What did you do with your flock today?

[ValerieJ]

I held of for 5 months then chick days hit and I went from 14 to 78
With plans and blueprints for how to keep going. I keep telling myself, only hatch to keep the bloodline and breed going, but the little voice saying BABIES!! is starting to win.

That’s chicken geometry.

 

[Nomadicus]

I don't know what to do. It looks like even as cold as it is at night I've got another pullet decide it wants to me a mama hen. She's setting on the ground in a corner of the coop that is hard to get to. Looks like I will have to modify the roosting bars so I can get to her and see if she is broody and not hurt somehow. I didn't think Breese were a broody breed but I know there must be some exceptions. I said she was a pullet but she turns to a fully verified hen Dec 5. So far my mix of age chicks are doing fine. They all are behaving like chicks I've had in the past and if another chick is asleep where they want to go they just climb over like they own the road. Tomorrow is pasty butt cleaning again. At least we have them in a heated room and don't have to go out in the 30+ degree temp in the morning.

 

[fuzzi]

Almost forgot to mention that I got lucky and was able to order dwarf eggs from Greenfire. I was delighted with how good they looked inside! Not bad air spaces at all, so I have high hopes for a good hatch.

I'm going to keep these separate from the dwarfs I got from my friend and enjoy just comparing the two flocks. I've been curious if my friends dwarfs are pure or if she mixed anything in to get the blues she had. I just haven't seen that color anywhere but in her flock. Though I read greys a color in them. At any rate, I'll really enjoy just watching them and comparing .
View attachment 3692599

At first I thought those were golf balls...

 

[PopoMyers]

Sounds like a wonderful sign! You've done such an amazing job with her. I can't blame her for enjoying her treats

I've been eyeing stained glass Christmas trees. Think when my kiddos are moved out, I'd like to get one and simplify Christmas decorations. If I can find one I love

Thank you. Do you have any artisans locally who can custom make something?

 

[PopoMyers]

Wow. You have had so much going on Sometimes it is hard to form sentences, especially in the midst of doing it all. You are a champ, a woman warrior ♡♡♡ My heart goes out to you.
I am so, so, SO incredibly sorry for your hard losses. I know you love your flock so much and only want the best.
Glad you are working your way through it. Successfully caring for Olena has hopefully helped to take some of the sting away ♡♡♡

Yes, she has, and also have friends calling and asking how she's doing on a regular basis. All of you fellow tenders' kind and encouraging words here, and they are making the impatience more bearable as we await the day when she can reintegrate with her flock. Just noticed today that her neck is no longer going wry, and is much stronger. I gave her mash today from all the crumble crumbs, and she ate quite a bit, to my surprise. She had some lap time this evening, just in squat position, and seemed to enjoy having a neck massage.
The flock is getting a couple hours a day ranging outside of the coop area while it isn't raining. That is returning later this week.

 

[PopoMyers]

The more I listen to him the more I catch what he is saying... or crowing about. Love being tuned in ♡- feeds out, waters down, time to freerange, snacks- He is such a background guy when Spider is around. I like him as a front man- also. He's just becoming a perfect roo. Lucky me to have 2 incredible boys who do well together. A true Christmas miracle.

Mountain flock is well. No new sniffles and old ones gone. Whew!!!!!

You speak roo! That is so amazing.

 

[PopoMyers]

I think if I had bantam they would get beat by the ferals. I don't know. Pretty sure I could never find beautiful bantam breeds over here anyways.
I have been at a very happy place with my flock lately. Especially when split. They seem more manageable and less work in smaller numbers. Go figure

It just occurred to me that I have other projects and interests that I have not paid attention to. Mealworms and compost? Yes. Both failing because I forget to give them what they need.

Yep. ADHD. Self diagnosed.

That's what that is! I found some projects I had bought in Okinawa 30+ years ago as I was digging through mystery totes and boxes in the spare room closet. Think I need to do some of them this winter.

 

[PopoMyers]

That’s chicken geometry.

Maybe it's heading toward Calculus!

 

[PopoMyers]

Typical chicken! But if Olena's doing that and making more noise, I'd say improving too.
If I have other treats in my palm when I'm holding out a treat to one of them, they will always check out the treats in my palm first, just in case the half hidden ones are better! And I'm convinced Ferdy doesn't eat much during the day so he has more space in his crop to eat my dinner when he comes in. He thoroughly enjoyed his chicken fried rice with stir-fried pak choy and bean sprouts tonight. He and Elliot even helped themselves to a slice of lemon polenta cake that DH left out on the countertop

Oh, your gang is a riot! So much for the recommended limiting of treats, right? He's one lucky roo, as is the rest of your bunch. Do you keep a journal? All your anecdotes would make a fine, entertaining reading collection.

 

[PopoMyers]

Thank you!! I think mainland bags are incredible!! And we appreciate your efforts. I took a big hiatus from sewing. I have to get back in my chair and do the work. Freshen stands for the holidays to come etc.
So distracted.... ♡View attachment 3692630

I love your chair, ahem, their chair.