What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

I sat just outside the run for an hour to watch the chickens, mainly looking to see if they acted like they had any mite or lice infestations. I didn't notice anything other that what I think was just normal preening behavior.

I also looked for any other problems... damaged combs, wet or dirty vents, and abnormal behavior. All looked good.

I removed some of the wood chips from the coop a couple days ago and saw some tiny bugs moving around, and I didn't know if they were chicken bugs or some kind of wood loving bug. When the chickens saw the tiny bugs, they pecked and tried to eat them.

Anyway, I will be getting these tomorrow from Amazon so I can pick up the chickens from the roost late at night and inspect them. They don't let me touch them during the day, so I'll have to go with night inspections.



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I have a head torch. One of my best ever purchases!

 

[Shetland lover]

Two of my new roos are half Indio Gigante.

That's a big chicken!!!

 

[Shetland lover]

He is! But the silver gray is his girlfriend’s booty

Too adorable for words
Your bobtail boy reminds me of Sylv, my lavender boy I lost.

 

[Shetland lover]

So far I have only had my 2 Cochins, and one Cuckoo Maran go broody. I don’t have the welsummers, but I have heard of that. I’m gonna have problems I think my Cemani girls. A girl I know said hers just pile on top of each other. So when one broods they all brood. Reminded me of silkies the way she described it. I didn’t think Cemani’s would do that but I also had another person with them say the same thing. Just nuts!

I would love to see that!

 

[Shetland lover]

Fascinating birds! They look like if they lost their feathers they'd look just like little dinosaurs

They probably DO look like dinosaurs already! There's fossil evidence that several species were feathered. And, of course, chickens are the closest living relative of T. Rex, according to some paleontologists.

 

[Shetland lover]

I thought that was allllll him! Those ladies are just lovely too

They certainly are! Makes all the problems you had getting and keeping them seem worth it ❤

 

[PopoMyers]

So, while trying to refill Miss Broodypants' food, she slipped out the door. I'll check to see in the morning if she is back in the nesting box, and re-arrest her. I was too tired to check her after dark.
The chooks are all eating the fruit they can reach, from heavy apple branches and broken peach branches. It was too cute to see Houdini pecking little pieces off the apples to tidbit his favorite girls. He has been chasing away his non favorite girls when there's food. They are even getting up in the trees and eating what they can reach. Hopefully they don't get tummy aches from underripe fruit.
Meanwhile, in the garden, I was forced to dig up all the potatoes after finding that something is gnawing on them underground. Not sure if it's voles, moles, or rats and mice that borrow the tunnels. The girls got to have the kale plants that were not doing well because of root knot nematodes.
Sam is feeding the wildlife. He caught a medium sized rabbit yesterday, and by this morning it was gone. Most of his presents disappear overnight.

 

[Shetland lover]

Thank you for sharing your adventures . I have two that go broody whenever the notion hits. Maybe next year I'll let one of them hatch a few. The only thing I don't like is the odds of getting boys. I will have all barnyard mixes if that happens.

That and space, are the only reason I won't let Penelope be a mom. Couldn't bear to give away the boys

 

[Shetland lover]

So, while trying to refill Miss Broodypants' food, she slipped out the door. I'll check to see in the morning if she is back in the nesting box, and re-arrest her. I was too tired to check her after dark.
The chooks are all eating the fruit they can reach, from heavy apple branches and broken peach branches. It was too cute to see Houdini pecking little pieces off the apples to tidbit his favorite girls. He has been chasing away his non favorite girls when there's food. They are even getting up in the trees and eating what they can reach. Hopefully they don't get tummy aches from underripe fruit.
Meanwhile, in the garden, I was forced to dig up all the potatoes after finding that something is gnawing on them underground. Not sure if it's voles, moles, or rats and mice that borrow the tunnels. The girls got to have the kale plants that were not doing well because of root knot nematodes.
Sam is feeding the wildlife. He caught a medium sized rabbit yesterday, and by this morning it was gone. Most of his presents disappear overnight.

I bet that is just adorable to watch
My boys and girls will not touch apple of any description. Their fruit du jour is redcurrants or blackberries. It is such fun watching un-athletic Pru leap up to strip the berries from the bush. Even funnier watching Gladys drop them for her if she fails to get any

 

[ChicksnMore]

So, while trying to refill Miss Broodypants' food, she slipped out the door. I'll check to see in the morning if she is back in the nesting box, and re-arrest her. I was too tired to check her after dark.
The chooks are all eating the fruit they can reach, from heavy apple branches and broken peach branches. It was too cute to see Houdini pecking little pieces off the apples to tidbit his favorite girls. He has been chasing away his non favorite girls when there's food. They are even getting up in the trees and eating what they can reach. Hopefully they don't get tummy aches from underripe fruit.
Meanwhile, in the garden, I was forced to dig up all the potatoes after finding that something is gnawing on them underground. Not sure if it's voles, moles, or rats and mice that borrow the tunnels. The girls got to have the kale plants that were not doing well because of root knot nematodes.
Sam is feeding the wildlife. He caught a medium sized rabbit yesterday, and by this morning it was gone. Most of his presents disappear overnight.

I had that happen in my carrot bed this year. Was driving me nuts trying to figure out what was doing it. We don't have moles or voles here that I know of. Turned out it was a toad! I don't think he was eating them, I think he was tearing them with his feet as he dug