Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[Perris]

sorry to read of all your/your partner's/your flock's travails of late. As they say here in such circumstances, it never rains but it pours
I hope things improve for all of you.

 

[BDutch]

Same thought as Perris. I hope everything gets better soon.

 

[RoyalChick]

We've had a few very nice days, but the weather should really shift at the end of the week, forecasting wind, rain/snow and negative temperatures.
Piou-piou has gone back to laying normal eggs after three soft shell ones. They are not as solid as usual though, but I'm reassured it's not a serious issue.

Poor Gaston looks really awful now. Théo is not molting as badly but looks also quite bad. Both are grumpy and sometimes almost mean with the hens.
Gaston has a lump on one of his finger that is slowly getting worse. Before he began moulting so bad I felt it several times and wasn't able to say what it is. I can't feel a lump of pus and it's cold, it doesn't feel like bumblefoot, but I don't know what else it could be. I don't want to bother him while he has so much pin feathers but if it doesn't go away we'll have to do something about it. He isn't in pain, but most of my hens who had bumblefoot were not showing any sign of discomfort either.

Merle is turning broody. She isn't sitting yet, but should be in a day or two.

We put the light in the coop ! It's great. The chickens also seem to like it because now they don't leave the coop until 8.30 .

It's interesting that the roosters eat more when they most and the hens less. Overall my chickens are really eating a lot less now, of everything I offer. They eat almost nothing before roosting. In the morning they finish their mash, but it takes them a long time, even the stuff they normally love like rice, pasta or eggs. But I think it's partly due to the hens who are not laying or very little. They don't seem to have as much an appetite as the ones who lay almost as much as usual.

Slow morning
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Laure is now the best looking of my chickens !
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This is the sprouted left over barley. It was completely gone in 24h.
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Merle dominates all the hens, except Chipie and Piou-piou even though they are both very low in the hierarchy.
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The small chickens like this space behind the old houses because it's protected from aerial view. I don't really like it because I can't see them unless I climb right up there.
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Kara is growing a new tail.View attachment 3991347
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Ouch...View attachment 3991351
Nite nite.
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[MaryJanet]

Last days have been a bit of a bummer. Rant post warning !
Tuesday during the night there was a huge wind storm. It was forecasted, but only for the next day. It tore half of our tunnel out and our living room was literally covered in ashes and soot from the stove's chimney. All through wednesday it was so windy we could barely stay outside.Temperatures dropped and the rain forecasted yesterday was more like icy snow drizzle, although it then rained during the night.

Work rant :

Spoiler

My partner was working this morning. He and his colleague on the bus line have to drive a 50 seat bus to pick just one or two person from the mountain villages who call ahead to make a reservation. It's already bad in normal conditions, but this morning the one place where the bus can turn around hadn't been salted, and it was packed with icy snow so it was too dangerous. My partner had to call the road service at 6.45 and wait with the bus until they could come clear it 45 mn later. It drives me crazy that they won't put a smaller vehicle for the end of the bus line that is optional.

Spoiler

It seems like a sensible and safe option.

So many times, he or his colleague drive up for one person ...who sometimes doesn't even show up.

How frustrating.

And the chickens...are having issues as well. They hated the wind and the icy snow of course.

Piou-piou is sick. She has been laying soft shell eggs again and the last two made her eggbound. It took her almost 20h to get the last one out. I'm giving her calcium which she gobbles up but it's not solving the issue. It has happened to her before and it solved itself with no other treatment than scrambled egg and some time inside the house, so I dearly hope it will again. She's our little princess and she's so happy and active usually that it's really sad to see her unwell again. I'm hesitant to bring her inside because there is such a huge difference in temperature but I might do that until the sun comes out in the morning. It was -4 today.

I know you have mixed thoughts about suprelorin. Is it something you've tried with Piou-piou? Would you try it?

The other bad news is Lilly. Just yesterday we were tending to her feet and commenting how much better both bumblefeet were. And I saw her only late this morning and was shocked to discover that she was limping terribly ! I looked at her foot and couldn't see or feel anything. It's not the bumblefoot. It doesn't stop her from scratching, but she avoids putting any weight on the foot when she walks. I was really expecting to see a wound underneath seen how she is walking, but I didn't. I guess we are going to have to keep her in a cage. She is going to hate it, she is the most active of the hens with Lulu now, always digging and running around.

I hope it's one of those injuries that pass quickly.

And because Merle is broody my strategy to get Théo to roost while Gaston is out in the terrace beyond doesn't work anymore. Merle won't roost next to Théo so he doesn't stay on his roost and keeps going down to get her and pick a fight with Gaston. Hopefully she will break out of it soon as I'm not letting her on the nest at all. Gaston is molting really bad and I'm coming to think he has broken his toe. I don't want him sparring even just a little.

Merle has bad timing this time around. Can Theo and Merle spend their nights in the woodshed? Or would it be too unsafe?

And finally we had some other life issues...one of which is a disagreement in my partner's family, which could potentially mean if they do not manage to find an issue that we will have to move. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

Well, this is the worst of all. I really hope people can find a way to honour your efforts on the land and everyone can find a way for you to continue living there.

I have very few pictures. There was a beautiful light today but I was too bummed.

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Piou-piou wanted to come back inside the coop for a while after she passed the egg this morning. It's very unusual for her to do that.
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Yesterday Lulu was the only hen to brave the weather.
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Gaston's toe
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Kara judging the hooman very defective.
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Thanks for the photos. Very beautiful. Kara's black feather tips make me think butterflies.

 

[lightm]

Manue, Sorry about all these issues
Here is a picture of Honey tonight snoozing on mu husband's lap.

I call her a miracle chicken because she lost eyesight, and then lost mobility. Bur she bounced back a week ago and she is walking again! Still a happy and content chicken.

I hope Honey can bring you, Piou-Piou, and Lilly luck!

 

[Molpet]

Last days have been a bit of a bummer. Rant post warning !
Tuesday during the night there was a huge wind storm. It was forecasted, but only for the next day. It tore half of our tunnel out and our living room was literally covered in ashes and soot from the stove's chimney. All through wednesday it was so windy we could barely stay outside.Temperatures dropped and the rain forecasted yesterday was more like icy snow drizzle, although it then rained during the night.

Work rant :

Spoiler

My partner was working this morning. He and his colleague on the bus line have to drive a 50 seat bus to pick just one or two person from the mountain villages who call ahead to make a reservation. It's already bad in normal conditions, but this morning the one place where the bus can turn around hadn't been salted, and it was packed with icy snow so it was too dangerous. My partner had to call the road service at 6.45 and wait with the bus until they could come clear it 45 mn later. It drives me crazy that they won't put a smaller vehicle for the end of the bus line that is optional. So many times, he or his colleague drive up for one person ...who sometimes doesn't even show up.

And the chickens...are having issues as well. They hated the wind and the icy snow of course.

Piou-piou is sick. She has been laying soft shell eggs again and the last two made her eggbound. It took her almost 20h to get the last one out. I'm giving her calcium which she gobbles up but it's not solving the issue. It has happened to her before and it solved itself with no other treatment than scrambled egg and some time inside the house, so I dearly hope it will again. She's our little princess and she's so happy and active usually that it's really sad to see her unwell again. I'm hesitant to bring her inside because there is such a huge difference in temperature but I might do that until the sun comes out in the morning. It was -4 today.

The other bad news is Lilly. Just yesterday we were tending to her feet and commenting how much better both bumblefeet were. And I saw her only late this morning and was shocked to discover that she was limping terribly ! I looked at her foot and couldn't see or feel anything. It's not the bumblefoot. It doesn't stop her from scratching, but she avoids putting any weight on the foot when she walks. I was really expecting to see a wound underneath seen how she is walking, but I didn't. I guess we are going to have to keep her in a cage. She is going to hate it, she is the most active of the hens with Lulu now, always digging and running around.

And because Merle is broody my strategy to get Théo to roost while Gaston is out in the terrace beyond doesn't work anymore. Merle won't roost next to Théo so he doesn't stay on his roost and keeps going down to get her and pick a fight with Gaston. Hopefully she will break out of it soon as I'm not letting her on the nest at all. Gaston is molting really bad and I'm coming to think he has broken his toe. I don't want him sparring even just a little.

And finally we had some other life issues...one of which is a disagreement in my partner's family, which could potentially mean if they do not manage to find an issue that we will have to move. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

I have very few pictures. There was a beautiful light today but I was too bummed.

View attachment 3993793
View attachment 3993786View attachment 3993788
Piou-piou wanted to come back inside the coop for a while after she passed the egg this morning. It's very unusual for her to do that.
View attachment 3993790
Yesterday Lulu was the only hen to brave the weather.
View attachment 3993791View attachment 3993794
Gaston's toe
View attachment 3993802
Kara judging the hooman very defective.
View attachment 3993805

OH dear I pray everything works out for the best soon. It's hard to go through all that

 

[Shadrach]

Hoping the family can sort themselves out and better still, provide you both with some security of tenure. I've done the move and lose everything bit and it really isn't to be recommended.

 

[ManueB]

Thanks all for the good thoughts. I was awake last night and I realised that I should stop worrying so much about these things. Like my mum used to say when I whined as a teen, you could be born in " insert name of a country plagued by war and poverty" orphan and affected by "insert name of a lethal disease common in said country", with survival as your only worry . I need to switch perspective a bit.

I know you have mixed thoughts about suprelorin. Is it something you've tried with Piou-piou? Would you try it?

My partner made the same suggestion. We only tried it with Laure. I would definitely think about it if she doesn't get better on her own. Today she seems perfectly fine.
It's hard to say with those reproductive issues because one moment it looks like the chicken is going to die and the next day like nothing is wrong. I think we will give it another two weeks before making any decisions. We will try an implant if it turns out for the worse, though i'm not sure how to handle the hard molt in winter.

Merle has bad timing this time around. Can Theo and Merle spend their nights in the woodshed? Or would it be too unsafe?

They could but they don't want to. We made the woodshed for this, but my chickens really all want to roost together in the big coop. It's the only place they feel safe at night. Each time I made a tentative try to keep them in the woodshed or in the small coop at roost time, they went in total panic mode.

Manue, Sorry about all these issues
Here is a picture of Honey tonight snoozing on mu husband's lap.
View attachment 3994101
I call her a miracle chicken because she lost eyesight, and then lost mobility. Bur she bounced back a week ago and she is walking again! Still a happy and content chicken.

I hope Honey can bring you, Piou-Piou, and Lilly luck!

She is also very lucky to have her humans ! I'm glad to have some news. I was wondering about her and light since you haven't been as much online.
Amazing that she can walk again ! As I said many times about my ex-batt's some of these red hybrids have such a strong will to live that they will really surprise you by keeping on and on with all their heart, even when it feels impossible. We should never give up for them when they don't.

Hoping the family can sort themselves out and better still, provide you both with some security of tenure. I've done the move and lose everything bit and it really isn't to be recommended.

I've been thinking of your situation. The fact that you did make it through has always given me some confort. I suppose you didn't share how hard it was for real, but it seems now you have reached some kind of balance.

I knew when I came here that the price for being able to quit working and live the country life as leisure was that I had to give up forever on a well paid, confortable, easy and not unpleasant job, and on any type of social welfare. So it was clear from the start the risk I was taking if things didn't work out. I'm not sure how I could move forward from here, but if there is no choice you find a way.

However I truly believe that from a rational viewpoint it's in everyone's interest to let us stay. No one else is willing or able to put the time and funds to keep the place from falling apart and turning back to thick scrub. I'll just tell my partner to try to keep it cool and hope for the best. And focus on enjoying all that's wonderful about living here and not make so much drama of the chickens issues .

Up at 6.30 today, still night for half an hour.

Once they've eaten they're back in the coop until the sun comes out at 8.15.

Annette is officially hard molting now.

Piou-piou visited at least six different nests this morning but was back to herself after.

A new chicken using a favourite perch in the yard.

Forgot to close both doors and had a visit .

Lilly. Didn't have the heart to crate her today..tomorrow it should rain.

 

[lightm]

Thanks all for the good thoughts. I was awake last night and I realised that I should stop worrying so much about these things. Like my mum used to say when I whined as a teen, you could be born in " insert name of a country plagued by war and poverty" orphan and affected by "insert name of a lethal disease common in said country", with survival as your only worry . I need to switch perspective a bit.

I think about this too when I have too many problems.

She is also very lucky to have her humans ! I'm glad to have some news. I was wondering about her and light since you haven't been as much online.
Amazing that she can walk again ! As I said many times about my ex-batt's some of these red hybrids have such a strong will to live that they will really surprise you by keeping on and on with all their heart, even when it feels impossible. We should never give up for them when they don't.

I've been tooooo busy :-(

Light is doing well. Given her comb size/color, I feel like her implant is still effective. (she got one on 6/25 this year). She appears to have gained weight though. She is also visibly larger somehow... We wonder if it is a hormone thing.

Light

 

[ManueB]

I've been tooooo busy :-(

Light is doing well. Given her comb size/color, I feel like her implant is still effective. (she got one on 6/25 this year). She appears to have gained weight though. She is also visibly larger somehow... We wonder if it is a hormone thing.

Light
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She definitely looks bigger, at least on this picture !
I hadn't read anything about implanted hens putting on weight before, but coincidentally I saw a post on Instagram just yesterday where the poster mentioned how much fluff and weight her hen had gained on the implant. Another poster, who has many hens implanted, commented on how much weight they put on. So yes, it seems to be a thing.

Not sure if it's relevant but It happens to some women who use a contraceptive implant, even when they had the exact same dosage in a pill before. That was the case for me, so I think it has something to do with how the hormones are delivered. It wasn't the reason why I had it taken off as I could then do with a few spare kilos. Unfortunately it also gave me vivid horrible nightmares every night to the point I was afraid of falling asleep. Both the weight and the sleep came back to normal a few days after I had taken it off. I really hope our hens don't get such nightmares!

Laure seems bigger, but like she was before she started being unwell.
As far as I can tell, she has now gotten back to her usual personality after the moult. But I think the implant may be already wearing off : she is checking nests and beginning to talk with Gaston. He still rejects her though so she probably has some more time.