What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

I let my chickens out of the run today for the first time in three or four weeks, and they thoroughly enjoyed it! Opened the door at 8:30, as it was starting to get dark so they wouldn't range too far.

I never saw them run and fly as much as they did tonight. Pretty cool! One of the pullets had squatted for one of the cockerels, but I didn't see if the cockerel mounted her. When I looked over she was down on the ground with the cockerel next to her. Maybe I missed it. Maybe it didn't happen.

I'm hoping the boys are well behaved little roosters. I know there's at least one of the pullets that strikes fear into the cockerels, so I think I have a good hen that won't take any crap and will keep the boys in line! LOL

They all were back inside to roost by 9:30. But they split up. Seven pullets and one cockerel went into the big run. One pullet and a cockerel went into the coop where I had my injured pullet segregated. They all seemed happy where they were so I locked them in for the night.

And yeah, I played my little guitar for them some and gave them some tasty treats: scratch mixed with a little bit of hamburger taco meat. haha

I let mine choose their own sleeping arrangements too. Usually it's Ferdy and Penelope in the coop where they hatched and the other four in the 'big' coop. Sometimes Clara or Pru will defect to Ferdy's coop but I suspect Penelope harasses them so much, they rarely do more than 1 night with them.

Sounds like your pullets are very, very close to laying. Eggciting times!

 

[Shetland lover]

I thought about getting a microscope so I could do fecal test for worms. But right now they all seem healthy and energetic, and their poop looks right. If I suspect worms I might get one.

And dang! Chicken poop gets big as the birds get older. I saw a turd today that was about the size of a small egg!

Bantam cockerels have the best poop! It's so small compared to bantam hens and full-size birds. I have an added advantage with Ferdy being house-trained in that he only poops in one corner of the coop. So easy to clean out in the mornings! Unlike Pru who did a stinky cecal poop on my bare leg yesterday. Yuck!

 

[Shetland lover]

Took in some chickens today that will be here just a few days, then off to their new home with another lady. Some are naked neck big girls. Trying to decide if I want to keep any. I set them up in a quarantine coop and gave them some quiet time, then brought them some garden veggies. They're very cute big/little dinosaurs! Some very nice birds. The lady getting thems going to love them. View attachment 3579361Also gave the lady that brought me these some of my birds. Always love seeing birds going to a loving home.

Now I'm just enjoying relaxing with an overgrown Goose on the couch. Look at that silly face! He's been nursing in his sleep...a 40 lb toddler! View attachment 3579363

Goose looks so happy! And well recovered from his illness. I'm so happy you decided to keep him ❤
I've always liked the look of naked necks. Didn't realise they were so big!

 

[Shetland lover]

Today it was 100 by noon, so we spent the morning swimming with friends. But by 2 we were all tired and hot and headed inside to the A/C! Wilhelm took a nap with Aria, Koda tried to send us telepathic messages to throw his toys, Aria brought in one of the promising babies to study the SOP and start training her, and I practiced drawing an Ameraucana so I can better familiarize my eye to their body type! Busy but good day despite being so hot I could have melted!

That heat would have killed me! You're so lucky you have a lovely pool to cool down in!
Wilhelm and Aria look so cute and cosy. ❤

 

[Shetland lover]

Bantam cockerels have the best poop! It's so small compared to bantam hens and full-size birds. I have an added advantage with Ferdy being house-trained in that he only poops in one corner of the coop. So easy to clean out in the mornings! Unlike Pru who did a stinky cecal poop on my bare leg yesterday. Yuck!

I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go! Just wish she'd got off me first
She was eating a grape when she pooped. Literally in one end and out the other!

 

[Smokerbill]

One thing I forgot to mention about letting my chickens do some free ranging last night: I opened the door and all but one used it to leave the coop. As they were running through the yard I heard a big noise in the run.

One stupid bird tried to fly through the 1/2" hardware cloth wall! It's lucky it didn't break its neck!

 

[Smokerbill]

First egg today!!!!!

I was a little too late building nest boxes for my chickens.

It's pretty small, but seems to have a nice, solid shell. I'll crack it open in a little while and have it for breakfast.

 

[TropicalBabies]

First egg today!!!!!

I was a little too late building nest boxes for my chickens.

It's pretty small, but seems to have a nice, solid shell. I'll crack it open in a little while and have it for breakfast.

View attachment 3579750View attachment 3579751View attachment 3579752

Congratulations!!! NEVER gets old!! ♡♡♡

 

[MandyMusshafen]

Of course not! I'll have to get some more up to date photos of her later but here's one or two for now:View attachment 3577361View attachment 3577362
The first one is with her grandson, Stanley. He's on nest duty for the first time while she lays an egg!
The second is with her son, Ferdinand (Ferdy)

They are all beautiful birds! She's adorable! And that answers my next question of whether or not her eggs hatch safely!!!

 

[Smokerbill]

Congratulations!!! NEVER gets old!! ♡♡♡