Category: chickens

Modified scale

On By CarynIn chickens
Modified kitchen scale for weighing chickens

I replaced the glass top of my scale with a short piece of 1×4 to make it easier to weigh the chickens. We were using a small piece of rubber shelf liner on the glass, which was functional, but still hard for the hens to stand on, then the glass popped off, so I needed a different solution. So I routed a circle in the middle of the board to fit the screw knob and glued the screw knob to the board. It is much easier for the chickens to stand on this to get their weight for health checks! They are still restless, though, so weights have a definite error factor.

Chicken weight chart

Speaking of health checks, since I fixed the scale, we were able to finally do the monthly health check. Magic and Pooh’s weights are down, but Cloud and Navi’s weight is up. Navi’s pendulous crop is back, but doesn’t seem to bother her. There were many dirty bums, so I think I need to cut back on scratch and treats. The weather is honestly too warm for scratch anyway. We treated some foot injuries and are keeping an eye on them. Everyone is walking Ok, for Faverolle waddles. They are really cute when they run, though.

I still have a lap chicken!

On By CarynIn chickens
Two lap chickens

I was a little afraid after the summer when it was too hot for laps, and after the holidays when life was hectic, that I wouldn’t have anymore lap chickens, but I do! Magic is my girl, and if I sit down she will hop up and make herself comfortable. Some of the other hens will hop up and look for treats, but Magic settles in for a snooze. Ah.

Sleepy lap chicken (squee! Shhhh….)

Fancy

On By CarynIn chickens, Uncategorized

I had some shredded Romaine lettuce left over from Taco Tuesday (it really needs the capitals in our house), and wanted to feed it to the chickens. My rope net bag’s holes were too big, and I really don’t like throwing it down on the ground. But I do have some scrap and stained lace doilies. I ran a ribbon through the edge of a stained doily and made a small bag. The holes in the tatted lace were small enough to hold the shredded lettuce, but large enough for the chickens to get pieces out.

Lace doily turned into a small bag
Chickens inspecting their new lettuce bag.

They are French hens, it seems appropriate to have fancy feeders.

Sprouts

On By CarynIn chickens

I bought a kitchen sprouter. The mason jars were working OK, but I had one go moldy so decided to upgrade.

Wheat (front) and alfalfa (back) sprouts in the sprouter

I followed the directions, and put the sprouter by the LED grow lights. After about a week I had sprouts large enough to feed the chickens! I transferred some to a flat container and the chickens loved it.

Hens eating sprouts

The chickens have some competition for the sprouts, though. I forgot how good alfalfa sprouts taste!

Hitherto unwitnessed behavior

On By CarynIn chickens

At least by me with my chickens. I have read that other chicken keepers have noticed their hens putting straw or leaves or shavings on their backs before or after laying an egg. This is the first time I’ve seen one of my hens. I think this is Sunrise. She has a yellow band and a green band on her left foot, and a smaller comb. Not very effective camouflage if that was the original advantage, but a very interesting example of gene driven behavior.

Sunrise putting shavings in her back after laying an egg.

By the way, I found Cockatrice on a nest recently, so now all 12 of our hens are laying. We are getting anywhere from 3 to 7 eggs a day, despite the low light hours of winter. Summer egg counts will be interesting.