Animals
You might remember last week's post about "pecking order". I had removed dear Babs from the fancy chicken henhouse because she was being picked on. Babs has made the transition to living with the young pullets quite nicely...and all is calm in that henhouse.
Now, back to the fancy henhouse..... There are still two black and white Polish Crested chickens left in that henhouse (Babs 2 and Babs 3). Now that Babs (1) has moved out, it seems that Babs 2 has taken her place in the pecking order. Being low bird on the totem pole, she is now the new "whipping bird". I noticed that she also spends an inordinate amount of time in the henhouse instead of out in the yard with everyone else. 
- Missing
Have you seen this chicken?Babs McCluck was last seen heading out of thehenhouse around 3 PM the other afternoon.It was an afternoon like any other.She pecked around in the grass,explored the edge of the wood...and then she was gone...without a trace....
- Babs, Continued
I am sure that by now you know how much I love my chickens. You have to have figured out by now that my favorite is Babs. She just amazes me....she is so non-chicken-like. Lately when her henhouse pals are out free ranging in the woods,...
- It's A Mystery
A couple of days ago, while I was feeding my youngest flock of chickens, I heard a familiar sound from inside their henhouse. It was the sound of a young rooster, trying out his cock-a-doodle. Now, I was quite shocked to hear this sound from this particular...
- Pecking Order
This might be the one chicken characteristic that I cannot stand. That is.....the weakest chicken is always picked on by the others. Yesterday morning I witnessed a very sad display of this pecking order behavior. Unfortunately my favorite gal, Babs,...
- Chicken Mystery
Every morning, and pretty near all day long, you can hear Handsome Hank crowing his beautiful fully developed "Cock a Doodle Dooooooo". But, lately, there has been another sound coming from the fancy chicken pen. It sounds as though another rooster may...
Animals
Chicken Tales
You might remember last week's post about "pecking order". I had removed dear Babs from the fancy chicken henhouse because she was being picked on. Babs has made the transition to living with the young pullets quite nicely...and all is calm in that henhouse.
Now, back to the fancy henhouse..... There are still two black and white Polish Crested chickens left in that henhouse (Babs 2 and Babs 3). Now that Babs (1) has moved out, it seems that Babs 2 has taken her place in the pecking order. Being low bird on the totem pole, she is now the new "whipping bird". I noticed that she also spends an inordinate amount of time in the henhouse instead of out in the yard with everyone else. Then I witnessed what happens when she ventures out. The rest of the flock go after her and peck at her back. I am finding this infuriating, and each time it happens, I have a very stern talk with Mr. Hank, the rooster.
I tell him he has to have better control over his hens and not allow this sort of behavior. Unfortunately, Hank has only one thing on his mind these days. Judging from the mating behaviors that are taking precedence, I would say we are very soon going to have eggs in our henhouse.
Meanwhile, what to do about Babs 2? I suppose if I remove her, then Babs 3 will take her place....and on and on! For now, I will keep a watchful eye. This pecking order behavior has not hit the crescendo that it had with Babs 1.....but, still, I am watching!
- Missing
Have you seen this chicken?Babs McCluck was last seen heading out of thehenhouse around 3 PM the other afternoon.It was an afternoon like any other.She pecked around in the grass,explored the edge of the wood...and then she was gone...without a trace....
- Babs, Continued
I am sure that by now you know how much I love my chickens. You have to have figured out by now that my favorite is Babs. She just amazes me....she is so non-chicken-like. Lately when her henhouse pals are out free ranging in the woods,...
- It's A Mystery
A couple of days ago, while I was feeding my youngest flock of chickens, I heard a familiar sound from inside their henhouse. It was the sound of a young rooster, trying out his cock-a-doodle. Now, I was quite shocked to hear this sound from this particular...
- Pecking Order
This might be the one chicken characteristic that I cannot stand. That is.....the weakest chicken is always picked on by the others. Yesterday morning I witnessed a very sad display of this pecking order behavior. Unfortunately my favorite gal, Babs,...
- Chicken Mystery
Every morning, and pretty near all day long, you can hear Handsome Hank crowing his beautiful fully developed "Cock a Doodle Dooooooo". But, lately, there has been another sound coming from the fancy chicken pen. It sounds as though another rooster may...