Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[RoyalChick]

I lost it this morning . Made a fool of myself, and scared my partner ! After breakfast I stayed a bit inside the house. My partner had just left for a run when I came out. I saw Théo next to the chicken yard's door, where he had been fence fighting Gaston for the last half hour. I came closer. And then I saw Gaston's still body on the ground, hanging by his foot stuck in the mesh.
I started crying and screaming, calling to my partner that Gaston was dead. It's strange that when I saw Piou-piou's headless body I went cold numb, but this morning I freaked out hysterically. My partner came back running as fast as he could and went inside the yard to see Gaston. Gaston was totally alive ! He had managed to unstuck himself, because he got scared when he heard me screaming. He did have a light leg strain, but nothing to worry about. I sobbed with relief and I could have hugged him but he wouldn't let me come near- he is terrified when he sees me crying. How stupid can I get ? Sigh.

In better news, my partner was supposed to work today but there was a change of plan so we had two full days to get on with securing the run. All the lower part is done, and on two sides we've also done the top. Now remains the most complicated bit, the further end which isn't covered by a roof. We didn't agree on what to do and I'm not really happy with my partner's solution, but as long as it keeps the marten out I won't argue. Then we'll have some finishing to do using mesh and mortar to make sure there are no holes left between the roof's rafter and the house's wall.
I feel better that we're working and seeing progress but at the same time it's a constant reminder that if we had done this from the start Piou-piou would still be here.

Merle seemed to want to sit on her nest yesterday, today she acted more normal. Théo finds himself alone for quite a long time when she sits or goes in the chicken yard to dust bath. And when Merle acts broody, he ignores her completely, like she was another hen. He tries to attract hens out of the chicken's yard, but when that doesn't work after a while, he wanders off. I wonder if he could actually really leave looking for hens if Merle went fully broody.

Both Lulu and Lilly have been laying several soft eggs in the last days. Yesterday morning Lulu was not feeling well after having laid a soft shell egg during the night with some blood, but after two hours she was her usual hyperactive self. Either it's the food (I've began the organic starter and have completely stopped giving them layer feed), or maybe a virus or bacteria. A few of the hens have tiny dots of blood in their poops, and I've also found blood in eggs a few times the last month in Lilly, Lulu and Alba's eggs, which has never happened before.
But at the same time Lulu and Lilly are the most active hens. So maybe it's nothing to worry about.

Lilly will likely be going to the vet soon for her abscess. I'm trying a drawing salve but I don't want to take any chance opening it myself, it's located in an awkward place and last time there was so much pus the vet had to make a huge opening to get it all out.

Pictures from yesterday and today.

The chickens helped us dig before pouring concrete.
View attachment 4023297
But they tended to cover everything up as soon as we dug a trench so we ended locking them out.
View attachment 4023298View attachment 4023299View attachment 4023300View attachment 4023301View attachment 4023302
View attachment 4023303View attachment 4023305
Chipie is really happy when Merle comes in because she is one of the only hens still afraid of her, so she sticks to her like glue playing at being queen.
View attachment 4023308
View attachment 4023313View attachment 4023314
A furtive visit... Piou-piou was the only hen to willingly come visit inside when we left the door open. Merle didn't dare come in.
View attachment 4023315

View attachment 4023316View attachment 4023317
Gaston standing guard for the bums .
View attachment 4023318

 

[Molpet]

I lost it this morning . Made a fool of myself, and scared my partner ! After breakfast I stayed a bit inside the house. My partner had just left for a run when I came out. I saw Théo next to the chicken yard's door, where he had been fence fighting Gaston for the last half hour. I came closer. And then I saw Gaston's still body on the ground, hanging by his foot stuck in the mesh.
I started crying and screaming, calling to my partner that Gaston was dead. It's strange that when I saw Piou-piou's headless body I went cold numb, but this morning I freaked out hysterically. My partner came back running as fast as he could and went inside the yard to see Gaston. Gaston was totally alive ! He had managed to unstuck himself, because he got scared when he heard me screaming. He did have a light leg strain, but nothing to worry about. I sobbed with relief and I could have hugged him but he wouldn't let me come near- he is terrified when he sees me crying. How stupid can I get ? Sigh.

In better news, my partner was supposed to work today but there was a change of plan so we had two full days to get on with securing the run. All the lower part is done, and on two sides we've also done the top. Now remains the most complicated bit, the further end which isn't covered by a roof. We didn't agree on what to do and I'm not really happy with my partner's solution, but as long as it keeps the marten out I won't argue. Then we'll have some finishing to do using mesh and mortar to make sure there are no holes left between the roof's rafter and the house's wall.
I feel better that we're working and seeing progress but at the same time it's a constant reminder that if we had done this from the start Piou-piou would still be here.

Merle seemed to want to sit on her nest yesterday, today she acted more normal. Théo finds himself alone for quite a long time when she sits or goes in the chicken yard to dust bath. And when Merle acts broody, he ignores her completely, like she was another hen. He tries to attract hens out of the chicken's yard, but when that doesn't work after a while, he wanders off. I wonder if he could actually really leave looking for hens if Merle went fully broody.

Both Lulu and Lilly have been laying several soft eggs in the last days. Yesterday morning Lulu was not feeling well after having laid a soft shell egg during the night with some blood, but after two hours she was her usual hyperactive self. Either it's the food (I've began the organic starter and have completely stopped giving them layer feed), or maybe a virus or bacteria. A few of the hens have tiny dots of blood in their poops, and I've also found blood in eggs a few times the last month in Lilly, Lulu and Alba's eggs, which has never happened before.
But at the same time Lulu and Lilly are the most active hens. So maybe it's nothing to worry about.

Lilly will likely be going to the vet soon for her abscess. I'm trying a drawing salve but I don't want to take any chance opening it myself, it's located in an awkward place and last time there was so much pus the vet had to make a huge opening to get it all out.

Pictures from yesterday and today.

The chickens helped us dig before pouring concrete.
View attachment 4023297
But they tended to cover everything up as soon as we dug a trench so we ended locking them out.
View attachment 4023298View attachment 4023299View attachment 4023300View attachment 4023301View attachment 4023302
View attachment 4023303View attachment 4023305
Chipie is really happy when Merle comes in because she is one of the only hens still afraid of her, so she sticks to her like glue playing at being queen.
View attachment 4023308
View attachment 4023313View attachment 4023314
A furtive visit... Piou-piou was the only hen to willingly come visit inside when we left the door open. Merle didn't dare come in.
View attachment 4023315

View attachment 4023316View attachment 4023317
Gaston standing guard for the bums .
View attachment 4023318

The thought of another loss is emotional

 

[BDutch]

I saw Théo next to the chicken yard's door, where he had been fence fighting Gaston for the last half hour. I came closer. And then I saw Gaston's still body on the ground, hanging by his foot stuck in the mesh.

Glad he could resolve the problem by himself.
I’m sure it helps if they can’t see each other.

I feel better that we're working and seeing progress but at the same time it's a constant reminder that if we had done this from the start Piou-piou would still be here.

I had a similar feeling after a fox got in the run and my Tammy got killed after the pop door opened early mornings (3½ years ago). It seems my reaction to such horror is less sensitive / devastating when I loose a chicken.
We are all different in how we coop.

I always remind myself that when chickens live wildly, there would be casualties too. And probably more often. Same with sick chickens. In nature there are no vets or human medication. I can live with the idea that sick and old chickens can die.
Don’t blame yourselfs if things go wrong. You both learn from it and act upon it. Which is wonderful.

Both Lulu and Lilly have been laying several soft eggs in the last days.

Maybe its because of the stress of what happened with the marten. But I have been wondering too if there is some-kind of infection within your flock, like the Egg Drop Syndrome. EDS is a virus.

Pictures from yesterday and today.

 

[lightm]

And then I saw Gaston's still body on the ground, hanging by his foot stuck in the mesh.
I started crying and screaming, calling to my partner that Gaston was dead. It's strange that when I saw Piou-piou's headless body I went cold numb, but this morning I freaked out hysterically. My partner came back running as fast as he could and went inside the yard to see Gaston. Gaston was totally alive ! He had managed to unstuck himself, because he got scared when he heard me screaming. He did have a light leg strain, but nothing to worry about. I sobbed with relief and I could have hugged him but he wouldn't let me come near-

But you are a good writer.

 

[MaryJanet]

In better news, my partner was supposed to work today but there was a change of plan so we had two full days to get on with securing the run.

It'll be a relief to finish that project.

 

[ManueB]

Thanks for being understanding. I was very ashamed of myself, especially toward my partner, but yesterday morning he was joking about me with Gaston crooning to him "Gaston's dead ! Gaston's dead ! " So I guess he wasn't too upset !

Don’t blame yourselfs if things go wrong. You both learn from it and act upon it. Which is wonderful.

I think my mind set has switched a bit with experience. I used to feel guilty and it was horrible and paralyzing. Now I would rather say that I feel responsible, which is more constructive even if it makes me sad. At least that the case for Piou-piou's death.

I don't think I will be so emotional each time a chicken dies. The first chicks that hatched here, Piou-piou, Gaston, Merle, and Léa, are special for me because it was so incredible to see chicks growing for the first time, just as my ex-batt's were special because they were my first chickens. And some deaths also feel like it was time, whereas some feel unfair, as is the case for people.

But I have been wondering too if there is some-kind of infection within your flock, like the Egg Drop Syndrome. EDS is a virus.

It's possible actually, and I would be relieved if it was that, since it just goes away after two or three months

But you are a good writer.

That's very nice of you to say ! I love to write, but I find it very difficult to get to the point when I write in english. It seems all my sentences go on forever, and my paragraphs even longer than forever. Does english come to you completely naturally speaking and writing now, compared to mandarin or your native dialect ?

It'll be a relief to finish that project.

Indeed ! Yesterday we got to the part where we didn't agree with my partner, and just like I feared we ended up tinkering with bits and pieces and it took us a long time and some heated arguments for a result that I'm not convinced will be sturdy enough if it snows heavily.
I think we need at least one other full day of work to be done, maybe a bit more - hopefully next week.

Today we finally had the strong forecasted wind and it wasn't that bad - it was warm wind, and not more than 60 km/h. Because it went on and off, the chickens kept coming out of their shelter under the laurel tree just to be swiped off their legs after ten minutes .
They had a good day overall. Merle is definitely showing signs that she will soon switch to broody. I guess the winter /moulting break is over. It does feel like spring is around the corner when the sun shines and the temperature goes up to 15/60.

There was a mistery egg today, one that does not fit any of the laying hens. It was laid early in the morning, beige and huge (75 g). The hens who lay beige eggs are Mélisse, Léa and Lulu. The first two laid today so I know it's not them, and Lulu laid at two in the afternoon yesterday and the biggest egg she has ever laid was 63 g, so it seems unlikely. I see three other possibilities : either Lilly, Annette, or Laure, which would mean a very different egg from their usual. Both Annette and Laure have been showing signs that they should start laying again soon : sitting on nests and putting hay all over themselves, and Gaston mated Laure for the first time since she was implanted yesterday. They both lay big eggs, like Lilly. But Annette lays a speckled egg with a gritty top and Laure used to lay a beautiful light cream egg. Hope to get some more info the next days .

Early in the morning Merle and Théo stay together in the woodshed. I always leave it open now so they won't be trapped if the marten happens to hide inside. We will secure it after the run which should be much easier to do.

Queen Chipie, would you like to preen my neck, please ?

Too bad we can't touch Laure because with Kara she has the most beautiful fluff of the flock .

Kara

Mélisse hangs out a bit with the other chickens during the day now.

Lilly

Nieva

 

[lightm]

That's very nice of you to say ! I love to write, but I find it very difficult to get to the point when I write in english. It seems all my sentences go on forever, and my paragraphs even longer than forever.

I do enjoy your writings in general. I don't feel like they go on forever.

Does english come to you completely naturally speaking and writing now, compared to mandarin or your native dialect ?

Almost yes. I am very bad with numbers in English. I still have to count in Chinese. I definitely still come across new words and try to learn them.

Sometimes I feel like I am learning as how a baby was learning: I would be using a word orally that I have heard of multiple times (and therefore understood its meaning), but don't know how to spell it. A recent example is the word comorbidity. People were using it a lot during Covid and I learned its meaning, but I thought it was "co-mobility" until yesterday when I saw it in writing.

 

[BDutch]

Congrats Manue with your new shining medal!

 

[tranquiliti]

Piou-piou died just now. A weasel was in the coop.

I am very sorry to hear this. Your post today brought it to my attention (very busy the last couple weeks) and I went to check what I’d missed.
Roost in peace, little Piou-piou.

 

[RoyalChick]

Congrats Manue with your new shining medal!

Yes, congratulations @ManueB!