Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[ManueB]

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Her beak has grown pointy and too far out. At a point where it isn’t easy to use it properly for everything. There is enough opportunity to file her beak on a coarse stoop tile in the run by herself. Or use the whole terras for that purpose when they are free ranging, but Ini mini doesn’t. The other chickens often trim their beaks a bit after eating. I only use a file, no scissors or other tools.

Shad told me such pointy beaks are a common problem with old chickens.

It has to wait another day. She sneaked into the run with the pullets going to fetch a file. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to lock them all up so easily for the evening.

Thanks for explaining. I think I remember the discussion about that now.

She finished a molt a month ago so I think no to your question.

It is informative to know what happened with your ex-batts. Thanks. Yes, she is getting a calcium tablet everyday. Today she seems more active than yesterday. A normal person wouldn't have thought a thing but we know because she is slightly off from her usual self. Normally she is the chicken arrive first at treats/dinner, following you around, eating in the middle of bowl, very aggressive and good at getting any food.

I think she will be fine this time, but I feel the reproductive issue is slowing building up.

Honey
(I think I want to print this photo)
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Yes, it's very hard to see them all having these reproductive difficulties. I hope you can help her some. I think having a strong spirit and even some grit may also help her, actually.
I know it doesn't only happen to high production breeds, but it feels like when you have those in your flock, they all seem to have trouble from laying too often at some point. It makes us feel both powerless and guilty.

I agree with RC, it's a lovely picture, and would look very nice cropped and printed and framed. In the second one, she has an interesting food bob.
I printed a few Polaroid style of all my ex-batts and have all of them on the wall facing the toilet . It's fun watching them but I would also like to print and frame nicely some of the photos I prefer.
*******
It was warmer today but very nice, up to 26/78. There was a pretty light so I got slightly carried away taking pictures.

This morning I had a bit of a scare and was surprised by the rooster's behaviour. I heard the noise of Gaston chasing Théo, which has happened a lot these last few days as Théo keeps trying to mate Piou-piou and Léa. Then I heard that specific sound of serious trouble, so I ran out and found Theo was stuck upside down hanging from the netting, feet in the air and head toward the ground, his spur and foot completely wrapped in the netting. He was totally stuck and still, and Gaston was also frozen close to him. I was convinced Gaston would attack him or at least peck him so I ran to them, but it didn't happen, they were both totally still. I got Théo out and carried him away from Gaston. When I put him down I was worried he would be hurt or at least shocked but he was completely fine.
I had to leave then to collect the cheese for an hour and a half and I hoped he wouldn't get into trouble again. All was fine when I came back.

I had another little scare : Léa began choking on a grain (I think- she was eating) and she took a very long time to get back to normal. I’ve noticed that some of the chickens have been doing that quite often recently , and also they have the equivalent of a hiccup when they are not doing anything special.

Otherwise it was a nice day but we are having again a lot of raptors, and the chickens didn't wander as far as they usually do and stayed close to the house and the chicken yard.
Nieva’s feet are not better than two days ago, but not worse either. I hope to see some more progress soon.

Annette

Lulu

A good dust bathing session

We’ve been eating melons from the garden for ten days now- very late. Some are good, and some are very good.

This one was very good in Lily's opinion.

Kara

Laure

Annette

I’ve found a great place to lay.

Merle

Kara saw a gallicus hawk while bathing.

 

[BDutch]

I know it doesn't only happen to high production breeds, but it feels like when you have those in your flock, they all seem to have trouble from laying too often at some point. It makes us feel both powerless and guilty.

Possibly you made the right conclusion. I had similar issues with the naine de Tournaisis I had. Maybe inbreeding was part of the problem. It could have been a coincidence too that their deaths made me compare this breed with the production breeds.

Both my hens died at around 3.5-4 years old. One with a laying disorder (internal infextion) as described by more people with laying hybrids. The other one was a sudden death.

 

[Molpet]

Thanks for explaining. I think I remember the discussion about that now.

Yes, it's very hard to see them all having these reproductive difficulties. I hope you can help her some. I think having a strong spirit and even some grit may also help her, actually.
I know it doesn't only happen to high production breeds, but it feels like when you have those in your flock, they all seem to have trouble from laying too often at some point. It makes us feel both powerless and guilty.

I agree with RC, it's a lovely picture, and would look very nice cropped and printed and framed. In the second one, she has an interesting food bob.
I printed a few Polaroid style of all my ex-batts and have all of them on the wall facing the toilet . It's fun watching them but I would also like to print and frame nicely some of the photos I prefer.
*******
It was warmer today but very nice, up to 26/78. There was a pretty light so I got slightly carried away taking pictures.

This morning I had a bit of a scare and was surprised by the rooster's behaviour. I heard the noise of Gaston chasing Théo, which has happened a lot these last few days as Théo keeps trying to mate Piou-piou and Léa. Then I heard that specific sound of serious trouble, so I ran out and found Theo was stuck upside down hanging from the netting, feet in the air and head toward the ground, his spur and foot completely wrapped in the netting. He was totally stuck and still, and Gaston was also frozen close to him. I was convinced Gaston would attack him or at least peck him so I ran to them, but it didn't happen, they were both totally still. I got Théo out and carried him away from Gaston. When I put him down I was worried he would be hurt or at least shocked but he was completely fine.
I had to leave then to collect the cheese for an hour and a half and I hoped he wouldn't get into trouble again. All was fine when I came back.

I had another little scare : Léa began choking on a grain (I think- she was eating) and she took a very long time to get back to normal. I’ve noticed that some of the chickens have been doing that quite often recently , and also they have the equivalent of a hiccup when they are not doing anything special.

Otherwise it was a nice day but we are having again a lot of raptors, and the chickens didn't wander as far as they usually do and stayed close to the house and the chicken yard.
Nieva’s feet are not better than two days ago, but not worse either. I hope to see some more progress soon.

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Annette
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Lulu
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A good dust bathing session
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We’ve been eating melons from the garden for ten days now- very late. Some are good, and some are very good.
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This one was very good in Lily's opinion.
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Kara
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Laure
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Annette
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I’ve found a great place to lay.
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Merle
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Kara saw a gallicus hawk while bathing.
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You know we are going to ask the story behind the skull

 

[Perris]

Laure

that's a terrific photo of her

Annette

she has really green legs!
They're both very pretty.

 

[Shadrach]

If there was a contest for most stupid chicken keeper of the year, I would have a good chance to win. I discovered this morning a lice infestation on Alba while tending her feet. I’m so dumb sometimes ! I’ve always read to check vent, under feathers and the neck, and that's what I do religiously. I think I check most of the chickens at least twice a week, except the roosters a bit less. But I thought the neck meant the part above the body, from under the crest to the beginning of the wings. And the lice are all on the opposite side !!! As in ...under the head ! I was kind of wondering why every time I spotted a louse on one of my chickens, I only ever saw one at a time. Sure, I wasn't looking in the right place . I saw the lone wanderer away from the hoard.
I sprayed half the chickens tonight and i’ll do the rest tomorrow, and again in four days.

And Nieva went to the vet with my partner. She prescribed an antibiotic , a bacteriostat cream and an anti-inflammatory. She said it didn't look too good.

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Chipie, after five hours screaming and dragging Théo all around the place, chose her new nest.Guess I won't be using the umbrella for a while.
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Looking fierce...View attachment 3619228
That's more like him. Looking goofy.
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Gaston tried to convince Piou-piou to lay in the cage rather than in the vine.
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Piou-piou terrorises Chipie.
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If the lice are around the eyes and ears, I pour a little of the treatment (permethrine usully) into a bowl and then dip a cotton bud in the liquid and dab around the eyes and ears.

 

[ManueB]

You know we are going to ask the story behind the skull

There isn't one, really. When we come upon clean nice whole skulls running or hiking in the mountains, we usually bring them back home, so there are a few around the house. That's a sheep's skull. Maybe i’m a weirdo but I like skulls. I don't like hunting trophies, though.

If the lice are around the eyes and ears, I pour a little of the treatment (permethrine usully) into a bowl and then dip a cotton bud in the liquid and dab around the eyes and ears.

Not in this case, but when she was broody Léa had several times tiny ticks clinging to her face (not sure if they were ticks or stick tight fleas. They looked like tiny ticks). I pulled them off but I guess I could have applied some product with a cotton bud.

that's a terrific photo of her
she has really green legs!
They're both very pretty.

I certainly didn't expect such fancy feathers from my neighbours eggs. While I find his roo very beautiful, all his hens I’ve seen are just black or brown, with no pattern. I don't think they are a specific breed, either.
**********
It was another very nice day, and the chickens spent most of it dust bathing and just lying stretching in the sun. Because of the worm issue, i’ve stopped watering the chicken's yard and now it's very dry and dusty. As they almost always stay on the same side of the laurel tree, that half is really worn out. I would have thought they'd enjoy the other side under the coop better- it's got more trees and bushes and is less in sight from aerial predators. Yesterday and today the three bald eagles flew close by.
More and more chickens are loosing feathers and beginning to grow shaft feathers on their neck. I even saw a shaft feather for the first time on Piou-piou 's back. I really hope that she will actually moult and grow feathers again.

Merle loudly let it know today that she was thinking about laying again. Théo really tried to take the opportunity to find her a nest. She followed him around for a bit with ho enthusiasm. However, Annette was intent on following the two of them and very interested to see what they were doing . Théo could have some success with the pullets, if he manages to refrain from being a jerk.

Before Laure jumped.

Pied beau

Sweet Lily. She broke a nail somehow. I only saw it today and there’s no bleeding, no wound, the nail is just gone.

White rooster

Not so white anymore.

Merle

Nougat going in the run for a sun stretch

Cannelle got pecked on the comb, probably from Théo trying to mate her. She spent again half an hour in the nest without laying this morning, and making laying sounds.

 

[MaryJanet]

Maybe i’m a weirdo but I like skulls.

I like the memento mori aspect of a skull.

 

[MaryJanet]

for Piou Piou's feathers.

 

[Molpet]

There isn't one, really. When we come upon clean nice whole skulls running or hiking in the mountains, we usually bring them back home, so there are a few around the house. That's a sheep's skull. Maybe i’m a weirdo but I like skulls. I don't like hunting trophies, though.

Lol
I picked up a bunch of deer bones in the pasture and brought them up to the house recently. . Not sure what I'm going to do with them. I have a planter with a few smaller skulls.

 

[RoyalChick]

Lol
I picked up a bunch of deer bones in the pasture and brought them up to the house recently. . Not sure what I'm going to do with them. I have a planter with a few smaller skulls.

I also have a collection. A few skulls and lots of bones. I am never sure where to put them so I keep coming across them as I move them into different plant pots.