What did you do with your flock today?

[fuzzi]

I dug up clumps of weeds and threw them in the run.

Martha likes the auxiliary feeder.

 

[Shetland lover]

How in the world did you house train a rooster???

With a puppy pad, a clicker, lots of treats and endless patience. Much the same as you would a puppy or kitten really.
The biggest factor though, was my ex-battery hen, Connie. She was a very clever girl and learned within a few months of her new life not to poop in the house. I didn't train her, I think she just watched the cats using the litter trays. She was desperate to spend most of her time cuddling with me or spending time with her new bestie, Grace (our girl cat who rarely does outdoors in the winter), so I think she just realised she wasn't going to get past the back door unless the pooping stopped! She actually used to get quite upset on the odd occasions she had an accident in the house. She'd make a noise that sounded for all the world like "Oh no!'' and look over her shoulder with a worried expression on her face.
Ferdy is a clever little roo and Connie did most of the training, I think.

Absolutely none of my other chickens are house trained!

 

[Shetland lover]

I have a little game pullet that refuses to poop in her kennel at night. As soon as I put her down outside in the morning she make a whopper of a pile after holding it all night long. Guess that is photo worthy.

Oh my! That is too cute! I can just picture her crossing her legs waiting for you to let her out in the mornings

 

[ChicksnMore]

With a puppy pad, a clicker, lots of treats and endless patience. Much the same as you would a puppy or kitten really.
The biggest factor though, was my ex-battery hen, Connie. She was a very clever girl and learned within a few months of her new life not to poop in the house. I didn't train her, I think she just watched the cats using the litter trays. She was desperate to spend most of her time cuddling with me or spending time with her new bestie, Grace (our girl cat who rarely does outdoors in the winter), so I think she just realised she wasn't going to get past the back door unless the pooping stopped! She actually used to get quite upset on the odd occasions she had an accident in the house. She'd make a noise that sounded for all the world like "Oh no!'' and look over her shoulder with a worried expression on her face.
Ferdy is a clever little roo and Connie did most of the training, I think.

Absolutely none of my other chickens are house trained!

My mom likes to send me videos of cute trained chickens. What they all have in common is a strong bond with their owners. Potty trained chickens, chickens that ride motorcycles and even ones that have learned to play with toys with their owners. Amazing! I'm happy if mine come when I call...that's good enough for me (though I really want a potty trained chicken some day!)

 

[kurby22]

Today I managed all the hatching babies, found homes for Ugly (the naked neck) and another rooster boy, and set up a new brooder to move the week olds into so the fresh hatch babies don’t get over crowded.

A couple of the new babies—a couple of surprises since the eggs came from my black breeding cage! Guessing the hens hadn’t cleared out yet, as I got a blue and a splash

I also tried out making my own business logo tank tops with an iron on transfer I got thru Etsy. I think it turned out pretty well!

Yesterday I reinforced my cat cage that I made into two breeding cages. The rats are having a field day having access to the food in the wider spaced bars. Took FOUR hours, sheet metal panels, hardware cloth, and 100 zip ties…but I *think* it might now be rat proof…

Update on Willie. He’s still choosing not to stand on the one leg, but he’s eating, drinking and crowing. Last night he did stand and move around a bit more, just used his wings to hold himself up but seems to be keeping on the weight which is good. He’s been getting extra vitamins too…so fingers crossed.

 

[Shetland lover]

Today has been a bit of a doozy! First I gave myself a hairline skull fracture and moderate concussion by dropping Ferdy's coop lid on the crown of my head when I was poop scooping after I let him and Clara out at first light. Oh, I've injured my neck too. So, after my trip to ER, DH packed me off to bed, saying he'd take care of feeding Penelope. 10mins later, he's screaming like a girl and when I finally get downstairs, he's dancing round the living room with Penelope hanging off his face! Apparently, she wanted his toast and he didn't want to hand it over...
Then, the truly awful part of the day. I heard Ferdy screaming. When I got outside, there were feathers flying and Ferdy and Stan were busy battling the peregrine I was so worried about last year. Then Gladys joined in and they overwhelmed it so it flew off.
I suspect it had tried to take Clara, though she only has a few feathers missing. Pru ran past me into the house with Penelope hot on her heels.
Gladys was totally unscathed but my brave boys weren't quite so lucky.
Stan has lost a small part of one wattle and has a couple of deep puncture wounds on his chest. I managed to stop the bleeding and irrigate and disinfect his wounds thoroughly. He's had antibiotics and a small dose of pain meds. He went into shock and couldn't stop shaking and moaning. He seems OK now and is dozing on my chest.
Poor Ferdy came off worst. He had his comb ripped open, deep puncture wounds in his chest, belly and right thigh and, worst of all, what looks to be a nasty eye injury. Again, irrigated and disinfected his wounds, closed up his comb with some surgical glue and then tried to look at his eye. He's refusing to open it on his own and as best I can tell, it's full of blood and I can't tell if it's been punctured. The lower lid is torn slightly. I've irrigated it with sterile saline solution, then applied fusidic acid as best I can and I'm going to repeat washing it and apply more ointment and some lubricating drops for overnight. He's also had a good dose of meloxicam and some antibiotics. Ferdy also seemed to be in shock so he also got a heat pack and electrolytes. He's cuddled in under my chin and occasionally making his whistling kettle noise so he must be feeling a lot better already. I guess I'll have to wait to get a better look at the eye tomorrow and assess if he needs a vet.

 

[Shetland lover]

Today I managed all the hatching babies, found homes for Ugly (the naked neck) and another rooster boy, and set up a new brooder to move the week olds into so the fresh hatch babies don’t get over crowded.

A couple of the new babies—a couple of surprises since the eggs came from my black breeding cage! Guessing the hens hadn’t cleared out yet, as I got a blue and a splash

View attachment 3747516
View attachment 3747517

I also tried out making my own business logo tank tops with an iron on transfer I got thru Etsy. I think it turned out pretty well!

View attachment 3747515

Yesterday I reinforced my cat cage that I made into two breeding cages. The rats are having a field day having access to the food in the wider spaced bars. Took FOUR hours, sheet metal panels, hardware cloth, and 100 zip ties…but I *think* it might now be rat proof…
View attachment 3747513
View attachment 3747514

Update on Willie. He’s still choosing not to stand on the one leg, but he’s eating, drinking and crowing. Last night he did stand and move around a bit more, just used his wings to hold himself up but seems to be keeping on the weight which is good. He’s been getting extra vitamins too…so fingers crossed.

Just too adorable!
And the vests look fabulous. Are you going to wear them at the Expo?
Good news about Willie. Any progress is welcome!
I think vitamins are way underrated for healing. I'm giving B12 to Ferdy as it's been shown to significantly improve corneal repair.

 

[kurby22]

Today has been a bit of a doozy! First I gave myself a hairline skull fracture and moderate concussion by dropping Ferdy's coop lid on the crown of my head when I was poop scooping after I let him and Clara out at first light. Oh, I've injured my neck too. So, after my trip to ER, DH packed me off to bed, saying he'd take care of feeding Penelope. 10mins later, he's screaming like a girl and when I finally get downstairs, he's dancing round the living room with Penelope hanging off his face! Apparently, she wanted his toast and he didn't want to hand it over...
Then, the truly awful part of the day. I heard Ferdy screaming. When I got outside, there were feathers flying and Ferdy and Stan were busy battling the peregrine I was so worried about last year. Then Gladys joined in and they overwhelmed it so it flew off.
I suspect it had tried to take Clara, though she only has a few feathers missing. Pru ran past me into the house with Penelope hot on her heels.
Gladys was totally unscathed but my brave boys weren't quite so lucky.
Stan has lost a small part of one wattle and has a couple of deep puncture wounds on his chest. I managed to stop the bleeding and irrigate and disinfect his wounds thoroughly. He's had antibiotics and a small dose of pain meds. He went into shock and couldn't stop shaking and moaning. He seems OK now and is dozing on my chest.
Poor Ferdy came off worst. He had his comb ripped open, deep puncture wounds in his chest, belly and right thigh and, worst of all, what looks to be a nasty eye injury. Again, irrigated and disinfected his wounds, closed up his comb with some surgical glue and then tried to look at his eye. He's refusing to open it on his own and as best I can tell, it's full of blood and I can't tell if it's been punctured. The lower lid is torn slightly. I've irrigated it with sterile saline solution, then applied fusidic acid as best I can and I'm going to repeat washing it and apply more ointment and some lubricating drops for overnight. He's also had a good dose of meloxicam and some antibiotics. Ferdy also seemed to be in shock so he also got a heat pack and electrolytes. He's cuddled in under my chin and occasionally making his whistling kettle noise so he must be feeling a lot better already. I guess I'll have to wait to get a better look at the eye tomorrow and assess if he needs a vet.

Oh my goodness!!! You weren't kidding!! When it rains it pours! I'm soooo sorry that you hurt yourself, and that the Peregrine came back and tried to take the babies! That is sooo upsetting and I want to give you a big hug. Your poor poor brave boys! I really hope that both of them recover. I'm sure that you have done everything possible for them, so I have a lot of hope for their recoveries. Sounds like your husband needs to realize that the cochins rule the house however! I hope you are all able to rest and heal as quickly as possible. I definitely know that the heat and quiet will help them a lot. I also wrap them in a towel and hug them for the contact.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Today I managed all the hatching babies, found homes for Ugly (the naked neck) and another rooster boy, and set up a new brooder to move the week olds into so the fresh hatch babies don’t get over crowded.

A couple of the new babies—a couple of surprises since the eggs came from my black breeding cage! Guessing the hens hadn’t cleared out yet, as I got a blue and a splash

View attachment 3747516
View attachment 3747517

I also tried out making my own business logo tank tops with an iron on transfer I got thru Etsy. I think it turned out pretty well!

View attachment 3747515

Yesterday I reinforced my cat cage that I made into two breeding cages. The rats are having a field day having access to the food in the wider spaced bars. Took FOUR hours, sheet metal panels, hardware cloth, and 100 zip ties…but I *think* it might now be rat proof…
View attachment 3747513
View attachment 3747514

Update on Willie. He’s still choosing not to stand on the one leg, but he’s eating, drinking and crowing. Last night he did stand and move around a bit more, just used his wings to hold himself up but seems to be keeping on the weight which is good. He’s been getting extra vitamins too…so fingers crossed.

I love your T-shirt Kurby! That looks wonderful!
Creative use of the cat cage too. I have a cat cage exactly like that and have been debating taking it apart in the middle to make two baby introduction cages. Someday in the future maybe... I have too many projects waiting for me to find the time already .

 

[Shetland lover]

Oh my goodness!!! You weren't kidding!! When it rains it pours! I'm soooo sorry that you hurt yourself, and that the Peregrine came back and tried to take the babies! That is sooo upsetting and I want to give you a big hug. Your poor poor brave boys! I really hope that both of them recover. I'm sure that you have done everything possible for them, so I have a lot of hope for their recoveries. Sounds like your husband needs to realize that the cochins rule the house however! I hope you are all able to rest and heal as quickly as possible. I definitely know that the heat and quiet will help them a lot. I also wrap them in a towel and hug them for the contact.

I've sat up all night with them as I would have had to be woken every 2 hrs anyway for the concussion and I'm an insomniac to start with.
I'm relieved to report that both boys seem to be doing well and have mainly slept through. Stan has slept either in my lap on a towel or snuggled next to his dad for comfort. Ferdy has not moved from under my chin, except to potty. If they're both crowing at 5.30, I'll know they are out of immediate danger.
I tended to Ferdy's eye twice more during the night so I know it's as clean and comfortable as I can make it for now. I've got a jeweller's loop in one of my craft boxes so the plan is to use that to examine his eye when it's light - if I can get it open enough for a close look.
The towel is a great shout. I did wrap up Stan as he can become very anxious. Ferdy likes to be next to my skin so I just put him under my sweater with his heat pack. He seemed content once the worst of the shock wore off and his pain meds took effect.
I don't think DH quite understands yet that bantam Cochins have no concept of personal space and a strong "what's yours is mine" attitude