Stunning pictures as usual Manue!!! I was surprised that I could name all the chickens on the cinderblock roost pole thing.Today was a beautiful day, until half past three when the wind started blowing and turned into something crazy. We have been relatively spared this summer, but we usually have a lot of really bad wind in the afternoon.
But the first part of the day was wonderful and sunny. The most adventurous chickens dustbathed outside though it is still wet, and almost all of them enjoyed the sun. Cannelle is unwell since yesterday, so she stayed with Blanche most of the time under the laurel tree, but they did come out a bit in the morning to forage. I’m not sure if it's molting or something else ; last year she was really doing poorly throughout her molt and I kept thinking she was going to die, but she ended up fine with beautiful new feathers. Also I noticed she is getting poopy butt again. It's going to be very difficult to clean her ; last time I managed, but she wasn't molting, and I had to hold her in a towel. I cleaned Lilly and Kara today but I didn't feel up to doing Cannelle. Maybe Sunday my partner can help me.
Since yesterday also, Gaston is beginning to be more stern with Pied-Beau, who is been totally boorish trying to tread every hen around right under Gaston's eye. Well, he has to learn some manners, and it will do him good to get chased off a bit. The younger hens aren't really afraid of him, just annoyed, but apart from the ex-batts, Chipie and of course Piou-piou and Merle really fear him. And for the ex-batts, life has become hell whenever he is around ; they are utterly terrified, even when he does nothing. Cannelle who didn't really care up to now is also acting scared, probably because she doesn't feel well enough to run away from him.
The wind was so bad that I was afraid for the chickens and brought the more fragile in the run. I was hoping they would go to roost early, but it was a bit hectic as all three roosters were around at the same time. Usually it works out and I help them a bit if Théo goes to roost much earlier while Gaston isn't watching, then Pied Beau, and Gaston last. But they were all scared of the wind, and wanting to shelter so it was more complicated. Then the younger pullets had zoomies for a while longer and Annette decided to roost on her own. And Merle tried to go back to the old barn to sit on her nest, but I had locked it because of the wind, so she came back to the coop .
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Cannelle and Blanche came out a bit in the morning
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Annette
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Since we finished the fencing it's possible now to go all the way around behind the old houses. Annette was the first to try it out.
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Kara laid normally this morning ! Well, not back to the eggs she laid before her problem but not egg bound or softshell.
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Pied-Beau and Gaston bathed close to each other !
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Léa. She is acting very tired from the molt.
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Blanche pretending to dust bathe between Nieva and Alba.
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Pied-Beau making broody Merle nervous.
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Mélisse spent some time with Théo's team even though they all drive her away whenever she comes too close.
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Blanche
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