Category: chickens

It was on sale

On By CarynIn chickens

And it was the last one. I went in for chicken feed and pine shavings and came out with an extra chicken. At least I don’t have to figure out how to integrate this one into the flock. She is a stand alone bird.

Crystal Splendor Chicken light up decoration
Night view of chicken holiday decoration

How to keep chickens from pulling rings off your finger

On By CarynIn chickens, Life Hack

Wear gloves.

Wearing a glove to protect my ring and my skin from my chickens (but that picture looks strange)

Long title, short answer, and one that is so simple and straightforward that it hurts I didn’t think of it sooner. I tried three different colored silicone bands (I wasn’t risking any gemstones!), and have three wounds on my ring finger for my efforts. Checking the chickens one cold morning I pulled on my gloves and sighed. I love simple answers.

I do have a little solace in that when I googled the problem, other people suggested not wearing rings or jewelry around chickens. No mention of gloves there either, although one suggested tucking necklaces into your shirt. Getting there.

Ouch

On By CarynIn chickens
Hard pinch from a chicken trying to take off my wedding ring

I switched to a silicone wedding ring awhile ago to help prevent injuries. But there is something about the gray band on my finger that is irresistible to the chickens and they frequently try to take it. (Once one even succeeded and I had to chase her down to get it back!) This is the first time I’ve sustained injury from a ring stealing attempt though. I think I will try a different band and see if a different color holds less appeal. Because this HURT.

Poor little pumpkin stem

On By CarynIn chickens
The remains of a sugar pie pumpkin

My chickens ate a pumpkin down to the stem. I’m most impressed that the stem was still tied to the branch. They have eaten other pumpkin stems enough to drop the pumpkin off the cord. This pumpkin had a soft spot on the side of the bottom that I cut out, and thus provided access to the pumpkin flesh. This method was so successful, I cut the next pumpkin in a similar manner.

Slice of pumpkin taken out near the bottom to allow chicken access

The chickens don’t consume pumpkin as fast as red cabbage, so I do check for mold growth. After about a week I usually remove the remains.