What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

And you? How'd it go? Was yummy?! You tired?

What the?!! I need you to clarify!

Poor Connie was my first ex-batt, along with Peggy. When we brought her home and I picked her up for the first time, she snuggled against my chest and gave the biggest sigh! She loved being with me and used to sneak into the house constantly. She helped me house train Ferdy and was amazing at disciplining the baby roos. Her best non-chicken friend was Grace and I once found them cuddled up on our bed! We lost her last February to old age and I miss her so much
Anyway, I buried her in one of the flower beds as she loved defying me and rooting everything up in this particular bed. The rats have excavated the hole and basically dug her skull up! I thought it was an egg at first but realised it was part of her as I got closer. Her skull is now cleaned and in the house awaiting reburial once we are rat free. She'll be happy enough as it was always her ambition to live inside. I have five more chickens buried out there, hope they don't dig any more up - don't think I can cope!

 

[Shetland lover]

It's a conditioning process. They could get used to it. The noise startles them at first, but they get used to it after a few days to a week. I didn't follow the suggested time line exactly, and they looked well fed the last few days with the noise.

I tried to get them used to it for nearly 5 weeks. Gladys used to have no problem standing on it to open it but then refused to eat out of it. Tiny Clara just didn't weigh enough. Penelope, Pru and Ferdy were just heavy enough to open it but then daft Ferdy would do his 'OMG!!! The sky is falling in! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!! Run for your lives!'... so then no-one would even go near it.

I'm not smart enough to figure his logic.

No-one is smart enough to figure out chicken logic

 

[TropicalBabies]

I tried to get them used to it for nearly 5 weeks. Gladys used to have no problem standing on it to open it but then refused to eat out of it. Tiny Clara just didn't weigh enough. Penelope, Pru and Ferdy were just heavy enough to open it but then daft Ferdy would do his 'OMG!!! The sky is falling in! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!! Run for your lives!'... so then no-one would even go near it.

No-one is smart enough to figure out chicken logic

Sounds like my kids and salad.

 

[kurby22]

I've named the little chick Snug. It likes to snuggle already...think because I keep picking it up to check it's baby feathers coming in to see if they look like I expected...lol. Given up on keeping some distance and just cuddling it off and on now. So far it's baby feathers are black and white...not a bright white...more of a tinted creamy white though. Really really sweet baby. View attachment 3382471View attachment 3382472

Ooooohhhh so very cute!!

Got a better picture trying to show the color...lol. I think maybe this baby is tri-color. That's not really quite white to my eyes and I know pure white will come in later. So curious what it'll look like!View attachment 3382475

And this baby is for sure an OD? That is a super unique feather pattern! I can't wait to see it all feathered out!!

Spider is imprinting with feral chicks lol. Not sure why he is taking such an interest in this gal and her brood.View attachment 3382795
She is a regular here but brought her new brood a few days ago.View attachment 3382805View attachment 3382806
She had about 16+ when I first spotted her bringing her brood to dig bugs at one of the compost. Now she is down to about 9 2 days later. So camouflaged

Wow, you can't even tell there are babies in that picture!!

Poor Connie was my first ex-batt, along with Peggy. When we brought her home and I picked her up for the first time, she snuggled against my chest and gave the biggest sigh! She loved being with me and used to sneak into the house constantly. She helped me house train Ferdy and was amazing at disciplining the baby roos. Her best non-chicken friend was Grace and I once found them cuddled up on our bed! We lost her last February to old age and I miss her so much
Anyway, I buried her in one of the flower beds as she loved defying me and rooting everything up in this particular bed. The rats have excavated the hole and basically dug her skull up! I thought it was an egg at first but realised it was part of her as I got closer. Her skull is now cleaned and in the house awaiting reburial once we are rat free. She'll be happy enough as it was always her ambition to live inside. I have five more chickens buried out there, hope they don't dig any more up - don't think I can cope!

Ahhh, that is sad Poor Connie sounds so sweet. Blasted rodents! They are something else man, they get into everything!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Oh @Shetland lover I am so very sorry you are experiencing such loss...and on top of that they just keep digging! Dang rats!!!

 

[ChicksnMore]

And this baby is for sure an OD? That is a super unique feather pattern! I can't wait to see it all feathered out!!

Definitely a dwarf. I had thought it was going to be one of the black and white chickens others get off and on ...but just not sure now. When it hatched I looked at chick id pics and the chicks I found that looked like this one were mottled Ancona. Snug's here to stay no matter what though, lol. I'm enjoying the little tyke.

Oh @Shetland lover I am so very sorry you are experiencing such loss...and on top of that they just keep digging! Dang rats!!!

@Shetland lover X2!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Well, all the yokos but 1 are back to healthy and frisky again. The one hen that's still sick is almost 100%. Her eyes both look great and her breathing sounds fine again. She just looks a bit tired still. Surely something so easy to recover from can't be that bad? Most were better within 24 hours of medicine. Dreading getting the test results still.

I feel so much more optimistic now, but this scared me. I've always thought I do a good job of keeping my birds safe. Good quarantine quarters etc. Now I feel like a putz who needs to rethink how I do things. Blah.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Kirin's getting more colorful

 

[Shetland lover]

We got one!It was in the humane trap when I went to let everyone out this morning.
Trouble is, I took one look at it's terrified, cute, whiskery face and knew I couldn't kill them. So it's been re-homed on our allotment where it can't do as much mischief, hopefully to be joined by the rest of it's family very soon.

Thank you everyone for all your condolences. It's so hard to lose them. Everyone seems in fine fettle at the moment, touch wood!

 

[PopoMyers]

I tried to get them used to it for nearly 5 weeks. Gladys used to have no problem standing on it to open it but then refused to eat out of it. Tiny Clara just didn't weigh enough. Penelope, Pru and Ferdy were just heavy enough to open it but then daft Ferdy would do his 'OMG!!! The sky is falling in! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!! Run for your lives!'... so then no-one would even go near it.

No-one is smart enough to figure out chicken logic

I would have loved to see Ferdy's act. So sorry it did not work for you, and so sorry for your loss. Glad you caught one!