What did your chickens do today?

[LaLa Chickie]

Today I discovered that one of my Hens has carried, YES....an ceramic egg up the hill...I had put 2 ceramic eggs in their coop to see if they would lay there again. Somehow, one of the ceramic eggs was not only taken out of the nesting box, but it sits up a foot, which means they carried it out of the box to the floor and then took it up the hill and put it under the bushes near one of their dirt bath holes . I think they must have used the air hole in the bottom of the egg to carry it. I wish I had seen them do it. Here's a photo I wish I could post my video, you can't believe the distance this was carried....LOL

 

[goose4]

It snowed a little bit today. The girls were not happy about this. A few of the new girls stepped outside and promptly came back in. The older girls didn't bother going out. Instead they all stood in the doorway of the shed and made that groaning noise they make when they are not happy about something. The ducks and geese didn't mind the snow.

 

[Momluvz3kidz]

Starting moving the wood pile today. The south side area by our barn will be the new location for our extra large coop and run for the chickens.

Anytime I walk outside, my chickens run to me and follow me where ever I walk. They are always hoping that I will give them treats.

As I was moving the fire wood, the chickens got so excited over all the bugs and spiders scrambling for cover. Was so cute to watch.

I had to come back inside for a bit though. It started raining harder, and I have a smashing headache. I have about 1/3 of the wood pile left to move. My 14 yr. old son has to help me move it, or we can both wait until dad gets home from work. I need help moving the really large trunk size cuts.

Our chickens love the rain. They always feed on the insects like crazy. They gets so full, that even my roos fluff up their feathers, and squat on the ground to rest. It is sooo funny!

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Yesterday Pepper finally laid her second egg. It took a week, but she did it finally and today Omelette laid her first egg. Under the caravan of all places.

 

[LaLa Chickie]

I know this is about what is happening today, but yesterday was weirder.
The smoke from the bush fires blocked the sky out, ash rained down and the sun went red.
It was like something out of an apocalypse movie.
Felt for all those who lost property and animals in it.

It's so very sad to see the news on this horrific fire...Glad you are well

 

[BarredRockMom]

Today, as we were working on the new coop, hubby mentioned . . . what to do with Greenie . . .

. . . so he decided to section off a portion of what I thought was going to be a sheltered part of the run, into a separate living quarters for her! And make a little "outside" area as well. This will be in the same spot as she now is, only it will be enclosed. Part of the roof went on today! There will be access into her run from the outside and maybe access from inside the regular run as well as a door into her little enclosed coop! Wow! I really didn't expect him to suggest all that!

So Greenie seems to officially be a "pet" chicken and will get special treatment.

See there? It's working out well so far!!

She was out free all day again today and stayed close by all day. I gave them all some table scraps and egg shells and gave her a good sized portion of it all in a bowl. First thing she does is dump it all over! Then she wandered away. I shook the bowl and here she comes running! So she ate EVERYTHING (pig, not chicken!!) and pecked at the bowl for almost an hour. Hubby and she were competing for the loudest hammering sound!

Him on the roof with nails and she with the bowl. She was quite entertaining

and went to roost with a FULL belly!

One more good thing today: The coop is a distance from the house and she stayed out there, but one time I went up to the house and she ran after me. Then half way there, I forgot something, went back to the coop, and she followed me again! Made me kinda happy!

Yea, progress!!

As far as letting her set on some eggs, none of our chickens have ever acted like they would like to. They lay their egg and leave right away - yesterday I watched while one laid her egg, and she left while it was still wet. I think they all do that. They don't make much fuss (egg song) about them either.

How do you tell if the egg is fertile or not? Do you just assume because the rooster is in with them?That'd be my guess, but I think someone who has roosters & has hatched eggs may weight in with more guidance. I don't have any roosters & have never hatched anyone.

Gotta love those chickens!!!!

Yep, very rewarding to have around!

 

[BarredRockMom]

Put plastic sheeting all over the girls' run today & scattered straw all over the ground. They seemed pretty excited to have the majority of the wind blocked. Hopefully, they'll be able to have more outside time this winter with the absence of snow in their run. Am planning to get some additional bales to place around the elevated underside of the coop, which will block the remaining wind and help to keep the coop a little warmer, too. If I continue to scatter straw in the run thru the winter, the girls should be ok outside, right? I'm in W PA & we get snow & cold. It's anywhere from 40 degrees to 17 on a really bitter day (which we have very infrequently, I'm glad to say!) My goal is to not keep them cooped up ALL winter, but I don't want them to freeze or get any kind of frostbite on their feet from cold ground. I've heard varying opinions on this site about acclimatizing & letting them out v. keeping them inside & providing heat lamps.

 

[BarredRockMom]

Today I discovered that one of my Hens has carried, YES....an ceramic egg up the hill...I had put 2 ceramic eggs in their coop to see if they would lay there again. Somehow, one of the ceramic eggs was not only taken out of the nesting box, but it sits up a foot, which means they carried it out of the box to the floor and then took it up the hill and put it under the bushes near one of their dirt bath holes . I think they must have used the air hole in the bottom of the egg to carry it. I wish I had seen them do it. Here's a photo I wish I could post my video, you can't believe the distance this was carried....LOL This is hilarious!! The things they do when we're not looking, eh? I guess she liked HER location better, lol!!

 

[LibRat]

My husband was cleaning the garage and had everything in a nice neat little pile. He went in to get a dustpan and came out to this....

 

[lazy gardener]

Today I discovered that one of my Hens has carried, YES....an ceramic egg up the hill...I had put 2 ceramic eggs in their coop to see if they would lay there again. Somehow, one of the ceramic eggs was not only taken out of the nesting box, but it sits up a foot, which means they carried it out of the box to the floor and then took it up the hill and put it under the bushes near one of their dirt bath holes . I think they must have used the air hole in the bottom of the egg to carry it. I wish I had seen them do it. Here's a photo I wish I could post my video, you can't believe the distance this was carried....LOL

I MIGHT BLAME THE CERAMIC EGG'S NEW LOCATION ON A RAT OR A SQUIRREL. I'M GUESSING THAT A RODENT STARTED TO STEAL THE EGG, AND FINALLY DECIDED THAT IT WASN'T WORTH THE EFFORT.