Today when I got Topaz out at lunch time she went off in an angry whirl chasing the other girls away. She pecked furiously at some apple, ate some sunflower hearts and pooped. She scratched for a few minutes as usual. She came back to the locked coop and protested but then she took herself off for a dust bath.
Topaz having a dust bath
This is the first time Topaz has had a dust bath since she has gone broody and I was really pleased to see this. After a few minutes she came up to the patio area, shook herself off and marched back to the little coop nest box.
While she was in her dust bath I topped up the shavings in her nest box and sprinkled in some D.E. It was so lovely to see her in the dust bath even though it was quite brief.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Awe, I just love a broody. All those hormones just make them crazy and it’s so funny to see such a little thing be so angry and determined. Keep up the good work.
It is quite funny to see. Topaz dashes here then dashes there then runs at the girls then quick marches back to the coop. She is all fury, speed and determination. Even the dust bath was at breakneck speed. Scratch really fast without the usual time to get it right, dust bath really fast without the usual time to savour and enjoy then determined march back to the coop. It’s as if her personality has completely changed. We think the other girls give a sigh of relief when she has gone back in.
I think you are right .. They breath a sigh of relief . You can almost the big girls saying to the babies “give her time and she will get over it. Just wait you have that to come . ..just keep your heads down . ” 🙂
The chicks stay well out of her way. They don’t want to mess with her!