Ribh's D'Coopage

[BY Bob]

Oh he is thriving!
Thank you for asking. He is full of beans and has been catching mice in the house (thank you Nightshade). No issues it seems - no infection, no bleeding, no choking, and the histology was benign. I cannot tell you how happy I am that he did so well as I really thought I would lose him.

Just a marvelous outcome!

 

[Ribh]

For those of you wondering why my birds went ballistic over a bird that's basically a sort of magpie...
This chick was nearly as big as it is. Figure it was too heavy for it to carry much further & the currawong pretty much dropped this @ my feet. Not impressed. Poor thing was 1/2way through a moult.
Not sure what it is but 2 doors down they have barred something or others. Maybe a Rock of some sort or a Dominique or Delaware; not even sure we have those in Oz. I do know it's very, very large.
So yes, Currawongs can & do kill even quite large chicks so you can see why my lot were not impressed & why the mamas are keeping the chicks close to home until they are much bigger.

Spoiler

 

[BY Bob]

Happy caturday. 2 comatose large cats. Mrs BY Bob is not happy I'm showing the messy house but we were in the midst of cleaning when they decided to block the floor.

 

[notabitail]

Happy caturday. 2 comatose large cats. Mrs BY Bob is not happy I'm showing the messy house but we were in the midst of cleaning when they decided to block the floor.

View attachment 3983628

How did you get that US Mail box?

Also, give it to the cats.

 

[RoyalChick]

Happy caturday. 2 comatose large cats. Mrs BY Bob is not happy I'm showing the messy house but we were in the midst of cleaning when they decided to block the floor.

View attachment 3983628

I don’t see any mess.

 

[fuentemoon]

Happy caturday. 2 comatose large cats. Mrs BY Bob is not happy I'm showing the messy house but we were in the midst of cleaning when they decided to block the floor.

View attachment 3983628

That's why I crop most photos so much

 

[BDutch]

That's why I crop most photos so much View attachment 3983750View attachment 3983751

Thats why I (usually) don’t have pets or chickens in the house.

Especially not the neighbours pet.

 

[BDutch]

A strange cat came to finish the yoghurt I put outside for the chickens.

 

[Ribh]

The chicks are growing nicely though there is some confusion about who exactly is mama.​

The frizzling is showing up nicely here.​

 

[Ribh]

As Shad pointed out a while back my lot have gone through some major changes recently. While we were still in a state of flux it was hard to gauge exactly what changes have or have not occurred. Things have settled & I have had time to observe the tribe.

The first & most obvious change is the tribe has quite discernibly split in two. There is Leonard & the big girls, then there are the bantams & the chicks. All the big girls are willing to mate with Leonard. None of the bantams are. He did try with Wrold but she gave him what for & he hasn't tried again.

The mamas take it in turns as to who goes out to forage & who stays in the coop with the chicks. The big girls will forage far & wide ~ as far & wide as fences & Leonard will allow them. The mamas stay close by the chicks even if they are separated by wire.

I am also seeing far more fighting. I have put this down to shifting dynamics in the pecking order due to the arrival of the chicks. Chavi, who was bottom, has gone up in status; China & India have gone down. Alpia has made it plain now she is a mama she deserves respect from all & sundry.

Leonard has fitted in beautifully & is happy to share rooster duties with me ~ particularly when the chicks are out. The big girls will take the opportunity to invade the coop & Leonard is torn between keeping an eye on his harem & the safety of the chicks & mamas. He relaxes once he sees I am standing guard over the babies.

The big girls seem to have accepted the presence of the babies but show very little interest in them. They are far more interested in the chick feed than the chicks themselves. Greedy gutses!