What did you do with your flock today?

[PopoMyers]

Sapphires are a hybrid between various heritage breeds and high production, commercial chickens, laying approximately 290 - 300 eggs per year. Their average lifespan is around 5 - 10 years. Some  do stop laying as early as 3 years, likely due to the commercial hybrid genes, though most will lay longer.

Some great suggestions for reducing stress and bullying!

No bullying going on, and they have a spacious roosting area, 5 nesting boxes, of which 2 gets used by all 14 (go figure) , 2 large feeders, 2 watering stations, and a huge, protected free range area. I've not noticed any strange, bad behavior, and she is one of 2 top hens.

 

[MaeM]

Recently I realized that I could make some space to take my solo chicken with me in my new house.

But I don't dare to separate her from my mom's dog. They hang out together and they even nap together! One day I called my chicken's name and her little head stuck out from the dog's fluff while he was sleeping.

 

[Shetland lover]

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Recently I realized that I could make some space to take my solo chicken with me in my new house.

But I don't dare to separate her from my mom's dog. They hang out together and they even nap together! One day I called my chicken's name and her little head stuck out from the dog's fluff while he was sleeping.

Oh that is so cute! My Swedish Flower roo used to like sleeping with one of my cats - in her cat bed! I think he liked the bed more than my cat tbh.
What are you going to do?

 

[kurby22]

Popping in to say hi! It’s been forever I know! Hi @PopoMyers! I’ve missed you, and hope you’re doing well! I was sharing this picture with some chicken friends and thought it was too cute not to share here.

This is Ruby, our retired show bantam buff Brahma boy who gets to be in the house at night because he’s lost some of his eyesight and can’t find the roost bars anymore. And the other is our little bantam Modern Game hen, Zilla, who somehow broke her leg last Fall and has been an indoor girl ever since. These two have bonded and I just think it’s the sweetest relationship. You can see the way they’re together that there is real connection and love and trust and I just think it’s beautiful and had to share

 

[Shetland lover]

Popping in to say hi! It’s been forever I know! Hi @PopoMyers! I’ve missed you, and hope you’re doing well! I was sharing this picture with some chicken friends and thought it was too cute not to share here.

This is Ruby, our retired show bantam buff Brahma boy who gets to be in the house at night because he’s lost some of his eyesight and can’t find the roost bars anymore. And the other is our little bantam Modern Game hen, Zilla, who somehow broke her leg last Fall and has been an indoor girl ever since. These two have bonded and I just think it’s the sweetest relationship. You can see the way they’re together that there is real connection and love and trust and I just think it’s beautiful and had to share

Just the sweetest couple

 

[Jenbirdee]

 

[PopoMyers]

Popping in to say hi! It’s been forever I know! Hi @PopoMyers! I’ve missed you, and hope you’re doing well! I was sharing this picture with some chicken friends and thought it was too cute not to share here.

This is Ruby, our retired show bantam buff Brahma boy who gets to be in the house at night because he’s lost some of his eyesight and can’t find the roost bars anymore. And the other is our little bantam Modern Game hen, Zilla, who somehow broke her leg last Fall and has been an indoor girl ever since. These two have bonded and I just think it’s the sweetest relationship. You can see the way they’re together that there is real connection and love and trust and I just think it’s beautiful and had to share

Awww, so sweet. Save this one for the Valentine photo contest. Thanks for thinking of me. I have also been sort of absent, summertime is very busy for me, a big garden, guests, etc. Starting up canning and such. The flock is doing fine, except for one girl who has developed calcium uptake decrease, as her shells are thin and brittle. She's over 3. I bet you are busy too, with summer vacation for the kids. Stay cool. We're under a heat advisory from tomorrow until late Tuesday. I'm breaking out the portable AC tomorrow.

 

[Ponypoor]

Today I had to chase them all back to the barn, but they had fun so that’s ok! Those tall weeds in the paddocks are just a big draw! Lots of bugs in there I imagine

But that’s were the lions and tigers are! Dangerous for chooks.

 

[BDutch]

Today I had to chase them all back to the barn, but they had fun so that’s ok! Those tall weeds in the paddocks are just a big draw! Lots of bugs in there I imagine

But that’s were the lions and tigers are! Dangerous for chooks.

Tall weeds behind our garden are in fact a good hiding place for cats and other even more real threads .

Most neighbour’s cats are friendly but a few years ago there was a real mean one. One bantam RIR and 2 small pullets disappeared around that time. Maybe it was the cat but it could have been another predator too.
We did have foxes in the past. Glad they skipped visits more recent years.
Knock on

A new cat came by last Thursday. It hunted and scared the chickens. Do you think its a young male cat?

 

[PopoMyers]

I cannot go outside. Broke my right foot 3 days ago, and this will take 6 weeks to heal. No driving, either. My garden and girls are calling me.....