Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[ManueB]

Today the sun came out and the snow melted really fast! Gastounet's team dug up every single spot they could find that wasn't hidden by snow. Théo's team spent most of the day in the run but they did come out a bit, especially Cannelle and Brune. All the chickens seemed to really enjoy the sun.

There was one very funny scene when Gastounet got inside the chicken net with Léa, on the opposite side of the coop, to eat grass where Théo couldn't see him from the run. Cannelle was coming out toward him and when he saw her he charged wings out and tail spread wide open! We've cleared only a small path from the snow, so she stood her ground and attacked him! Then they both flew on the side and found themselves stuck in the deep snow.

Gastounet didn't want to show it but he was completely terrified! Cannelle managed to get out and went back to the coop. I sort of pushed Gastounet out because he was frozen on spot and he went out of the chicken zone and crowed very loudly...on the outside .

I worried for Merle because she went to lay around one, and got out more than two hours later! But... I brought her a tiny bit of food and she ate a bit but she made a noise that sounded like a broody sound. And I went to pick up her egg as soon as she came out, and it was barely warm. My guess is that she laid and then spent a long time in the nest either because she feels safe there and wanted to rest, or because she already has broody instinct.
Then of course she didn't want to go to bed at 4.30, whereas usually she's always the first to roost!

I've also noticed Merle is beginning to pick on Léa too. Léa is in between the two groups- she's the least rejected by the ex-batts and Chipie, but she doesn't get along so well with Merle and Piou-piou now. She is very submissive.

Two ex-batts laid today, but I didn't see who- from the egg's shape I think it was Brune and Blanche which means Cannelle didn't lay after yesterday's soft egg. Piou-piou took a break today and Léa also laid late.

Snow melting on site!

Gastounet just before he charged Cannelle coming toward him

Snow party! From both sides!

 

[ManueB]

Today we had pouring rain beginning from ten and all day long. Gastounet's team spent some time scratching around before the rain, then they sheltered for a while in the barn, and then under the tarps we have spread out around the wood shed.

After a while there was so much rain the way to the coop began to be flooded so we took them in the coop (the girls were trying to get inside but getting thrown out by the ex-batts ) and we locked them in at 2.30. Théo's team stayed in the run all day and at 4 we let them in the coop - they were all roosted at 4.30.
Only Piou-piou and Cannelle laid today. I think Léa may have retained from laying because of the rain.

And I now really wonder if Merle isn't having broody instincts - she has started making screaming noises at us if we try to stop her from doing something, or to make her move! She caught a whole walnut this morning so I tried to take it back from her to break it in pieces and she made death noises at me. She also made these at the ex-batts trying to get in the coop. I'm just beginning to wonder if the tiny feathers I've been seeing under her roost are not belly feathers she would be taking off . I found many in her nest today!
Is it possible for a hen to become broody or show broody like behaviour just a few weeks after starting to lay ?

Almost no photo today- I couldn't get the phone out with the rain poncho .

 

[RoyalChick]

Today we had pouring rain beginning from ten and all day long. Gastounet's team spent some time scratching around before the rain, then they sheltered for a while in the barn, and then under the tarps we have spread out around the wood shed.

After a while there was so much rain the way to the coop began to be flooded so we took them in the coop (the girls were trying to get inside but getting thrown out by the ex-batts ) and we locked them in at 2.30. Théo's team stayed in the run all day and at 4 we let them in the coop - they were all roosted at 4.30.
Only Piou-piou and Cannelle laid today. I think Léa may have retained from laying because of the rain.

And I now really wonder if Merle isn't having broody instincts - she has started making screaming noises at us if we try to stop her from doing something, or to make her move! She caught a whole walnut this morning so I tried to take it back from her to break it in pieces and she made death noises at me. She also made these at the ex-batts trying to get in the coop. I'm just beginning to wonder if the tiny feathers I've been seeing under her roost are not belly feathers she would be taking off . I found many in her nest today!
Is it possible for a hen to become broody or show broody like behaviour just a few weeks after starting to lay ?

Almost no photo today- I couldn't get the phone out with the rain poncho .
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I have to laugh because the lovely Merle is giving you trouble - and yes, sounds like she is broody. Maybe there will be baby Merle's running around soon.

 

[ManueB]

I have to laugh because the lovely Merle is giving you trouble - and yes, sounds like she is broody. Maybe there will be baby Merle's running around soon.

But is that possible? She has only been laying for two weeks and a half! Maybe it's just her hormones acting up or because she has started laying she feels more assertive ?
Anyway we're not leaving her eggs. Imagine if she sets in the wood stack- that would just be the worst possible place! And I would prefer chicks in the middle of the spring, not right at the beginning of winter . Too bad she gets mated by Gaston and not by Théo, they would make pretty tiny black chicks for my cats to chase!
********
Got up in white damp fog that slowly let the sun come through. The remaining snow completely melted today.
When I opened the coop Léa had already laid inside. Merle ran out as soon as I opened and directly to her nest, where she took about an hour and 20 minutes to lay, which was a bit more reasonable.
I thought the chickens would be eager to come out with all that time spent inside, but that wasn't the case. Théo's team did come out, but rather reluctantly and they stayed close to the coop. Gastounet's gang was very glad that the snow was melting and scratched around like crazy, digging huge craters everywhere . But Gastounet watches the sky all the time.
A sparrowhawk landed right above me, in the low branches of our linden tree- and I think it hadn't even seen the chickens, because they were all under cover at that time . I scared it away. Then four or five vultures flew much higher above us. So they are right to be careful.

At some point in the morning when Théo 's team was decidedly staying in the run, I locked them in to let Gastounet inside the chicken netting. We hadn't thought about it, as it rains so rarely for several days, but the only sheltered dustbathing places are inside the netting! He took a long dustbath with Merle under the umbrella (which broke with the snow, my partner is bringing another one as it works really well for the chickens).

When I let Théo out again and Gastounet out of the netted zone, there were long challenging stares and Théo threw himself twice in the netting. However Gastounet stood his ground. I think he's not far from ceasing to be afraid of Théo. We have to make a decision on where to build the second coop!

Chipie

Merle screams just like her!

Dustbathing under the umbrella- his first time

Always on watch ! If he wasn't way too big for those cross bantam hens he would be a great rooster for his ladies!

Nougat finishing her hard molt is slowly coming back to her usual behaviour, but she is still afraid!

Cannelle really enjoyed pecking those boots. I only wear them when it snows so it's a rare treat

Léa and Cannelle side by side. Léa is almost more bullied by Merle and Piou-piou than by the ex-batts now. I think a day may come when she changes team..but she really likes Gastounet and she doesn't like Théo at all.

Roosting time. Théo wants to get his hens inside the coop but he doesn't want them to roost before him . Roosting has been rather call for several days apart from Piou-piou bullying Léa.

 

[ManueB]

It was a sunny day today and the ex-batt's finally spent some real time outside! I was happy to see them scratching around and nibbling on what little grass is left! It's their choice when they stay inside but I much prefer seeing them out and about.

Cannelle and Léa had already laid when I opened the coop, and Merle went to lay at the beginning of the afternoon. Piou-piou didn't lay. Her and Merle are slowing down the laying frequency which I find reassuring - I was a bit worried to see those small hens laying 6 eggs a week.

I think the chickens enjoyed their day, but Gastounet was again really upset not being able to follow his hens inside the netting. There were several staring challenge with Théo. I got on video something I found strange- they were looking at each other through the netting and acting like they were tidbitting for their hens, but in silence. May be some kind of " I've got a better harem than you do" statement ?

Other than that I also noticed that Merle was desperate to dustbathe in dry dust. Although she took a dustbath under the umbrella she tried to get in the chicken run, the only place really dry, but got thrown out. I'm not sure what to do- she seems really itchy but I can't see a trace of parasite on her or in the coop. I think I will treat the coop with the product I used this summer, and see if it makes any difference.

Chipie seems to have formed some kind of truce with Cannelle. Now that Cannelle has finished molting she is much nicer with the younger chickens and with Nougat.

 

[Perris]

love the photo of Theo spreading his wings - like a performer at the end of his act

 

[RoyalChick]

love the photo of Theo spreading his wings - like a performer at the end of his act

Taking a bow (though it looks more like a curtsy but I wouldn’t mention that to him).

 

[ManueB]

Another beautiful day. We examined Merle again very carefully and definitely couldn't see anything but she does have a problem as she dustbathed as soon as I opened the coop and again at least five times throughout the day. I treated the coop and will do again in five days.

Also, she's not broody, she's going through a teenager rebellious crisis. We had lunch outside and she jumped five or six times in a row first on the table, then in my plate!! I was pretty angry while my partner was laughing his head off. I picked her and carried her on the other side of the garden and told her that she was naughty...and she came back and did it again. Then when she was on the table my partner turned a basin upside down on her for five seconds and that did the trick, she was scared and didn't jump on it again! But she did make screaming noises at us, feisty bird !

Cannelle, Léa and Piou-piou all laid early this morning. Gastounet and Théo spent a lot of times challenging each other- but no attacks yet. I don't know how much is a bluff or if they will actually kill each other!
And my partner had a new idea for the location of the second coop that could be the right one. We've got to think it over a bit as it's not at all what we were planning !

With the pullets laying, we have enough eggs now to make scrambled eggs for everybody!

 

[ManueB]

Blanche was ill today. She laid two eggs in a row in the early morning in front of the coop, I found her there when I opened the door. She stayed in a nest for a while then I took her inside in the pet carrier to rest in a warmer place. We took her back with the flock in the afternoon. We'll see if she pulls through, I'm not too optimistic as she has always had a lot of issues, and is so small and thin.

Other than that we had a grey day, there was a sparrowhawk landing in the chicken yard that scared every body, and both Piou-piou and Merle took ages to lay.

Blanche inside

 

[ManueB]

Blanche is doing much better ! One thing I've already said about several of my ex-batts : they can look as if they will die in the next hour and be up and about the next day.

No raptors today and everyone's morale was much higher. Merle is becoming as uncontrollable as Piou-piou - she goes around screaming at us and at everyone, except Gastounet ! But even with him she refuses to mate, which does not go well for her!

Only Cannelle and Léa laid today and it's just as well if the pullets slow down on their laying rythm, once every two days would be fine.

There was a drama at roost time. Gastounet found himself on the right of the young chicken's roost, which means right next to the ex-batts and close to Théo. He panicked because he couldn't understand how to get where he wanted, which was next to Piou-piou. Théo was beginning to get very upset on his roost, and the ex-batts were afraid to come inside the coop. In the end Gastounet stepped on Léa and Merle to go next to Piou-piou and calm came back.

Blanche