What did you do with your flock today?

[Nomadicus]

I really need to be out there with the kids but I wouldn't be much good to them in an urn. It is way to hot to be doing heavy manual labor for old bones. So, once the sun moves on over a ways I'll be out filling water tanks and a few feeders then I'll sit in a chair and talk garbage with them. They gave me a lot of trash talk this morning when I turned them out.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Just came in to cool off. Got Mojo's wounds flushed and treated. He hates treatment so much and has no faith that I'm helping him. So when I was done with him I made the rounds of my birds to relax and smile. Didn't get pics of all of them...my phone says it needs charged.

 

[Smokerbill]

One of my pullets roosted on a board last night and it laid an egg with no shell, not even a membrane. It was just the yolk and white. They have access to oyster shell 24/7. I guess it's just a new-layer thing, right? Her egg laying equipment will figure things out?

And on the same board one of them dropped a big, black, runny poop. Maybe it ate something that didn't agree with it. Maybe I should take a picture of it and post it if it would be helpful.

Other than that, got 6 nice eggs today from the 8 pullets. Haven't been out there in a couple hours. Maybe there's another one. Gonna go check now.

Took a picture of the black poop. And for what it's worth, all the chickens seem to be acting totally healthy.

Edited to add: I did a forum search for "black poop" and may have figured out the cause. Yesterday evening one of them spent a long time eating stuff out of one of the compost piles. It could just be the chicken gorged on a lot of black compost, so I'm not too concerned now. I'll keep an eye out for more. Hopefully the compost gave the chicken a good nutrient boost. LOL

Spoiler: Gross Poop

 

[Nomadicus]

One of my pullets roosted on a board last night and it laid an egg with no shell, not even a membrane. It was just the yolk and white. They have access to oyster shell 24/7. I guess it's just a new-layer thing, right? Her egg laying equipment will figure things out?

And on the same board one of them dropped a big, black, runny poop. Maybe it ate something that didn't agree with it. Maybe I should take a picture of it and post it if it would be helpful.

Other than that, got 6 nice eggs today from the 8 pullets. Haven't been out there in a couple hours. Maybe there's another one. Gonna go check now.

They can do that at 11 months old. I have one that does it at 11 months and a couple more out in the layer houses that do it too.

 

[Smokerbill]

They can do that at 11 months old. I have one that does it at 11 months and a couple more out in the layer houses that do it too.

Good to know it just happens sometimes. Thanks!

 

[Smokerbill]

I removed the tall roosting area out of the coop and built a low one. The old on was several pallet sections stacked up with flat boards on top, and was always covered with poop. It was about 2 feet above the coop floor.

The new one is a simple length of 2x4, and it's only about 6 inches off of the coop floor, but still about a foot higher than the roosting branch in the run right next door.

Now all the poop will fall in to wood chips, so it'll be a lot easier to manage. And with the roost being a lot lower, no one will feel too superior. LOL

 

[TropicalBabies]

There are 4 more eggs with babies moving inside, but not sure they will make it. Will see in the morning! One of the mommas started foraging in the nest box shaving and was burying the babies had to stop that! They all had this look like “what the heck is she doing??” They are all just so tiny and precious and the mommas are tag teaming all of them quite well. Each momma has

That is just so amazing ♡ I have never had co broodies. I think it would be fabulous. Your beeeeebies are amazing. Keep the photos coming! Looove the kitty photos ♡♡♡♡♡

Just came in to cool off. Got Mojo's wounds flushed and treated. He hates treatment so much and has no faith that I'm helping him. So when I was done with him I made the rounds of my birds to relax and smile. Didn't get pics of all of them...my phone says it needs charged. View attachment 3602343View attachment 3602344View attachment 3602345View attachment 3602335View attachment 3602336View attachment 3602337View attachment 3602338View attachment 3602342

Always fun visiting the zoo. Thank you for sharing your fun.
Glad everyone is holding up. Hope the heat stays manageable for you both/all.

 

[Nomadicus]

Ma's got a 10 week old pullet that got a little banged up by getting trampled by siblings last night. It got plenty to eat and drink today and has a box inside along with Rosie. Rosie isn't quite sure what to think and keeps looking in on Pipsqueak. Yeah she's been squeaking today like I've haven't heard a chick or chicken of any age make. She'll be kept as a pullet. I'm royally ticked off with the Jersey girls as they all ran and hid tonight. I felt sorry for them in this extreme heat we had today and I didn't get any respect as Dangerfield put it. They will be sorry when I get my hands on them...... I might pull out a tail feather.

 

[kurby22]

Ma's got a 10 week old pullet that got a little banged up by getting trampled by siblings last night. It got plenty to eat and drink today and has a box inside along with Rosie. Rosie isn't quite sure what to think and keeps looking in on Pipsqueak. Yeah she's been squeaking today like I've haven't heard a chick or chicken of any age make. She'll be kept as a pullet. I'm royally ticked off with the Jersey girls as they all ran and hid tonight. I felt sorry for them in this extreme heat we had today and I didn't get any respect as Dangerfield put it. They will be sorry when I get my hands on them...... I might pull out a tail feather.

I had to pull out a couple of chicks today cuz momma was stepping on them and one baby ended up dying I’m glad your baby is okay

So now that the last baby hatched I removed 3 of the broody mommas so they aren’t so crowded. I am currently holding the last baby…not sure it’s gonna make it either. It got rushed out cuz the broody stepped on her after partially out of the shell and was literally standing on its head.

 

[Nomadicus]

I had to pull out a couple of chicks today cuz momma was stepping on them and one baby ended up dying I’m glad your baby is okay

So now that the last baby hatched I removed 3 of the broody mommas so they aren’t so crowded. I am currently holding the last baby…not sure it’s gonna make it either. It got rushed out cuz the broody stepped on her after partially out of the shell and was literally standing on its head.

I don't know as many survive their mom's weight as do. I want to build a small flock of light weight broody bantams and not let heavy hens set. I don't dare let a 10 lb Dark Cornish hen set. Big fluffy Buff Orpingtons still make me nervous. As kid I had a pet white rock hen that raised all that she hatched with no problems. I need to get a consensus on the better bantam mothers before I start down that road.