What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Today I spent some time with the flock after Ruby's death.

They all seem to be doing pretty good, except for Ruby's sister, Bianca.

I think I already showed you this picture... It is from the last time they chilled together.


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And I mean, they've been always together...

I mean, always.

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As chicks...

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As pullets...

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As hens...

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As... partners in crime?

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It's killing me that Bianca is being more clingy with me than usual and I can't get another friend for her... I just wish my barred rocks weren't assh0l3s who do not fully accept her in the flock, even though they've grown up together...

I'm so sad for you and Bianca. Such beautiful photos of them both though and happy memories.

I had a similar issue when Gladys lost her sister, Alice at just 18 months. They hatched together and had never been apart. I was 'lucky' though as Gladys was fully intergrated with my ex-batts. She also understood that Alice had died as I try to ensure they can visit with their flckmate's body. It sounds crazy but I think it helps. I know that wasn't possible with Ruby.
Gladys definitely grieved, she stopped laying and became very clingy and introverted for a couple of weeks. After that she seemed to decide life goes on and bounced back to normal. A year later, we rescued a new ex-batt, Maud. She became Gladys' best friend and when we lost her, Gladys definitely grieved again. She got over it eventually. I think you need to just give Bianca as much time as she needs, she'll fit in better eventually. I do think some hen breeds can be very tribal, having said that. So, if you can't get a friend for her, you might have to resign yourself to being her 'flock'.

Ferdy and Penelope were hatched within hours of each other, have never been apart and roost together, separately to everyone else. I worry deeply how the survivor will cope without the other.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

If you come across an egg skelter suitable for bantam eggs, please let me know as I can't find anything! My existing egg tray was bought when I had standard birdsView attachment 3686184
It's Victorian and cost me a princely £3.50 from our local charity shop!

I'd always say go bigger if your girls are as prolific as mine are in lay. Here's 10 days worth of eggs from 4 hens:
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I love the wooden holders. They just take up too much counter space. Your eggs are so pretty!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Shall I send them a telegram?


Our annual rainfall is 48", on average.

O please no! My poor babies would go on strike or create a chicken protection service just so they can report me

Our annual rainfall over history is 11-12". But that's a rare rare thing for years and years. Our natural world is dirt and plants that bite .

 

[ChicksnMore]

Weighed 5 month old big Lou and he weighed 10 lbs. on the nose.

Think my 1-2 lb chickens could walk under him . That's a biiiiig boy!

 

[TropicalBabies]

I started like this...

and morphed into

Tomato plants did not survive the chickens... rip
When the egg machine is on and sales are good.
@ForFlocksSake you will have fun finding what works for you ♡ another fun fact of chicken keeping.

I had a friend with a charming wooden wall mounted egg holder. Can't say it was as charming as @Shetland lover 's Victorian thriftstore find ♡♡♡, but it was darn cute. Sorry, no photo.
My mom had a beautiful vintage wire chicken basket, so that explains me not falling far from that tree.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Mine are spoiled too. I'm glad I don't have to remove the crust off their bread when I give them a few tidbits on my way to make rounds of a morning. Better yet I'm glad they don't poop on my shoulders when making a hard landing trying to be the first to get a treat.

I've never had a bad shipment of chicks from my hatchery that has been used since the late 50's. I bought 50 chicks from a farm hatchery and lost a lot of chicks after arrival. Poor quality as a whole. Live and learn. I have a few more to complete my flock next spring from two very reliable sources.

Same here. My only bad shipments were both through Purely Poultry. They're a middle man and I used them because they garentee you get what you ordered...no substitutions. I'm not sure why I've had trouble both times I ordered from them because it seemed like post office errors rather than the hatcheries themselves. But that said...I've never had those problems with any other outfit so not sure what to think.

 

[ChicksnMore]

My worry too. I have mine in a bowl (not big enough) and ended up writing the dates they were laid on the shell in pencil.

I keep a plastic egg flat in the fridge and an ice bin. Fresh eggs go in the flat. When it's full they get moved to the bin and that's what we usually eat from. Any eggs left when the flats full get pickled in tea/soy sauce and five spice, frozen, or scrambled and used for treats. Usually scrambled for treats though these days.

 

[ValerieJ]

Happy Saturday everyone! I don't write much on this thread because these days DH does most of the caring for the chickens. The last couple days I have had chicken duty and really enjoyed the little fluffs. Reminds me how much I miss them when I don't go out there. They are not near the house, so I don't see them much if I don't go out there, only when we drive by.

We have a fairly young, new rooster (cockerel until January) who has been learning the ropes and taking good care of the girls. He had the opportunity to watch our prior rooster get all the hens into the coop at night and took over that duty with ease. DH went out to close them in the other night and several were still out, so he said, "Ok Cooper, get the girls in." And Cooper did just that. I love a good rooster!

I think they were happy to see me and all gathered at the gate as soon as I arrived. Of course I never go out without some treats. lol Bribery is not beneath me!

We have lost a couple of the older girls and our old rooster in the past few months, so we are down to 17 chickens now. That's actually good news. Maybe the broodies will give me some new chicks in the spring.

A lot of our hens are past the laying stage. I think we have about 7 who still lay fairly regularly, and the old gals surprise us from time to time. Nice to be getting eggs again after the Fall molt.

I keep our eggs in the refrigerator. And I wash them. I know they are fine on the counter, but I just prefer the cleaned and prepared cartons of eggs. It's easy to rotate the cartons that way and always be eating the oldest eggs.

Well, that's a pretty thorough update from the Pampered Peeps farm. I am enjoying all your chicken stories and mourn your losses right along with you. I have nursed sick chickens back to health, and it doesn't always work. So heartbreaking when it doesn't. But when it does, it always feels like a miracle.

Thanks for being such an inspiring group of chicken chatters. Love the kitty and farm animal stories too!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Happy Saturday everyone! I don't write much on this thread because these days DH does most of the caring for the chickens. The last couple days I have had chicken duty and really enjoyed the little fluffs. Reminds me how much I miss them when I don't go out there. They are not near the house, so I don't see them much if I don't go out there, only when we drive by.

We have a fairly young, new rooster (cockerel until January) who has been learning the ropes and taking good care of the girls. He had the opportunity to watch our prior rooster get all the hens into the coop at night and took over that duty with ease. DH went out to close them in the other night and several were still out, so he said, "Ok Cooper, get the girls in." And Cooper did just that. I love a good rooster!

I think they were happy to see me and all gathered at the gate as soon as I arrived. Of course I never go out without some treats. lol Bribery is not beneath me!

We have lost a couple of the older girls and our old rooster in the past few months, so we are down to 17 chickens now. That's actually good news. Maybe the broodies will give me some new chicks in the spring.

A lot of our hens are past the laying stage. I think we have about 7 who still lay fairly regularly, and the old gals surprise us from time to time. Nice to be getting eggs again after the Fall molt.

I keep our eggs in the refrigerator. And I wash them. I know they are fine on the counter, but I just prefer the cleaned and prepared cartons of eggs. It's easy to rotate the cartons that way and always be eating the oldest eggs.

Well, that's a pretty thorough update from the Pampered Peeps farm. I am enjoying all your chicken stories and mourn your losses right along with you. I have nursed sick chickens back to health, and it doesn't always work. So heartbreaking when it doesn't. But when it does, it always feels like a miracle.

Thanks for being such an inspiring group of chicken chatters. Love the kitty and farm animal stories too!

I love hearing about the old hens way past laying . Your flock and young roo sound delightful!

 

[ChicksnMore]

Changed Hops set up today. Still trying to find a safe, out of incubator, food and water always there, way to keep him. He's definitely getting stronger but having water there all the times been a challenge so far. He keeps falling into it and thinks it's scary stuff. He's getting there though. He can get up on his one leg for short spells now as long as he has something to lean against. And he's eating well. Just need to convince him to drink water. He'll sleep in the incubator still for now, but trying him with a heat lamp today.