Since we have had the new top to the run and have put the new plastic sheet over the corner, the rain seems to run off and blow back in. This is making the edge that borders the veg plot very wet and muddy. I decided to buy just one more bag of wood chip, I know! When will I ever stop buying stuff for this run?
I did a poop pick, then forked over the corner that has no wood chip. The girls know when they see the fork that there may be worms and gather round. I thought some worms would help boost Treacle but Pepper and Bluebell are so quick that they got all the biggest ones. Treacle did get a few smaller ones though. Dotty always seems distracted somewhere else and doesn’t get so excited by the worms.
I then put a strip of wood chip at the edge that borders the veg plot, leaving a smaller triangle uncovered for future worm hunting. Next I sprinkled the rest on all the parts that get the most muddy.
Treacle and the new wood chip
The wood chip is now on the outside strip of the corner leaving a triangle free for the girls to scratch in. I fork it over every few days to see if there are worms for the girls and to stop it getting compacted.
Corner of the run
Pepper is scratching in the remaining uncovered triangle. Seeing this photo shows how well camouflaged the dominiques are. Pepper blends into the earth.
Treacle preening
Treacle is still not her usual self but she was preening her feathers this afternoon which is a good sign. I gave the girls some greens and some tomato this afternoon and when Treacle saw the tomato she actually sprinted up to it. I haven’t seen her eating pellets though and she isn’t as enthusiastic as usual. I did pick her up this morning to feel her crop and it felt normal.
Pepper has some blue feathers
It’s difficult to see in a photo but Pepper has some blue dye on her wing feathers, she must have snuggled up to Treacle overnight and it rubbed off on her.
Blue Treacle
This photo shows Treacle’s missing feathers. It looks like someone has taken a bite out of her silhouette, it also shows the natural blue sheen on the feathers on her back making the blue spray quite a good match for her.
This evening at bedtime I spent some time sitting in with the girls to keep an eye on Treacle. She soon jumped onto my lap and stood there for ages while I stroked her. Chickens don’t bare a grudge and despite spraying her three times two days ago, she was still happy to come to my lap several times and seem to like having a bit of attention. Bluebell soon jumped onto my lap as well so as not to miss out.
I noticed Pepper’s crop looked quite large so I picked her up and felt her crop. It wasn’t hard or squishy so hopefully is just full.
The final thing to update on is the rat situation. I think we have got rid of them at last!! Since we had recent works done to the chicken run they have not been able to get in, finally. However they had chewed a hole into the big shed behind the chickens so we put poison down as only the rats could find it in there. It went very quickly at first, then slowed, then stopped. I hope this means the end of them. It’s been a long hard battle but we I think we have finally got there and we haven’t seen any further evidence of them.
Click here to see the history of my flock.