Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[BDutch]

And toward 6 this morning Lulu made noises that sounded more like à egg song and less like a pig/duck , and I found a cute little egg on the floor again .

Miss Piggy laying an egg on the dance floor .
I once read that someone had a similar problem and resolved it by putting a nestbox (carton) on the spot where the chicken laid her eggs.
If I remember correctly the person moved the box a few inches every day to the corner to resolve the problem.

 

[ManueB]

Drown in a cup of tea is an interesting phrase. Rather evocative.
Does it mean making too much of things that are actually small?
The closest I can think of in English are ‘to make a mountain out of a molehill’ and ‘it is a storm in a teacup’.
The French phrase conjures up more about being personally overwhelmed which neither of the English ones I could think of quite do justice to.

I think both English expressions are very nice too!
By the way, it seems I had it wrong and invented a bit- my partner told me the french drown in a glass of water and apparently he’s right ! I always thought it was in a cup of tea !

I am a very stressed person too. I've been stressed out about not producing enough research, stressed out about my toxic work environment, and stressed out about my dad's health. But everyone has something to deal with. In all fairness, I am doing all right.

My chickens are doing well! They are happy chickens. If there is any problem, it is Honey who gives us almost one egg per day.

Well, that seems good news for the chickens ! Less so that you are worrying about work and about your dad.
I guess the amount of stress we feel isn't always related to how much stressful event happen to us. It's a mix of what life gives us and who we are.

I think I am not a particularly stressed person - but I do find chickens and cats are both very good for stress.
If I sit outside with the chickens I find a lot of peace. I find their little noises particularly soothing.

I know many people feel like this. Overall I think I agree but I also spend a lot of time worrying about my chickens ! My cats are more relaxing.

Miss Piggy laying an egg on the dance floor .
I once read that someone had a similar problem and resolved it by putting a nestbox (carton) on the spot where the chicken laid her eggs.
If I remember correctly the person moved the box a few inches every day to the corner to resolve the problem.

It's her second egg only, so I don't want to stress her. I don't mind if my chickens lay on the floor as long as it's not under the roosts : she had made herself a little nest behind a brick, so the egg was quite protected.
*************
We had very strange weather. The morning began horribly as there was a storm of warm wind that blew inside the stove, sent all the smoke in and showered the room in soot while we were having breakfast at 5, as my partner was working today. It was 13/55 outside ! Then the whole day alternated violent warm winds, rain or melted snow showers, and periods of calm blue sky that only lasted for ten minutes. The chickens were puzzled, they all wanted to be outside because it was warm but the wind was so strong it dragged them around, even Gaston was struggling! So they spent a good part of the day under the laurel tree and came out as soon as it calmed down. I was hesitant to lock them up but though it was strong wind, it wasn't strong to the point of having big branches falling over, and they had a rather good day.



Kara didn't lay, but her behaviour was very active, so I think she wasn't having a problem. It was so warm she chased tiny grasshoppers, her favourite past time.



At roost time, for the first time in quite a while Gaston found himself on the ex-batt's side of the roost. I’m not sure if he did it on purpose or if he got stuck unwillingly by climbing too late, when usually the ex-batts go to bed after him. Next to him were Léa and Cannelle ; Cannelle began pecking Léa trying to throw her out... and got a beating by Gaston.

It's funny that during the day, he usually doesn't intervene in squabbles as when he does, it's always very peacefully and skilfully but at roost time he doesn't tolerate anything next to him.

Théo is now more and more on his own again ; Merle doesn't want him anymore, and I think Piou-piou and him are both a bit fed up of each other.

Mélisse trying to nap in spite of the wind

Cannelle is beginning to look good !

Hibou trying to come up and escape Kara's attention.

Merle didn't lay and didn't sit today .

Lilly. I didn't hear back from the vet, hope she answers tomorrow.

Kara

Lilly

This is where I used to put fermented grains for Théo and he threw the barley out because he didn't like it. The grains have sprouted and now he nibbles on the fodder. I was surprised to see fermented grains sprout.

Annette is Piou-piou’s younger soul sister- she keeps wandering alone and doesn't pay attention to the rooster.

Blanche is also beginning to look better.

Big gentle guy and tiny bossy lady.

 

[MaryJanet]

I am a very stressed person too. I've been stressed out about not producing enough research, stressed out about my toxic work environment,

Did you hear about the wage theft crisis in Australian universities? Several unis have been obliged by the courts to pay millions to staff for previously unpaid work going back many years. Other cases are ongoing.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...ight-wage-theft-cases-still-ongoing/ssx16ok48

It's had a marvelous effect on my workload, which has only 6 days unpaid work next year!

However, they have shifted focus to reducing opportunities for promotion.

 

[Perris]

This is where I used to put fermented grains for Théo and he threw the barley out because he didn't like it. The grains have sprouted and now he nibbles on the fodder. I was surprised to see fermented grains sprout.

I'm surprised too; I guess the conditions were just right for it to sprout in the ground more or less immediately after it landed! Anyway, lucky bonus harvest, and one that's probably even more nutritious than the fermented whole grain was

 

[RoyalChick]

Did you hear about the wage theft crisis in Australian universities? Several unis have been obliged by the courts to pay millions to staff for previously unpaid work going back many years. Other cases are ongoing.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...ight-wage-theft-cases-still-ongoing/ssx16ok48

It's had a marvelous effect on my workload, which has only 6 days unpaid work next year!

However, they have shifted focus to reducing opportunities for promotion.

I am not sure I fully understood the wage theft issue and how that impacts your workload. Is it an unpaid 'overtime' issue?

 

[MaryJanet]

I am not sure I fully understood the wage theft issue and how that impacts your workload. Is it an unpaid 'overtime' issue?

University managements have become very careful very quickly in response to wage theft being revealed. In 2022, I was allocated more than I could manage and ended up with 800 unread emails. In 2023, the teaching load effectively halved, in 2024 teaching will be even lighter with more support. That means I'll have more time for research and attention to detail.

I haven't read the details of the cases but I imagine unpaid overtime is one factor. Unrealistic timelines for marking would be in the mix too.

I saw a research colleague in Sydney and he suddenly has teaching only in half the year, enabling him to conduct far more research.

 

[RoyalChick]

University managements have become very careful very quickly in response to wage theft being revealed. In 2022, I was allocated more than I could manage and ended up with 800 unread emails. In 2023, the teaching load effectively halved, in 2024 teaching will be even lighter with more support. That means I'll have more time for research and attention to detail.

I haven't read the details of the cases but I imagine unpaid overtime is one factor. Unrealistic timelines for marking would be in the mix too.

I saw a research colleague in Sydney and he suddenly has teaching only in half the year, enabling him to conduct far more research.

Very interesting. Well good for you!
Mind you, I am massively unimpressed by 800 unread e-mails. Before I retired my unread e-mails were in the thousands (I forget but maybe 10,000).
Even now I think I have 7,000 unread e-mails! Some of those are left over from when I was working so probably exaggerate the issue since retirement somewhat.
A good portion of those can be deleted without reading - if only I had the time to delete them!

 

[MaryJanet]

Very interesting. Well good for you!
Mind you, I am massively unimpressed by 800 unread e-mails. Before I retired my unread e-mails were in the thousands (I forget but maybe 10,000).
Even now I think I have 7,000 unread e-mails! Some of those are left over from when I was working so probably exaggerate the issue since retirement somewhat.
A good portion of those can be deleted without reading - if only I had the time to delete them!

Long ago we all agreed to respond to emails within a 24 hour window, so I'm in the habit of clearing email every day. So in my case 800 unread was a reliable indicator of overwork. Many of them were deletable, others were from colleagues, admins and students.

 

[lightm]

Here is a video of Light coming down stairs. The chickens are used to go up and down the decks outside but inside stairs are more slippery and each step is narrower.

Light has always been afraid of the indoor stairs, but she did a good job here!

 

[MaryJanet]

Here is a video of Light coming down stairs. The chickens are used to go up and down the decks outside but inside stairs are more slippery and each step is narrower.

Light has always been afraid of the indoor stairs, but she did a good job here!

She handled that really well!