What did you do with your flock today?

[Smokerbill]

Go to a local grocery store and get her a milk crate. : )

Good idea. Already have a couple. Thanks!

 

[Shetland lover]

We are headed the rest of the way home today! Left yesterday morning It was so lovely and I cried when we left. The high was 62-66 every day! It’s gonna be over 100 starting Friday…I hate July in Sacramento! But I’m definitely going thru chicken withdrawals! My friend was an awesome chicken sitter and everyone managed to behave and she actually played with the babies and snuggled my sick one at night We stopped for the night in Redding after 9 hours and let the kids swim and went to sleep by 9 Had a nice breakfast this morning after sleeping in some. It’s been a really nice break as a family. Even if I didn’t get to see my friend thanks to dumb COVID

Oh wow! Looks awesome. Glad you all had such a great time

 

[Shetland lover]

Well this is more than just today but I haven't done an update in a while, My rooster died a week ago today, I have no idea what happened or what he died from, I was having my morning coffee outside just watching them, the rooster had been acting funny for a couple of days when all of a sudden he started squawking and jumped up in the air and acted like he was having a seizure, he did the for about a half a minute then rolled over on his back with his feet up, it took me about 30 seconds to get to him in the run, I picked him up and he took one deep breath and died in my hands. He was an awesome little rooster he was a silver duck wing game bantam, I even had him dubbed about a month ago so he would look like a game. To me he was the perfect rooster, I didn't want babies and he couldn't reach the hens anyway and I didn't have to worry about feather loss on the hens like I would from a big rooster. The hens were acting totally lost with him gone so I looked on Craig's List for another Bantam rooster and found one that was just a little over 15 miles away from where I live. The rooster is a white leghorn bantam so I went and got him. He fit right in and the hens acted like he had been there forever so that was great, when he calls them, they all come running to him and he even watches over them when I let them out in the yard to scratch and peck around. Some of y'all might think I'm crazy but if you don't want baby chicks or seeing your hens with feathers scratched out by a big rooster, get a bantam rooster you still have all the perks of a big rooster without the damage to the hens.
Hope y'all all have a blessed day. : )

I'm so sorry for your loss. He sounded amazing
Glad your new roo is working out though.
I wish someone would tell Stan he's not supposed to mate with big girls! He leaps up on Gladys like a jockey on a prize racehorse and off he goes...

 

[Shetland lover]

This morning I told my kiddos that the chickens needed another roosting spot in the run so after a little chalk drawing planning (and a little help from mom with the power tools) they built a thing! The chickens have given their seal of approval

Go kids! I couldn't have done as good a job.

 

[Shetland lover]

One of my Black Copper Marans cockerels just did a pretty good job of crowing. Best I've heard yet. I gave him a big round of applause for a job well done.

I love it when they're learning to crow. Like a teenage boy's voice breaking!

 

[ChicksnMore]

We are headed the rest of the way home today! Left yesterday morning It was so lovely and I cried when we left. The high was 62-66 every day! It’s gonna be over 100 starting Friday…I hate July in Sacramento! But I’m definitely going thru chicken withdrawals! My friend was an awesome chicken sitter and everyone managed to behave and she actually played with the babies and snuggled my sick one at night We stopped for the night in Redding after 9 hours and let the kids swim and went to sleep by 9 Had a nice breakfast this morning after sleeping in some. It’s been a really nice break as a family. Even if I didn’t get to see my friend thanks to dumb COVID

Looks like such a good time! I'm so glad you guys had a great time and all stayed well at home

Well this is more than just today but I haven't done an update in a while, My rooster died a week ago today, I have no idea what happened or what he died from, I was having my morning coffee outside just watching them, the rooster had been acting funny for a couple of days when all of a sudden he started squawking and jumped up in the air and acted like he was having a seizure, he did the for about a half a minute then rolled over on his back with his feet up, it took me about 30 seconds to get to him in the run, I picked him up and he took one deep breath and died in my hands. He was an awesome little rooster he was a silver duck wing game bantam, I even had him dubbed about a month ago so he would look like a game. To me he was the perfect rooster, I didn't want babies and he couldn't reach the hens anyway and I didn't have to worry about feather loss on the hens like I would from a big rooster. The hens were acting totally lost with him gone so I looked on Craig's List for another Bantam rooster and found one that was just a little over 15 miles away from where I live. The rooster is a white leghorn bantam so I went and got him. He fit right in and the hens acted like he had been there forever so that was great, when he calls them, they all come running to him and he even watches over them when I let them out in the yard to scratch and peck around. Some of y'all might think I'm crazy but if you don't want baby chicks or seeing your hens with feathers scratched out by a big rooster, get a bantam rooster you still have all the perks of a big rooster without the damage to the hens.
Hope y'all all have a blessed day. : )

I'm with you on loving little chickens . Sorry you lost your boy and glad you found a replacement.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Was supposed to be leaving for a camping trip with the kids but some family stuff had us cancel it. My youngest leaves for college next month so not sure when we'll get the chance again.
Every days a scorcher here right now and we've hit that time of year when even the nights are hot. Chickens are handling it well. They're using their wading bowls and getting by. Its hot enough that the chickens don't want to leave their runs during the day. They'll come out to play in the morning and evening, but from about 10-4 or 5 they head back to their runs and won't budge out of them. I also have leaves scorching on some of my full sun plants that don't normally scorch. My plants and animals say its hotter then usual years though the thermometer seems about the same to me. No losses to the heat but I wish my vine cuttings I planted last fall would grow faster. Plant shade helps so much.

 

[PopoMyers]

This pullet seems to have the largest, reddest comb and wattles. Still need to build that nest box. I guess I could rig up a 5 gallon bucket nest in the run for the time being, just in case one surprises me and lays earlier than expected. LOLView attachment 3571969

Eggciting! Won't be long.Hope she know that the bucket is a nesting box. Don't be surprised if you have an Easter egg hunt daily, until they get their factories running smoothly. Even then, I still find occasionally misplaced eggs.

 

[PopoMyers]

Looks like such a good time! I'm so glad you guys had a great time and all stayed well at home

I'm with you on loving little chickens . Sorry you lost your boy and glad you found a replacement.

One of my cockerels suddenly died last summer, found him in a nesting box one morning. Read that there is some thing called rooster sudden death syndrome. So sorry you lost one, and happy that his replacement is well received.

 

[PopoMyers]

Good idea. Already have a couple. Thanks!

Even a heavy cardboard box, like from Costco, works until it gets too dirty, or a re-purposed cat litter box. Two can easily lay eggs together in mine.