What did you do with your flock today?

[FBMcrazy8]

I gave Molly her first dose of Baytril. She's been really vocal and active today, so I think she's already feeling better even without the rest of the infection cleared up.

In other news, The Royals have been getting along really well. They've been non-stop preening each other and then the other day Duchess laid an egg. At one point they were both cuddling in the nest together. They're going to need a bigger basket, lol.View attachment 3372675
They're so sweet. Before I got Duchess I couldn't decide whether to look for a boy so they could partner up, or a girl so they could just be friends, but it looks like I ended up getting the best of both worlds. <3

They are just so cute. I’m glad they are doing so well together. It’s good to hear Molly is feeling a little better today! I hope she continues to improve!

 

[FBMcrazy8]

@FBM I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with frostbite. I hope it isn't too severe.
You've got a nice flock!

Thank you! I’m crossing my fingers and toes!

 

[TropicalBabies]

I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one, I’ve always had to work in hour-long increments in the past.

I don't think I make my increments even one hour, so hats off to you @fd ♡ I kind of judge it on chicken stress level and weigh it out. Only so much torture I can give my sweet littles ♡ Hope was an absolute champ though. She was not a friendly bird to start but she put up with me poking, pushing, grabbing, pulling, flushing, packing 2-3 times a day sometimes. Think it took me 1-2 weeks to get her eye cleared. Total movie but I am super happy I saved her as she is a terrific girl, more so now than when we started. Now she seeks me out and I can pick her up with ease. Must be the extra mealworms

 

[TropicalBabies]

I am super boring. Just de-moonscaped the run and cleaned and freshened waterers. Oh, and scared out a few roaches from the chicken storage for a couple of quick thinking hens. Did not even scrape poop boards today.
Been working on Boo. Did some touch up painting and repainting (lol) after taking some of her apart the other day. I get to put her back together tomorrow. WITH new turn signals. Gosh I hope they work. Being I destroyed the old ones lol.

Had to make a quick run to the parts store this morning, just 15 miles away. Think-hope I have what I need.

Forest thinks I am boring too.
Stopped by the Ag yard after auto parts and feeding horses and grabbed some old drip tape.

Grabbed old basket out of chicken shed (roaches) and as I started to clean it up I realized the whole thing is made out of plastic straps so no sense cut them out to weave another even worse one in. I have it soaking now. Not sure what I am going to do... maybe put it back in the chicken storage... and move on lol.

No takers on the young lad yet.

 

[kurby22]

That's a really good sign isn't it that he's trying to mate again!?
I can't believe you got another with frostbite on their feet!
I never could really tell anything for certain on mines feet...I pray they are good...they act well.
Curious as to the width of your roost bars.
Mine are a little narrow but it was a special piece I wanted to incorporate into the coop.
Silly I know...but our home church was built in the 1800s...I went there as a little girl and they didn't build a new church til 1987.
We used that old church building for many years to come until it was just too much upkeep and in such bad repair that they tore it down.
When they tore it down they allowed anyone that was interested to take pieces from the old building.
I got several window panes, nice pieces of wood and still to this day could KICK myself for not getting the old Sunday school wooden mail sorter that was 4' tall by 5' wide!!!
Anyways I digress lol since I'm not able to physically quilt anymore I took the quilt frame an older friend made me from pieces from the old building and made them into the roost bars! They are about 2½"x2½". Then the nicest piece of wood my DH made into a gorgeous shelf is what they use as their front porch!
Ok back to why I told ya all that ... I noticed the d'uccles roosting last night and they had settled down with their feet covered by their bodies but there was an inch gap or so in between their legs ...I'm guessing cuz it may be little too narrow a roost bar?
Wasn't sure if you had narrow bars or not since a couple have had frostbite on their toes.
Sorry this was so long!
I sure hope your little girlee is doing better today!

@kurby22 how are you fairing over there with all the massive flooding now. Is it still hitting you where you are at?

This weather is just insane...really makes me miss "normal" days!

Thankfully not too much flooding where I’m at, but it’s been an issue all around us! Biggest issue is that the ground is SO saturated that trees are just falling all over the place! We have gotten lucky so far, but I hold my breath every round of storms we get! The storm Sunday night was crazy—70 mph wind gusts in the Valley! We had thunder and lightning and hail…the thunder was so close and loud our window shook a little bit! Each round has a day in between of no rain, so Sunday afternoon before the storm rolled through we spread Koop Clean straw over the runs to dry out the mud…it helped immensely! We need the rain SO bad, but I sure wish it would come in a less chaotic and destructive manner! My poor chickens are so bored…and I miss our daily visits and they miss treat time! I can’t wait for a break and some dry ground

 

[Shetland lover]

I am but I am only doing it once a day. I had to drop it because he is SOO not liking me handling him. I don’t want to stress him out and at the same time I don’t want hurt either. Getting him out of the kennel is a challenge in itself. I was hoping the more I did it he would just accept it. It actually went the other way around.

I find that with most of mine. They start off tolerant then just decide "nope! Had enough of this!" and stop cooperating.
I'd maybe stop bathing them every day and just do it a couple of times a week or if his feet are dirty. Might help it dry out more quickly? There's been good results using Aloe Vera gel to help along the healing process but it must be water based as anything oil or paraffin based will trap moisture and create wet gangrene, which we absolutely don't want happening!

 

[Shetland lover]

That ALL looks like fun! I truly believe if I had fruit trees my chickens could get to I wouldn’t have any fruit . Watching them jump for it would be awesome to see!

Between the chickens and the wild birds, I don't get a single cherry - and it's my favourite fruit too!

 

[Shetland lover]

I am super boring. Just de-moonscaped the run and cleaned and freshened waterers. Oh, and scared out a few roaches from the chicken storage for a couple of quick thinking hens. Did not even scrape poop boards today.
Been working on Boo. Did some touch up painting and repainting (lol) after taking some of her apart the other day. I get to put her back together tomorrow. WITH new turn signals. Gosh I hope they work. Being I destroyed the old ones lol.View attachment 3373115View attachment 3373116View attachment 3373118
Had to make a quick run to the parts store this morning, just 15 miles away. Think-hope I have what I need.
View attachment 3373121
Forest thinks I am boring too.
Stopped by the Ag yard after auto parts and feeding horses and grabbed some old drip tape. View attachment 3373123View attachment 3373124
Grabbed old basket out of chicken shed (roaches) and as I started to clean it up I realized the whole thing is made out of plastic straps so no sense cut them out to weave another even worse one in. I have it soaking now. Not sure what I am going to do... maybe put it back in the chicken storage... and move on lol.View attachment 3373129View attachment 3373132
No takers on the young lad yet.

Oh! He is going to be gorgeous! I wish people valued roos as much as hens. I know there is the noise issue but they bring so many benefits to the flock and they're super entertaining

 

[Shetland lover]

It took some chasing but I got her. She wasn’t going without a fight. Even the picture of her butt isn’t the greatest. But it is WAY better today.

Her toes don't look too bad. She might lose the tips but she'll manage o.k.

 

[Shetland lover]

I need something like this for them. It would be great exercise for them too. I had butterfly bushes in there cause I read multiple times that it would survive chickens….LIE!!! I wanted them to be able to eat some of the bugs that would be attracted to it. Instead they destroyed them..

Mine LOVE butterfly bush leaves!