What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Got my tinkering done early this morning. Knobs, hardwarecloth, locks etc. Mini coop was even approved. View attachment 3571134This eve the flock was treated to free range for their first time since arrival View attachment 3571115View attachment 3571131
I sat out with my friends for about 1.5 hours. View attachment 3571155View attachment 3571142
A little drama, but mostly very harmonious ♡View attachment 3571156

Everyone looks wonderful ❤ Definitely home from home!

 

[Shetland lover]

I can't decide if Gladys is starting to have reproductive issues like her sister, Alice, or if she is just slowing down due to her age (she's 4.5 yrs so not that advanced in years). She looks and acts fit as a fiddle, is in great condition, scarlet comb and wattle, good beetle sheen to her feathers. But...

She hasn't laid since 27th June. That's out of character for her, she usually lays 5-7 days a week. She's had 3 Epsom salt baths so far this week along with a daily calcium supplement. I've given her an internal exam as I thought I could feel an egg. Prior to me doing this, someone passed a membrane and as one of Gladys' poops looked like it had egg yolk in it, I suspect it was her.
Anyway, I couldn't feel anything amiss and no egg in her vent. The "egg" I thought I could feel had gone.
I've started her on antibiotics to head off any potential infection from a broken egg and keeping up the calcium for a week.
It could also be a heat issue as she doesn't deal with heat at all well and only egg machine Pru is laying like normal. Gladys has been exiting the coop in a morning with her tail down (often just a sign she's unhappy about something rather than a symptom of sickness) then flopping on the floor , looking like she's trying to lay and panting. After a few minutes she's up and about and acting completely normally for the rest of the day. It has been extremely warm for here so I've improved the ventilation in the coop. There's lots of shade for them in the garden and plenty of water sources. I'm putting out frozen treats and ice several times a day too.
Other than everything I've noted above, I'm out of ideas!

 

[ChicksnMore]

@TropicalBabies Your Koke haven is so delightful. Happy babies there

@NagemTX Hope your migraines aren't frequent.

@Shetland lover I'm sorry to hear about Gladys. I know she's in good hands with you. If anyone can help her past it, I'm sure it's you.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Dogs woke me early. Something had them excited around 4... again around 4:30... again around 5. I can't see anything to get spun up about but I gave up on sleeping.

Bright side was a beautiful sunrise. I can never get a good sunrise picture but that doesn't stop me from trying .

 

[TropicalBabies]

@NagemTX I am sorry to hear of your too early morning starts. Hope you get home early enough to enjoy nice eves.
I have a friend who suffers from migrains often. She finally started taking prescription meds and they have been working for her. Not good to hear of friends in pain. I hope you find your solution ♡

@kurby22 are you still playing at the beach???!!! Was it gloriously fun♡♡? Do tell...!!!

@PopoMyers hope the wing clipping works nice everyone got treated to raspberries that I am sure tasted perfect!
I had about 4+ eggs broken and eaten the last month or so. Seemed opportunistic but IDK. Seems to have stopped again. Maybe girls are more careful (haha), maybe someone got the protein needed during a stress period. For me, adding more nesting material seems to help along with the fake eggs ♡ Hope whatever it is resolves.

@ChicksnMore love your attempt and I will just imagine more pinks in your morning as that color does not transfer onto my photos either. Glad your pups are on duty . Love any photos of your magical and wonderful zoo.

@Smokerbill You really are coming right along. Making great flock structure progress and you seem to be enjoying the heck out of being a chicken farmer as you are paying attention to their needs- and putting in the efforts. Bravo!!
It is going to be a very exciting next couple of weeks for you

@LTAY1946 You are a chicken Rockstar. Don't know how you keep up. I only have 34, I counted , and it is too many for me.

I wish I could give the excellent hands on care that @Shetland lover does. You are an inspiration ♡. I hope your girl passed what was ailing her but yeah, the heat is no fun. My flock def slows with the heat. If anyone can fix it... it would be you ♡

 

[NagemTX]

@TropicalBabies Your Koke haven is so delightful. Happy babies there

@NagemTX Hope your migraines aren't frequent.

@Shetland lover I'm sorry to hear about Gladys. I know she's in good hands with you. If anyone can help her past it, I'm sure it's you.

They aren't. But we had a storm come in and that can set things off with the pressure difference. It's abating now but still have pain in my ears and behind my left eye.

 

[NagemTX]

@NagemTX I am sorry to hear of your too early morning starts. Hope you get home early enough to enjoy nice eves.
I have a friend who suffers from migrains often. She finally started taking prescription meds and they have been working for her. Not good to hear of friends in pain. I hope you find your solution ♡

@kurby22 are you still playing at the beach???!!! Was it gloriously fun♡♡? Do tell...!!!

@PopoMyers hope the wing clipping works nice everyone got treated to raspberries that I am sure tasted perfect!
I had about 4+ eggs broken and eaten the last month or so. Seemed opportunistic but IDK. Seems to have stopped again. Maybe girls are more careful (haha), maybe someone got the protein needed during a stress period. For me, adding more nesting material seems to help along with the fake eggs ♡ Hope whatever it is resolves.

@ChicksnMore love your attempt and I will just imagine more pinks in your morning as that color does not transfer onto my photos either. Glad your pups are on duty . Love any photos of your magical and wonderful zoo.

@Smokerbill You really are coming right along. Making great flock structure progress and you seem to be enjoying the heck out of being a chicken farmer as you are paying attention to their needs- and putting in the efforts. Bravo!!
It is going to be a very exciting next couple of weeks for you

@LTAY1946 You are a chicken Rockstar. Don't know how you keep up. I only have 34, I counted , and it is too many for me.

I wish I could give the excellent hands on care that @Shetland lover does. You are an inspiration ♡. I hope your girl passed what was ailing her but yeah, the heat is no fun. My flock def slows with the heat. If anyone can fix it... it would be you ♡

I do! Get off work at 4pm. I also work Monday and Tuesday, off Wednesday, work Thursday and Friday off on the weekend. It's good schedule.

 

[kurby22]

@NagemTX I am sorry to hear of your too early morning starts. Hope you get home early enough to enjoy nice eves.
I have a friend who suffers from migrains often. She finally started taking prescription meds and they have been working for her. Not good to hear of friends in pain. I hope you find your solution ♡

@kurby22 are you still playing at the beach???!!! Was it gloriously fun♡♡? Do tell...!!!

@PopoMyers hope the wing clipping works nice everyone got treated to raspberries that I am sure tasted perfect!
I had about 4+ eggs broken and eaten the last month or so. Seemed opportunistic but IDK. Seems to have stopped again. Maybe girls are more careful (haha), maybe someone got the protein needed during a stress period. For me, adding more nesting material seems to help along with the fake eggs ♡ Hope whatever it is resolves.

@ChicksnMore love your attempt and I will just imagine more pinks in your morning as that color does not transfer onto my photos either. Glad your pups are on duty . Love any photos of your magical and wonderful zoo.

@Smokerbill You really are coming right along. Making great flock structure progress and you seem to be enjoying the heck out of being a chicken farmer as you are paying attention to their needs- and putting in the efforts. Bravo!!
It is going to be a very exciting next couple of weeks for you

@LTAY1946 You are a chicken Rockstar. Don't know how you keep up. I only have 34, I counted , and it is too many for me.

I wish I could give the excellent hands on care that @Shetland lover does. You are an inspiration ♡. I hope your girl passed what was ailing her but yeah, the heat is no fun. My flock def slows with the heat. If anyone can fix it... it would be you ♡

We are headed the rest of the way home today! Left yesterday morning It was so lovely and I cried when we left. The high was 62-66 every day! It’s gonna be over 100 starting Friday…I hate July in Sacramento! But I’m definitely going thru chicken withdrawals! My friend was an awesome chicken sitter and everyone managed to behave and she actually played with the babies and snuggled my sick one at night We stopped for the night in Redding after 9 hours and let the kids swim and went to sleep by 9 Had a nice breakfast this morning after sleeping in some. It’s been a really nice break as a family. Even if I didn’t get to see my friend thanks to dumb COVID

 

[Mr Spot]

Went to town to get food for babies big and small. DH came up and put on roof. Thank goodness as I despise cutting tin View attachment 3569993
Got some hardware and things for me to tinker with tomorrow, need to hunt down a ridge cap.
Then nest boxes, finally!!!!

Oh, forest find! Can you spot it?View attachment 3569995

And how's this one? Autosexing.View attachment 3569996That would be my guess...

Well better go collect eggs out of the cat carriers so momma and babies have a place to sleep tonight...

looks like a nest with eggs in it : )

 

[kurby22]

Live, humane traps baited with the remains of the chickens' tea! Oh, and we're being scrupulous about cleaning up every scrap of spilled feed etc and stopping up any new holes as soon as they appear.

That’s amazing! My rats are very trap savvy!! They could care less about the traps We could be better with feed on the ground though Kids!!!