Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[ManueB]

We finally had a little rain this afternoon!

In the morning the sky was blue though. It was still a bit tense between the two teams - Léa and Merle going in the run to get to the ex-batt's feeders and Gaston coming after them, scaring the ex-batts. But I left them to their own devices and didn't hear any real fighting.

It was Piou-piou's last day of antibiotics and the day we let her return to her usual life. Her wound still has a fragile crust in the middle, but it looks pretty good. I was surprised to see that although she immediately took her place back in her team as first lady, she came several times to me during the day, looking for treats, but also when she couldn't find Gaston. It made my heart melt when it started to rain and she tried to come inside our house. It's incredible how much her relationship to us has changed. I hope it will work out for her to stay with Gaston .

Although Brune had a good morning, foraging and dustbathing, she didn't look good in the afternoon and her crop felt empty again before roost time, so I gave her some rice, cereals and mackerel, but she didn't eat all of it. Gaston is flirting with her like crazy and she tends to freeze when he makes the flapping wing moves at her, I'm not sure if she is terrified or just shy.

When it began to rain, both teams wanted to shelter in the run and there was a rather violent fight between the roosters, but it only lasted for half a minute. I'm beginning to hope that they might be able to share their space after all. They have very different tempers. Théo is extremely aggressive toward Gaston, but he couldn't care less for Gaston's hens; he will eventually chase them away. Gaston, on the other hand, is constantly trying to steal Théo's pullets but he is not interested in fighting and only acts aggressive when Léa or Merle have crossed the netting inside the chicken's yard.

Early morning

Creature from hell. Not a cute broody .

Brune dustbathing

Grochatila was wondering what Léa was doing on her own.

Looking for trouble...

Rooster kung-fu

Last day of antibiotics. Mackerel is very effective to hide kids antibiotics artificial aromas (vanilla, cherry and banana all in one ).

But she may have acquired some bad habits.

 

[RoyalChick]

I could be wrong, but I felt sure that she was depressed. Her wound is looking pretty good, though not completely healed. So we decided to let her out for the rest of the afternoon

So glad to hear this. I am sure it is the right decision.
She might open the wound up a bit - but it will be much smaller and you can clean it if that happens.
Mental health is very important in healing!

 

[MaryJanet]

We finally had a little rain this afternoon!

In the morning the sky was blue though. It was still a bit tense between the two teams - Léa and Merle going in the run to get to the ex-batt's feeders and Gaston coming after them, scaring the ex-batts. But I left them to their own devices and didn't hear any real fighting.

It was Piou-piou's last day of antibiotics and the day we let her return to her usual life. Her wound still has a fragile crust in the middle, but it looks pretty good. I was surprised to see that although she immediately took her place back in her team as first lady, she came several times to me during the day, looking for treats, but also when she couldn't find Gaston. It made my heart melt when it started to rain and she tried to come inside our house. It's incredible how much her relationship to us has changed. I hope it will work out for her to stay with Gaston .

Although Brune had a good morning, foraging and dustbathing, she didn't look good in the afternoon and her crop felt empty again before roost time, so I gave her some rice, cereals and mackerel, but she didn't eat all of it. Gaston is flirting with her like crazy and she tends to freeze when he makes the flapping wing moves at her, I'm not sure if she is terrified or just shy.

When it began to rain, both teams wanted to shelter in the run and there was a rather violent fight between the roosters, but it only lasted for half a minute. I'm beginning to hope that they might be able to share their space after all. They have very different tempers. Théo is extremely aggressive toward Gaston, but he couldn't care less for Gaston's hens; he will eventually chase them away. Gaston, on the other hand, is constantly trying to steal Théo's pullets but he is not interested in fighting and only acts aggressive when Léa or Merle have crossed the netting inside the chicken's yard.

Early morning
View attachment 3475018
View attachment 3475021
Creature from hell. Not a cute broody .
View attachment 3475023
Brune dustbathing
View attachment 3475024
View attachment 3475032
Grochatila was wondering what Léa was doing on her own.
View attachment 3475033
Looking for trouble...
View attachment 3475004
Rooster kung-fu
View attachment 3475011
Last day of antibiotics. Mackerel is very effective to hide kids antibiotics artificial aromas (vanilla, cherry and banana all in one ).
View attachment 3475017
But she may have acquired some bad habits.
View attachment 3475015

View attachment 3474999

You must be so relieved to be at the end of Piou-Piou's treatment. She's a sweetheart.

 

[ManueB]

You must be so relieved to be at the end of Piou-Piou's treatment. She's a sweetheart.

Yes, relieved, but also worried to see if she can stay with Gaston without getting injured again.
She certainly is a sweetheart, but she also has a will of iron. She was a runt that I thought would not survive, and she has become first lady by terrorizing the other two pullets and becoming Gaston's first favorite.

 

[BDutch]

Thanks ManueB and all supporters and contributors for your concerns, views on healthcare and aging hens over the last weeks. I ‘enjoyed’ * reading it. In the meantime I have my for Brune and
Piou-piou

I’m still catching up from here:

Brune is better and ate more of what she ate yesterday. She even dustbathed a little and chased small grasshoppers ! Piou-piou's wound is ok but she has begun sneezing, I hope it's nothing serious..

* Enjoy is not the right word. It’s interesting with concern too. The right word that hits the nail doesn’t pop up.

 

[ManueB]

Thanks ManueB and all supporters and contributors for your concerns, views on healthcare and aging hens over the last weeks. I ‘enjoyed’ * reading it. In the meantime I have my for Brune and
Piou-piou

I’m still catching up from here:

* Enjoy is not the right word. It’s interesting with concern too. The right word that hits the nail doesn’t pop up.

I also really appreciated all the discussion as well. It really helped me to see more clearly and I think it's something I will remember. And it also helped me reach the conclusion that it won't be the end of my chicken keeping if/when Brune dies, and that I will cave in and give Merle some eggs pretty soon .
***********
It was grey and damp today, all the better as it will help to keep some humidity from the rain we had yesterday. Blanche was not very well. She laid an abnormal fragile egg, after not laying for three days- I'm pretty sure she's stressed out from Gaston being in the coop when she wants to lay. And her bad eye is now closed very often. But she's still very active and excited, especially to fight Chipie. I didn't see how, but Chipie got pecked very close to her eye, luckily it is just a tiny peck.

Gaston's three hens laid, but Merle is now turning close to really broody. I had to kick her out of the nest tonight, close all nests, and put her on the roost.
Other than that the day went pretty well. Brune did not look too good, but she still dustbathed, foraged, and for the first time in days her crop wasn't empty in the evening. I still gave her additional rice, lentils and mackerel. I think it keeps her happy and looking toward something, just like Blanche and her scrambled egg.

I'm going away on a family weekend and coming back on Monday night so I won't be posting before Tuesday. The aim is to meet all my cousin's recent babies and children so it will be full of little ones- I'm sort of dreading it. I only like children in homeopathic dose .

Misty morning

Gaston at the entrance of the run while Théo's team hides in the back... behind the pallet. Chipie as usual is right in the middle.

Crazy broody

 

[BDutch]

I have found something reminiscent of the nesting 'boxes' in your cellar walls - though in this case on an industrial scale! - that you might find interesting : https://prebendalmanormedievalgardens.weebly.com/the-dovecote.html

The Romans used to build dovecotes for >1,000 pairs - archaeological sites of them are in France if memory serves correct.

Not just in the Romans days.
2 years ago I rented an old rebuild dovecote for summer holliday in the Morvan in France. Probably 17th century. I think it must have been big enough for 1000 pigeons.

 

[lightm]

We finally had a little rain this afternoon!

In the morning the sky was blue though. It was still a bit tense between the two teams - Léa and Merle going in the run to get to the ex-batt's feeders and Gaston coming after them, scaring the ex-batts. But I left them to their own devices and didn't hear any real fighting.

It was Piou-piou's last day of antibiotics and the day we let her return to her usual life. Her wound still has a fragile crust in the middle, but it looks pretty good. I was surprised to see that although she immediately took her place back in her team as first lady, she came several times to me during the day, looking for treats, but also when she couldn't find Gaston. It made my heart melt when it started to rain and she tried to come inside our house. It's incredible how much her relationship to us has changed. I hope it will work out for her to stay with Gaston .

Although Brune had a good morning, foraging and dustbathing, she didn't look good in the afternoon and her crop felt empty again before roost time, so I gave her some rice, cereals and mackerel, but she didn't eat all of it. Gaston is flirting with her like crazy and she tends to freeze when he makes the flapping wing moves at her, I'm not sure if she is terrified or just shy.

When it began to rain, both teams wanted to shelter in the run and there was a rather violent fight between the roosters, but it only lasted for half a minute. I'm beginning to hope that they might be able to share their space after all. They have very different tempers. Théo is extremely aggressive toward Gaston, but he couldn't care less for Gaston's hens; he will eventually chase them away. Gaston, on the other hand, is constantly trying to steal Théo's pullets but he is not interested in fighting and only acts aggressive when Léa or Merle have crossed the netting inside the chicken's yard.

Early morning
View attachment 3475018
View attachment 3475021
Creature from hell. Not a cute broody .
View attachment 3475023
Brune dustbathing
View attachment 3475024
View attachment 3475032
Grochatila was wondering what Léa was doing on her own.
View attachment 3475033
Looking for trouble...
View attachment 3475004
Rooster kung-fu
View attachment 3475011
Last day of antibiotics. Mackerel is very effective to hide kids antibiotics artificial aromas (vanilla, cherry and banana all in one ).
View attachment 3475017
But she may have acquired some bad habits.
View attachment 3475015

View attachment 3474999

Oh my, that picture of broody creature!!!! I laughed so hard, sorry, poor and cute Merle.

 

[Perris]

Hoping the weekend was not too challenging and that all is well on your return... looking forward to the next instalment of Merle and Grotchatila in the mountains... (anyone else remember Belle and Sebastien?)

 

[ManueB]

Hoping the weekend was not too challenging and that all is well on your return... looking forward to the next instalment of Merle and Grotchatila in the mountains... (anyone else remember Belle and Sebastien?)

Thank you! All is well but a bit tired from seeing all these people hoping to post tonight, I have a lot of catching up to do in the garden and at home!