#chickenbehaviour

Dahlia and Petal both went broody recently but only one of the 6 eggs I gave them hatched (I think my rooster is not hitting his mark!). First pic is that bb. Second pic shows the 3 chicks I picked up today from @meyer_hatchery No clue what they are! It will be a pleasant surprise. Petal took them in immediately but I will keep checking on them over the next few hours and days. ❤️🐣❤️ Dahlia is showing the first chick the ropes; leading her to food and water. Her previous chick, who is now HUGE, sticks close to her and is helping with chick duty. They're a very sweet little family! #backyardchickens #chickdays #chickenbehaviour #chickenkeeping https://www.instagram.com/p/ChacxeopkIS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The other eggs weren't viable so this tiny bb is being raised alone! Dahlia is a phenomenal mum, and Petal is very gentle and happy to leave the little family to it. Two of my Orpingtons went broody and I moved them to the quarantine coop (I won't allow any more chicks around Cracker since I'm convinced she killed the last one), which actually broke them of the broodiness. Can't say I'm disappointed since I'd rather they join the flock now that they're roaming the homestead. Love me my chickens! 🤗❤️🤗 #chickenbehaviour #chickens #backyardchickens #chickenkeeping (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfQBn7SuCjf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Self correction: I have been referring to some of my pullets as Wyandottes but they're WELSUMMERS. doh! Don't know how that got mixed up in my head. 🙄 Anyway, I got my first Welsummer egg today, which means 5 out of my 6 new girls are now laying. 🤗 And because there's always something going on with my animals, I've had to move my two frizzle Easter Eggers into the quarantine coop. Petal (white one) has a nasty habit of plucking her newly growing feathers, making herself bleed. Her sisters, attracted to the red colour, will then peck at her until she has an open wound. This is all happening on her poor little tushy!! So I pulled her out with her sister because a/ Dahlia has never shown any interest in the wound, and b/ we've had some cool nights and Petal needs another chicken to stay warm overnight. I wanted to bring her inside to nurse but we're currently nursing one of our snakes who went through surgery on Tuesday, and the smell of a live chicken will make her impossible to handle without being constantly bitten. And she is STRONG. So the quarantine coop is the best I could do! I'm hoping to use this time to tame these cuties since they're still very shy. ❤️ #chickenhealth #chickenbehaviour #backyardchickens #welsummerchicken #frizzlechicken #easteregger #homegrowneggs #homesteadhensandhoneypod (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdOxzDmOWQr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Red crowed the other day!! 🐓 He's still not fully grown and I expect the hormones will hit him hard in the Spring but I am enjoying watching him grow up. ❤️ He still doesn't like being handled but he will sit on my lap for a while after I let him go. Fanny also got a cuddle after this because she wouldn't stop trying to eat my clothes! She is the most curious of the bbs. 😍 #chickenbehaviour #chickenkeeping #rooster #homesteading #backyardchickens #englishorpington https://www.instagram.com/homesteadhensandhoney/p/CYb7bkFuvy-/?utm_medium=tumblr

Broody hen, Cheddar, is currently sitting on 10 eggs! Every morning, she leaves the eggs to eat, drink, and defecate, while Cracker (my leghorn) takes over as mama. ❤️ My ginger hen will also take a turn incubating but Cracker often kicks her out so she can do it (bossy hen!). It's really fun watching them work together on this. I'll likely postpone bringing home new pullets until I know whether these will hatch or not. 🐣 #broodyhen #chickenbehaviour #chickenkeeping #homesteading #homesteadhensandhoneypod (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjSJfxnmgP/?utm_medium=tumblr

It's finally happened! One of my hens is broody. ❤️ Cheddar, my Jersey Giant, has decided it's time to settle down and raise a family. She's in the 'collecting' stage, right now, so she will let the other girls in to lay and then sit on all of the eggs. Some have already switched to using the main nest boxes but I am letting Cheddar keep whatever eggs she gets. I anticipate that she will eventually refuse to move once she feels that she has a full clutch. I'm letting her do her thing! Always wanted to experience this. 🤗 #homesteading #chickenbehaviour #chickenkeeping #jerseygiant #broodyhen (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRZnMj4HHyg/?utm_medium=tumblr

Watching my friend's greyhounds for a few days and, yesterday, they met the rooster through the fence. Buster, the big black boy, got pecked on the snoot!! No real damage done and I'm hoping he's learned to cool off a bit around the chickens (this dog is cat safe, btw; good example of how small animals are all viewed differently by some dogs!). I actually handled the roo today to treat some inflamed skin I noticed. Not sure of the cause so will try and treat at home with an ointment. If it doesn't improve, I'll wrestle that turd and get him to the vet. 🐓 #chickenbehaviour #chickenkeeping #chickenhealth #greyhoundsofinstagram #puppylove #puppysitting (at Portage Lakes, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQjqSBsHWun/?utm_medium=tumblr