Animals
- Scrooged
We've talked before about how our chickens love to take dust baths.And you might remember (or know from your own hens) that they do thisas a way of controlling mites.However, this.... seems to be something altogether different.With the amount of...
- I Love My (darned) Chickens!
I love my chickens.You know I do.But, I swear, these gals make me crazy at times. If you have chickens, then you will agree with me...they can be the most destructive birds ever!Put simply....chickens and gardens do not mix! We have painstakingly (twice...
- I Need An Answer
I have a question for you...something that has me worried. Here it is..... At what point does one qualify to be labeled a chicken hoarder? Seriously, I know I am not a hoarder,but my flock seems to be growing as the years pass. My problem is this.......
- Chicken Reorganization
Yesterday morning I decided it was time to start to move the "baby" chickens to their permanent home with my other layers. These "babies" were hatched in August and have lived in my smallest henhouse (which I use as a brooder house) since then. Now that...
- Not All Chicks Are The Same!!
Last week we had a chicken tragedy. It seems, that at some point in the evening as the chickens were out free-ranging, two of the neighbors' dogs came onto our farm and had a killing spree. Several of our beautiful layers fell prey to these frenzied,...
Animals
Dust Bath Anyone?
Is there anything more satisfying than
a communal dust bath?
Now that the snow has melted,
my chickens look forward to their daily free ranging.
Once eggs are layed for the day,
the gates to the henhouse yards are opened
and the girls come running out.
Imagine: chicken stampede!
Have you seen the movie "Chicken Run"?
Those animators definitely did their homework.
Those chickens run exactly like real chickens.
Head first...as though they might tumble head over heels....
with such enthusiasm.
We should have that much joy as we
leave our own front doors each day!
After a bit of time foraging for bugs and tasty treats,
the girls settle in to the dirt at the edge of the woods.
The each clear a patch of earth,
scratch an indentation,
and settle themselves in for a good
old fashioned dust bath.
Ah, it's great to be filthy again!!!
Meanwhile, Elvis looks on....
You might notice that Elvis' comb is a bit grey on the edges.
It seems he suffered a bit of frost bite on his comb
this winter.
I keep a heat lamp lit in each of their henhouses.
But of course the chickens love to be outdoors.
Some chickens are more prone to frostbite than others.
Poor Elvis is one of those.
His comb had turned black on the edges at first.
Now it is grey.
I am hoping that the nasty part will slough off.
And he will once again be my handsome Elvis!!
By the way, according to MyPetChicken.com "Chickens love to take dust baths! They dig a shallow hole, loosen up all the dirt, and proceed to get themselves absolutely as dirty as they possibly can. (Don't worry, the shake the dirt off later...) Dust baths are absolutely necessary: they prevent parasites such as mites and lice from finding a home in your chickens' feathers and legs."
- Scrooged
We've talked before about how our chickens love to take dust baths.And you might remember (or know from your own hens) that they do thisas a way of controlling mites.However, this.... seems to be something altogether different.With the amount of...
- I Love My (darned) Chickens!
I love my chickens.You know I do.But, I swear, these gals make me crazy at times. If you have chickens, then you will agree with me...they can be the most destructive birds ever!Put simply....chickens and gardens do not mix! We have painstakingly (twice...
- I Need An Answer
I have a question for you...something that has me worried. Here it is..... At what point does one qualify to be labeled a chicken hoarder? Seriously, I know I am not a hoarder,but my flock seems to be growing as the years pass. My problem is this.......
- Chicken Reorganization
Yesterday morning I decided it was time to start to move the "baby" chickens to their permanent home with my other layers. These "babies" were hatched in August and have lived in my smallest henhouse (which I use as a brooder house) since then. Now that...
- Not All Chicks Are The Same!!
Last week we had a chicken tragedy. It seems, that at some point in the evening as the chickens were out free-ranging, two of the neighbors' dogs came onto our farm and had a killing spree. Several of our beautiful layers fell prey to these frenzied,...