The Old Folks Home

[vehve]

@Lacy Blues

Thanks again for the idea of grating the apple to see if my girls would eat it. I tried that trick today but alas, they are not apple fans

They are the fussiest (probably spoilt) chickens .. they also do not eat their peas!

I usually just cut the apples in half. We started at the chick phase, they were very skeptic to begin with, but they learned to like them.

 

[Teila]

I could try half an apple but I believe they will avoid it the same way they did the corn on the cob "It's a chicken trap .. run!"

I am thinking these gals might be too well fed .. if they were hungry they would eat it!

They do love their lettuce which, of course, has the nutritional value not much higher than water!

 

[vehve]

I could try half an apple but I believe they will avoid it the same way they did the corn on the cob "It's a chicken trap .. run!"

I am thinking these gals might be too well fed .. if they were hungry they would eat it!

They do love their lettuce which, of course, has the nutritional value not much higher than water!

I think chickens can get quite a lot more out of lettuce than humans can though. I haven't really looked into it, and this comparison is in no way applicable to chickens, but a cow and human eating the same amount of grass would only give the human about a quarter of the nutrients that a cow can extract from it. I don't know where on that scale a chicken would fit, but somehow I'm guessing they're more efficient than humans.

I went to check on the chickens again, now Veera had exited the coop, leaving Viiru sitting on the eggs. I gently shooed Viiru off the nest, and found her egg along with an egg Wilma had left there earlier. Perhaps Veera is going out of her broodiness, and I might be able to break Viirus broodiness before it starts. It was interesting, Viiru didn't start her egg song until I had shooed her off the nest. Then it was a cacophony again. Veera was our best layer, so her stopping is seen in our egg numbers, but Viiru seems to have picked up the slack. She's now laid 15 days straight.

 

[Teila]

Hhhm, OK, that is interesting vehve ... regarding the nutritional value of lettuce; I was going on something I read (probably on BYC) that while they would probably love it and eats heaps, it basically was lacking in nutrition and of no value to them. I would be interested to hear what others think or should probably do some research myself.

Those gals of yours are certainly giving you the run around vehve .. sometimes I think they do it as entertainment and have a little chuckle after we walk away rolling our eyes

Besides the girl in the wrong time zone; bed time seems to be the time when my gals like to mess with my head. They were not happy with the existing sleeping arrangements so we remodeled for them. They were happy with the remodel for a week and now they are fussing and fighting and carrying out about who sleeps where again

 

[vehve]

It's very possible that they can't pick up much from the lettuce. One thing with leaf greens and humans is that we tend to swallow it in too large pieces and our digestion isn't able to break it down to small enough pieces to really utilize everything. Processing salad in a blender (eg. making a smoothie with some salad and berries) helps you utilize it better. I think the gizzard would break up the salad pretty well.

I think as long as you have enough roosting space, you don't need to worry. They'll squabble a bit, but they'll find their peace.

 

[vehve]

...And Veera was back in the nest again, with Virpi in the next one. Virpi was sitting on an egg she laid, but left with a bit if shooing, Veera I had to lift off the nest. I have to put her down somewhere behind the run, so that Topi doesn't immediately rape her. I'm going crazy with these Alho girls.

 

[Wisher1000]

One of my chickens got killed on the road.

....and didn't get to the other side......

It's not funny.

Sorry for your loss.


(It's a sad lesson learned, but chickens and children should not be allowed to play in the street)

JK
LOL

Well that wasn't very nice Aronia.

Sorry.

@Aronia old enough to know that one of the rules of BYC is not telling your age, and young enough that it matters.

Aronia, sweetheart, it's not nice to play tricks on old people. We are easily fooled as long as you are considered dear, but once you are considered a pest, well, lets just say, the older one is, the more pranks one has at one's disposal. Playing games is fun, but we are too old and tired to play, maybe some others of your own age would enjoy your wonderful sense of humor better. Leave the old folks to our knitting, rocking, and drinking (coffee, iced tea.) We really need our rest ....... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[chickisoup]

Morning everyone!

Teila-I love your garden and the parrots are so pretty, too bad the doves won't let you enjoy them.

Vehve-I think your broodies are so funny playing nestbox bingo

 

[vehve]

Morning everyone!

Teila-I love your garden and the parrots are so pretty, too bad the doves won't let you enjoy them.

Vehve-I think your broodies are so funny playing nestbox bingo

I'm glad that they bring amusement to someone

Personally, I think we could do without this broody business. I really wish would have read up on these breeds we got. The Alhos are great in every other aspect, but this broodiness is a bit annoying. Once Veera is back to normal, I hope the other ones will stop trying to go broody too.

 

[Wisher1000]

Quote:
... Between lost income and all the expenses, our children have cost us 1.4 million dollars so far and ......

....and worth every PENNY!! In fact, you got a bargain!

Who is Aronia?

Oh, she's just a little imp that comes here to try to fool the Old Folks..... it's not working............