And Other Heroic Animals

A slight break from the narrative of my backyard flock.

Today is Armistice Day across the world. This year is particularly significant, as it marks the 100th anniversary of the day that the guns went silent ending the fighting of the Great War.

The peace treaty was eventually signed and my own great grandfather came home in one piece.

However, my humble little blog focuses on my chickens, today I will take a break from that to honor two heroic "veterans" of the Great War.

The first is Cher Ami. The most decorated pigeon un history. Cher Ami braved artillery shells and gun fire, was horribly wounded, and still made it back to her cote to deliver a crucial message that saved the lives of many during the last German offensive of the Great War. She was crucial to the survival of the besieged Lost Battalion as they were mistakenly being shelled by their own artillery.

Here is the link to Cher Ami's story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_Ami

Also, I am honoring Sgt. Stubby. The most decorated canine in American history. A stray pup from Connecticut, he was smuggled aboard a troop ship bound for France. During his time in the trenches, he suffered a gas attack, became an early warning system for the troops for gas attacks and incoming shells, and even captured a German spy. Sgt. Stubby was highly decorated by bith the United States and France.

Here is Sgt. Stubby's story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Stubby

Although my own Coq Au Vin would probably make a good account of himself if he were ever called to war, I'm going to keep him down on the farm!

Pumpkin Flavored Everything.

For some reason, we in the United States like to gear up for a holiday months in advance to the point that by the time the actual holiday arrives, everyone is sick to death of all of the trappings of it and feel a sense of relief when it is over.

Over the last decade or so, Hallowe'en has been rivaling Christmas in terms of retail and overall holiday ridiculousness. It begins, I'd say, around midnight on the Monday night of labor day once everyone has cleaned up from their backyard barbecues or returned from their long weekend at the beach, or what have you.

Pumpkin flavored everything hits the shelves. From pumpkin flavored pasta sauce to pumpkin flavored Clorox bleach (okay, that last one might be made up).

Not to be outdone by the Jones's, I rushed out this past mid October to pick up …

… wait for it …

Pumpkin flavored pumpkins!

Of course, my intent was more 'traditional'. I carved them for a bit of Hallowe'en decoration as well as a ready ward for the house for the night of Samhain.

Tired from work of the evening of the 30th, herself set to our task with adequate results and just a bit of blood from a minor cut or two along the way.

Here they are slowly roasting from the inside with a wee candle in each.


Well, they did their job. The added a little light to our dark driveway to welcome the wee ones seeking treats, would've been a good disposable target for young miscreants wanting to play tricks rather than having them target something more dear to us, and a good guardian to scare away wandering spirits who may have been up to no good. No miscreants, I'm pleased to say, any wandering spirits must have wandered to other parts, and the wee ones that did brave the overall creepiness where rewarded well for their efforts.

After the dawn on Nov. 1st. The flock was rewarded with a treat of their own. Pumpkins with lightly roasted inner lids.

To be quite frank, they don't fancy pumpkins. Never mind … if we have to suffer through pumpkin flavored everything, they can live with one day's feast of pumpkins. It's once a year, and the variation in their diet is good for them. Whether they fancy pumpkins or not, they did clean out those husks to the edge of the outer skin.

The Long Dark Breakfast Time of the Soul

What? No eggs? Strike is back in full swing. They have good feed, good treats, no sign of disease, clean coop, so honestly I am at a loss!

Yes, they are older now, and yes I expect one or more to have stopped laying, but all of them and all at once?

Something's up, and for some reason I can't put my finger on it. No matter. I love my flock whether I get eggs or not.

Most Sunday mornings I cook breakfast for herself and I. This morning I am faced with the prospect that I might have to use …

Store bought eggs.

*sigh*

In other news, I came home the other day to a most disturbing post on my facetubes. My neighbor down the street, who has kept a few chickens for years before I ever moved in, posted a photo to my account. The photo was of a little black hen in a carrier with words asking if I was missing a hen! I obsess over my flock and felt pretty damn sure that mine were accounted for, but never the less, the photo sent my flying out door to take a beak count!

"Outta my way, Not-My-Cat!" I shouted as I passed the beggar on my porch. Out to the run in a flash, stooping down to spy all of my dark biddies milling about, and with a great sigh of relief, all were safe and sound.

Coq Au strode up to my vantage point and glared from the other side of the fence.

"Well?" He asked.

"Well WHAT?" I enquired back.

"Well, you're out here. Make with the treats."

"Make with the treats??? How about you talk to the girls about making with the eggs, and toot sweet!" I replied in my frustration and heightened sense of anxiety (quickly fading, as I confirmed that my hens were all safe).

"Fine." I said, and distributed some dried soldier flies and other tasty morsels.

"Here's your treats, but I'd like to remind you that not only do I love my chickens, but I love 'chicken' if you catch my drift."

It was an empty threat and he knew it. My comment went ignored as he pecked away at the treats as the girls swarmed around to collect their due as well.

So, back to the house with a calm demeanor, I replied to my neighbor's inquiry that we were all present and accounted for. Back and forth posting, she and I tried to sus out where the hen came from. Mine were fine, hers were fine, the neighbor one street over was fine … I tagged a person or two from a few streets in the opposite direction that I either knew, or suspected had a few backyard poultry, and nothing. Chickens don't range all that far, even when lost, so it does lead me to wonder just where it came from!

It also dawned on my me just how many people in the area keep at least a couple of hens!

Anyway, I offered to adopt her if her owner can't be found, but as it turns out, I reckon I'd be about third in line, so regardless, the hen won't be homeless. Although she'd be a welcome addition over here, integration of a new hen right at the onset of winter could be tricky. Regardless, I am glad that whatever her outcome, she will have a safe home.

Chasing Chickens and The Last Mow.

This time of year it's the dark of the morn' that the flock gets its treats. This morning they drifted out in the darkness as they sometimes do for their warm oatmeal and vegetable. This morning there was a left over slice of pizza for them to chaw on (a VERY rare treat, indeed, and certainly not something they should have with any frequency!)

This is the morning that I've decided to do my last mow of the season and also let the flock out for some mid autumn foraging.

They had been demanding more 'out' time and the lack thereof may have contributed to their early autumn egg strike.

Out into the yard they gratefully went and spread themselves liberally over the lawn in the early sunlight of a late October day.

Samhain is the last harvest, and dear reader, you may recall my last 'mowing' post where I made mention of having left some sections of grass to go to seed. My timing paid off well, the grass has dropped its seed, and the chickens were delighted to benefit for scratching around on their own late season harvest.

By now their quite 'use to' the sound of the mower and show no direct fear, so as I started with the edges, they kept right on pecking and scratching away to their great content. As I drifted ever inward, Coq Au began to become concerned and led the bulk of the flock to the front and safer environs of the knotweed.

Hermione, Myrtle, and Petunia were completely at ease right where they were, thank you very much, and stayed in the general area of my mowing. Following their hearts delight, they drifted over to the neighbor's yard and not wanting to interrupt my own task, I was obliged to push that mower in their general direction. I can't recall herding chickens with the mower before, but it turns out that it works.

As the mower drew nearer with its roaring engine, Petunia and Myrtle began to scurry away while the unflappable Hermione defiantly stood her ground. A few mere feet before I was becoming concerned that she might let me bump into her with mower, if I were inclined to do so but of course would do no such thing, she finally took the hint and with waddling gait that make her appear like she's wearing feathery bloomers, she joined Petunia and Myrtle. Coq Au emerged from the knot weed to scold the strays and collect them back to the safety of the rest of the flock.

A few tasks, hook up the heat lamp, and my autumn chores will be done for the day.

Trade Agreement Reached!

Well, after some hard negotiations concerning feed rations, treats, more outside time while weather allows, we finally have movement on the production front!

I came home to find not one, but TWO eggs! From there we will rebuild our MIGHTY MIGHTY egg empire!

Judging from the size, I'd say Lily laid the upper one in the picture, and one of the more reliable Australorps laid the other. Been so long, hard to tell which girl laid which!

Soon enough, we eat well again. Medals and honors all around!

Coop Cleaning Day and Other Doings.

Today is coop cleaning day and finally some great weather for it! I'm currently gathering my strength for a good shovel-out of the summer straw and getting the place winterized. Will be a good day out scratching around the yard for the flock and both of these things are badly needed.

I'm sure by now, I described the task in excruciating detail, so I won't go into it again, but it will be a messy job.

In other news, there is a new kid in town. If my ears are still as sharp as ever, I'd say that one street over is a young rooster who has just come into his maturity making his presence known. His crow is a little higher pitched, so either he has just started, or is possibly a bantam. Perhaps both.

Coq Au will crow through out the day, and much to my neighbors' "delight" will sometimes issue a crow or two at four A.M. for no particular reason, and this has the effect of causing the 'Johnny-come-lately' a block over to sound his replies. I am not sure which neighbor over there is keeping chickens, but I am sure the rest of the neighborhood is thoroughly thrilled with the additional sounds.

In other news, the egg embargo is in full swing. Zero eggs. They've shut down in the fall before for an extended time, but it is still always disconcerting and I may even have to buy some eggs. Oh the shame! The absolute shame!

As for individuals, I went into the run yesterday to change the water. We've had a lot of rain lately, so the run was a bit muddy. I spread the scratch around and the flock gathered to greedily pick at their favorite morsels except for Hortense. She kept close to me and wondered if I would let her slip through the gate for some 'me time' that she so loves, but I was disinclined to do so. I feared that she might even miss out on the treats that the others were enjoying, but with all of the rain, a great congregation of worms had collected underneath their water font, so when I lifted it to give it a cleaning and refill, Hortense was the sole benefactor of a private feast!

Not My Cat still comes by from time to time but always seems more interested in garnering a free meal rather than the quest to soil the reputation of our 'daughter' Osha.

Well, that's the exciting life of enjoying simplicity. No 'high drama' to report and that suits me fibe!

The Gathering Darkness.

The equinox is just around the corner. Temps are still summerlike, but the days are definitely shorter. I've noticed, but just in case I haven't, to flock sure has.

The sudden shift has caused several girls to molt and even Coq Au has lost some of his proud tailfeathers to the seasonal change. Egg production is low.

In a fit of compassion, I've taken off my beard. My 'molt' will end quickly, and it has had zero effect on *my* egg production!

The break from full swing production is good for their aging bodies and the timing is completely in the control of the layers' union with no input from myself, upper management, nor Coq Au is regarded in the least.

Well, the feathers will grow back just in time for the cold weather to set in and egg production will go back up a little, but will still be more limited through the winter.

At their age, some hens will stop laying altogether. I hope this is not the case yet, as they are still young enough to keep going and some hens will lay at least a little for most of their lives. No matter. Laying or not, my flock is my flock and unlike folks that need to earn a living on such ventures, my 'retired' layers will continue to live out their natural lives with as much peace and comfort as I can supply.

The cycle of the year is heavy upon us, the cycle of life takes its slower course.