Hello from Chicken Paradise — it’s me and Pen-chan. Blue skies again.
Grapes for everyone
Today I’m cutting grapes for the chickens, with White keeping me company. Chickens can eat grapes whole, but we have so many that I cut them small so everyone gets some. I also chop them finely for birds that choke easily, like chicks and older chickens; for chicks I crush them almost into juice. Just like with people.
The moment grapes appear, everyone moves much faster — ouch! When a rooster finds something tasty, he tries to give it to the hens, picking it up and dropping it again and again while calling them over. With no hens around right now, though, this one ate it himself.
Next, some for Basil… Oreo, don’t get in the way! Those were Basil’s grapes — gone. The weaker birds got a whole bowl. Chico called to the little ones, “There are grapes!” (Eat some yourself, Chico.) Bee, who has only one eye, got grape stuck on the beak — twice. All gone!
Today’s Dolly
For some reason Dolly was right next to Pen-chan today. Dolly kept eating grass at her own pace, while Pen-chan was clearly nervous. Pen-chan just can’t help being scared of Dolly.
Meet Taro
Taro is a Rhode Island Red rooster. I went to a chicken store to buy a Rhode Island Red hen and took the last unsold chick from the box of hens… and it was a rooster! Hatcheries make mistakes now and then, but I’d never seen one this big. Today he’s a magnificent rooster.
I think he’s so gentle because I raised him like a hen. Roosters normally grow up fighting, but since I believed he was a girl, he never fought — he just slept comfortably in my bed and lazed around — and he’s still very attached to me. He’s used to it all, so you’ll probably see him in lots of videos. Please keep cheering for everyone’s favorite, Taro!
A pen to keep everyone safe
Today I finished a pen for separating chickens and chicks. It sits on the ground, and sick, weak or bullied birds go inside. We already have about three, but with more sick birds and new arrivals, I made another: fine mesh with green netting around it. It’s simple and a bit shabby, since I used things lying around, but it makes a huge difference. The best part is the open bottom: they’re kept safely apart but can still enjoy the feeling of being outside.
Thank you for watching Chicken Paradise Hawaii. See you in the next video — bye-bye!