What did you do with your flock today?

[kurby22]

That is kind of you to say. I felt kind of bad as he just came off being sick, is a awkward older teenager, just had his first 2 crows and is underweight. So, I think he does not look good at this stage but know he will grow into a beailutiful boy and is capable of the task required of him.
I've know his new dad for some years now, and know he will do good by Roodolf, plus have his word he will return if it is not a match.
I was sad for the pullets as they looked a little confused, though happy they did not "disappear". Anyone else notice that with rehoming or introing?

I have noticed it with certain pairings but not whole flocks...I think I made a terrible decision breaking up Puff and Fluff because of their bond. He was never the same and Aria still blames me for his decline. She has been so very distraught over Ducky Jr. since his girlfriend died too, but I think in this case it's best that she died and not the other way around. He seems to be doing alright and making progress to regain the weight he's lost due to mites and molting...but she would not have recovered if she'd lost him. She was soooo reliant on him and would sleep under him at night. He took care of her and loved her though. I bet the pullets were a bit confused, but maybe?? because they hadn't been terrorized by him yet? My pullets are all in the scream and run phase because they are either laying or very close...but they are NOT ready for all the rest!

 

[kurby22]

Happy Aloha Sunday all!
Beautiful cooler morning. Coffee is terrific too. Don't have big plans today. Did my coop cleaning and straightening yesterday. Need to sew, need to pick up son, need to feed all babies. Feeling a little less stressed now that DH is doing better and is able to help AJ with her hearing aids and feeding of her dog. It's the little things...

I have a few late and heavy molters, so feathers are all over the yard again. I swear, I looked at Cheepie and she dropped 5 feathers on que.
1 egg in my nest box. Mountain flock gave 6 the other day... out of 30 chickens... Looking forward to floating in eggs again, someday... soon-ish View attachment 3660195
Have an awesome day all!!!

Hahaha, love the cartoon! I have had a ton of heavy molters in the big run this year and the feather piles are THICK! They really slowed down for about a month, but just in the past week or so the egg number has more than doubled. I was surprised how fast the turn around happened! I am a big fan of the Kalmbach Hen House Reserve, I think it really helped them go through the molt faster than last year's batch--plus way less that looked pale and strained health-wise. The feathers are coming in extra shiny and silky too. It's not cheap, but for a couple months of feed during the hard molt, it seems to be worth it!. Happy chickens make me stress much less!

 

[kurby22]

When we got back from our trip I collected all the eggs but one coop and fed them back to the chickens. The oegb coop had Heneviere nesting and I just let her keep them. I always feel guilty taking her eggs once she's brooding. Silly I know, but she's one special little girl and I'm sappy sometimes. So now I have three broodies in there and chicks hatching.
I marked the growing eggs so I can take the fresh laid and I'm taking the babies as they hatch so Henny can come inside to momma them for a week. By then I know they'll all survive.
I want to build some nest boxes like you have @TropicalBabies . Where I can close the door and mom and babies have a perfect amount of space to get started in. No extra hens squishing into the nest, no fresh eggs getting added daily and the babies can't wander too far from mom and get lost. That looks/sounds like a perfect set up. But... it'll have to wait til I'm caught up on some other things.

You and I are both softies! Haha, I now have three tiny roosters because of my soft heart for broodies that just LOVE being mommas. Plus I love watching the babies and the mommas. Not sure what I'm gonna do with them yet, but they sure are a cute little blended family I'm very curious to see how they fill out given their mixed breed DNA--especially the little barred boy. He's a mix of a LF black project Marans and a bantam Wyandotte...so I'm curious how big he will get, what his coloring will ultimately be, and what his personality will be like. His Dad is a bit sassy but okay and his Momma is just the sweetest girl. The other two are definitely part silkie and the little black one is most definitely a dominant boy...he's always running around chest bumping the other two and seems to be the most curious and brave too. But yeah...I need more roosters like I need a whole in my head...soooo guess we will see.

 

[kurby22]

Mina! Such a sweety.View attachment 3660314View attachment 3660315View attachment 3660316

I love her! I need a goat!!

 

[kurby22]

I know! It looks like I have terrible case of dandruff . He's started moulting in the last few days. I even found one of his sickle feathers in our bed. Goodness knows how it got in there!

Isn't it just the best having such lovebugs? .

Yes! The love bugs just make your heart feel so content and peaceful. I so wish they were easier to have as house pets! I would just love a house chicken that isn't sick!! I miss hanging out with Nohope in his box on the couch but I don't miss the heaviness that came with it.

Molting is messy! Feathers are everywhere haha.

 

[kurby22]

Fascinating! I love behavioural observations.
One of my friends at school was pecked in the eye by an irate robin whilst on her paper round. She was wearing a red football shirt.
My chickies don't really respond to red. It's just black bags they have issues with.

Yeah, I find it super fascinating too! Chicken behaviors are so intriguing because so many are rather subtle and you really have to spend a lot of time with them to pick up on their habits and things. Makes the hours go by pretty quickly! On Saturday, my husband took a couple big cardboard boxes out back to use for cleaning out coop shavings (wheelbarrow is broken!) and they were all very unhappy about this! Sooo much commotion over some boxes in the yard--not even in their run but the yard!

 

[TropicalBabies]

O... decorated for Halloween yesterday....thought our cactus monsters were kinda fun .View attachment 3660773

LOVE the cactus monsters!!!! 👁
You are a creative wizard!

@BDutch ! Good to see you!
Love the sounds of what you are working on ♡!

 

[kurby22]

Enjoying the hamburgs soo much!View attachment 3659029View attachment 3659030View attachment 3659032

Your hamburgs are so pretty!! I am going to need some of them some day...because...spots. I've hesitated because I read they are pretty independent and active and don't know that my "space" is real great for super busy birds. They seem like the forage and wander type that needs more space than I have. I have tried to stick with breeds that are rather content with captivity and flock friends. Have you found this to be true of yours? Are they pretty active and independent? They get along with others okay?

 

[TropicalBabies]

Boy, this talk of cooler weather has me hopeful that our winter will show soon. This week, the mornings have been cool but heating up with humidity, which makes for an uncomfortable day. Surviving the last months of hot days is in slow motion. Hard to be patient when October, our cloudiest month holds the warmth in. Yard has done surprisingly well with my assist this year.

Still harvesting starfruit, soursop, bananas, oranges and papayas!!
Trimmed Seymore

Mostly, just making it through the days here. No decorations. After I finish a few more bags.... after I wash 2 trucks and AJs car.... after I wash the floors and finish laundry...outside of all my regular chores... I may get motivated to dig out some decorations. Maybe, I just won't rake leaves and call it good.

I did shut the door to the run this morning after washing and filling waters. Only 6 girls down here, so they should be fine. In shock from being confined, but fine.

My latest molters could use a new outfit...and heads!! Must be a Halloween trick.

Little pullets doing well ♡ and the most seasonal thing, next to leaves that I have going on.

I did find a dead toad in my compost bin and wonder if that is what the littles got in to.

For my winter prep, I need to remove and restaple a cut feed bag to this door

Little victories. Also, get my bug zappers and bug suck er uppers hooked up.

Kittens are wonderful. The antibiotics were VERY helpful! LOTS of playing, bouncing and cuteness, good poops and appetites ♡

And Spiders feral babies. Hanging out, staying close and just doing what they do. Very cute ♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

Haha, I love the name! I'm glad that you were able to find him a good home, I think it's so great how much time and consideration you take rehoming the boys.

I have been getting lucky