Our Scots Dumpy was in and out of the house a lot this morning. In and out. In and out. Four times! When we got home around lunch time we saw the reason - a little shiny white egg in the nest box.
This afternoon we did a little maintenance around the hen house. We'd seen a log on the side of the road yesterday and thought it's a similar circumference to their feeder, so my Mister cut it up today so that we could use it as a stand for the feeder, and now their feed is at the recommended height of their backs - hopefully this will make eating easier for ma wee hens.
Whilst I cleaned up their hen house and put in fresh bedding, we let them outside the netted pen and into our backgarden. I want them to get used to being handled so used the opportunity to try to hold them and examine them. I was able to pick up Rosie as well as Didee. They were both really wet underneath. Their undercarriages and their fronts do seem to always be touching the wet grass. I shall have to do some research on Orpingtons and see if others have the same trouble. I wonder if heavily feathered hens keep their feathers dry themselves or do I need to help them?
Everyone put themselves onto perches again! Success!
I don't think you'd need to help them keep their feathers dry; the usually just dry out on their own. I don't think it would be an issue unless the feathers are totally soaked and dripping. If it is cold, however, it may be a good idea to dry them a bit with a towel or even bring them inside and use the blow dryer (they tend to love that!).
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help - it can be a bit worrying to begin with! I'll just keep my eye on them - surely they'd stay off the wet grass if it was bothering them!
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