Things rocked along pretty good all week.
Billy even bought me a surprise.
A live trap. Just what I wanted. Funny….the things I enjoy getting now are a good bit different than they used to be!
We were like two kids in a candy store. Trying to figure out how to set the contraption up without tripping it and hurting ourselves.
Finally we managed…took it over to the coop and baited it, with what seems to be one of the best things around….a fresh egg.
I suppose the absolute best thing would have been a “live hen”….but that wasn’t going to happen.
We went home for the night….and waited. I couldn’t hardly stand it the next morning….I wanted to see what we had caught during the night.
NOTHING….absolutely….NOTHING
Friday came and we were having dinner guest. I had passed by the coop around 4:30…but the chickens had no intentions on going to bed that early. Two were puttering around the yard while the third one continued to sit in the coop. After dinner, the guest were mingling around talking, my son in law took the kids for a ride on the golf cart. It had just gotten dark so I asked him if he would put the girls up for the night. The kids thought that would be fun….so off they all went. Just a few minutes later I got a bad report.
Only one girl….she was sitting in the window flower box. He placed her inside with the other hen.
GROSS…… I hate getting news like that.
Later Billy and I searched the yard to make sure she wasn’t hiding somewhere. We only found a few feathers near the fence line. I’m not even sure they were fresh feathers. It could have been a bird of prey that got her. SAD….really, really SAD.
The next morning I let one hen out…..the other continued to sit in the laying box.
I am pretty sure she has become broody….or is brooding….not sure about all this terminology. She is sitting on her eggs…so she can become a Mama.
I have read that a hen can stay fertile for a week to ten days after being exposed to a rooster. I find that extremely interesting. I also think it is amazing that she decided to go broody right after the rooster died. Of course when they were laying eggs in the round planter on the porch….several weeks ago, they were doing the same thing apparently. But…the difference was they didn’t sit on the eggs 24/7. She has stayed on these eggs. Hopefully she is getting up to eat, drink and take potty breaks.
My friend offered to take our hen that is up and moving around and keep her in her coop until I can secure my fence. So, last night was moving day.
She didn’t like being caught….I’m sure she thought she was the next one to get eaten…..YIKES!!!!
Billy carried her down the street to the neighbors pen….
Billy looks cute with a chicken under his arm….but it was kinda sad.
BUT….I can see her anytime I want….. Besides it is much sadder seeing just feathers.
It is pretty cool to have neighbors that help with the animals as if they were theirs. Billy handed her over the fence. The neighbor pet her little head and off she went. He assured us she would be just fine. Of course I know something could happen and if it does…it does….but it is really kind of them to help us.
She will have lots of friends…..
She started eating as soon as she entered the coop.
The Red rooster immediately started flirting with our beautiful blonde. I can’t blame him….she is a looker.
Today….our Mama to be…. is fine…. and still sitting. It is supposed to take 21 days before the eggs will hatch.
I wasn’t planning on having baby chicks…but I think I will be more than ready by the time it happens.
Meanwhile, I have a fence to fix!
I've Gone Country 
Posted by Terrie on June 10, 2013 at 2:23 pm
I have used those traps on several different occasions and have had really good success with them. You might try baiting it with something different. Peanut butter worked for me.
Posted by Aunt Janet on June 10, 2013 at 5:34 pm
That is really sad. Can’t emagine what is so sneaky and mean, just needs food too I guess.
Good Luck.
Aunt Janet