Chicken update: reinforced fencing, moving cockerels into run

My bestie Rachel came to visit and helped with many chores around the house, including finally reinforcing the two sides of the chicken run that had only 2"x4" panels. They now have hardware cloth at the bottom, extending outward to keep animals from digging in. With that done, I moved all the bantam cockerels out of the chick coop and into the run itself. The size difference between the bantams and standards is astounding.

One of the straight run "Black Japanese" chicks has turned out to be an Old English Game cockerel, probably a Black Breasted Red. He is gorgeous and he will be staying unless his temperament is an issue.

Actually all the bantam cockerels are so damn cute that I'm tempted to let them stay. However I also have 3 Golden Sebrights, 2 Red Pyle Games, 1 Black Japanese, and a still-unknown number of Silkies. I need to whittle down to a few favorites.

Definitely male Blue Silkie.

Chicken update: cockerels, molting

To ease up on the space inside the chicks' growing coop, I let the five Red Sex Link cockerels out into the run.

"Hen pecked" is an accurate description in this case.

I plan to let the bantam cockerels out soon as well, but first I need to reinforce the fence. There are holes just big enough for the tiny bantams to get through.

The older ladies are molting. The Black Australorp in particular looks embarrassing.

Chicken update: soft shelled egg

Two weeks ago, I walked by the chicken run and noticed the Red Sex Link just squatting in one spot. Not lying down and resting, but awkwardly squatting. "Hmm... that doesn't look good."

An hour later she was squatting awkwardly in the nesting box with clear fluid coming from her vent. Crap.

Rachel says to gently feel her abdomen to try to figure out what's going on. Internet says to bring her inside and put her in a warm water bath to help relax her muscles.

I go back to get her, and find that she has laid a soft-shelled egg.

Phew! This is just something that happens sometimes. If it's a one-off, it's nothing to worry about. She laid a second soft egg the next day, then one with a semi-soft shell two days after, and then was back to normal.

Meanwhile, the Blue Laced Wyandotte has FINALLY stopped being broody. Not sure if she's back to laying yet, but she's wandering around the run with the other two, and sleeping on the roosting bar instead of in a nest. I guess after six months she had to give up on her dream of being a momma.