What did you do with your flock today?

[PopoMyers]

I'm so glad to hear your friend thinks Olena will make a full recovery. It's so hard to assess over the internet, so much better to see the bird in the flesh
Like your friend said, it will take months for her to recover. Patience is key now. I think she's made an amazing amount of progress in just 3 weeks and it's obvious your love, care and willingness to take a chance on her has made all the difference!

We don't have anything like the Thanksgiving holiday over here. Our next big holiday is Christmas so it's full steam ahead prepping for that. Seems to start earlier and earlier every year. Personally, I like to decorate a couple of weeks before - to me it helps keep it a special time of year. Two houses over they've had a Christmas tree up since the first weekend after Halloween! DH would like to decorate now so I'm being tortured over it.

That turkey looks so yummy!

Sadly, stores here seem to have Christmas items out even before Halloween. Traditionally we don't put anything up until after Thanksgiving, about a month before Christmas. DH and the boys are in charge of putting up the tree. I have scaled down over the years after moving, and only having adults in the house. A few strings of lights on the porch to string up and plug in. Olena gets to join in the festivities. She has been having turkey dinner for the past few days. I think she intentionally waits until dinner, as she doesn't eat much of her regular crumbles, and then eats all the other things (sunflower seeds and cracked corn with the turkey this week) I give her before her vitamins in the evening. Little stinker!
I've been taking her out of her sling to just lay on her side for awhile, and practice relaxing her legs and squatting for a time. Her leveling device isn't working too good yet. Time is what's needed. Hopefully by spring, and the warmer outside temps. She's being a little louder, vocally. Good sign, yes?

 

[PopoMyers]

I have not been getting eggs despite the pullets having beautiful red combs, so I headed outside this morning to check all the corners, to see if there was a snake inside the hoop coop, eating the eggs. It was 43°, brr.

I did a pretty thorough search of the coop, no snake.

While I was doing that I also cleared out the clutter I had added when they were small and needed places to hide.

"Grape Lady made us a BIG new perch!"
View attachment 3691489

After digging out some of the composted litter from the front (to use in my gardens) I added more leaves.
View attachment 3691491

They all are active, seem healthy, why no eggs?

View attachment 3691493
Naomi

Most of the pullets have bright red combs...I don't get it.

Sometimes sudden weather changes affect them. Don't worry, they will lay when they're ready. They are still maturing.

 

[PopoMyers]

Ii need to get this off my chest. I don't know wether to laugh or cry. When I locked up all the coops tonight, I found one of my boys had passed. Nothing wrong with him. No other birds show signs of anything. It looked almost like he fell off the roost and maybe broke his neck on the way down. I cleaned the pen and coop. Sanitized it and was taking the bag with him in it to the trash when I heard my big rooster going nuts. I look over and somehow one of my babies got into his yard and he didn't know who she was so he charged after her. I got her out but he was still charging. I had a stick in one hand and a dead chicken in a bag in the other.
I needed to get him distracted and I didn't want to hurt him because he really is super great so I made a split second decision and swung the bag at his side.
I hit him with the dead chicken. He stopped and looked at me as I realized what happened. And we just kinda stood there shocked. He turned around and walked to the coop while I was yelling I am so sorry buddy.!!
The little girl that got out didn't even run when I grabbed her. Maybe she thought she'd get nailed with a carcass too?

One of my cockerels died in a nesting box overnight last year. Sudden death syndrome is my guess. No signs of any problems beforehand. No one else died.

At least the dead chicken was in a bag and you weren't swinging it by the legs when that happened. Wonder what the roo would've thought then? Glad the little is ok, and he didn't injure her. You were at the right place at the right time.
So sorry for your loss.

 

[kurby22]

My beloved rooster died on Saturday.

I'm barely recovering from having to cull Ruby due to reproductive issues, and then, all of a sudden, Mabelo dies in his sleep.

Necropsy is not an option so I think I will always see this as a random curse. He died kind of how I expected my chickens to die but... not the day they turn 3 years old.

I can't totally believe it and I guess that's why I can't cry. So I just sit here with my remaining 3 chickens who have that "WTF" look in their faces, too. And I found that they're more clingy than usual

It's been 2 losses in the same month...


View attachment 3692130

I’m so sorry for your losses Chickening is so hard sometimes. We love them so much but it’s so hard to protect them from all the things all the time. I had a really rough year last year with my birds—a lot of losses. My most recent major loss being this year with my sweet boy Nohope, who lived for almost 4 months in a box on the couch with me because he couldn’t walk. It takes a big toll on your heart, but I can tell you he taught me so much and has helped me care for my others so much differently and better. He was so special to me and I still mourn him. It’s okay to be sad and take your time to really grieve them—but as many here reminded me—they were loved their whole lives and that’s all any creature can hope for. He was lucky to have you Hugs

 

[PopoMyers]

Up late waiting for my youngest to get home from work and trying to feed Hop. His abdomen is dark dark red now except for the skin covering his buried foot. Suspect he bled inside. So I'm saying goodbye to the little guy tonight. Think that's the kindest thing for him.

Everyone's still a little sick here. Not sure what we caught (not covid) but wow it's been a doozy bug. My lungs hurt! I'm feeling like cheese and whine tonight .

@fuzzi your birds are so so pretty. They all look very healthy and happy so I'm betting @LTAY1946 has it right on the light bit. Mine just all quit laying at once too because we had a cold snap. It's not actually cold at all! Just a teeny nippy at night...but not an egg in sight for a couple of days now.

@TropicalBabies I don't envy you the litterbox cleaning but o those kitties look so happy!

So sad for you and Hops. You both gave it your all, and he was well loved and cared for . Rest in peace, little one.
Hoping you and your family will all feel better soon. My son got a bad flu Tuesday, and it seems to be lingering. He had to be quarantined to his room, and miss the dinner company. He got to have room service, though.

 

[kurby22]

Had free time today and saw frost on my car window this morning. So decided to treat the birds to grape vines and sweet potato vines before the weather puts my plants to sleep.
The biggest green girl is my favorite, Java. She's the queen of the flock and always the first at the treats. No one will approach until she allows them, but once she says it's okay, she's very gracious. If she says she's not willing to share though ! All the others politely come close and watch her like a hawk to be sure they have her permission before digging in.

View attachment 3692310View attachment 3692314View attachment 3692315View attachment 3692316

And I got my first hamburg egg! Only a couple of the girls have red faces still, but the rest should follow soon

She looks like a Queen! so beautiful

Yay Hamburg eggs!!

 

[PopoMyers]

Omg!! you just made my day!! And yes of course you can read it! I've missed yell so much!
Adventures on the Ranch: Short Sories and more Edition

You have quite a variety of characters!

 

[kurby22]

Worked on de-stringing bags. Set up a tent so the incoming inclement weather won't break my stride .View attachment 3692391
Such a chore.

Kept the flock locked up (so they would not poop on my stuff...) till 4 poor babies. Then they cruised by and picked up the grains from the brew bags and pooped elseware TG.
Beetle let me know that they required more snacks. So, i got a few photos of his ask ♡ He is really developing into a fantastic boy. Im very proud of him.View attachment 3692385View attachment 3692387View attachment 3692388He busted me trying to get a photo of his butt. Guess he did not approve. View attachment 3692389
Was too busy to catch a photo of the girls. I sure did enjoy their company while I worked though ♡

Oh my, he’s a truly beautiful boy!! He’s big! I forget how big they get after being around bantams so much!

I have a good sized pile of bags now! I’m reaching a quantity worth shipping soon

 

[PopoMyers]

Hahaha it’s a show dog shampoo! Works well! May not be as great on human hair…but…it also just might!

Maybe it'll work for gray hair? I know Mane and Tail horse shampoo works great on my hair, and my dog's coat.

 

[Shetland lover]

Hahaha it’s a show dog shampoo! Works well! May not be as great on human hair…but…it also just might!

I might just give it a try....