Blackbeard

NIGEL:
Well Blackbeard is definitely the king of the pecking order!
How long this lasts...? He isn't the biggest cockerel, but he is the loudest & leads the flock out each morning. A couple of other cockerels are starting to crow... but he is king for now!!!

The Funny Things They Do!

SUSAN:
Wanted to share some of the funny things that the chickens do on a regular basis:

- In the morning, when I open up the doors for them to go out into the yard, Blackbeard is ALWAYS the first to go out. Even if he's not ready, the other chickens wait for him to get off the roost (which sometimes takes a minute b/c he has to crow so often in the morning and he can't move & crow at the same time) so that they can follow him out into the yard. Yes, Blackbeard is ALPHA ROOSTER!

- Now that they understand that the lawnmower means grass clippings in their yard, they get so excited when we get the lawnmower out of the shed, and they go to the fence to watch with anticipation once you turn the lawnmower "on"! This is quite a change from when they were very scared of the lawnmower. (our chicks are so smart!)

- Things that make them run inside the coop: a crow crowing, Blackbeard telling them to run, one chicken running in madly (and they all follow), random cars

- At night, when I close up the doors and tuck them in for the evening, there is some crazy segregation on the roosts. On the smaller roost there are about 8-9 white wyandotts and 46. Just recently, one black australorp has joined them. They always sleep in this pattern it's very funny. On the larger roost, the wyandotts are on one side (for the most part) and the black australorps on the other. Diversity workshop is definitely coming for my chicks!

(well, they were my b-day present, I should be having some fun!)

46 - Isolated Again!

SUSAN:
A couple of nights ago when Nigel and I were watering/feeding the chooks together, I noticed that 46 had a bit of blood near her tail feathers! Why do they pick on 46 so badly?

Nigel caught her and she went back into the brooder, close to the house. Who was happy about this? You guessed it: BOOMER AND AUSTIN! When Boomer saw Nigel and 46 coming back into "his" yard, he immediately started licking his lips! They were crazy-excited about 46 getting put into the brooder. After some gentle disciplining, they calmed down a bit and 46 was left alone (we guess, who knows what happens when we're not here?!?!).

After a couple of days, 46 is back into the coop. She was a little more "jumpy" than usual on her first day. She really reminds me of an awkward freshman boy on his first day at high school -- so sad for 46 -- but maybe she'll really become the "most successful" (as most geeky freshmen in high school do) and have the best egg production!

Curious Georgette

SUSAN:
Once upon a time there was a little Australorp hen. She was very curious. Whenever I would enter the coop, with my bright blue crocs, she would come up and start pecking at them. For several days, she would just check-out the crocs. She was a curious little hen.

After a few days, she would follow me around the coop. When I put out the vegies or the grass clippings, she would follow me around. Once I decided to kneel down to have a chat, and she started eating out my hand! Then, after I had put out some corn, and had several kernels still stuck to my hand ... she ate those off of my hands as well!

After feeding her for several days, I tried to reach out and give her a pat on her neck, and she let me! Now, whenever I go into the coop, I call for "Curious" and "Curious George-ette" comes up to me and gives a little "chirp", then she looks for me to feed her (sshh! but, now I take grass just for her in my pocket - some of the other chickens are a bit jealous), and then gets a little pat/rub on her neck. She is a curious little hen.

I disagree with Nigel that these are "issues" - I know that she'll be a very good egg-layer for MANY MANY YEARS!

Issues

NIGEL:
Okay, I've been away in CO for 10-12 days. Prior to leaving, Susan has really enjoyed letting the chooks out in the morning. Blackbeard has become the cockerel at the top of the "pecking" order, even though he isn't the largest cockerel! So he leads the gang out into each new day.

Well one of the Australorps (black) pullets (teenage hen) started being quite curious & would always check me or whomever out... & became know as Curious (yes we are extremely creative with names!!!). Anyway, while I have been away Susan & Curious have built up a relationship... where she will greet Susan in the morning, eat out of her hand & let her pat her!!?!?!?

Yep..... issues are arising! I explained to Susan that, although Curious is a healthy pullet... when she becomes unproductive... she will become a broiler.... mmmmm! Susan doesn't want to know about this. If she keeps naming the flock, we wont have any to eat!!!!

Suggestions?