

[Ribh]

And this little girl is mostly all feathered out!

Now she is working on growing those muffs & beard!

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