The Last Free Meal

The other day the wind was pretty strong.

I heard the sound of some random junk on the potting table fall off onto the porch and chalked it off to the wind. Had a quick look and not only had the old coffee tub filled with cracked corn and meal worms fall off the table, but had uncapped itself. Thank goodness it hadn't spilled! I snapped the cap back on and put it back on the potting table, shielded somewhat from the high winds behind some heavier junk on the potting table.

A bit later and the same sound occurred. Same situation. "Huh ... isn't that a hell of a thing." I mused as I put it back up.

A little while later I prepared warm treats for the flock and as I stepped out, there was that can on the ground again with its lid off ... only THIS time I spied a squirrel fleeing the scene of the crime! Well, okay buster, you got some free cracked corn. No doubt with the frigid temps, you needed it! But, convenience be damned, the chicken treat tub will now have to live inside.

In other news, even with the heat lamp humming away inside the coop, but with the near zero temps the water font was still freezing over. Well, the heated font is now hooked up and all is well.

Yesterday brought another round of icy temps and a blanket of snow. With the snow still falling at a goodly pace, Not My Cat turned up. "What kind of people let their cat out in THIS weather!"

Never the less, I took pity on the friendly neighbor cat and made sure he got fed as well.

Today, although it breaks my heart, the flock is not even out in the run. They are confined in the coop. With temps around 10 degrees and the wind up I want them safe! I know they can handle it, but I am just not prepared for a loss to the cold.

Coq Au is probably mad as hell, but I'd rather have a mad chicken than a dead chicken.

Well, we'll be ringing in the new years quietly and dreaming of the warmer days to come!

Happy New Year!

Twas the Dawn Before Christmas

T’was the dawn before Christmas and all through the coop
The chickens were stirring through the new fallen poop
The heat lamp was glowing all warm and all red
The meal worms were present all scattered and spread

The feeder was filled, overflowing with feed
The flock block well placed with suet and seed
Ms. Rabbit was off sleeping, ‘not my cat’, he was home
I was looking for peace with some new purchased tome

Then from the run there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter
As my book had gone flying I snatched up my jacket
“This better be serious to cause such a racket!”

The sun was still breaking across the wet yard
All mired with mud from when it rained hard
And what to my wondering eyes should appear
Old Mr. Hawk with a most evil sneer

He perched on the run’s roof stately scratching an itch
“You clear the hell off, you son of a bitch”
Coq Au Vin, he ran wild with a growl and a squawk
Desperate to leap up and kill the foul hawk

Most of the flock went inside to hide
But Hermione stood by Coq Au, beaming with pride
Hortense could care less, outside she would stay
Knowing the run’s wire was in the hawk’s way

I tossed a small stone towards the dark foe
My throw had went wide but it was just for show
Coq Au leapt higher, his eyes filled with hate
The hawk bothered not with the rooster’s ired state.

The hawk stuck to his perch, his time he would bide
After another tossed stone, he spread his wings wide.
Slowly and stately he took to the air
thwarted again from a good meal’s fare

Coq Au calmed down as the hawk had took wing
Then there happened a magical thing
To check on the flock, I went into the run
Expecting from Coq Au a new fight begun

He said not a word but just bowed his head
Knowing without me they might all be dead
“Sir, the honor is yours.” I said with a beam
“For fighting off hawks we make quite the team”

Frayed nerves were now calm after a great fright
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

All Life Is Sacred

The season of winter is upon us. The dark time of the year, but with the promise of the growing light renewed.

As you gather about with your friends and loved ones, hold onto each other. Light those lights for your holiday. Be present in the warmth of your family. Whatever your beliefs, what ever you choose to celebrate, please know that my heart goes with you as well.

I'll leave this little poem and song for you in the link below from John Denver. Please say a prayer for the wind, for the water, for the wood,

And those who love there too.

It's In Every One Of Us

Wishing you all of the best for this year and all the years to come,
From myself, my wife, our little flock, the two cats, and the pig.

Chickens in the Snow.

During the week I discovered that the heat lamp was not working!

The heat lamp is on a thermostat and only turners on when temps dip to 35 degrees and shuts of again when the inside temps reach 45 degrees. So it doesn't run constantly. With daily temps hovering this side or that of freezing, the light is often off when I get home from work, but should have been on in the predawn mornings.

The lamp is really just a courtesy for my flock in these temps, but needed when the dead of winter dips down to zero. If there is a problem, I am glad to have discovered it now!

Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do about it during the week. I leave in the dark and come home in the dark. Going into the small coop while the flock is inside n their roosts would only cause pandemonium! The poor spoiled chickens had to suffer a few chilly nights until I could attend to it yesterday.

Good day to sort out the heat lamp, their feed and water, put down fresh bedding and attend to their general welfare. I figured, with snow still blanketing the yard, that they would mill about the run while I bopped in and out of the coop going about my business.

I opened the run and the flock has been SO BORED being shut in that they actually ventured out onto the field of white. Still skittish of it, they clustered together and wandered as a group to their favorite three season haunts. They seemed horrified to discover that this 'snow thing' was everywhere!

On any given day, I would want them to be out for as long as possible, but after attending to the needs of the coop (bulb had burned out, nothing serious). I ushered them back in.

A couple were reluctant to return, but most of them wanted to be back in the run and some treats encouraged the others.

Pitch black hens against an open yard of white is an invitation to a nice winter meal for old Mr. Hawk and I was not about to risk it for longer than needed.

In they went, and sure enough, abut an hour later I spied that hawk winging it through the mostly cloudy sky. Thwarted again, Mr. Hawk! Too late for an easy meal!

In other news, in the darkness of the evenings, when I bed down the coop and collect what eggs the layers' union sees fit to bestow on us, I have seen Ms. Rabbit about her business in the moonlight. Snow bothers her not so much. Glad to see she is doing well.

Embargo Lifted.

Matilda passed on suddenly back in September as you have read.

That triggered a molt. Two troublesome young roosters were also underfoot. The dark days also descended upon us.

From September until now we had been getting but one to two eggs a day.

I fretted over it. Most of the girls are older. The molt passed and still no eggs. The young roosters left for their new homes and still no eggs.

Pleased to announce that we are back up to three to four eggs a day which would be more normal for older layers at this time of year. In any case, if they never laid again they would still have a home with me, my original girls, for as long as they lived.

Never the less, they are bestowing their bounty upon us once again. Special kudos to my younger girls Lily and Petunia for crossing the picket lines lo these past few months and keeping at least a few eggs coming in.

I am grateful that the hens, even with the season of ice upon us, are happy once again and returning to laying their eggs.

Come Saturday, it will be treats for the whole flock!

In other news, I walked out onto the snowy porch this morning before the sunrise to clear off the cars and make ready to go to work. Not My Cat greeted me in the darkness with a plaintiff, yet cheerful cry for attention. This cat is well fed, well groomed, and obviously NOT a stray. Who on EARTH would let their cat out on a frigid snowy night?

No matter, his pleas did not fall on a heart of stone and I made sure he had some food as well.

Warm breakfast for the flock, a little food for the handsome stranger ... who is not my cat ... and off to work I went.

My heart yearns for the solstice and the promise of the returning sun.

Nope Day.



Today is a 'nope' day.

My flock flees to the cool shade on hot, sunny summer days. They huddle in a corner on windy days, they hunker down UNDER the coop on rainy days. Most of all, they love cool somewhat cloudy days. But snow is a 'nope!'

Yesterday morning, as the sun rose, nary a snow flake had fallen so they wanted to come out for their warm breakfast, but they were clearly skittish. As I was about to leave to get the week's groceries purchased, Howard stopped by.

Howard is a kindly elderly man who loves to spend his days riding his bicycle around the neighborhood. He is retired from a career in the sciences and possesses a sharp and inquisitive mind. In out casual conversations, he's taught me some of the particulars of the optic structure of birds and insects and I have intimated to him the behaviors of chickens. Always a fascinating time spent talking to him.

But yesterday morning found me wanting to get the errands done before the first snowfall of the year made the roads slippery for my bald tires on my old car. Howard picked that moment to stop by and say hello.

I politely said hello in a genuinely cheery voice, but told him that I needed to make haste. I further stated that he was MORE THAN WELCOME to stick around for a while and visit the flock to his heart's content while I was out. He strode over to the run and the chickens immediately moved away. He asked about this and I was puzzled too, so I paused to go over as well before leaving.

The dark days and the longer confinement in the run are taking their toll ad the poor girls are a little more skittish of people from lack of contact, but it was more than that. Even Coq Au was not looking to engage but rather wanted to herd the girls away from danger. The coming snow storm, with its first flakes already flying, was making them all pensive.

I bid Howard a fair adieu and left him by the run to contemplate chicken behavior and I do so without a care in the world. Many a time I've driven up the street to see Howard paused at some other neighbor's yard with no one around as he lovingly pets any friendly neighbor dog that happens his way. Just knowing the nature of some people, taking the time to speak to them, listening to how they respond, or what questions they ask, you can just tell an animal lover.

With the errands run, I returned hope before the flakes gathered on the road surfaces and herself and I settled into a snow day. Around noon, I brought out warm treats to the flock, they were hunkered down under the coop so I took the time to sweep away some of the snow for them and they were grateful for some warm food. The whole flock wasn't out, as each girl had gone into lay, they decided to stay indoors after nature's task had been accomplished.

By late afternoon they had gone in and I was content to close them in for the night as the growing darkness settled over the snowy suburban landscape.

This morning, I brought out warm breakfast, but decided with the new fallen snow, they might appreciate it inside and I obliged.

This photo was taken about and hour after that and only a few moments ago. Not one hen will venture out. For all of the weather that they love, snow is a NOPE!



 

My Pets are Liars

Apart from my rooster who likes to sneak up on me when my back is turned ... and he still tries to do this, but I've learned to be alert!

My pig and one of my two cats are liars.

Our cats are banned from the bedroom for misdeeds. But truth be told, it is Osha who is the trouble maker when left to her own devices. Moonkie is usually calm.

However, Moonkie will also yowl and meow at you to the point that you seriously wonder if something is wrong with her. She will issue her distress to the point that you are convinced that something is hurting her, but in truth, she is only complaining until one of us gives in and lets her into the bedroom where she will do NOTHING except lay contentedly on the bed like a boss for hours on end.

Our pig Ruby is also a liar.

She doesn't like coming into the kitchen, as hooves on a kitchen floor are uncomfortable for her and she slides about more than actually walking. When we are eating dinner, however, she braves the instability to beg at the table, where she sings the song of her people:

"Does't thou not hear my plaintive cries? Wilst thou not take pity upon they pig and share the bounty of your good fortune?"

After getting some treats we tell her in no uncertain terms that she has had enough and no amount of 'singing' will move us further. It is at this point that she makes a great show of her reluctance to traverse the kitchen floor on sliding hooves to retreat back onto the other room. She is convinced that her show of great trepidation will cause us to take pity once again and offer more treats to the poor afflicted pig.

But when you're not looking, she can walk that kitchen floor hither and fore with more grace than one would imagine of a creature of her stature. It's all drama.

Here is a picture of the two of them. Moonkie and Ruby snuggled on the couch with me. It is an OLDER picture from when Ruby was still small enough to get up on the couch!

The Birds of Winter.

With the season of darkness in full swing, I miss seeing my flock! I am up before the sun and have just enough time to feed them breakfast treats before the gathering dawn and then off to work. It is only a short moment in the darkness. By the time I am home, it is dark again and they are already abed.

Sometimes, I wonder if they miss me.

Thursday night, with some decent moonlight, I opened the coop and pulled out the empty feeder to refill it. Coq Au was on the roost fast asleep as were the girls. I took that sneaky opportunity to pet him briefly, my angry boy. He lifted his head in surprise and turned it this way and that, but being blinded by the darkness he could meaningfully respond. He couldn't have been too upset, he went back to sleep quickly.

Yesterday found skies that were clear of clouds and clear of hawks. I took a risk and let the flock out. Hortense went off by herself to her favorite dust bath spot. The rest of the flock hunkered down on the other side of the yard to enjoy their own sun and dust.

About two hours later, I heard a ruckus and flew outside. Skies were still clear, but the flock was hiding under a bush. Something spooked them and Coq Au lead them into cover. I took no chances and herded them into the run. Hortense was unaware, but Coq Au hesitated to go in knowing there was a girl missing.

"Coq Au, old man, you go on in, I know just where she is."

By the time I rounded the house, she was gone. She, hearing the ruckus, had wandered over to the spot where the flock as to see what was going on. Once located, I was inclined to scold her, but she's so sweet that I couldn't bring myself to do it. I herded her in as well and peace reigned once again.

I sure miss the tree cover, the longer days, and the warmer weather. Oh well, in about three weeks the solstice will be upon us and in about six weeks, the daylight will be back to where it is now but growing longer again rather than shorter.