The Old Folks Home

[vehve]

We have two Sussexes who are at the bottom of the pecking order. They've been sleeping on the top roost for the past few weeks, because they go to sleep an hour before the others, but the past two nights, they've been huddling up in the corner again. I don't think it's anything to worry about though, they'll find their way back to the roosts when they feel like it.

 

[bamadude]

Vehve: thanks for the link. Its very helpful

 

[Teila]

I would be happy to let them sleep where they want to except that they are too squished and I believe this is from habit. If/when I get them roosting in the extension, if they all squish up then I will know it is by choice and that is when I will leave them to it

Thanks again everyone; really appreciate your help and input

The dinner bell tolls and then my coffee and recliner calls ... I have a 4 day weekend starting tomorrow so plenty of time to try out the new sleeping plan.

I will keep you updated.

 

[vehve]

Vehve: thanks for the link. Its very helpful

No problem. What are you processing?

I was really surprised how little our roo's actually were, the first one we processed clocked in at 1050 grams dressed (2.2lbs) at 16 weeks, and the other at 1350 grams (3 lbs) at 21 weeks. I was expecting there to be a lot more meat on them.

 

[bamadude]

At some point i will be processing LF brahmas. They are 10 months old. My dw has silkies and polish that are a few weeks old. If any of them are males they will be processed as well.

 

[dsqard]

I couldn't resist getting some pictures of my chickens and turkeys last night. Like SCG said, their antics completely tickle my funny bone at times. Here they are waiting for me to open their gate


And of course we had our usual early escapees from the pen taunting the ones still locked up


After they are all out, Jake doing his ever hopeful and ever lasting strut. He looks better now that his new tail feathers are coming in. He is going through a molt.


Squirrel trying to impress the ladies


Sid hoping someone will come and play


Broodie Biddy in her favorite spot

 

[vehve]

@dsqard I love the lacing on the chicken in front of Sid. But isn't the broody supposed to be on the eggs, not next to them?

Oh, this might be something you could offer some helpful advice to:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...onservation-farm-in-alberta/130#post_13975525

 

[dsqard]

vehve, I have to admit, I set that shot up a little bit for something else I was doing. She did have them under her and I pulled them out. I was trying to get two things out of the shot. One was her with the eggs in front of her and the second thing was trying to get a shot of her tucking them under her again. She just kept looking at me like, well aren't you going to take them away from me like usual? I just gave up on that shot and took the eggs.

The one near Sid is a hatchery SLW. She is one of the very few original birds I got.

 

[vehve]

vehve, I have to admit, I set that shot up a little bit for something else I was doing. She did have them under her and I pulled them out. I was trying to get two things out of the shot. One was her with the eggs in front of her and the second thing was trying to get a shot of her tucking them under her again. She just kept looking at me like, well aren't you going to take them away from me like usual? I just gave up on that shot and took the eggs.

The one near Sid is a hatchery SLW. She is one of the very few original birds I got.

Our broodies just growl at me and try to bite. Veera has been cured for almost a week now though, and Virpi hasn't gone to the nest today either, so it seems I've managed to break both of them.

Getting those perfect shots can be difficult though. I've been wanting to get a tight shot of one of them flying down from our fence with her wings spread. I think I have about 100 shots already, and I'm not happy with any of them. Darn buggers move so quickly, either I get the framing right, but the wings are badly, or then I lose focus by the time their in the shot nicely, or if I do get a nice sharp picture with the wings spread nicely, there's either something in the way of the shot, or I've messed up the framing, leaving half of one wing out of the shot.

 

[dsqard]

vehve, those shots are hard to get. The best thing you can do is position yourself for the opportunity and have your camera set for what is needed to get the shot. I would suggest having the camera set to as high a shutter speed (at least over 1/100 sec) as possible to keep the blurred wings at bay and set to take multiple exposures. I would set to at least time value if not full manual. This way you will get a ton of not usable ones but the "one" will be in the bunch. That is how I shoot hummingbirds and butterflies. You get hundreds of throw aways but a few good ones. Thank goodness for digital!