So, I took a little longer than usual closing up tonight because I was doing on-roost inspections and thinking about which hens to cull when they molt and which pullets to sell as well as doing butt checks to see how close some of the pullets were to laying.^
The usual roost-time scuffles were taking place all around me, punctuated by the 11-week-olds getting shoved off the main roost by the adults and the 7-week-olds peeping as they organized themselves. Suddenly, I hear vigorous wings and a pullet lands on my shoulder.
Now I don't make cuddle-pets out of my chickens and don't have any outstandingly friendly ones right now. They gather around my feet in hopes of treats, but they're not lap-sitters and they don't solicit petting so this was a major surprise.
I got her out of my hair (which is hip-length and happened to be loose), and found that it was one of my new layers, a very nice dark blue who is on the "keep" list. So I petted her a bit and put her on the adult roost near some of the more docile hens who probably wouldn't peck her too much.
^Rameses, my 11-month cockerel, is remarkably calm about me butt-checking the Black Australorp pullet who was sitting right next to him despite her not exactly enjoying the procedure.
The usual roost-time scuffles were taking place all around me, punctuated by the 11-week-olds getting shoved off the main roost by the adults and the 7-week-olds peeping as they organized themselves. Suddenly, I hear vigorous wings and a pullet lands on my shoulder.
Now I don't make cuddle-pets out of my chickens and don't have any outstandingly friendly ones right now. They gather around my feet in hopes of treats, but they're not lap-sitters and they don't solicit petting so this was a major surprise.
I got her out of my hair (which is hip-length and happened to be loose), and found that it was one of my new layers, a very nice dark blue who is on the "keep" list. So I petted her a bit and put her on the adult roost near some of the more docile hens who probably wouldn't peck her too much.
^Rameses, my 11-month cockerel, is remarkably calm about me butt-checking the Black Australorp pullet who was sitting right next to him despite her not exactly enjoying the procedure.
