What did you do with your flock today?

I'm focusing on my garden today, so all I've done is mix up some dusty feed with water and feed the girls mash. And took some pic!
 

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Poor baby 😔. Agree with you on breeders...have you considered looking at landrace breeds? They might still be a hardier lot?
Yes and I've found some. I'm considering selling off most of my layers and keeping only landrace breeds that are dual purpose or meat. It's the layers that have been tampered with outside of cornish x. I want some old world dual purpose that are hundreds of years old as a breed.
 
Me too! I can’t wait to get to the bags. Believe me, I wake up tired and go to bed exhausted. Being sick isn’t helping a thing either.
Hoping you'll get over this crud really soon. Your weather must be settling, and nicely warmer. We're having a summer weather tease today and tomorrow warming up to 74, then cooling off again. Getting ready to take Velma outside to explore. Take care 🤒
 
Yes and I've found some. I'm considering selling off most of my layers and keeping only landrace breeds that are dual purpose or meat. It's the layers that have been tampered with outside of cornish x. I want some old world dual purpose that are hundreds of years old as a breed.
The Sussex are an old breed.

When I was researching to decide what breed(s) I was going to get I kept reading about how the heavy layer breeds can produce a lot of eggs but at the expense of their lifespan and general health. I went with Speckled Sussex, bantams. I'm hoping they will do well.
 
Hoping you'll get over this crud really soon. Your weather must be settling, and nicely warmer. We're having a summer weather tease today and tomorrow warming up to 74, then cooling off again. Getting ready to take Velma outside to explore. Take care 🤒
Ugh…we are too. High today is 90…I am not prepared for heat like this yet!
 
My Barred Rocks have been fabulous, on their 6th year now and still laying. Always shocked to get a few eggs a week out of Indie.
Think Sussex are lovely, have never had though. Also have good things to say about my Brahma's. Of course my barnyards are my absolute favorite. I have 5 colored egg layers from my 1/8 Ameraucana roo. Maybe I got that wrong and he is 1/4... 🤔?
So many choices ♡♡♡ so much fun!!
 
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It's been raining here since yesterday, on and off, torrents of rain followed by sunshine, followed by more rain. I went out after lunch when the skies had cleared temporarily and visited with the Sussex chicks...at 8 weeks old they don't look like chicks anymore. They appreciated the grapes I brought with me.

I checked on the Dominiques in the outdoor brooder (2 weeks old). They were a little damp, as was the straw in the brooder...not good. It's the humidity, mainly, they're in a sheltered spot. I placed them in a pet carrier base with fresh dry straw, which they promptly rolled in ("dust" bathing). One did a little sun bathing too.
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She's fine, really!

After a treat of grass with roots and soil attached I put their carrier back in the run with the Sussex, but separated/protected by a wire barrier. The Dominiques cheeped quietly at their older cousins while I removed the damp straw from their brooder, replacing it with dry clean straw. I even strew some in the run area, which pleased the Sussex, who went into a digging frenzy:
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I'll check on everyone later, looks like it's about to pour again right now. ☔
 
The weather is nice and I wanted some time to just sit out with the hens while they free ranged. I keep a chair folded in on of the coops just for this. Sad to say it didn't turn out like I wanted. One of the Rhode Island Reds didn't look normal so I sat and watched for a little bit and then eased over and picked her up. I'm sure she was egg bound. I brought her inside to Dr. Mom to start treatment but before we could get started she put her head down over my wife's arm and quietly went to sleep one last time. She will be missed. I've be nervous about so many jumbo and some 1/2 OZ larger than Jumbo that some would end up like this. I'm not happy at the way big breeders meddle with their genes to get more and larger eggs at the expense of a hens health. This girl was only 7 1/2 months old.
:(
I'm sorry for your loss. That is tuff to lose a beautiful young pullet 💔 :hugs
I like the sounds of you chair and how you go sit with your flock . Glad she went in your arms (as hard as that was) instead of alone. Chickens are such beautiful fragile beauties who are tough as nails. Healthy respect for these lovelies :bow🐔
 
Penelope has decided to go broody for the first time this year. I'm removing all eggs as DH has threatened to divorce me if I allow any more chicks to hatch. I really feel sorry for Penelope as she would love to be a mom so I've promised her next year...
Went to check for eggs earlier as I know the other ladies will be laying them and she'll be stealing them to sit on. I found this under her! I brought it in to take a picture next to one of her normal eggs then put it back as there's no way it's viable. I also think it looks kinda old, absolutely no idea where she's dragged this up from:View attachment 3485289
Fairy egg?
I have gotten a few of those ♡
 
The Sussex are an old breed.

When I was researching to decide what breed(s) I was going to get I kept reading about how the heavy layer breeds can produce a lot of eggs but at the expense of their lifespan and general health. I went with Speckled Sussex, bantams. I'm hoping they will do well.
Speckled Sussex are on my list for next spring is not this fall. 12 pullets and 2 roos. If all survive I split them into 2 small pens. I am thinking of creating a cross of a meat chick my using one of either my Dark Cornish or White Laced Red Cornish or both with 6 of the Sussex pullets. I may bite the bullet and buy 10 of those pricey Light Sussex also. Along with the Sussex maybe a few Dorkings also. I also want a pen of White Minorcas if I can locate 2 different breeders for genetic diversity.
 

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