What did you do with your flock today?

[kurby22]

Had to share! Maybe Shadow doesn’t have to be a rat killer after all…apparently we just need to let Koda out at sunset every night! Murdered it right in front of the kids This is one of the big bucket pooper scoopers for some size reference—it’s at least 10 inches long and thick Clearly eating well The kids were so excited and I cried a little I don’t have a very hard heart and it’s very annoying!

 

[Shetland lover]

Their hearing is keen, so that makes all the sense in our world. What a smart Ferdy you have! Gladys probably does not like his herding and bossing her around, right?

Exactly right! She's one independent lady. I suspect her response to him is "bugger off, I'll come when I'm good and ready!".

 

[Shetland lover]

Mine only know their own names... but think I am going to try to experiment. Of course my boys will have to remember 30+ names for this experiment to work... If they rolls their eyes at me I will know that they are not only smart and recognize what I am trying to do, but that they also have humor! I'll keep you posted!

I was thinking it maybe wouldn't work as well in larger flocks but who knows? I think chickens definitely have a sense of humour. Gladys is always sneaking up on DH and goosing him when he least expects it. He jumps about a mile each time. Cheeky little madam!

 

[Shetland lover]

I have 5 hens that travel tightly in a pack. When we are hanging out, sometimes, they want to travel along, one will stay with me, or come back to get me. The one hen is telling me 'Lets go'. So I do. I follow to keep up with flock with the informer by my side. When i look for a hen, the others verbally join in. Said chicken always appears from somewhere ; like, 'whats the commotion? I'm right here!? What did I miss?!' Lol

That is so cute!
Gladys actually tugs at my clothes when she wants me to follow along. One of her favourite activities is slug hunting. Basically this involves me turning over rocks while she follows closely, getting under my feet and gobbling up any I find. Did I mention she is a totally spoilt princess?

Ferdy doesn't like it if he goes more than an hour without seeing me so he crows loudly to get my attention then immediately shuts up when I appear, Stan knocks on the kitchen door like a policeman and Penelope screams like a banshee. It is the most un-chicken like noise ever!

 

[Shetland lover]

Yeah it’s been different for every person in the house who’s gotten it! Today is the first day I haven’t needed immediate DayQuil dosing to be awake…so I take that to be a good sign. It sucks though, as I was supposed to help teach a course in Nebraska this week and had to cancel :-( Wasn’t looking too forward to the humidity, but the course is a fun one to teach so I’m bummed about that! Hope I’m better by next weekend though, that’s when all the sports starts and we have to run around everywhere all day!

I envy anyone who can teach! I'm rubbish at explaining things and lack patience. Sounds absolutely fascinating what you're teaching, I'm certain your students feel the same. My dad bought me a book on ecology when I was around 7 or 8, I was hooked for life.

 

[Shetland lover]

Had to share! Maybe Shadow doesn’t have to be a rat killer after all…apparently we just need to let Koda out at sunset every night! Murdered it right in front of the kids This is one of the big bucket pooper scoopers for some size reference—it’s at least 10 inches long and thick Clearly eating well The kids were so excited and I cried a little I don’t have a very hard heart and it’s very annoying!

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Poor rat! I'd have cried a bit too. Even though they're a frustrating nuisance, I still like and very much admire them. I just can't bring myself to kill them.
Yesterday, DH found a dead bird half hidden behind the fish tank. We think Elliot was the culprit as we had heard him doing the victory shout about an hour before. I wish he'd concentrate on catching rats instead of birds which he then abandons once dead

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

That is so cute!
Gladys actually tugs at my clothes when she wants me to follow along. One of her favourite activities is slug hunting. Basically this involves me turning over rocks while she follows closely, getting under my feet and gobbling up any I find. Did I mention she is a totally spoilt princess?

Ferdy doesn't like it if he goes more than an hour without seeing me so he crows loudly to get my attention then immediately shuts up when I appear, Stan knocks on the kitchen door like a policeman and Penelope screams like a banshee. It is the most un-chicken like noise ever!

Lol!!! Thats so funny but not!!! These girls got BIG personalities. When I am outside, they get free range so when they see me, forget it!! Not realizing it, our 'free range' time tends to become scheduled and like your hens, i will hear one yelling to me. I peak outside and she quites right down. My hens yell at me lets just be honest. When i am doing something they dont like, I hear about it,

Poor rat! I'd have cried a bit too. Even though they're a frustrating nuisance, I still like and very much admire them. I just can't bring myself to kill them.
Yesterday, DH found a dead bird half hidden behind the fish tank. We think Elliot was the culprit as we had heard him doing the victory shout about an hour before. I wish he'd concentrate on catching rats instead of birds which he then abandons once dead

ugh, i have watched kitty catch the bird and bring it up to porch! I yell at her, get that outta here without letting my eyes make contact fully with that poor little feathered friend. She takes it away and fortunately eats it!, This is a cat that adopted me but i dont leave food for her all the time hoping she stays hungry and eats the mice and moles The little birds go after the chicken feed and their poop is no good for the hens so, i kinda whisper to the little birds, 'Enter at your own Risk'!

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

No more bloody roosters this morning. Only 3 roosters and no pullets returned to their coop last night and no Cornish did. It's a problem when there are so many places for them to hide in late afternoon.

I would freak! Missin' one hen for 2 minutes,,,,,she was just there a second ago! Head count again.....Wheres Delicious???? Oh man Delicious, get out of the carrot patch, you cant lay there, you know that. She snuck away so stealthy like

 

[Nomadicus]

They are so spread out far and wide in a mix of breeds now I have no idea what is what. One thing I do know is the white giant roo is a trouble maker. As soon as he was out of the coop he didn't go running for feed and water. He wanted fight with me and then ran to every roo he could see begging for a fight. He is so full of hormones I'm not sure he will make the breeders coop. It's a shame because he is such a big prime young fell that would sire beautiful kids. I may can coop him alone for a month waiting for the pullets to start laying and then give him 9 pullets in a coop and run and see how that goes. I did my usual morning chores picking up and talking junk talk to several of the pullets that kind of hint they need some daddy said. Some would feel left our if I didn't pick them up and sw eet talk them and check their crop. All the roos keep their distance rather than feel second best in the coop. Y'all have a great day. It's going to be a hot one here and I will do a early afternoon water run for all of the chickens today.

 

[Nomadicus]

Did they show up today?

Probably they are in the confusion of all that are free ranging running around like crazy now.