What did you do with your flock today?

[PopoMyers]

The weather is nice and I wanted some time to just sit out with the hens while they free ranged. I keep a chair folded in on of the coops just for this. Sad to say it didn't turn out like I wanted. One of the Rhode Island Reds didn't look normal so I sat and watched for a little bit and then eased over and picked her up. I'm sure she was egg bound. I brought her inside to Dr. Mom to start treatment but before we could get started she put her head down over my wife's arm and quietly went to sleep one last time. She will be missed. I've be nervous about so many jumbo and some 1/2 OZ larger than Jumbo that some would end up like this. I'm not happy at the way big breeders meddle with their genes to get more and larger eggs at the expense of a hens health. This girl was only 7 1/2 months old.

Never easy to lose any chick.
So sorry for your loss.

 

[PopoMyers]

Been super busy with the community cat project folks.
Got a spot for a stand for https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/how-...t-night-on-kauai-pivoted-during-the-pandemic/
It's a thing. They close the town to foot traffic only and it is artist, food, music with people wandering and eating and shopping. I'm nervous and excited.
Here is my mockup. Figuring out what to bring etc. Will take photos of finished stand. If it works out I will try to do it 1-2 x per month.View attachment 3484977
Chickens are terrific as always. I look forward to having time to connect and obsess over them this weekend.

Very attention getting setup! Love the color of the tablecloth.

 

[PopoMyers]

I am not sure who lays which egg, so having a handful from each breed, I wanted to check... I finally tried the food coloring thing and... Well, it didn't work. :/ I feel like I just got punked by all the chicken people who said it would. Lol

Was it paste food coloring?

 

[PopoMyers]

That looks like so much fun! We have a town (Tombstone) to the east of Tucson that closes up it's streets like that. People dress up in costumes from the past and they have little shows and reenactments from the wild west days. Not quite the same but similar. Tons of fun. Your mock-booth looks fabulous. Is that Forest sitting on the edge? Perfect touch! . Would be incredible if he'd tolerate joining you for the day. Perfect place to sell bags

I've been to Tucson and Tombstone. A taste of the old west.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Was it paste food coloring?

No, just the liquid, and I also have a gel but it's not much different. I "maybe" got a blue-ish mark on one egg, but it was hard to tell because with the bloom, it maybe looked purple-ish? Certainly not clear enough to take to the bank lol. Any marks I thought I maybe saw were not at all clear.

I've never heard of paste food coloring! Is there a product you can recommend?

 

[PopoMyers]

It was!! It was nice but so hard to enjoy when I can’t really breathe . But it has been way better than today. It’s windy and cloudy so far. I had some babies outside and they have been doing ok but with how chilly it is I have them in the coop, inside their crate because it looks like it could rain. I think that they would be forced from under the coop when and if it rained. They aren’t necessarily getting picked on but they are separated from the actual flock.

We did get some plants in the garden that last couple days. I hope Velma has a good time outside!!

I think she did. Will take a pic of where she gets to spend sunny days. I'm inside taking a snack and water break. Been in the garden planting seeds and checking in on the girls and boy. Bad chicken momma. I went and filled an outside bowl with water, and they all didn't care if the water was running, they got their heads wet because they were thirsty. Checked the bucket and found it was empty. The water wasn't turned on. They are OK, and have been laying. Been trying to gather eggs quickly and keeping an eye out for the egg snatcher.

 

[PopoMyers]

Mine adore all brassicas except Brussels sprouts!

Mine love kale, and I grow a patch mostly for them.

 

[PopoMyers]

No, just the liquid, and I also have a gel but it's not much different. I "maybe" got a blue-ish mark on one egg, but it was hard to tell because with the bloom, it maybe looked purple-ish? Certainly not clear enough to take to the bank lol. Any marks I thought I maybe saw were not at all clear.

I've never heard of paste food coloring! Is there a product you can recommend?

Wilton makes it. Check the cake baking section.

 

[PopoMyers]

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 lost my box of bobbins, and prefer the metal ones, too. Only have one, but may soon have to hunt for some if I sew more bags. Hand is doing ok, but not ready for sewing, just yet.

 

[Smokerbill]

Mine love kale, and I grow a patch mostly for them.

I learned that mine love to eat dandelion leaves. And all the dirt attached to the root ball, too.

I threw a big dandelion clump into the coop yesterday evening and this morning all the leaves were picked clean, and the roots were bare of dirt. The dirt wasn't mixed in the bedding, either. They ate it! I'm glad they're getting all the local microbiota into their systems. Healthy, healthy!

Been working on the run today. The base is installed all the way around, and since I don't have the wall and door framing exactly figured out, it's time to grab a couple beers, relax, and look at the coop-in-progress to figure out what my next step will be. I was planning to put the door on the front of the run, but to do that I'd need to buy a 10' 4x4. If I put the door on the side an 8' 4x4 will work, and I already have one. I'll get a pic of my progress and post it here soon.

Important Question!:
Should the door swing inward or out? Or does it make no difference?

Thanks! Time now to imbibe and contemplate.