Tragedy

The chickens had only been out to free range for an hour this afternoon when I heard the commotion and went to the window. My heart stopped as I saw a strange dog shaking Jane, my Black Jersey Giant.
I ran outside only to find her limp lifeless body, still warm, like the tears rolling down my cheeks. The anger swelled inside and I chased the dog. I felt like I could have killed it if I caught it. (probably not, but I felt like that at the moment.) It ran off of the property and down the railroad tracks.
I rounded the chickens up early to go back into their yard. Lady was not happy about the early round up and decided to fly back over the fence. Fortunately, the others are all too heavy to get enough lift to get over the fence so I only have to deal with one recalcitrant.
Jane had the prettiest eyes of all my chickens. I will miss her.

Rain and Feather Don't Mix

The weatherman has threatened rain on and off for some time, but each instance brought little or not rain. Today was to be another deluge, but although cold, showed little evidence that the prediction would come to be fulfilled.
And then it happened......RAIN and lots of it!
It did not last long, but while it did it poured!
Brennan grabbed the camera and took a few shots out the window.
I went out to take pictures to find the rooster and one hen standing by the dog. Poor Sterling, he looked so unhappy. The rooster usually gives him such a hard time and now their he was right by him. Oh my, I took pity on the poor soul and shooed the rooster on his way.
I loved the way the rain dripped off of the Wisteria.
While snapping some shots I got a lovely gift, the first of the Tom Thumb Daffodils have begun to bloom.

Eight Eggs!

Luna left the nest for a short while. So I stole a moment to count, gather and try to candle the eggs. She had eight in the nest. I quickly scooped them up, brought them inside and tried to candle them the best I could based on a web site I had found a while back. I marked the three that I do not think are good and I mark the other five that I thought were. Took them back and carefully placed them in the nest. It was not much longer after that she came around the corner clucking under her breath with her feathers all in a ruffle. She went back tho the nest and settled in.
Now we wait. I calculate Feb 21. We shall see.

My Afternoon Delight

I love walking out to the pen in the afternoon. I whistle and the chaos begins. The geese honk, the chickens.... well they make the sounds that chickens do when they are excited. Everyone knows: I am going to let them out.
Everyday I think of "Chicken Run" when I see those chunky thighs doing the crazy run that they do as they rush out to eat the grass and bugs.
The geese always spread their wings and almost, almost get air borne an inch off the ground in their excitement.
I will try to remember to take my camera out tomorrow so that I can snap a pic or two. It brings a smile to my heart. My little flock has grown up. Here are some pics I have now. In order is Jay-Jay, Peaches, Pat, Red, Babs, and Cinnamon
Luna is still holding fast. She is not leaving the nest for anything. I will try to candle the eggs next week to see if I should let her continue to set.

Luna is a Broody Hen

Not even a year old and Luna, one of my Leghorns, is trying to sit again! This time she has chosen my potted pecan tree. I kept up on collecting her eggs as soon as she left the nest, but the other day she laid and refused to leave. I pushed a few of the potted plants around her to give her a little privacy. She was getting her feathers all in a ruffle every time someone walked by. Since she is determined to set I tucked a couple of other eggs under her. I think Pat has mated with Cinnamon, the Americana, and Buffy, the Buff Orpington. He is pretty quick so I don't see him mate all that often.

Pat's Hat

Somehow his hat came off and all the beautiful quills that would have filled his bald little head with lovely white feathers have been pecked away! I think he is destined to be bald for life.

Crazy Pat and his Nonsensical Hat

Crazy Pat, my Crested Polish Rooster.

Crazy Pat with his nonsensical hat, barely 9 months old he struts his stuff around the pen letting everyone know he is cock of the rock.

When he was younger one of flock, (one that should have been a hen and was really a rooster in disguise) pulled all of Crazy Pat’s white top feathers out. Now there is a quarter size bald spot.

Subsequently that bird found a new home as did the other “hens” that started crowing.

With the other roosters gone the hens began to take over where the roosters left off. Every time new feathers began to emerge one of the hens would pull them out. Chickens are weird like that. If there is a sore or something just not right chickens will pester the victim sometimes to death.

So I decided to make a hat. I used an old shoulder pad.(how 80’s) Why I had one lying around I do not know. Then I attached 4 strips of Velcro onto the hat, got some cotton for padding and put it on him. One set of straps go across his forehead and the other under his chin. He scratched at first, but eventually acquiesced to the annoying accessory.

It seems to be working. He now has a head full of new quills. I am going to leave it on until all the feathers have emerged.