What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

I keep waiting for the older roos to set him straight. He's upsetting the hens and usually that's a nono that the old roos won't tolerate. I think because he's extra small for his breed and newly hormonal? At any rate, Spankers the only one I've seen even try to slow him down! My old boys go alert but aren't driving him off from his antics. Poor ladies!

It's so strange, isn't it? The way some baby roos seem to get away with murder? Gladys normally gives all the boys a very hard time from approximately 8 weeks old until she thinks they've learned enough manners. Not with Stan. I think she's starting to regret that a bit now...

 

[Shetland lover]

I don't tolerate that, or did not when I had multi boys growing up. Had to figure that one out quick. Unless boy is there with a purpose I thought it hard to make the flock sort it out long term. Girls usually make their choice quick and i usually agree with their good taste. The end. Separate the rest and enjoy peace if you can ♡

Up here with the existing ferals, I have to keep an eye on when free ranging. Spider and Beetle have had a few tufts with the local boys, but I try catch as soon as I see or hear. It is hard on all and I don't want any injury let alone a serious one.

I have seen too many cockerels beat to a bloody pulp or death as some roosters would like it to, not take it seriously. I would be devastated.

We used to have lots of cock fighting around here due to cultural introductions. We still have plenty enough. Serious business

That's why we had to re-home Leo, he was trying to kill Sylv daily and smothering the little girls trying to mate with them. I really feared he'd kill one of them. He was such a lovely boy otherwise.
I doubt I'd get away with keeping two roos in my tiny space if Ferdy wasn't such a sweetheart. Even when he is so provoked that he gets into it with Stan, you can actually see he's holding back on hurting him as much he can.

 

[Shetland lover]

Yesterday I was scheduled to take my motorcycle road test. We have a tropical storm close and I knew it could be a wet ride. It was a nice clear weather ride on my way in, from the top of the mountain, over 1 hour into Lihue town and during my road test too. I passed with just a few points off for a long skid stop . By the time I finished with my paperwork it had started to rain.... and rained half way back home. It was so hot and dry the second half of the ride, I was completely dry when I got back to the cabin lol.
I had to catch up on chicken chores and kitty snuggles and sleep. Today is breezy but still dry up Koke'e Gunna do a little more prep as I am sure it will get interesting up here.

Congratulations. Way to go!

 

[Shetland lover]

I created another 200 square feet of area for my chickens to play in today. It's not secure against small or climbing predators, but the chickens can't get out. I hope. LOL

It's only for daytime use anyway, so it should be fine. There's 168 square feed of bare, dry dirt for them to dig and dust in, plus another 32 feet inside the elevated coop I built. They have access to their main 110 square foot run too. So that gives them a hair over 30 square feet per bird during the day, which should be good for them.

I used an old section of 7 foot tall concrete reinforcing mesh with 6x6 openings (got it for free from OfferUp). Along the bottom I attached plastic mesh fencing that they can't pass through. Attached a couple of 8 foot round timbers to the bottom to stiffen it up.

Now they'll be able to get plenty of bright sunshine until early afternoon. After that the area is in total shade.

I wish I had your building skills! That looks like an awesome extension.

 

[Shetland lover]

Tonight I sprayed 48 chickens with Elector PSP and I’m exhausted! It’s stressful for me, the chickens hate it, the children get frustrated trying to catch them without letting go, the husband sits and watches…and I get covered in chemicals and water, poop, shavings, and scratches. Found mites on Ducky Jr yesterday, so I just decided I should spray everyone just in case and found 3 more that had mites and/or lice eggs around their vent. Also sprayed a couple coops down, and found two hidden eggs with another broody. Daisy was a breeder at her last home, and she is a serious broody! She’s the only one who’s ever tried to legit fight me over eggs! D’Uccles are saucy little ladies!

I also have Shadow some time with the chickens again. He’s intrigued by them but the flapping around didn’t cause him to want to chase or attack them. So that’s a start for safe chickens He’s a really good boy!

He's such a handsome young man! And a good start to his chicken education.
My cats are so good with the chickens and even the chicks. Grace hangs out with Gladys a lot. They like to sunbathe together. She was best buddies with my ex-batt, Connie. I even found them cuddled up together on our bed one afternoon!
Elliot occasionally slaps Gladys and Pru. We've decided he's a racist prick.

 

[Shetland lover]

Hooking my keyboard up, since I have fat finger syndrome. So many posts since the last time, and I finally have caught up. @kurby22 , @ChicksnMore , hoping the heat lets up soon. That is way too hot, even for AZ. Do your chooks do ok in that kind of temps? Mine are panting at 80. @TropicalBabies , so much going on, and so much to do, adventures and surprises abound for you. Congratulations on passing your motocycle test! Was there still gas in your motorcycle after Forest? Love the bag on travel. Hope the storm passes without affecting you too badly. Good thing you rescued the eggs from the roof. Love your little tool for that. Your flock looks very happy to be up Koke'e. Very pretty flowers for mom.
@Shetland lover , are you taking more courses, or are you all done? You are such a wealth of knowledge, and so helpful to so many of us. @kurby22 , @TropicalBabies where do you get all the special meds for your pets? Haven't seen the ones mentioned at the local feed store. Are the prescription?
Well, the latest happenings here.
Had a couple more escapees, who got caught in the netting I had put up last, so was able to catch the frequent flyer and clip her wings. My old lady Cinnamon tried that, and I came home to her stuck in the netting with her foot tangled up. Good thing I got to her before it tangled up more and cut off her circulation. Didn't clip her, and she was out again the next day. She hasn't tried again since.
Been warmer lately, so keeping their extra water containers cleaned and filled. Extra berries, watermelon rinds are the current treats. Velma is 16 weeks, and is about as big as the other girls. She is holding her own, still cautious of the pecks from the upper girls. View attachment 3582838
Houdini has been crowing at all hours. Middle of the wee hours, 10:00 at night, of course all day. I wonder if he is reacting to my neighbors motion activated flood lights in the driveway? We have a lot of critters and deer which activated them. I have taken to wearing earplugs to bed, and have been successful in not being awakened by him. Was losing sleep there for awhile.
Got the fake wooden eggs and distributed them among the boxes. Haven't had any eggs eaten, so far. It's only been a couple days. One I had put on the floor of the coop had been moved...I think the culprit tried and gave up on it. Yay!
Have been very busy, this week with Vacation Bible School, the garden chores, picking berries every other day for an hour and a half, taking care of cleaning and freezing crab meat that hubby catches 2 days a week. View attachment 3582839This takes quite awhile. So, haven't been updating you all.
@Smokerbill , congratulations on the eggs! Nice double!

Gosh! You have been busy!
We're up to our ears in gherkins and courgettes at the moment. Keeping pace is quite exhausting. As is finding things to do with them. I made risotto and feta stuffed courgettes for tea last night with 2 that had almost reached marrow size. They were pretty tasty but I think they needed a bit of pancetta in them.
I wish I could still eat crab (I've developed a shrimp allergy in recent years so I daren't eat crab or lobster). I used to go crabbing for edible brown crab with my granddad until he stopped when he was about 80. He knew all the best spots. Doubt there's many crab and lobster the size we used to take out these days.
Stan suddenly started crowing in the early hours about 6 weeks ago. I figured out he could see the flashing lights on my neighbour's awning. I've put a blackout cloth over the coop window at night and that's solved the problem. You could well be right it's the security lights upsetting him.
No other courses just yet but I've seen one I'm interested in that starts in September. It's been good to get the old brain learning again!

 

[Nomadicus]

Started my morning in the clinical department with an 8 week old that was laying flat out this morning. Went to pick it up thinking it was dead but it was a warm body and moved a little. Got it to the water fountain and it drank. Now it's inside with me in the AC for some egg yolk and Gatorade. The authenic nurse can talk over now. Today is fill the feed bins day.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Hooking my keyboard up, since I have fat finger syndrome. So many posts since the last time, and I finally have caught up. @kurby22 , @ChicksnMore , hoping the heat lets up soon. That is way too hot, even for AZ. Do your chooks do ok in that kind of temps? Mine are panting at 80. @TropicalBabies , so much going on, and so much to do, adventures and surprises abound for you. Congratulations on passing your motocycle test! Was there still gas in your motorcycle after Forest? Love the bag on travel. Hope the storm passes without affecting you too badly. Good thing you rescued the eggs from the roof. Love your little tool for that. Your flock looks very happy to be up Koke'e. Very pretty flowers for mom.
@Shetland lover , are you taking more courses, or are you all done? You are such a wealth of knowledge, and so helpful to so many of us. @kurby22 , @TropicalBabies where do you get all the special meds for your pets? Haven't seen the ones mentioned at the local feed store. Are the prescription?
Well, the latest happenings here.
Had a couple more escapees, who got caught in the netting I had put up last, so was able to catch the frequent flyer and clip her wings. My old lady Cinnamon tried that, and I came home to her stuck in the netting with her foot tangled up. Good thing I got to her before it tangled up more and cut off her circulation. Didn't clip her, and she was out again the next day. She hasn't tried again since.
Been warmer lately, so keeping their extra water containers cleaned and filled. Extra berries, watermelon rinds are the current treats. Velma is 16 weeks, and is about as big as the other girls. She is holding her own, still cautious of the pecks from the upper girls. View attachment 3582838
Houdini has been crowing at all hours. Middle of the wee hours, 10:00 at night, of course all day. I wonder if he is reacting to my neighbors motion activated flood lights in the driveway? We have a lot of critters and deer which activated them. I have taken to wearing earplugs to bed, and have been successful in not being awakened by him. Was losing sleep there for awhile.
Got the fake wooden eggs and distributed them among the boxes. Haven't had any eggs eaten, so far. It's only been a couple days. One I had put on the floor of the coop had been moved...I think the culprit tried and gave up on it. Yay!
Have been very busy, this week with Vacation Bible School, the garden chores, picking berries every other day for an hour and a half, taking care of cleaning and freezing crab meat that hubby catches 2 days a week. View attachment 3582839This takes quite awhile. So, haven't been updating you all.
@Smokerbill , congratulations on the eggs! Nice double!

Your busy sounds like a good way to live . Crab, berries, gardening and classes!
Velma looks great and glad those eggs seem to be working. Really glad you got to Cinnamon in time. Hope it did her no harm beyond her pride.
The chickens here are doing ok with the heat. I even catch them sunbathing occasionally. There's nothing quite like checking on your chickens because you're worried about the heat and seeing one sprawled out and still in the dirt. I always go over to be sure they're ok...and get the stink eye for disturbing them But I've never lost a bird or even had one act heat struck. They get to adjust slowly with the weather and are smart enough to use the cooling methods they can. Lots of panting here though!
Good to hear from you and hope your thumbs continuing to heal well. Sounds like you're getting lots of pt just from living a good life

 

[ChicksnMore]

Started my morning in the clinical department with an 8 week old that was laying flat out this morning. Went to pick it up thinking it was dead but it was a warm body and moved a little. Got it to the water fountain and it drank. Now it's inside with me in the AC for some egg yolk and Gatorade. The authenic nurse can talk over now. Today is fill the feed bins day.

Hope the little ones ok!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Tonight I sprayed 48 chickens with Elector PSP and I’m exhausted! It’s stressful for me, the chickens hate it, the children get frustrated trying to catch them without letting go, the husband sits and watches…and I get covered in chemicals and water, poop, shavings, and scratches. Found mites on Ducky Jr yesterday, so I just decided I should spray everyone just in case and found 3 more that had mites and/or lice eggs around their vent. Also sprayed a couple coops down, and found two hidden eggs with another broody. Daisy was a breeder at her last home, and she is a serious broody! She’s the only one who’s ever tried to legit fight me over eggs! D’Uccles are saucy little ladies!

I also have Shadow some time with the chickens again. He’s intrigued by them but the flapping around didn’t cause him to want to chase or attack them. So that’s a start for safe chickens He’s a really good boy!

If your birds are like mine, they'll think nothing of giving Shadow a peck on the nose now and then and he'll lose all interest in them.
Hope your careful with getting the chemicals on you. I imagine by the time you're done with all your birds you've gotten an awful big dose of it your self!