What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Thank you!

I want to add big branches to the mix once the Dominiques don't need a brooder and I'll have a little more room.

Love that idea! I have old Christmas trees in my run but I'm constantly on the lookout for good driftwood that's a little more sculptural for them.

 

[NagemTX]

I waded in the water with them. The water was left by the storms we've had over the past week. Installed some waterhole bridging planks in one pen for the moms and babies. One of the nesting boxes was floating.

 

[ChicksnMore]

K. Here is one that will melt your heart.
Setting up booth and I keep hearing chicken noises. Glance, see nothing. Hours go by I hear chick noises so I start looking under bushes...
I finally look up...View attachment 3486228View attachment 3486230
This guy has 2, maaaybe 3- 4 week old chicks tucked under his wings. Absolutely heart warming. I love him. Gunna leave him some scratch for tomorrow mornings breakfast ♡♡♡
What a guy! View attachment 3486234

I want to know how the babies got up there! Amazing . Wonder what happened to mom?

Noooo I’m not! We have to spend all day outside tomorrow for kids sports and it’s gonna be 89 for a high and I’m going to be a boiled crab! Thankfully the trees have leafed out so the birds have shade but blech! Sunday only 78 so at least a small reprieve!

Spent some time with everyone before it got hot. Duchess has fit right in with the bantams

Such wonderful fluffy butts We're in the 90's already here! But those cool nights are delightful still.

I'm so sorry for your loss
I totally agree with you about all the meddling with genetics to breed hens to lay larger and larger eggs. Up until last May, my flock included ex-battery hens. If you don't know, they are raised and live their entire, short lives in a cage underneath artificial light 23 hrs a day, laying daily. They stand on wire and often share the cage with at least 9 other hens. They are allowed, by law, a space the size of an A4 sheet of paper each. At 72 weeks old, they are disposed of like trash. Culled unless they're the lucky few who are rescued.
Anyhow, my point is, they have been 'developed' to the point that they generally only live 2-3 years, lay bigger and bigger eggs and on an almost daily basis. The effects on their health are catastrophic- reproductive issues like salpingitis, higher incidence of egg-binding, ovarian and other reproductive cancers, osteoporosis from the drive to produce eggs... all caused by human meddling. I think it's as much abuse as keeping them caged their entire life. It's tragic that these 'improvements' are now being made to heritage breeds like your Rhode Island Reds

Production livestock lives are sad aren't they . It's wonderful you guys do rescue some though. I don't think anything like that is here in America.

I waded in the water with them. The water was left by the storms we've had over the past week. Installed some waterhole bridging planks in one pen for the moms and babies. One of the nesting boxes was floating.

View attachment 3486463View attachment 3486466

Must have been quite the storm! Hope the water soaks down fast for you. Such a beautiful green area you're in!

 

[FBMcrazy8]

That does not sound at all pleasant! I hope you get well quickly ❤

Oh my god! Re the bobbin. I'm going to check mine now. I must say I prefer the metal bobbins to the plastic ones you get now.

I agree! I wish I had more metal ones. I believe I have a few and my mom does too but finding them is the real trick. I just hate how everything is made so cheaply anymore. It was the SMALLEST little bump from the plastic that it just completely messed it up. I’m just really glad that is all it was! Hopefully that is what is wrong with yours!

 

[kurby22]

Do you ever have issues with standard sized hens living with bantams? Just wondering as it's pretty frowned upon over here to mix them. I've personally never had a problem, if anything, the bantams have been very 'assertive' with the big girls...
Beautiful porcelain d'anvers (I think?) btw!

I actually haven’t had any issues with bantams and big girls together. I’ve had to keep an eye on the silkies with the bigger rooster but I don’t have one right now—only bantam cochin roosters in with them. The ladies are actually easily bossed around by the bantam cochin hens and silkies I call my white Silkie Betty—my Street Silkie—because she is head boss and the smallest hen in the coop. She roosts with the big girls, she kicks them off the eggs so she can be brooding them, she fluffs up and runs around yelling at them when she comes off the nest for a break. She’s hilarious and bossy and a very dedicated broody! She ain’t no fancy, ding head Silkie like Sia and Duchess

My other run is all bantams and my Blue Laced Red Wyandotte hen who was terrified of the big girls and just happier with the tiny ones. The porcelain girl is a d’Uccle but you were close!! They’re basically d’Anvers with feathered legs I’m a big fan of the Belgian Bearded birds They’re super tiny and fit quite nicely in my backyard

 

[Shetland lover]

I agree! I wish I had more metal ones. I believe I have a few and my mom does too but finding them is the real trick. I just hate how everything is made so cheaply anymore. It was the SMALLEST little bump from the plastic that it just completely messed it up. I’m just really glad that is all it was! Hopefully that is what is wrong with yours!

I really hope so too! Haven't had time to check yet as we've been running round all day trying to find bathroom taps for our bathroom guy to start remodelling our bathroom and shower room on Tuesday.
I know my mom still has metal bobbins for her Singer and i have one or two from my great-gran's machine but I'm going to invest in more - if I can find some!

 

[Shetland lover]

I actually haven’t had any issues with bantams and big girls together. I’ve had to keep an eye on the silkies with the bigger rooster but I don’t have one right now—only bantam cochin roosters in with them. The ladies are actually easily bossed around by the bantam cochin hens and silkies I call my white Silkie Betty—my Street Silkie—because she is head boss and the smallest hen in the coop. She roosts with the big girls, she kicks them off the eggs so she can be brooding them, she fluffs up and runs around yelling at them when she comes off the nest for a break. She’s hilarious and bossy and a very dedicated broody! She ain’t no fancy, ding head Silkie like Sia and Duchess

My other run is all bantams and my Blue Laced Red Wyandotte hen who was terrified of the big girls and just happier with the tiny ones. The porcelain girl is a d’Uccle but you were close!! They’re basically d’Anvers with feathered legs I’m a big fan of the Belgian Bearded birds They’re super tiny and fit quite nicely in my backyard

How did i not realise she was a d'Uccle??? I've always wanted some. And Hamburgs and Sebrights and Sablepoots...the list goes on and on! Weirdly, the only bantam I didn't really covet was bantam Cochin. Oops!
My bantam girls are super bossy too. Gladys normally just lets them get on with it - unless someone really steps out of line. Which Stan did with granny Clara earlier. They were facing each other down, neck hackles flared and lunging at each other. Gladys decided enough was enough and scattered the pair of them!

 

[fuzzi]

After I fed some grapes to the Sussex chicks I gave the Dominiques some more mush. It brings them out of the brooder on their own. Then I put them in the main run for a visit with their cousins.

And then, out into the sunshine!

I put in a couple clumps of grass/weeds with dirt still on the roots, and the Dominiques found insects, ooh! Exciting!

When I brought the carrier back into the coop a couple of the Dominiques decided to escape, but ran into the Sussex, and got a couple pecks for their troubles. Hope a lesson was learned!

I shooed them back into the carrier, and took it over to the brooder. The brooder door was open, and the Dominiques needed little encouragement to go back inside. When I checked on them a few minutes later they were preening, huddled together on top of the MHP.

What an eventful and exhausting day for 2 week old chicks!

And the Sussex? They did their own version of a scrum...

 

[PopoMyers]

Ugh…we are too. High today is 90…I am not prepared for heat like this yet!

I've been in Sacramento in the summer, and it gets really hot, like over 105. At least it's drier heat, but hot is hot. Take a dip in the cold river.

 

[PopoMyers]

After I fed some grapes to the Sussex chicks I gave the Dominiques some more mush. It brings them out of the brooder on their own. Then I put them in the main run for a visit with their cousins.
View attachment 3487076
View attachment 3487136
And then, out into the sunshine!
View attachment 3487138
I put in a couple clumps of grass/weeds with dirt still on the roots, and the Dominiques found insects, ooh! Exciting!
View attachment 3487141
View attachment 3487143
When I brought the carrier back into the coop a couple of the Dominiques decided to escape, but ran into the Sussex, and got a couple pecks for their troubles. Hope a lesson was learned!

I shooed them back into the carrier, and took it over to the brooder. The brooder door was open, and the Dominiques needed little encouragement to go back inside. When I checked on them a few minutes later they were preening, huddled together on top of the MHP.

What an eventful and exhausting day for 2 week old chicks!

And the Sussex? They did their own version of a scrum...
View attachment 3487146
View attachment 3487145

What beautiful coloring! Cute babies