Keeping hens and ducks chat.

edwink

Pyxis said:

A little bit of news just seen on a thread in The Arms.........

“A newly discovered fossil bird found in a quarry on the Netherlands-Belgium border could be the earliest known ancestor of every chicken on the planet. Living just before the asteroid strike that wiped out giant dinosaurs, the unique fossil, from about 67 million years ago, gives a glimpse into the dawn of modern birds.”

Thanks, Pyxis that is so interesting.  It is amazing what you can find out these days isn't it.?  Sixty seven million years ago, wow!

Edwink x

edwink

Cheery_Daff said:

Morning all, 

Yes, the news about the Wonder Chicken is quite exciting! We've told our ladies about their ancient ancestor but they don't seem that interested

All is fine here with our beaky friends. Beaky herself has made a full recovery, marauding around the place and demanding treats, back to her usual feisty self thank goodness. The others are ok. Bessie is still coming back from moulting so seems a bit more moth eaten than the others, but is acting fine. Maud seems a bit quieter than usual, but nothing you can put your finger on, so we're just keeping an eye on her. She's one of our original chickens, so we've had her over 18 months now, which means she's over three years old. I don't think that's ancient, but probably not bad going for an ex-commercial hen. She's not poorly, and she was always top of the pecking order - never actually pecking anyone, just glaring at them, and I've never seen ANYONE peck her, not even Mildred, who pecks everyone else. We'll see. 

I need to do a decent clean out of the run over the weekend. We acquired some roofing materials that we can cover it with recently, so I'm hoping for a dry and non-windy day soon when we can get on with that - hopefully then we'll be able to remove some of the internal roofing that has me crawling round on my knees to clean them out! 

Hope you and all your ladies are doing well xx

I told mine too Cheery and they just ignored me! Typical!

Glad Beaky is fine now, it's always a worry, isn't it? bless her.

Three is a good age for an ex-batt Cheery so yes she is doing well.  As a rule, they say an ex-battery hen will live for around 18 months to 2 years after rescue.  But, I have had many that really do exceed that age, hoorah!  With my very first hens 11 years ago now I lost my 1st one after 6 months.  These first 12 were 2 years old when I got them so she was only two and a half, bless her.  I remember thinking that maybe I had done something terribly wrong to cause her to go so early. I clearly remember ringing Little Hen Rescue in floods of tears telling them that she had died and they assured me it was nothing I had done.  They said that sometimes ex-battery hens have a new lease of life and although pretty traumatised settle in well but really they are old before there time and pretty exhausted when rehomed.  I was told that although this little hen had a short 6 months with me at least she experienced six lovely months with being outside in the fresh air, was able to dustbathe, had treats, proper nutrition and most of all she was loved and cared for properly.  So I have always taken what this lady said with me along my journey of rescuing these little ex-battery hens. It is sad each and every time one of them goes but I will always remember what that lady told me that day, it somehow makes it easier to deal with I guess. 

Great you now have some materials to sort their roof out and that it will make things easier for you when cleaning them out.  I remember our hens very first hotel clearly, in fact, I will never forget how difficult it was trying to keep it clean being on my hands and knees like you Cheery.  By the time I'd finished scraping and brushing it out, I found I couldn't stand up properly afterwards, OUCH!.  When we made the very first hotel I also remember hanging a couple of window boxes on it and planting them up. Big, big mistake that was as the hens used them as dust baths and sent all the flowers flying. (wish we still had the "roll on the floor laughing thingy) I do miss all of those little things on the new forum :0(

Edwink x

Pyxis

Here it is.


I saved some emoticons from the old forum, so here is rotfl, if you can be bothered to use it from your photo album.........not quite as convenient as having it on the forum itself.
 

edwink

Pyxis said:

Here it is.

I saved some emoticons from the old forum, so here is rotfl, if you can be bothered to use it from your photo album.........not quite as convenient as having it on the forum itself.
 

   Not anymore I've just nicked it off of you sorry about that but I needed it.    Now I have 2 of them so you can have yours back if you like lol

Edwink x

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, can I have them too??  Yay!!! I didn't even know that was possible! 

Had to laugh at your hens using your hanging baskets as dust baths   Mildred has taken a liking to a particular plant pot this week   I don't begrudge her one bit, but she has made rather a mess! 

Speaking of Mildred, she's started being a little less bossy and a little more affectionate recently, I wonder why? She's always been quite standoffish with us, and pecky with the other chickens, but this week she's been less pecky, and started making strange little what I can only describe as 'happy noises' when she sees us. Feels most odd. Keeping an eye on them all as usual, but they all seem fine right now and enjoying the sunshine, nice excuse for a bit of proper dust bathing. Rusty made a cameo appearance on a video chat this morning   Fortunately just with a friend, and not work  

Pyxis

These rotfls are breeding! We shall be overrun soon!

edwink

Pyxis said:

Here it is.
I saved some emoticons from the old forum, so here is rotfl, if you can be bothered to use it from your photo album.........not quite as convenient as having it on the forum itself.
 

Pyxis you are a star, you really are.  You probably don't realise it but you have made so many posters on the forum really happy.  Your  that you posted on this thread has now found its way on to "Cheerys Country Living" thread. via Cheery.  Maybe pop along and have a look for yourself as post after post they are talking about how pleased they are to have the rotfl emoji back. Some have asked if you saved the "eek" emoji as they would like to be able to post using that one too.  Did you save that one as well by any chance?.

Well done Pyxis, I'm happy to have it back too, thank you.

Edwink x

Pyxis

edwink said:

Pyxis said:

Here it is.
I saved some emoticons from the old forum, so here is rotfl, if you can be bothered to use it from your photo album.........not quite as convenient as having it on the forum itself.
 

Pyxis you are a star, you really are.  You probably don't realise it but you have made so many posters on the forum really happy.  Your  that you posted on this thread has now found its way on to "Cheerys Country Living" thread. via Cheery.  Maybe pop along and have a look for yourself as post after post they are talking about how pleased they are to have the rotfl emoji back. Some have asked if you saved the "eek" emoji as they would like to be able to post using that one too.  Did you save that one as well by any chance?.

Well done Pyxis, I'm happy to have it back too, thank you.

Edwink x

Yes, I have an eek for sale at a very inflated price! 😁

I shall go and have a rummage. 
They shall be rationed at one per person. No trolleys allowed!

Pyxis

.

Pyxis

Anything else anybody wants?
I have a good selection in my lock-up!
All legit, natch! Nudge nudge wink wink!