What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

That's a novel way to deal with truants! ("Don't be missing curfew next time, y'all...") Maybe I'll borrow the squeegee from the truck and try that out!

I have a few notorious curfew breakers that I have to pick up (while they're "dark drunk") and pop into the coop after the automatic door has closed, maybe about once a week; find them up on top of the nest box lid, pressed forlornly against the hardware cloth window nearest the roosting bars & their flockmates. And usually when it's raining or about to, of course. If I don't happen to be outside when the pop-door closes so I can see if anyone's still outside, I can't relax after dark until I've done a "bed check".

I don't have an automatic door as I just know someone would be left behind. Then mine wouldn't decide to roost somewhere like yours do. They'd kick up an almighty fuss instead. The boys would start crowing their little heads off, Gladys would stalk around muttering loudly and very angrily and Penelope would scream like a banshee non-stop. My lot are spoilt rotten and  very vocal with their opinions

 

[Nomadicus]

I have on Delaware hen who tries to pull a fast one and perch on top of the 4' wall on the hoop coop knowing I'm going to pick her up and put her on a roost bar inside. I think she just likes the attention like some of the others do. I can finally move feed from the bin in the Delaware coop into there feeders without having 3-4 hens on my shoulders while doing it. My White Giant gang now all seem more content to roost inside with the hens and the one hen that was trying to roost on top of the coop has given up that idea after a few squeegee maneuvers that didn't suit her. Bresse are as crazy as my French grandmother was about being determined to sleep on the top of their coop. I finally got two of them to come to grips with the fact that if they wanted to keep the girls company during the day they would have to sleep with them at night.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Happy Wednesday gang! Great read and catch up.

@ChicksnMore Bravo on the hatch. I feel you are one of the few who can pull this off. I'm looking forward to watching this little ones progress ♡. Bless your little hearts.

Nice rescue @kurby22 . He looks adorable in his flustered cleanliness.

My flock does not like cabbage either. I'm sure they may if it was planted in my garden though. They do eat it cooked and mixed with other stuff, much like carrots. They will eat them cooked too.

I absolutely think auto doors are cool and super happy that they work for so many. No need for me to have one down the mountain but may consider it for up Koke'e.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Been a very busy few days.
Where to start.... my wounded girls are good and recoverying, though Eva's comb has turned blue a few times Being she is 6yo I'm thinking it may be her heart. We shall see.
Brought the mountain flock down and had to make the re intro work. I am minus my roo coop so things got a little tricky especially around bed time. Spider hopped the garden fence and he and Beetle had a go. No blood or even bruising as Beetle relinquished quickly after the challenge and flock reintro happened shortly after with a few hen squabbles.

It was certainly the Evelyn Wood speed version of integration .
Now that flocks have reintegrated- Spider proudly hanging near the nest boxes and making all flock decisions, Beetle cleverly watching the freerangers. The girls look pretty happy and yesterday I collected 9 eggs. Also, feed bill is cut in half ♡
I soaked all waterers and then feeders in bleach water for days and then scrubbed the red Koke'e dirt off of them. Next is coop and run maintenance. After the holidays... got some buttoning up to do.

Kittens... I picked up two more fosters for a few days,

introed the eversoshy Waihona into the main kitten pack

and today, I crate 6 kittens to go catch their flight to Washington. They are so beautiful, fun and perfect. I will miss them.

(Kalani, Milo and Tally Ho)
They are also tearing up the house right now... and their boxes are full. Won't miss the later.
Waihona let me touch her a few times and lingers close-ish while I do chores. Also caught her comfortably napping in the pink bed like a real kitten ♡ huge progress.

My Lahaina DS is making it up and down the mountain on his bike solo!!!! This alone saves me hours and hours in a week. Monday, I packed him up with food and his clean laundry and said bye bye! (and be safe and watch your load balance.... ) He did perfect. Like watching your babies fly.

Sweet independence, he has mastered the twisties and a load

Its raining now. A cold -by our standards- light rain. Beautiful. I was hoping to hop onto the orange bike and pick up one last gift but now it waits till tomorrow. I will focus on the other tasks on my never ending Iist.

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

I love the reindeer feed! Wish I'd thought of that when my kids were still little

My Mom, a TOTAL Christmas nut, started that tradition when we were little. (Miss her SO MUCH this time of year, especially.) In the morning we'd find Santa's empty cocoa mug, a few cookie crumbs and a couple bits of carrot tops; we BELIEVED!!! So I carried on the tradition with our daughters and now the little grandkids.

DH was all-in, expert at sneaking those bulky carrot bunches into the fridge drawer while I distracted the girls. Their guinea pigs were happy to destroy the evidence overnight on behalf of Santa's reindeer! We'll see if the pullets like carrot tops this year...if not I'll spirit the greens into the compost bin.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Been a very busy few days.
Where to start.... my wounded girls are good and recoverying, though Eva's comb has turned blue a few times Being she is 6yo I'm thinking it may be her heart. We shall see.
Brought the mountain flock down and had to make the re intro work. I am minus my roo coop so things got a little tricky especially around bed time. Spider hopped the garden fence and he and Beetle had a go. No blood or even bruising as Beetle relinquished quickly after the challenge and flock reintro happened shortly after with a few hen squabbles. View attachment 3709110View attachment 3709111It was certainly the Evelyn Wood speed version of integration .
Now that flocks have reintegrated- Spider proudly hanging near the nest boxes and making all flock decisions, Beetle cleverly watching the freerangers. The girls look pretty happy and yesterday I collected 9 eggs. Also, feed bill is cut in half ♡
I soaked all waterers and then feeders in bleach water for days and then scrubbed the red Koke'e dirt off of them. Next is coop and run maintenance. After the holidays... got some buttoning up to do.

Kittens... I picked up two more fosters for a few days,View attachment 3709096 introed the eversoshy Waihona into the main kitten packView attachment 3709086 and today, I crate 6 kittens to go catch their flight to Washington. They are so beautiful, fun and perfect. I will miss them. View attachment 3709092(Kalani, Milo and Tally Ho)
They are also tearing up the house right now... and their boxes are full. Won't miss the later.
Waihona let me touch her a few times and lingers close-ish while I do chores. Also caught her comfortably napping in the pink bed like a real kitten ♡ huge progress.

My Lahaina DS is making it up and down the mountain on his bike solo!!!! This alone saves me hours and hours in a week. Monday, I packed him up with food and his clean laundry and said bye bye! (and be safe and watch your load balance.... ) He did perfect. Like watching your babies fly.View attachment 3709087
Sweet independence, he has mastered the twisties and a load

Its raining now. A cold -by our standards- light rain. Beautiful. I was hoping to hop onto the orange bike and pick up one last gift but now it waits till tomorrow. I will focus on the other tasks on my never ending Iist.

Such a full plate you carry! Bravo for your DS! Your birds look beautiful as always... I'm so glad they're all recovering well. Waihona is going to steal someone's heart hard when she decides to fully trust someone.

And that chair full of kitties!

 

[fuzzi]

My Mom, a TOTAL Christmas nut, started that tradition when we were little. (Miss her SO MUCH this time of year, especially.) In the morning we'd find Santa's empty cocoa mug, a few cookie crumbs and a couple bits of carrot tops; we BELIEVED!!! So I carried on the tradition with our daughters and now the little grandkids.

DH was all-in, expert at sneaking those bulky carrot bunches into the fridge drawer while I distracted the girls. Their guinea pigs were happy to destroy the evidence overnight on behalf of Santa's reindeer! We'll see if the pullets like carrot tops this year...if not I'll spirit the greens into the compost bin.

My flock LOVES carrot tops.

 

[Nomadicus]

It looks like I should plant a lot of carrots this coming spring. Win, Win. Canned carrots make for a quick colorful side dish when you need one quick. If the chickens like them then they are welcome to them.

 

[ChicksnMore]

My flock LOVES carrot tops.

Mine too! But....mine also love cabbage and carrots...lol

 

[ChicksnMore]

Biscotti is still doing well

I filled the incubator with Hamburg eggs when the dwarf eggs started dying to help the temps stay steady. It probably wasn't necessary but none the less. They started hatching today. They're huge next to Biscotti so he won't get to share a brooder with them, but he's enjoying supervised baby cuddles.