Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[ManueB]

Poor Canelle. Have you been treating her pain?

No, I haven't, because yesterday was actually the first day she looked like she was in pain and not just tired or lethargic. Today she was like that again for about half of the day, so maybe we should. She is our most flighty hen so I have no hope whatsoever of administrating treatment with a syringe but I have some Metacam I can probably mix in with an egg or tuna. However I'm not sure for how long it's possible to keep her on Metacam. If it's not just molting but actually EYP or another reproductive disease, she doesn't look like she is going to die anytime soon, it could last for one or two months or more .

I feel the same. I use the word dreamy because I daydream a different life when I look at them.
I am happy with my life as it is and count myself to be exceptionally fortunate, but still - the mountains, the old farmhouse - everything really!

Coming to live here meant switching to a completely different world. We had been spending more and more times on weekends and holidays, but it's not the same. It's a travel back in time, partly because of the old family house, like you MJ, partly because this village has stayed very much like it was in the seventies. It's not beautiful like other villages around, there are no shops, bars, and not even a bakery, so it completely escaped tourism and stayed poor and agricultural.
But even with the beautiful landscapes most of our visitors say they love it for a few days but could never live here for real .

 

[ManueB]

Today began with a foggy beautiful morning and an epic chase- Théo went after each of the four young chickens one by one. There was a moment when Gaston chased Chipie and got caught up by Théo chasing him. A lot of running around while the ex-batts were wondering what was going on.

After that things calmed down. The smaller chickens stayed outside most of the day, though I was surprised they napped inside the coop after lunch. Brune and Nougat both laid in the pet carrier in the run, which I prefer than laying outside or in one of the nests they have trouble reaching in the coop.
And Cannelle didn't look better than yesterday. I gave her a scrambled egg to see if she would eat it, she gobbled it up, but seemed in pain afterwards and had some worrying poops. She didn't come running after the grapes I gave them which is a definite red flag. She is still loosing heaps of feathers and pecking them all the time so I still have a small hope it's discomfort from molting.

Morning vibes

Grochatila didn't bother

Piou-piou again

Cannelle eating a scrambled egg

In the evening

 

[MaryJanet]

an epic chase- Théo went after each of the four young chickens one by one. There was a moment when Gaston chased Chipie and got caught up by Théo chasing him. A lot of running around while the ex-batts were wondering what was going on.

I pictured it so clearly, I started laughing! Chipie, Théo and Gaston zooming around

 

[lightm]

Before we came to live here I was addicted to sports, rock climbing then triathlon and ultra trail running. That induced behaviours and actions which would have been called nuts by many, even though I sometimes shared those with small groups of friends. In regard, being obsessed with chicken tv is pretty reasonable and harmless, even if somewhat more lonely and misunderstood .

I'm afraid Chipie isn't looking for love, but for power. She wants a rooster she can dominate. I'm pretty sure she'll go back to Théo now Gaston has broken the spell!

She never realized how small she is. She took on all of my six ex-batts like this when she arrived here, and they never forgave her !

You know, Chipie makes me think that being small can be an advantage in fighting if used well. She was so quick and kept changing her attacking angles. It almost seems like Gaston was fighting 2 or 3 Chipies at the same time.

 

[lightm]

My partner spent more time working on the run today. He finished the cover part, pretty much on his own. We have also cleaned the water canal, inserted tubes and began pouring concrete. Tomorrow we will finish pouring concrete in the canal to insert the weldmesh in it and close the run. We will still have to fill the parts that are opened to the sky with netting or mesh and to make a new door.

The chickens stayed rather quiet today. The noise my partner made working worried them. We did have a crowing competition in the morning and chasing around between Théo and Gastounet, and some roosting drama tonight. Chipie didn't want anyone next to her, so she pecked Merle and Gaston until Gaston threw her off the roost. Then she went to the first roost she used to sleep on, in front of the coop, but she didn't like that. So she forced her way back on the roost next to Léa, who's the sweetest of the youngest and so the lower in the pecking order, and bullied her pecking her again and again... until they all fell asleep.

Théo standing guard while Nougat lays in the pet carrier outside. ( It used to be in the run).
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It was another sunny day.. temperature up to 27/80° .
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Théo is now molting from the neck after loosing his whole tail !
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Gastounet spent much of the day on his own. Pondering over female behaviour ?View attachment 3296609
Progress on the run
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In the evening View attachment 3296612

Very nice work on the run. The roof looks so good.

 

[ManueB]

I didn't have much time to take pictures today. We worked on securing the run this afternoon and of course it took a lot more time than we planned for (and some ugly words between my partner and me). We ended up doing a lot of temporary things so that we can leave tomorrow.
Théo chased Gaston pretty bad, and Cannelle is getting worse. She is loosing tons of feathers, so that may have something to do with it, but I'm pretty sure by now it's not only that. We will start giving her Metacam the day after tomorrow if she doesn't improve. I don't like leaving the chickens locked up in the unfinished run when she's in this state, but we're doing my birthday tomorrow with my parents and my brother that I haven't seen in 18 months so I can't postpone.

 

[MaryJanet]

Happy Birthday for tomorrow!

 

[RoyalChick]

Happy Birthday for tomorrow!

I thought it was last week. I am confused.
Maybe @ManueB has two birthdays like the Queen used to have.

 

[ManueB]

I thought it was last week. I am confused.
Maybe @ManueB has two birthdays like the Queen used to have.

My birthday was on the 6. We just picked a date when my brother could be there as we haven't seen each other in such a long time .

 

[MaryJanet]

My birthday was on the 6. We just picked a date when my brother could be there as we haven't seen each other in such a long time .

Hmmm should I delete my wishes for your happiness? No, best not