What did you do with your flock today?

[MaeM]

Today I spent some time with the whole flock.

Ruby was feeling better so I decided to let her out, and I witnessed something that I had never seen in my flock.

Her sister got close to her and she reacted aggressively. She was never an aggressive hen, but I thought "well maybe she knows she is sick so she doesn't want anyone around her". So I removed her sister from her sight.

But then I turned around for a moment and Eris (one of my barred rocks) and Ruby (a Golden Comet recovering from salpingitis + prolapse) were chest to chest glaring at each other.

I need answers, lol, something happened between Ruby and the other girls... Could it be that they pecked her prolapse before I saw it and now she resents them? She was isolated for almost one week now

 

[kurby22]

Today I spent some time with the whole flock.

Ruby was feeling better so I decided to let her out, and I witnessed something that I had never seen in my flock.

Her sister got close to her and she reacted aggressively. She was never an aggressive hen, but I thought "well maybe she knows she is sick so she doesn't want anyone around her". So I removed her sister from her sight.

But then I turned around for a moment and Eris (one of my barred rocks) and Ruby (a Golden Comet recovering from salpingitis + prolapse) were chest to chest glaring at each other.

I need answers, lol, something happened between Ruby and the other girls... Could it be that they pecked her prolapse before I saw it and now she resents them? She was isolated for almost one week now

Sometimes when a chicken is pulled out they have to re-integrate. I also find that chickens that aren’t feeling well can often be protective of themselves and they will be aggressive about it and the others can tell they don’t feel good and will pick on them more. Hopefully it doesn’t last!

 

[fuzzi]

Finally got a video of the feeding frenzy, though it was towards the end:

Today's treats were bits of overripe grapes and some pieces of shredded cheese to make it interesting...

That's Rahab in the middle of the dish!

 

[Nomadicus]

I made a big mistake this evening in a coop. I set a basket with nearly 4 dozen eggs in it down on top of a partial bag of feed to look for more eggs. Young pullets to advantage of my back being turned to pile on the basket and flip it over on the ground and breaking all but 10 eggs. On pullet got trapped under the basket and didn't seem to mind being ankle deep in broken eggs. I'd fire the help but there would be no one left to feed, water, and gather eggs.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I made a big mistake this evening in a coop. I set a basket with nearly 4 dozen eggs in it down on top of a partial bag of feed to look for more eggs. Young pullets to advantage of my back being turned to pile on the basket and flip it over on the ground and breaking all but 10 eggs. On pullet got trapped under the basket and didn't seem to mind being ankle deep in broken eggs. I'd fire the help but there would be no one left to feed, water, and gather eggs.

Oh gosh, I almost feel your pain as that is a big fear of mine. Has not happened yet.... but it just takes a second and I constantly worry, one day.
Well, I guess you are even more popular in the coop now. Like Santa. Can't get fired, no one would stand for it.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I made a big mistake this evening in a coop. I set a basket with nearly 4 dozen eggs in it down on top of a partial bag of feed to look for more eggs. Young pullets to advantage of my back being turned to pile on the basket and flip it over on the ground and breaking all but 10 eggs. On pullet got trapped under the basket and didn't seem to mind being ankle deep in broken eggs. I'd fire the help but there would be no one left to feed, water, and gather eggs.

They just knew you had treats for them!

 

[PopoMyers]

Yesterday I threw a Costco chicken carcass, minus the leg bones, out in the grassy run. You would think that the chooks had turned into sharks! Feeding frenzy. Left no evidence, either.
More rat poop in the nesting box. Why?????
@TropicalBabies looks like life has settled back down i to your happy normal. So glad all the crazy has passed.
@kurby22 So much work done. We all have rearranged and changed our coops, runs, layouts, etc. and we are always glad when it's completed and a wonderful improvement. Enjoy!

 

[ChicksnMore]

It's been a very long day today but a good one. Had a fun/silly moment when I went to feed the pineapple peelings to the little piggy. Spud the tortoise followed after me...but I didn't notice. I went into piggies pen but didn't latch the door behind me. Next thing I know I had piggy, Spud, geese, ducks and the chickens that were out today all clustered at my feet waiting for me to dump those peels...all inside piggies pen. That was some fun convincing everyone but piggy to leave .

 

[Shetland lover]

I enjoyed that.

I put a mirror in one of my coops at ground level and I really enjoyed watching the chickens reaction to it. The first bit they showed curiosity and no attempts to go after their reflections like they would strange live birds. They stared and stared though! It certainly seemed to me like they were trying to figure out what they were seeing, and knew it wasn't stranger chickens at any rate.

Later I was up on the porch and I started hearing periodic thumps. At first I thought it was my horse, Jasmine kicking something wood. That's what it sounded like....loud thunk sounds like back hooves hitting wood. I went to explore and discovered a yokohama roo trying to attack his reflection, and because the mirror was attached to the wooden coop walls, it was making quite a big sound. He was flying up and hitting with his feet trying to spur. Funny thing is I've never had the yokos do that to each other, but here this one was trying it on the mirror reflection.

I have to say I've often wondered if my yokos gentleness is because they're a couple cards short of a full deck in the IQ department though! So doubt it means anything other than I had a less then brilliant rooster . The mirrors still there though and everyone ignores it now, but when it was new they were fascinated with their reflections.View attachment 3669823

My girls all check themselves out in mirrors, turning this way and that, inspecting their feathers.

Ferdy also clearly knows himself in the mirror too. If he's on my shoulder, he'll look at himself, then at me, then back at himself. He'll then start to preen me or something similar, whilst watching us in the mirror. It's almost as if he's confirming to himself that it is our reflection, not some weird doppelgangers. I've never seen him attack the mirror.

Stan, on the other hand, being a few sandwiches short of a picnic, attacks his reflection with gusto! When he just ends up with a sore beak and a rival who just won't quit, he gets into a crowing contest with himself. He's a funny little bugger!

 

[Shetland lover]

Thank you everyone for the support and the advices. Here's an update on Ruby's case.

On Wednesday, the vet checked that she didn't have an egg and took the risk of leaving the sutures until Thursday.

On Thursday, as soon as her stitches were removed, she released a lash egg and prolapsed. So the vet stitched her again. I went back home and she prolapsed - even with stitches. I went back to the vet and he added more stitches.

She didn't prolapse again after that, but if she needs to lay an egg, well... it won't fit through that hole.

Now, Ruby seems to be feeling great, but if she can't keep her insides in, if she prolapses every time she gets the stitches removed.... Or if an egg comes (no, there's no Suprelorin available here, otherwise this wouldn't be a worry)
before she can fully heal... You can imagine how that'd go.

There's still necrotic tissue inside of her, the vet hopes that she can release it by herself or else she may need debridement....

So, a lot of things to take into account... I can barely sleep.

Today I took her out for a little while (she's mostly in a dark space to discourage egg laying) so she could sunbathe and forage for a bit... And I stayed with her all the time, thinking that maybe these are out last moments together... I mean, she is feeling good now, but there's a chance that she won't recover in time. Then I'd have to cull her...

View attachment 3669852

Poor little lady! I really hope she is able to recover. Whatever the outcome, she knows such love and kindness from you and that means so much to every living creature. She will know how much you are trying to help ❤