What did you do with your flock today?

[Chipmunk Chicks]

I am not sure who lays which egg, so having a handful from each breed, I wanted to check... I finally tried the food coloring thing and... Well, it didn't work. :/ I feel like I just got punked by all the chicken people who said it would. Lol

 

[Smokerbill]

Pretty babies and a good looking setup

Thanks! The coop's not pretty... yet... but it does the job. Once it's finished I have some cedar shakes that I'll install over the plywood. It's a work in progress. LOL

 

[TropicalBabies]

Been super busy with the community cat project folks.
Got a spot for a stand for https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/how-...t-night-on-kauai-pivoted-during-the-pandemic/
It's a thing. They close the town to foot traffic only and it is artist, food, music with people wandering and eating and shopping. I'm nervous and excited.
Here is my mockup. Figuring out what to bring etc. Will take photos of finished stand. If it works out I will try to do it 1-2 x per month.

Chickens are terrific as always. I look forward to having time to connect and obsess over them this weekend.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Been super busy with the community cat project folks.
Got a spot for a stand for https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/how-...t-night-on-kauai-pivoted-during-the-pandemic/
It's a thing. They close the town to foot traffic only and it is artist, food, music with people wandering and eating and shopping. I'm nervous and excited.
Here is my mockup. Figuring out what to bring etc. Will take photos of finished stand. If it works out I will try to do it 1-2 x per month.View attachment 3484977
Chickens are terrific as always. I look forward to having time to connect and obsess over them this weekend.

Looks amazing! And how did u manage to get the "Meow Mix" actor to work with ya!?!
Perfect - definitely a keeper lol!
Enjoy and have fun doing something so very important! You are amazing!!!

 

[Shetland lover]

Well, I found out who my twice a day layer is - Penelope!
When I went to let her and Ferdy out this morning, she'd just laid a perfectly fine egg, still hot, and directly under it, a soft-shelled one.

decided to let the trio of LB Leghorn Bantams out today to enjoy the evening. Been hectic so none of my exhibition birds have gotten outside time in a bit.
View attachment 3482264

So beautiful! Love mini birds

 

[Shetland lover]

@LukeyLux & @Smokerbill
Welcome to the thread!
@LukeyLux cute babies ya got there!
@Smokerbill we need some pics!


Yeah she's had quite a few off and on...pretty sure her sister Daisy has as well.
In February she was deep breathing through her open beak and just lethargic for few days. Never much other symptoms though so idk what's going on with her.
Whenever I try to give her the ½ pill cause shes so tiny she ends up breathing like that again I guess from the stress of me trying to get it on her beak? Daisy doesn't breathe like that at all...only Lizzy.
But otherwise she's acting normal.

Pru, Gladys and, at times, Clara all stress breathe when they're picked up or if you do something they particularly don't like, too. Have you tried wrapping the pill in a small piece of bread or other favourite treat? I put antibiotics in half a grape if I have to give Gladys any. She's so interested in getting the grape in her crop, she doesn't even notice the pill.
Has she laid any more soft shells?

 

[Shetland lover]

I honestly have no idea. So frustrating and upsetting. I pre-sold some hatching eggs for the Expo too…and I’m worried all my hens will be gone

Nohope is mostly the same. He has really good days and then he’ll have a day where I’m sure he’s close to going…and then he’ll bounce back and seem okay again. He’s actually gaining some strength in his legs again though—he can use the box walls to stand up and flaps his wings to move around in the box. He eats well, drinks water, and yells at me when I leave him alone. His droppings are also the most normal they’ve looked since he got sick. Poor guy has the strongest will to live, I swear!

Oh bless him! He's such a darling, brave boy. His comb is a better colour. Apart from his really poorly days, he seems happy enough from what you've said. And it's great he's getting a bit of strength back and learning to get around for himself. Chickens are such remarkable birds. Does he get to spend time with his flock?

 

[Shetland lover]

Got my first mulberry off my tree yesterday! It was about a quarter the size of my pinky nail ...still, it's a berry and the trees first so I'm excited . Hope someday I can add mulberries to my garden raised chicken treats.

The hamburgs are growing fast. Need to clean the brooder today but probably won't have time til this evening. Think I might have more than four boys but it's only four. It's hard to get a good look. It's like trying to watch popcorn trying to see who has bigger crest's. You just lock your eyes on one and pop...it's gone. . Think they're genetically programed to jump and leap instead of walk! They don't stand or walk much...they pop here and pop there instead. I try to peak while they're sleeping and they realize I'm there and start popping some more.

I had a miniature red mulberry bush once. Never got a berry off it as Peggy and Alice ate it down to a stump then dug it up!
The Hamburgs' sound a hoot! They're lovely looking birds and definitely on my fantasy wish list.

 

[Shetland lover]

Good morning gang!
Been super busy but def with forward motion. Pulled 1 stand, have 2 new potential spots, sewing like a maniac but have some awesome bags ♡♡♡ sourced 2 new spots for new and different bags yesterday.
Flock is terrific. Emptied out bug trap and zapper. Looks like a good 5 day catch for both.View attachment 3482947View attachment 3482974waste not, want not. Chooks get to bite the squitos back.View attachment 3482950View attachment 3482956Tossed feral roo over fence but he came back so I recaught him in the run half a day later, stuck him back in brooder and will give him a few more days of food and drink and then drop him further away. He is such a lost soul. Thinking he was captured as a chick and raised badly by some kid (probably our back neighbor) then let go. He is a slight thing, a bit of a mess and I'll need to find a nice spot to give him his best chance or just cull him. Bit worried.

It is warming up quick here. Lots to do before it gets too hot.

Uh oh! Sounds like someone wants a permanent home with you. Who can blame him?

 

[Shetland lover]

I gave my chicks a new treat today... a small mint plant with roots and dirt. I don't think they thought much of the minty flavor, though. They like the lemon balm I gave them yesterday much more.

They're all getting more accepting to me, and one of them hesitantly let me pick it up a couple times. It was cheeping nervously, but didn't seem overly upset. It was like she was just wondering what the heck was going on. LOL

Yesterday I installed the last of the hardware cloth over the vents, and today I cut a sheet of plywood in to two 4x4 sections and primed and painted the inside surface a nice, bright white. Should make it easier to see mites or lice running around.

Started them on a new feed, X-cel 20% starter feed. They seem to like it ok, and they're gonna have to because that's all they have.

Tomorrow I'll mount a 24x36 inch dual pane window on the plywood wall section that will be on the east side of the roosting area. They should be able to see the sun rising in the morning if it's not cloudy.

I might even get the walls installed and open the entire coop up for the chicks tomorrow too.

Sounds like a great coop build for them ❤

Mine aren't mint fans either! Now, thyme or rosemary, that's a whole different story...