Re: who has chickens

countrynaturals 9/12/2017, 11:27 am

Rescued 3 more hens, yesterday. Katie deliberately picked the most pitiful one she could find to come live with us and be served grapes and cantaloupe while she roams free and helps turn the compost heap. okay

CapeCoddess 9/12/2017, 1:08 pm

Yeah, that one made me laugh and go 'awww' at the same time. Lucky hen to be picked by Katie!

**sanderson** 9/12/2017, 3:31 pm

Oh, she will be much more healthy and happy with Katie. Looks like she was at the bottom of the pecking order.

countrynaturals 9/27/2017, 4:56 pm

Free-range chickens + cat door = OOAK CARPET ART! Rolling Eyes

I came in from the garden and this is what I saw on the floor. We have one hen that loves to come in, snack on dry cat food, and take a nap on the carpet. She usually leaves a little gift, but never anything this creative. She must have been shaking/preening off a dust bath. Razz

**llama momma** 9/27/2017, 10:44 pm

My hens are now 5 months olds and laying. But sometimes beginner layers do this----
A heavy membrane and No shell -- felt rubbery
who has chickens - Page 18 20170911

**sanderson** 9/27/2017, 11:19 pm

CN, She is a little artist Very Happy

LM, Very educational. Thank you for sharing.

bigdogrock 9/28/2017, 9:34 am

I was finally able to go into the coup without scaring then all into a frenzy. The bear attack really spooked them. The fence is up and working, they are able to go into the run and the weather is turning a little more favorable for them. I should be close to getting eggs from them, but with the traumatic bear break in I don't know.
I will spend more time them now, just talking and being around them. One Silverlaced Wiandotte (spelling?) is very friendly to me, she likes to eat out of my hand and I can stroke her gently on the back.

countrynaturals 9/28/2017, 1:53 pm

llama momma wrote:My hens are now 5 months olds and laying. But sometimes beginner layers do this----
A heavy membrane and No shell -- felt rubbery

Our goose did that, too. She acted sick for a day or two, then laid her first soft egg. I guess it's a traumatic experience at first. After that she and her eggs were fine.

**sanderson** 9/28/2017, 1:56 pm

I'm glad they are recovering after their trauma.

**llama momma** 9/30/2017, 1:11 am

I hope they soon forget about the bear trauma.

BigDogRock and others -- if you have ever thought of purchasing a trail camera to watch over your chickens now is a good time to search for sales before hunting season begins. I was able to get a Bushnell 12MP Trophy Cam nearly half price. Can program to take color still photos and videos, infra red black and whites at night and can be programmed to do large field scans too. It puts a date and time stamp on the pics too. It all goes onto an sd card and be uploaded to my laptop, cell phone, or tv. Be nice to know exactly what and when something is lurking around day or night and prepare for reinforcements. It works in minus 5degree temps to over 110 degrees.

**sanderson** 9/30/2017, 3:48 am

CN, is the tattered hen getting better? She has got to enjoy not being pecked to pieces with all the room to room.

countrynaturals 9/30/2017, 12:12 pm

sanderson wrote:CN, is the tattered hen getting better? She has got to enjoy not being pecked to pieces with all the room to room.

She still looks ratty, but she's very happy and healthy, snuggles up with her "sisters" every night, and enjoys her grapes and mealworm snacks every day. All of their eggs are big and gradually getting that bright orange/yellow color and thick consistency of the rest of our free-range chickens.

The new 3 still haven't joined the main flock. Bob lets them out with the others every morning, but after a few minutes they go right back into their own side of the coop and don't come out again. We can't leave the door open because our white dove lives in that area and has to be protected from hawks and cats, so we're still maintaining 2 groups of chickens. Rolling Eyes

bigdogrock 10/4/2017, 8:25 pm

After telling everyone about the Ursus horror story, I thought I would give you all a peek at some happiness. Last Wednesday night or Thursday morning, one of my little gentle creatures blessed us with an egg. A greenish/blueish prize! It is the little one to the right of the biggest greenish/blueish egg. The "big'un was found Sunday morning, and the other two found about ten minutes ago. These chicks were hatched on May 1st. who has chickens - Page 18 20171010

**llama momma** 10/4/2017, 8:47 pm

Congratulations on the nice colored eggs! Two of mine were suppose to lay blue eggs, one of them is laying brown instead. The other should begin laying very soon. She is my last hope for blue eggs. The other 5 hens all lay brown.

countrynaturals 10/5/2017, 12:24 pm

Here's what we get from our rescue hens.
who has chickens - Page 18 Egg10

**sanderson** 10/5/2017, 3:23 pm

It's so neat to see home grown eggs.

countrynaturals 10/5/2017, 7:46 pm

sanderson wrote:It's so neat to see home grown eggs.

The insides are even better. No pale, flat yolks and runny whites here. Cool

**AtlantaMarie** 10/6/2017, 9:03 am

WOW, Suz..... (Doing the happy dance for you!)

CapeCoddess 10/6/2017, 4:07 pm

countrynaturals wrote:

How is 'Rescue' looking these days? Is she filling out a bit?

countrynaturals 10/6/2017, 5:31 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:

How is 'Rescue' looking these days? Is she filling out a bit?

She still looks pretty bad, but she's happy and healthy and friendly, so all is well.

**llama momma** 10/7/2017, 6:54 pm

Been waiting for a blue egg since April. Finally got it. Minnie came through for me Very Happy

countrynaturals 10/12/2017, 9:33 pm

countrynaturals wrote:
CapeCoddess wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:

How is 'Rescue' looking these days? Is she filling out a bit?
She still looks pretty bad, but she's happy and healthy and friendly, so all is well.

Rescue is looking good. Her tail feathers haven't filled out completely, but the rest of her is looking almost as good as the other hens. cheers

**sanderson** 10/13/2017, 2:29 am

Update photo of Rescue?

Minnie standing on LM's shoes cracks me up! Razz

**AtlantaMarie** 11/12/2017, 10:40 am

There is a live streaming video conference on raising chickens this next week. Here's the registration info:

http://thegrownetwork.pages.ontraport.net/rmc-online-registration-nov-2017

countrynaturals 12/17/2017, 3:49 pm

How kewl is this? https://www.facebook.com/suz.molthop/posts/1740896359295012

Sorry, I'm FB impaired so this hand-crocheted egg apron video won't stay on top forever, but it sure is a cute idea. Cool

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