For the love of chickens

[Friday]

those packing peanuts

The ones made out of corn starch, or styrofoam?

 

[DharmaGirl]

Styrofoam. They enjoy any styrofoam they can get, which is why they can't get any anymore. I think it helps them digest. I throw grit out all the time, but why choose grit when you can potentially poison yourself?

 

[DharmaGirl]

I'm going to work on some pictures today. I am back to thinking Mr.M is a rooster, and Mini is a hen, but I don't know. It's hard to tell with Polish, so I can't sell anyone until I know. Of course I won't be selling either of those two.

 

[VioletButterfly]

I watch P. Allen Smith's programming on PBS, and have been amazed by all of the varieties and personalities of chickens he has profiled. Are they really as he has described them? I have no frame of reference. Are they cuddly like bunnies or kitties, or are they more expressive/assertive? I can't have one or twelve right now, but I'm just wondering. VB

 

[DharmaGirl]

They are all different. My Brahma, Dharma, loves to be cuddled, hand fed, and talked to, my other Brahma, Eva, loves for me to sing, and then she "sings" with me. Doc, a hen, has to be in the middle of whatever is going on, and sneaks into the house at EVERY opportunity. I walked out into the kitchen once, and saw Doc (4lbs) facing off with my dog (150lbs) for the giant dog kibble. I didn't think she could even get it down her throat. I started buying smaller kibble so she wouldn't choke if she does get in.

Mr. M, a beautiful Polish, likes to be first in all things. First out the coop door, first to the food, first to see if I'm carrying a snack. He is smart and so cute. Ladee, another Brahma is sweet but seems to find trouble where ever trouble lurks. She jumps up to eat the leaves on the nectarine tree and all this up and downing broke my picnic table. Brahmas are big hens.

Doris, a Cuckoo Maran, is my lead hen, and sounds the alarm if there are cats or hawks, lays really, really well, raises babies well, has 1 inch spurs, and lectures if things are out of place, or not to her liking. I'm talking 15 minutes of lecturing. I love all my hens, and they are all different. They each have a best friend, then their gang they hang with. I never knew they were so full of personality! My son built me a coop for his senior project, and Doris was one of my first chicks. Once I found out how fun they were, I kept getting more. And more. And more. And now I have too many so I have to downsize. I know 3 are roosters, and I am only planning on keeping 2 at most. I'm giving away 2 chicks to someone and I have 4 more chicks in the brooder who are 3 weeks old. So, I'm pretty busy, lol.

 

[VioletButterfly]

@DharmaGirl - Thank you so much for sharing. Your brood sound like a little family and so full of personality! There is a little bit of each that I'd like to share my world with. There's something to be said for both cuddly and feisty. :) I would love to have some type of pet/animal, but can't right now, so I'll just enjoy reading what others share out here and maybe going to the ASPCA to visit with furry friends. Thank you for sharing :) VB

 

[DharmaGirl]

Bad news on the home front. I lost a brahma pullet last week to my neighbor's cat, then yesterday I saw the cat walking toward our backyard and a few seconds later I heard the lead hen Doris sound the alarm. Then I heard shrieking, and the dogs had their hair up so I ran outside and saw a pile of Doris feathers. I was horrified. I've had her since she was a day old, and she's going on 4 years old. I finally found her hiding on the porch bleeding, so I fixed up the hospital crate in the house so she would be warm, checked her wounds, and let her rest. She looked like she was in shock at first, but after awhile in the warm safe place, she was ok. She has a big wound on one side, but it is clean. She started talking after awhile, then lecturing, then she broke out of the hospital and ran over to the dog food. I took her out to the coop, and she looks ok today. I will keep a good eye on her, but it slays me that that cat has killed 2, and injured 1 of my chickens.

 

[Teasel]

Really sorry to hear it @DharmaGirl

I've often thought I'd live to have chickens one day but we have a lot of problem with foxes killing them...

 

[frogthroat]

My Brahma, Dharma, loves to be cuddled, hand fed, and talked to, my other Brahma, Eva, loves for me to sing, and then she "sings" with me. Doc, a hen, has to be in the middle of whatever is going on, and sneaks into the house at EVERY opportunity.

That is too stinkin' ADORABLE.

 

[DharmaGirl]

Thank you all. Doris is doing well, being her bossy self, which is good. I have 3 roosters and not one of them helped Doris. Maybe they are too young yet, I hope they get a clue.

 

[blackemerald1]

Maybe they are too young yet, I hope they get a clue.

^^Don't hold your breath Doris... lol...

then she broke out of the hospital and ran over to the dog food.

^^ :hilarious:

 

[VioletButterfly]

@DharmaGirl - I'm so sorry to hear that you lost another chicken and that Doris had a go-round with the cat as well. :( It is good to hear that she is doing better. :)