Gnarly Bunch - Chapter 6 - 9/23/12

9/23/12

  

Update on Raggedy Flock:  Today they ate their first good fermented layer mash and cleaned their plates.... licked the bowl clean, so to speak.   

Here's what I notice today... today they are moving like chickens.  They are running, scratching, flying, and foraging like normal chickens.  Combs are getting more color and feathers seem a little less disheveled (what little feathers there are).  The rooster is striding out like he used to do... no strut yet, but definitely a stride.  He is calling almost constantly to his flock, luring them into this or that morsel of goodness.  The hens are purring and clucking softly as they forage.  This is music to my ears, let me tell ya!   Chicken songs..... lovely. 

That they cleaned up their food was a blessing to see...this tells me that they got a good dose of probiotics today, which is something they desperately needed.  The feces I see is all firm and of good color.... except for the monster turd found in one of the nest boxes this morning. 

This turd looked like a broody poop.... huge (almost as big as a large egg), compact, black as tar with only a little white urates in it.  One of the barred rocks slept in the nest last night (and I just let her, poor thing) and she must have been very constipated to have put out this kind of poop.  I bet she feels like a million bucks this morning! 

They are ranging out further from the coop and seem more relaxed today.  It's a beautiful fall day here and to see chickens on the grass again is like a hallelujah chorus in my soul.  I hope you all are feeling the same way wherever you may live.  This is the day that the Lord hath made and I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it! 

P.S.  I put a little epsom salts in the water as per a suggestion for treating gleet.  We'll see if it has any effect on bowels in a negative fashion.  If so, I will discontinue it. 

Gnarly Bunch - Chapter 7 - 9/24/12