What did you do with your flock today?

[TropicalBabies]

Ugh…we are too. High today is 90…I am not prepared for heat like this yet!

I hear ya! Well, enjoy what ya can when ya can ♡
Is this your weekend? Are you prepared ?

 

[ChicksnMore]

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.
View attachment 3485775
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:
View attachment 3485778

I'll check on everyone later, looks like it's about to pour again right now.

I had speckled Sussex years ago. They're such pretty birds

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.

Sounds like the chicken bug has you I've never seen/heard of light Sussex...off to Google them. Always fun learning about a new to me breed.

 

[TropicalBabies]

K. Here is one that will melt your heart.
Setting up booth and I keep hearing chicken noises. Glance, see nothing. Hours go by I hear chick noises so I start looking under bushes...
I finally look up...

This guy has 2, maaaybe 3- 4 week old chicks tucked under his wings. Absolutely heart warming. I love him. Gunna leave him some scratch for tomorrow mornings breakfast ♡♡♡
What a guy!

 

[kurby22]

I hear ya! Well, enjoy what ya can when ya can ♡
Is this your weekend? Are you prepared ?

Noooo I’m not! We have to spend all day outside tomorrow for kids sports and it’s gonna be 89 for a high and I’m going to be a boiled crab! Thankfully the trees have leafed out so the birds have shade but blech! Sunday only 78 so at least a small reprieve!

Spent some time with everyone before it got hot. Duchess has fit right in with the bantams

 

[Shetland lover]

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 so sorry for your loss
I totally agree with you about all the meddling with genetics to breed hens to lay larger and larger eggs. Up until last May, my flock included ex-battery hens. If you don't know, they are raised and live their entire, short lives in a cage underneath artificial light 23 hrs a day, laying daily. They stand on wire and often share the cage with at least 9 other hens. They are allowed, by law, a space the size of an A4 sheet of paper each. At 72 weeks old, they are disposed of like trash. Culled unless they're the lucky few who are rescued.
Anyhow, my point is, they have been 'developed' to the point that they generally only live 2-3 years, lay bigger and bigger eggs and on an almost daily basis. The effects on their health are catastrophic- reproductive issues like salpingitis, higher incidence of egg-binding, ovarian and other reproductive cancers, osteoporosis from the drive to produce eggs... all caused by human meddling. I think it's as much abuse as keeping them caged their entire life. It's tragic that these 'improvements' are now being made to heritage breeds like your Rhode Island Reds

 

[Shetland lover]

Poor baby . Agree with you on breeders...have you considered looking at landrace breeds? They might still be a hardier lot?

I'd definitely second that! My Gladys is a Shetland, which is a landrace 'breed'. They haven't been 'improved', as far as I can determine, in the last hundred years or so. She is 4, lays a blue-green medium egg, 5 times a week March to November and has only been ill once. There are loads of landrace types, might even be one local to your area, Ltay1946.

 

[Shetland lover]

That sounds like it could actually work...maybe? Maybe pick a color that doesn't look like blood though

Never tried it but I've seen it recommended on BYC!

 

[Shetland lover]

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.

Have you considered the Ixworth breed? Not hundreds of years old admittedly, but over 90 years. They were created as a dual purpose breed in 1932 and have a good reputation for being hardy and good do-ers.

 

[Shetland lover]

Fairy egg?
I have gotten a few of those ♡

She's laid a couple of fairy eggs before but this is by far the smallest! I suppose it's an improvement on what she brooded last year - a wizened, old garden pea

 

[Shetland lover]

I had speckled Sussex years ago. They're such pretty birds

Sounds like the chicken bug has you I've never seen/heard of light Sussex...off to Google them. Always fun learning about a new to me breed.

Light Sussex are very pretty birds. I love the coronation Columbian patterning and colour.