It worked!

And then it didn’t. The saga of the in and out web cam in the coop continues. It was working on the 4th, then not working today. Maybe someday I will figure out under what circumstances everything works, rather than just being buffeted by random happenstance. The camera is on the edge of the wifi range, even with an extender plugged in at the corner of the house closest to the coop, so things are going to be a bit wonky. I am not ready to invest more money into the system, as the chickens are really predictable, going to bed before the automatic door closes, and not getting up and about until well after the door opens, but it is nice to be able to check on them without hauling down to the coop. (Especially when wearing a boot brace. Yes, I’m still shackled.)

Hens in their run seen through the surveillance cam

Fluffy butt Friday

Since it is Friday, and I have happy healthy hens, I have a fluffy butt Friday photo to share. Showing off the girl’s fluffy tails is such a big thing with chicken keepers because chickens that don’t have poofy bums are having health issues. To see a line of clean derrieres is an outward sign that they all might be healthy, which is a great feeling for a carer. I say “might” because they still need their health checks, to part the feathers and look for blocked passages and pests, but a butt that is outwardly dirty is a sign that needs immediate attention. So here is to more fluffy butt photos!

Chickens enjoying some scratch, showing off their fluffy pantaloons

Pumpkins for chickens

When we carved our Halloween pumpkins, we waited until the day before, and did not treat the carvings with bleach or other preservatives, so after Halloween the hollowed out vegetables could go to the chickens. The chickens love it. We didn’t put all the pumpkins in the run at once, but are spacing them out and replacing hollowed out pumpkin with a carved pumpkin (after checking for mold).

Chickens tucking in to a jack-o-lantern (photo credit to my eldest)

Pumpkin treat

This pumpkin didn’t get any special treatment or cute presentation, I just cut it in half and put it out for the chickens like an instant bowl. Chickens don’t care, they dived right in.

Chickens enjoying half a pumpkin

I’ve read that pumpkin is a natural dewormer for chickens, and although I am becoming more and more suspect of “internet knowledge”, my chickens do like pumpkin, and they seem to digest it better than watermelon or cucumber. Maybe I can freeze some for the large part of the year when fresh pumpkins are not available. Or do something to canned pumpkin to make it less of a mess. Hm.