What did you do with your flock today?

[kurby22]

View attachment 3580631K. Little miss feral is broody already so we will just see. I may move her to a cat box for when the rain comes. Probably tomorrow eve as I have business in town early tomorrow morning. If we get hit it will be Thursday, so they say.

I managed to grab 4 beautiful green eggs from my girls rooftop nest. Think I may have missed one or two but I was leaning way over in a non osha approved latter position, on a crappy surface and really old roof, using these things and trying not to freak broody who was inches away.View attachment 3580629No easy task. I had this in my truck box for when I was on cat duty. It was great for retrieving water containers under and over fences. Now it is terrific for rooftop egg collection since I have to do such a ridiculous thing.
This one I gotta share cuz Forest is just too awesomely cute, even slightly blurry.View attachment 3580632
Way cuter and sweeter in person. Gotta love kitties.

Ohhh that’s a handy little egg collector! I love it! I sure hope your weather stays with you this time

Forest looks SO happy and precious Kitties make all things better

 

[TropicalBabies]

I bought my chicks March 24th. That's only 16 weeks, three days to the first egg laid. Even if the chicks were a week old when I bought them, that's just over 17 weeks to laying. Is that unusually early?

No free ranging time for the chickens tonight. Had some "me" time, just jamming on my guitar.

Do you know what breed laid the egg? If it is a sex link, unfortunately early is not that surprising Not a sex link...? I'd be a little shocked. That is pretty early.

 

[Shetland lover]

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

They hatch just fine with no assistance from me.

Or Clara for that matter! She is nearly 3 and is that rare bantam cochin that doesn't go broody. Sensible girl loves all the fun but none of the responsibility.
Her sister, Pru, does all the hatching and raising chicks. Clara just deposits her eggs under her then beats a hasty retreat. Pru's a phenomenal mom.

 

[Shetland lover]

And here is one I did not see coming....View attachment 3580256View attachment 3580257so this little feral hen is right about here. She did not budge even though i almost hit her with the ladder and did not see her till i climbed up. Amazing little girl.View attachment 3580258
Busy roof. I'll wait till she is done and probably collect hers too. Not a place where a hatch can survive and also we have a tropical storm due tomorrow eve. Lots of rain.

... so, that is my world today so far.

I find it just fascinating that they build nests! The nearest mine get to making a nest is throwing a bit of straw over their backs whilst laying an egg!

 

[Shetland lover]

These guys are HUGE! Granted...my love of little birds might have skewed my sense of chicken proportion . But they really are big girls .
I'm not sure what I think of them. They're a bit fascinating for sure though. Their neck skin reddens when they get excited or upset though!

Ooh! Interesting! I'm used to seeing them in chicken breed guides having very red necks so when I saw yours I was a bit confused. Their necks reddening must be to do with increased blood flow when their emotions are heightened.

 

[Shetland lover]

View attachment 3580631K. Little miss feral is broody already so we will just see. I may move her to a cat box for when the rain comes. Probably tomorrow eve as I have business in town early tomorrow morning. If we get hit it will be Thursday, so they say.

I managed to grab 4 beautiful green eggs from my girls rooftop nest. Think I may have missed one or two but I was leaning way over in a non osha approved latter position, on a crappy surface and really old roof, using these things and trying not to freak broody who was inches away.View attachment 3580629No easy task. I had this in my truck box for when I was on cat duty. It was great for retrieving water containers under and over fences. Now it is terrific for rooftop egg collection since I have to do such a ridiculous thing.
This one I gotta share cuz Forest is just too awesomely cute, even slightly blurry.View attachment 3580632
Way cuter and sweeter in person. Gotta love kitties.

If I ever came to visit I'd definitely try to smuggle him home in my suitcase! He's too cute for words

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

And here is one I did not see coming....View attachment 3580256View attachment 3580257so this little feral hen is right about here. She did not budge even though i almost hit her with the ladder and did not see her till i climbed up. Amazing little girl.View attachment 3580258
Busy roof. I'll wait till she is done and probably collect hers too. Not a place where a hatch can survive and also we have a tropical storm due tomorrow eve. Lots of rain.

... so, that is my world today so far.

I still don't see her in this picture! Is this hen a master of camouflage or is something wrong with my eyes? Birds have a way of hiding things!

 

[TropicalBabies]

I still don't see her in this picture! Is this hen a master of camouflage or is something wrong with my eyes? Birds have a way of hiding things!

I know right?!! I had no idea she was there until I was right ontop of her.
Maybe this will help.

This was after I nudged her a little and realized she was already sitting or broody.

 

[ChicksnMore]

View attachment 3580631K. Little miss feral is broody already so we will just see. I may move her to a cat box for when the rain comes. Probably tomorrow eve as I have business in town early tomorrow morning. If we get hit it will be Thursday, so they say.

I managed to grab 4 beautiful green eggs from my girls rooftop nest. Think I may have missed one or two but I was leaning way over in a non osha approved latter position, on a crappy surface and really old roof, using these things and trying not to freak broody who was inches away.View attachment 3580629No easy task. I had this in my truck box for when I was on cat duty. It was great for retrieving water containers under and over fences. Now it is terrific for rooftop egg collection since I have to do such a ridiculous thing.
This one I gotta share cuz Forest is just too awesomely cute, even slightly blurry.View attachment 3580632
Way cuter and sweeter in person. Gotta love kitties.

I don't envy you a rooftop nest! Any thoughts to try to discourage your little lady from laying up there?

Love the ferals nest...she looks so happy tucked in there!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Ooh! Interesting! I'm used to seeing them in chicken breed guides having very red necks so when I saw yours I was a bit confused. Their necks reddening must be to do with increased blood flow when their emotions are heightened.

It's been over 110 here too a lot lately. You'd think they'd flush red to help cool their blood if weather had any effect on redness. Kinda how dogs and rabbits help themselves cool by sending extra blood into their ears. But it's only emotions that seem to trigger it.