Onwards and upwards

rick

rick

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Just to let you all know. Linden the Sablepoot cock is doing fine. I’ve extended his run within the coop so he is more on a level with the rest of the flock but he is separated while I’m at work. He is coming out in the evening but staying clear of all but Betty the little CLB.
I have been so close to having Brownie put to sleep because of egg problems but visiting the vet (again) we agreed that she was bright and lively, eating and appears in all respects to be recovering after the antibiotics.
She passed a whole yoke without the shell or shell membrane at the weekend - I know that’s not good! I was expecting (again) not to bring her home but the vet says the inflammation in her oviduct has gone and I’ve seen that her droppings are firming up again.
Damn chicken will be the death of me! Of course, she needs now to progress to normal laying or not laying to carry on.
Anyway, this isn’t the Chickens Health section!
 
Very glad to hear Linden is doing OK Rick! But sorry to hear Brownie is still unwell. Sometimes patience really pays off. Some probiotics might be a good idea.
 
Linden's night roost has an on suite washing up bowl which is proving popular. Meanwhile Linden has the whole coop to himself for a snooze. They can all come and go as they like and the hens have a much bigger dust bath so why queue up for a go in the bowl I don’t know!

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Well - I think we're getting there although I won't say its been easy - especially with only the space in the coop available. Different areas, passageways, levels have given them all a place to escape the crowd when they want to, which is good all round.

Now we're out of the woods I can freely say that it was maybe one of the worst ideas I’ve had to try to integrate a bantam cock with brown hybrid hens! I don’t recommend it in the slightest if you want an easy life! However, he is lovely and 2 of the 4 seem to be enjoying his company, 1 completely indifferent and 1 that he has to move for but he now knows the way around and that there are lots of options and calmly heads for the nearest exit.

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Do you come here often?

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Yeah, she pecks my head too!
 
Lovely pics, Rick, especially the last one, of his spotted chest front on. How could they resist him? I'm glad they're settling down together. It'll be interesting to find out how the pecking order develops in coming weeks.
Caption for the second pic -
' Either that man can't read, or he needs an eye test."
 
Good news then, it will only get better with time. I have noticed that Goldline type hens are the most uncooperative and unimpressed with Cocks out of all of the breeds, something in they way they are bred which also accounts for them having zero maternal instinct. The Count has had to read the riot act to one of the ex batts this week as she was taking her bullying of the little half blind Araucana beyond what was acceptable, boy did he peck her REALLY HARD, fully deserved as well, she went and stood in a corner of the run for half the day but it sorted her out. I have said this before but I think Linden is fabulous, he is such a good looking little lad. Just a thought Rick but going forward why not think about keeping a bantam flock to make the most of the space you have.
 
Yes, I agree. Small is good though I'd like the idea of old game types and I don't know if they would make up for size with aggression and have to give them more room anyway? I don't know but will think along those lines in the future.
It will be interesting to see how it goes in the next few weeks as the pecking order is quite complex at the moment.
All bow to Teabag (std brown but rather sleek in her new pale silky feathers)
Blaze (std brown) is actually scared of Linden but bullies Betty and Aerial quite a lot.
Aerial (blacktail) has a peck at Betty occationally (I think Linden rather fancies her)
Betty( small Cream Lb) is at the bottom but will gleefully back up Teabag when she's on the rampage which, thankfully is becoming much less acute)
Otherwise Betty hangs out with Linden the most (not very honorable behaviour!)
 
Yeah pecking orders can often be quite complex with pecking orders within the pecking order. I once had a white leghorn who was 3rd in the order but was dominated by her fellow leghorn who was bottom bird out of 6, we always said that Snowy (bottom bird) was top bird in her own mind but the other birds just hadn't realised yet, eventually through a mixture of fatalities and sheer persistence the made it to the top as well, surviving a fox attack along the way.

I would avoid game birds Rick as they need a lot of space to range, but in the nice dry area you have booted bantams, pekins and most bantam versions of large fowl would do well.
 
Ah yes. One of these days I'll move to a place in the country!
As you say, there's quite a large selection. I think fizzles would be highly entertaining but, I must admit, I think that the bird would prefer it's feathers to be natural. I'm not really fussed about specific breeds except that it makes it easier to predict their character maybe. Small crosses would be fine except I've learned my lesson picking the smallest example of the breed in the breeders coop - there's a reason why they're that small!
Rambling on....
Good going Snowy :)
 
I'm really sorry its been so difficult with Linden. He has such an equable and gentle character and I still miss him quite a lot. I thought because my fiesty giant Marans liked him your birds would, but I guess Dinosaw is right about hybrid layers having normal behaviour bred out of them. I love the sablepoots. They are such friendly, interesting characters and are ideal for a small space plus they seem to lay a lot of eggs. If you ever want some hens, or some hatching eggs, let me know.
 
You don't need to apologise Chickenfan. I don't regret having him, I wanted a cockerel and I got one, he's about the only one I could have and we have become very attached to our little fella.
But I was kind of asking for trouble and I got some!
Thank-you for passing him on and thank you for the offer - it's very much appreciated.
 
I was picking up Aerial to check her over yesterday and was vaguely aware of something bouncing off my ankle. It was Linden. I take that as a sign that he is feeling confident and doesn't like me messing with his girl. I don't think I'll be needing a dustbin lid though!
 
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