Smart Old Hen

We used to call Snowball “Snowboss” because, despite her diminutive size, she ruled the roost. No more. The big hens beat up on her (her comb is all healed, by the way.) At first, I couldn’t figure out why this change. Then it dawned on me – Snowball is old! We bought her 4 years ago this summer, and she was already full-grown. She’s at least five, which is aged for a chicken.

I didn’t think much about what getting old means for a chicken. Certainly, no one writes about it. The broilers at your supermarket are processed at a very young 10 to 12 weeks (did you know that?) Laying hens are only profitable for the first two years. Farms just don’t keep old chickens. But, those of us with backyard hens, do.

I’ve heard from a few people who have had chickens live to be eight, even fourteen years. If you have any advice or observations, do email me.

Meanwhile, Snowball has figured out how to have a comfortable life away from the bothersome younger girls. She visits Candy. Smart hen.

hen visits bunny hutch

Snowball Goes to School

My son’s fourth grade class is learning about animal classification, so I offered to bring in Snowball.

As Snowball sat in my lap, I talked about chickens to twenty rapt (and I must say, very well-behaved) 10 year-olds. Snowball loves to be held and stroked. She fell asleep! The children learned new vocabulary, including herbivore, omnivore and wildlife corridor (which is where the predators travel.) We talked about egg-laying. But the thing that they found most fascinating was that birds don’t pee! It all comes out in one blob. Luckily, though, Snowball didn’t give them an example.

The kids asked interesting questions, like how does a bird drink (think about it, if you are familiar with your pet dog lapping at a water bowl, you would wonder about how a bird does it.) Snowball was offered a cup of water and showed them how she dips her head and tilts back to swallow.

Everyone got to pet her. Everyone was smiling. And Snowball was one contented bird.

hen visits school classroom

New View and Some Different Hens to Watch

Like dogs, breeds of chickens have different personalities. The Barred Rocks are voracious, tenacious eaters and can be pushy around other hens. Orpingtons are placid. I tell you this to explain why I’ve moved the chickens around again. Maizie and Eleanor were going after the bantams, so last night, I switched them to the flock with the big bossy girls, and moved Petunia and Marge back with the bantams. Petunia and Marge are New Hampshire Reds, which I call “basic brown hens.” They are plain, but very nice, talkative and friendly. And they don’t beat up on the smaller girls.

Meanwhile, the new camera is up and running (thanks Steve!) and the picture quality is gorgeous, don’t you think? We’ve been playing around with the view. I rather like it the way it is now – you get up close to the hens and you can even see Candy’s nose twitch.

Speaking of Candy, I know there are rabbit keepers watching this, and I need some advice. Candy’s ears are a bit threadbare and the skin is looking a tad raw. I’ve tried vaseline (which Candy told me was too messy) and vitamin E oil (too greasy, she said.) Any suggestions for a good rabbit skin cream? Perhaps something with a sunscreen because she likes to sunbathe? Because she licks her fur, I worry about her ingesting anything I put on her ears. Please email me. Thanks!

Scooter's Day

Lily, my Border Collie/Rat Terrier mix, spends her day alert, keeping an eye on hawks, UPS trucks and deer.

This is what Scooter does:

cute dog

He’s curled up on the bean bag in the living room. His job is being cute. He’s very good at it.

Who's Where and Why

Most everybody has been moved around, alliances formed, territory staked out, and dust baths taken. (Hey, could I make money at this? A new reality show? Survivor Chicken?) Snowball is in her private room at the spa, healing nicely. She appreciates not having to tackle other chickens to get to a melon rind.

Alma and LuLu have been put in with hens that do not doubt their own high status- Eleanor and the New Hampshire Reds, Marge and Petunia. LuLu is now on the bottom of the pecking order and behaving herself. Don’t you wish it were so easy with people? I hope it stays this way. If not, I’ve got a zero tolerance policy here and she’s gone.

My decision about the new flock compositions reads rather like one of my fourth grader’s math problems. Here are the rules:

  • Even with the reformed behavior of the two hens, I thought it best to separate them from the bantams.
  • The Australorps have to stay together. 
  • The NHReds stay together.
  • Edwina and Eleanor must be kept separate because together they gang up on others. 
  • Maizie and Perrie don’t care who they are cooped up with.

And so, you now see in the HenCam barn these girls: Eggers, Betsy Ross, Perrie, Maizie, Edwina, Ginger and Buffy. Read about them on the Hen Bios page.

BTW, whatever ailment Buffy has looks to be permanent and probably terminal. But, as you can tell, she doesn’t look pained or stressed, so I am leaving her be.

Now maybe I can get back to my normal schedule…