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Posts Tagged ‘nature’

5 Sep

More Scoop on the Coop….

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: nature. 3 comments

Things have been going pretty good at the hen house lately. I have been keeping my eye out for some new hens…and I found some!

Sometimes I think people probably think I am like a crazy woman ….or just a little off my rocker when I talk about our animals. I suppose we have all been around some people that too the animal “love” to a whole new level. For example women that seem obsessed with cats….are often referred to as crazy cat ladies.

So it may be that I am looking more that way with our animals…than I used to. BUT, I find that there are a lot of people that see the same interesting things that I see in animals and so if I am a little crazy….there are a lot of us out there.

Billy told me about some hens for sale, so we immediately contacted the man about them. The very next morning we set up a time to pick them up. As soon as we arrived at the mans house he met us on the sidewalk. The very first thing he said was….”I think these hens have a sixth sense about them”. I thought right off that they must have run away before we arrived. But no, he said “I went to gather their eggs this morning under one of the hens that was sitting….and all of a sudden all the others came and sat on the roost as if they were telling me goodbye.” He continued….they have NEVER done that before. They usually just stay out in the yard.

Billy and I looked at each other and smiled. I told him that I understood what he was talking about. I said that I too have been amazed at the personality that animals have….even hens.

Now, before I ever started being around all these animals I wouldn’t have related to that story at all. Matter of fact, I might have just raised my eyebrows and smiled…..not knowing what to think.

So, I was rather glad to know that they had not run away as I had first thought. As he led us to the coop he explained that he had raised them from chicks and was only selling them as an attempt to save their lives. Apparently one had been attacked and killed and he couldn’t bear to see that happen again.

Wow….I know how that feels. I told him I had experienced that myself several times this year.

We reached the coop, the three of us gathered the hens. Billy and I were really excited to bring them to their new home.

They are beautiful hens. From what I understand they are Red Sex Link or also know as Red Stars….at least that is what I have read. I’m still learning…..

These are extremely docile….and friendly. They are supposed to be great layers. Which is wonderful because there hasn’t been much of that going on this summer.

Billy took part of his Labor Day holiday to install a new device in the hen house.

It is a handy dandy automatic door opener! He is so smart…he had to get creative and tweak it because we do not have electricity at the hen house.

So….with all the chickens and goats help…..

he installed a solar panel on the roof.

He worked hard on that door for a while…..

He even had to read instructions for the timer…..ugh….who likes doing that.

I thought it was cute though that all the new girls were gathered right around him…picking in the straw….while he sat among them. The hen to the left of the picture here by herself is Maggie Mae. She is one of our buff hens that we had early on. The mother of the chick that was hatched this summer. She seems to be glad to see the arrival of these girls. They look a lot like the buff orphingtons….and seem to act more like them too.

Billy and I both noticed how they are just sweeter hens than the others. I’m not sure if it is because they were handled a lot growing up or if it is more their nature.

They are mingling with the others well. The others are actually starting to warm up to Billy and I more. Those are the ones we bought in the Spring and they still keep their distance. They are starting to run to the fence when I come in….and follow behind me to the hen house. Curious to see what I am doing.

The new hens are more trusting and seem to enjoy human interaction. They coo and talk a lot like the buff orphingtons did too.

We have put the goats back over in the chicken pen this week for several reasons. Buster Brown got out of the back yard fence and we have not been able to find him. We have asked everyone and searched the woods several times. The back yard area is pretty barren. They continue to eat the greenery quicker than it can replenish. So we figured they could help keep the predators away from the hens, be company for Laverne and have plenty to eat for a while.

Everyone seems really happy…and I love all the activity.

Billy was successful and the door works beautifully. We had to adjust the timer again…due to one chick not getting in before the door automatically shut. We did find her roosting on the front porch flower box, and placed her inside.

Last night we were gone…but when we arrived home…after dark…everyone was in the coop safe and secure! With the days getting shorter and daylight saving around the corner…I’m glad Billy read up on the timer stuff. I’m sure we will or HE will be tweeking it in the upcoming weeks.

I really appreciate my hubby for going the extra mile, he amazes me with his talents. And his desire to please me.

There is one hen in particular that likes for us to hold her. I know it is the same girl because she has one “ruffled” feather so I can tell her apart from the others.

I can’t tell you how much fun it is to interact with all these critters. I never would have thought that I would like this kind of thing.

If you have the chance to own a few hens…or goats…or cows…for that matter…..I encourage you to give it a try.

Meanwhile, please excuse me if I don’t “hide my crazy” and just enjoy them….and their cute personalities!

10 Aug

The Hen Whisperer

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: chicken talk, nature, outdoors. 2 comments

Last Saturday I heavily pruned the cedar tree that the girls loved.

I did it in an effort to save their lives. However, they have fought the change all the way.

Well, except for Beverly….

She is on the left…Amy is on the right. Beverly was enjoying having the whole coop to herself. She would retire at dusk and settle into the coop just fine. Amy on the other hand is a little cranky. She is a beautiful hen…but she is bossy. She is also a little on the heavy side. She wanted to go with the rest of the girls and hang out in the tree all night. But she was just too “heavy” to get into the tree. She was always the last one to arrive on the fence….but couldn’t seem to make it the rest of the way up into the tree. She spent two different nights balancing on the barb wire fence, refusing to give up and go in the coop on her own.

We put a stop to that, she was a meal…..just waiting to happen. Billy caught her one night and placed her in the coop with Beverly. Oh my….you should have heard all the squawking when we closed the door. If I didn’t know better I would think it was Beverly…upset that she had a bunk mate.

So back to the limbs…..I sheared the tree pretty good so they couldn’t reach a limb and then climb into the tree. They walked over to me and watched as I cut. Each one giving a little bock here and a little bock there….I wish I could understand chicken talk.

After I finished cutting, I felt good about it, I couldn’t wait to count all the little chicken heads at bedtime….all tucked back into their safe home.

Dusk came, the chickens were not in the yard so I went to close the door. I counted heads and I was missing two. Doggone it….I marched back out to their favorite tree….NOTHING. Hmmm,,,,where did they go?

I finally spotted them on the other side of the fence in the wooded area….in two different trees. Billy was able to reach Maggie Mae, although she protested greatly, he placed her in the coop. Mara was beyond his reach.

She’s a pretty girl….and is really sweet…stubborn…but sweet.

The next morning I dreaded going to the coop, afraid of what I might see….or not see.

There she was…..waiting at the gate like a dog….wanting to be let in. I was amazed.

Next night, same routine……

I trimmed some more tree limbs on the other trees….but apparently that wasn’t where she was getting out.

The other night….I couldn’t find her…again.

Finally, I spotted her…..hiding in the tree again. I have to hand it to her…..she hides well. If you look real close….you can see her red comb shining through the cedar branches.

The next morning… she was inside the fence waiting for me to open the coop. Oh, I forgot to mention that we decided to move Laverne over to the chicken coop. She was staying all by herself in the pasture most of the time. Her leg is not a whole lot better so…we decided that having her at the coop would give her some company and maybe her presence would help keep predators away. Besides….. I can see her better this way.

So there they were….looking all cute.

She likes this new found freedom…..

But the freedom she so likes…..is dangerous. She doesn’t realize it. She sneaks off every evening around dusk….and goes where “SHE” wants to go. Little does she know that she is in the midst of predators. Billy attempted to reach her the other night. She clutched her feet tightly to the cedar branch refusing to let go. She was roosting just high enough that he couldn’t get a good hold on her. He decided that he would just have to let her be. Hopefully, she would make it through the night.

Last night we were leaving the house and wouldn’t be home until after dark. That always creates a problem. The girls….when they act right, go into the coop on their own around dusk. But due to the increase in predators this year, we shut the door behind them as soon as they enter. If we leave the house before dusk…then the door is open until we return. That can be very risky for the lives of the hens.

When we were about to leave Billy asked me if I wanted him to put them up for the night. I said sure….but you know that it is almost impossible to make them go inside before they want to. He said….Ah….don’t worry…I can do it. It just takes patience. I had to chuckle to myself…because …well….it was just last summer that the two of us were in the yard chasing chickens with a big fish net.

He continued to explain that all one needs to do is have patience. No running after them or waving arms frantically to herd them…..just patiently encourage them to move in the right direction. Showing them that they can trust you.

I watched carefully…..and I must say that I believe he has become the “Hen Whisperer”.

He approached the coop slowly……

Some hens decided right away to enter the coop…others darted around back….

He calmly went around the other way and headed them back to the coop door…..

They came back around.

He calmly and slowly got closer to them…..encouraging them to….take the next step….to just go on in.

And I will eat your hat if they didn’t go in.

Except for Miss Mara…..

It looks like he just might be talking to her right here. I think he had some special words……because

she decided to go into her home for the night…instead of the tree.

Billy closed the door and secured it with a big stick.

I couldn’t believe they were all finally back in their home. I could truly relax knowing they were safe and secure from harm.

I thought about this whole chicken thing. It all started when a predator started attacking the hens. They in turn became afraid, they made a choice to do things their way. To hide in the tree at night, not realizing that they were just opening up themselves to more danger.

Humans aren’t much different. Sometimes we think we can do things better than the way God tells us. If it starts with fear or whatever gets the cycle going. We don’t realize the dangerous situations we often put ourselves in.

I’m sure Mara thought she was doing what seemed best….but in the end she would have surely ended up dead if she continued in the tree night after night.

When I thought about us humans not being very different….this verse came to mind.

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

I remember the patience and kindness of loved ones that gently encouraged me to go in the right direction. I thought…..I should be more aware of those around me that might need some love, patience and encouragement.

I love the verse from Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

When I hide God’s word in my heart, it is almost as if God whispers it back to me, in my time of need. Pretty awesome. I just need to memorize more….

Well…..I just returned from counting chickens….they entered the coop on their own free will tonight!

They were all accounted for….even Mara.

WOO HOO!!!!!!

6 Aug

A Little Tug Time

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: animals, nature. 1 comment

Maybe you remember back in April when Tug was born. His mother, Bailey, would not feed him.

So we did.

Tug was a couple weeks old here….you can see how thin he was.

Although we fed him accordingly….nothing seems to match up to the real thing.

Tug struggled to find a mama cow that would let him nurse. He tried…bless his heart….over and over. Several times he would get a swig here and there from another nursing mother, but they would kick him away. It was sad to watch. He would stay off to himself a lot as well. After I would feed him in the pasture I started herding him back to the herd while I was on my 4 wheeler. He didn’t like me doing that. He would try to go off to the side to hide in the trees, but I was as stubborn as he was. I made him join the group….then I would leave the pasture. Eventually he started staying with them more and more. It was a good time really, because we were having babies being born every few weeks, so he wasn’t the only baby out there. They started keeping each other company.

Tug was born at the end of April. Madre was born on Mother’s day hence the name….makes it easy for me to remember when she was born.

I had hoped tug would be taken in by Brandy…which is Madre’s mother. Cupid had delivered Rey just a week or two before Tug was born…there again I had hoped she would let him nurse. There we were with milk everywhere you could look…but poor tug was not getting any of it. For us to milk the cows was just not an option at this time . Maybe sometime in the future…but just not now.

One day when I went to find the herd and take tug his bottle…I saw him before he saw me. He got behind Brandy and nursed from behind, while her baby Rey was nursing from the side. The session was cut short because she pooped right on his head. Poor little guy. He didn’t seem to mind though….he was glad that he had gotten a swig of “REAL” milk. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him….and snicker at the same time. I started watching real close before I would feed Tug…..hoping if I delayed the feeding….he would get hungry enough to nudge his way in there and get some real milk again. Sure enough….he started ignoring me when I would come to the herd to feed him. At first I was a little bit offended. When I would call his name he would just look at me…..then look at one of the adult Mama’s…then look back at me. It reminded me when our kids were teenagers, and they didn’t want you to embarrass them in front of their friends. You know that look they would give you? Well…. that is the way Tug would look. Like….oh hey! Oh…….. Hey…uh…maybe you could just hook up with me later…you know… when everyone isn’t looking at me…seeing my human Mom feeding me a bottle…..that’s like so not cool.

I would leave the pasture and not feed him….apparently he was trying to fit in…and possibly even had enough milk in his tummy that he was satisfied. There were several days that he would be wearing poop on his head…so I knew he had been fed.

When Cupid had the twins, Laverne and Shirley, I went to buy another bottle since I was feeding tug at least once a day and now would be feeding Laverne as well. Tug surprised me. He only took two bottles once Laverne came into the picture. Everyday I would fix bottles for both of them….just in case…..but he usually refused his. I was amazed and glad that he had reached the point that he weaned himself.

He hangs with the other calves now. He runs and plays with them…..and they nap together a lot too.

Funny that Shirley which is Laverne’s twin sister….looks just like tug. They are the same size and everything. Shirley has a white tip on the end on her tail and Tug doesn’t.

I really got a kick out of seeing him nursing side by side with Shirley. If you didn’t know better you would think -HE- was her twin. Cupid, the Mom didn’t seem to mind one bit that he was nursing with Shirley. I am amazed at how he has jumped around from one Mother cow to the other and they seem to be alright with it.

Tug is on the left and Shirley is on the right.

His coloring has changed so much. He is very brown now…with black around his eyes and ears.

The other day he approached me while I was on the 4 wheeler.

He has that unsure, hesitant look in his eyes…

then decided to go for the human touch….

and seemed to remember it well. Only allowing a few pets here and there….then off he went to be with the herd.

Here he is with Madre on the left, Tug in the middle and Rey on the right. I may have touched them at birth, but other than that I have never been able to pet Rey, Madre, or even Shirley. Sometimes when they get older, they will begin to trust a little, especially if you bring them a treat!

Saturday, Billy and I were working on some odd and end things around the pasture. I saw Tug and spoke to him, he was laying near the fence. I decided to enter the pasture and see if he would let me pet him for a minute. Sure enough he stayed seated when I approached him. I sat down beside him. He let me just sit there and pet him. He especially likes to be rubbed under his chin. I found that out when I was bottle feeding him…..so I gave him a rub there and he was like putty in my hand. I couldn’t believe that he was content to just sit there with me. I looked at my watch after several minutes….thinking I really should get busy doing the other things I needed to do. Then I decided….no…this is where I want to spend this time.

We enjoyed each other’s company for 20 minutes. That just doesn’t happen. All the other cows…looked on with a puzzled look. Although they all seem to like me and Billy….they have that instinct in them to fear us a little. A healthy respect/fear is a good thing I suppose, but it sure was fun to have a little Tug time. Time where he was back to his old self.

He is happy, healthy and seems to be enjoying his life. He will always be special to us.

6 Jul

The New Chicks on the block….

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: nature. Leave a comment

Last week when my niece and I went to pick out chickens we also got to see some quail eggs.

Aren’t they beautiful? They were just tiny little things….

I like it when an owner gets so excited about their animals that they want to show them to you. He not only showed us these eggs…but the incubator with all the babies in it as well. Here he is holding a few in his hands….they were so small.

These little babies were hatched that day! They were just precious.

He showed us some Bob Whites. I don’t think I have ever seen a Bob White. I have heard them before…the call they make sounds just like they are saying…BOB WHITE…BOB WHITE. Maybe that is how they got their names….I suppose I might look that up.

Anyway, the female has the yellow/creme color on her head and white is on the male’s head.

I believe this was a bob white egg he retrieved from the cage….and yes, that is a little poo on his finger. It is my experience that a little animal matter here and there is just part of the process. When we first started having all these different animals….I wasn’t so comfortable around all that. But it is kind of like having a newborn baby…you get used to the diapers and all that goes with it.

We picked out several hens that day….I tried to write the names of the kind of hens down as he told me. Hopefully I am getting them right.

These two are Wyandotte’s

A Welsummer

A Cuckoo Maran

It is supposed to lay a “chocolate” egg….which is really just a very dark brown egg. I think that will be pretty neat to see!

Now I am still trying to figure out the rest of them…..

Matter of fact I may have all of them wrong so …if you know for sure…please feel free to leave me a message and let me know.

I have a Rhode Island Red, a New Hampshire Red and an Ameraucana…which is supposed to have a light blue/green egg, oh …and a Golden Maran.

I think this is the Rhode Island red…?

I think this is the New Hampshire Red…?

And maybe this is the Ameraucana…?

I think this is a very pretty hen….maybe this is the Golden Maran…which should also give chocolate eggs.

So far none of the girls have laid any eggs. I had a little talk with them about that….it’s like…past time. After all they have been at their new home for over a week now.

Maybe they are waiting to be named….

I am working on that.

Hopefully they will cooperate and I will get to take some pictures of all the different color eggs soon.

I can’t wait!

1 Jul

Maggie Mae and her baby chick

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: animals, nature. Leave a comment

June 10th our girl was sitting on eggs.

That same night…Billy took our other girl to the neighbor’s coop so she would be safe and be around some friends.

Our girl continued sitting on eggs. Billy had worked hard to seal up any spots he could find where the predators apparently had been entering.

I set the live trap….in hopes of finding out what had been bothering our girls.

Only for the creature to toss my flowers out of the window box……

The big rock by the rocking chair was in the flower box, weighing down the artificial flowers. Whatever is digging around is pretty strong.

My vote is still a raccoon. But we may never know….because even to this day….I haven’t been able to lure it into my trap. I have tried…an egg…cat food….and peanut butter.

NOTHING….

But, I am NOT giving up.

We cleared about a 4 foot space away from the fence line so the creature that is lurking in the brush can be seen more easily.

We also found some coated chicken wire that came from a commercial poultry farm. It doesn’t rust like the other and is sturdier. It is attached to our existing fence, filling in the gaps. It is also laid in such a way that it should help prevent creatures from being able to dig under the fence.

There are still some places we are working on…but all in all it seems to be more secure. The one thing I have learned is….if the predator wants in bad enough…..it will probably find a way.

I could see our other girl from the road when I would head to the farm to feed Laverne. She seemed just fine. Our neighbors said she fit right in….there wasn’t any fighting among the hens…so that was good news. They did say that whenever I would drive by on the 4 wheeler she would run to the gate. That is what all our girls used to do whenever I arrived at the coop, if they were in the yard. It made me miss my girls all the more.

Billy came in one day with that look.

I hate to tell you….BUT.

Yes, something had gotten our girl in the neighbor’s coop. She was the only one. Whatever it was didn’t bother any of their girls…..just ours.

We were heart broken.

I continued to check on the last one we had in our coop…..sitting on her eggs. I will have to tell you that I dreaded opening the coop door each morning. I was so afraid something was going to happen to her too. I tried to just…. be prepared.

All we could do….was wait.

June 20th I noticed a broken egg in the nest…..

I was so excited!!!! BUT I didn’t want to get too excited because I couldn’t hear any cheeping or is it chirping? I began to wonder if possibly the egg wasn’t fertile and maybe she had opened it herself…? I didn’t know…this was our first time going through this.

Each day I stood quietly….trying to hear….something….anything….but NOPE.

June 26th…..Mama was making a little noise when I entered the coop…..then I heard the peeping!!!!

WOO….HOO…. we had a baby….we really, really had a baby!!!!!

I was so excited. I was snapping pictures right and left. I suppose the other one didn’t want to get left out of the photo session….because all of a sudden….there was baby number two!

How exciting!!!

How sweet is that?!?!?!?!

My niece came to visit me for a few days….so we went to pick out some new hens.

We decided to get a few babies too, thinking they could all hang out together. They were just a little older…and they are not buffs either.

We picked out 8 hens and 5 babies. That would give us 9 hens counting the Mama we already had and 7 babies counting the 2 new ones that had just hatched.

They are all different kinds. I am hoping that we will be able to name them and be able to tell them apart now.

Just as I suspected….babies are frail. We already lost one of the hatched babies….and two of the ones I bought.

BUT….

Mama…which my niece and I named Maggie Mae and her other baby are doing well. Not knowing if the babies are boy’s or girls…we will have to wait on their names.

It is sweet to watch Maggie Mae interact with her chick. She isn’t roosting on the bar at night as far as I know. She has moved to the floor….into a corner.

She tucks baby away so that it is nice and warm….and protects it as best she can.

They ventured outside the other day….first time in over three weeks for Maggie Mae. She was devoted to hatching those eggs. She gave herself a dust bath and really seemed to enjoy being back outdoors.

Each morning she waits until all the other hens exit the coop….then she brings her baby out with her.

Here is a quick clip of them outdoors this morning.

I am keeping the other babies in a cage. Seems like the bigger hens were eating all their food and intimidating them. They would stand in a corner…peeping their little hearts out. They seem much calmer in the cage….I suppose it is their security. Maybe Maggie Mae will eventually watch out for them too.

I take the cage in and out each day so they can enjoy the fresh air.

I tried putting Maggie Mae and her baby in the cage for their protection….but the new baby is so small it could walk right through the cage openings.

I will just have to let them do what comes naturally. Hopefully…all will be well.

They sure were enjoying life this morning!

It is sweeeeet…..so very sweet.

14 Jun

Goat Buffet

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: nature, plants. 1 comment

We fenced a section for the goats to clear and live in, back in 2012. I think it was about 7 acres.

We have been amazed at how well they have cleared it….and kept it clear.

This was taken yesterday….

This…. was taken near the same spot last March, when we first put the goats in the fence.

Amazing isn’t it? At that time there were just four goats eating.

This year we have four adult goats and 5 baby goats in this same space. We kept watching and waiting for Spring to bring all the new growth. Apparently they are eating it as fast as it can grow. Although it looks nice to be able to see through the woods, there isn’t enough food for everyone.

We enjoy seeing the rock formations without all the underbrush. They have done a great job…and I think they have enjoyed every bite! That is exactly why we put them there.

Billy has a new spot that he wants cleaned up. Soooooo….. he has had new fencing put up. We are trying an electric fence this time. Hoot n Nanny has been following in her mothers foot steps and started getting her head caught in the fence a late lately. Pearl, her Mama has always been bad about doing that. We have learned what a certain cry sounds like when they are caught. Most of the time they are way up in the woods. Another reason why we try to do a head count on all the animals regularly. When we are out of town though, I worry about them mostly for this reason. They can feed themselves in a nice terrain of food…but when they get their head stuck…they are at a predators mercy. They can also break their necks trying to get loose.

We are hoping this new fencing will eliminate a lot of problems.

Pearl, well she is the one goat who tends to push the envelope the most. First it was getting her head caught…now it is jumping over the electric fence. The first day she got out three times…that I know of. The good thing was that she didn’t go anywhere. She just thought the grass was greener on the other side.

I am about as hard headed as she is. Whenever I caught her on the outside I made her jump right back inside. Of course you know I really can’t make her do anything she really doesn’t want to do, but at least she made me feel like I was in control.

By the end of day one….she seemed to stay in the fence. We have decided to add a third string of wire to help remedy that problem.

As you can see there is a whole lot of food all around them.

They didn’t waste any time getting started.

I am excited to see how this looks after they do their work.

We left the babies in the old fence. They seem to be able to find enough food. There little tummies are full by the end of the day.

I happened to catch Lucy, Freida and Viola resting from a long days work. These three seem to hang out together. I guess they know who there siblings are.

I suppose Lucy has been adopted by these two. Aren’t they cute?

Buster Brown and Mary Jane were still out doing a little weed eating.

I think they kind of like having the older goats gone. They can have the goat house back, the older ones always kicked them out when it rained.

For now….everyone’s happy, even Pearl.

I just hope she doesn’t get out and eat the neighbors garden……….

11 Jun

Birds of a feather….flock together….?

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: animals, beak, nature. 1 comment

Duck….

Duck…..

Goose!

These are our neighbors ducks….that come over for a visit. She raised them from itty bitty babies.

Once they were old enough to stay in the yard they ended up with a friend….a goose….or a gander????? I have no clue. I think…. it thinks…..that it is a duck. It had a sibling….but it disappeared….kinda like my chickens have. Oddly enough nothing has bothered any of the others, for a long time.

The goose…or gander….has been adopted by these ducks. They sure are cute.

I did notice that one of these ducks has a different colored beak. I tried to find out what that meant…but I still do not have a clear answer….sooooo?

They meander around the yard eating here and there….

They really are pretty….and sweet.

For the most part…..they mind their own business.

They have started making their way around the house.

This morning they were quacking at the back door….looking at us through the glass….too cute.

The other day Billy just sat down and played with them.

After they make their rounds they like to gather together under the trees…and rest in the shade for a spell.

Then they waddle across the yard….

eating along the way….

Until someone decides it REALLY is time to go……

There is no more eating….and they file in line….to cross the street.

Well…..almost in line…. This one seems to want to do everything it’s own way.

It brings a smile to see these little creatures walking around.

I’m glad these ducks are fine, but I can’t help but wonder why my hens are gone….and these ducks that are not in a fence are not.

I suppose chicken just taste better to everyone ….even to the predators.

I checked on our girls yesterday. They are just fine. The sitting hen is still sitting. The other girl is really enjoying the company of the other hens. She took a dust bath yesterday and my neighbor said the rooster has shared many fine worms with her. So far the others have not “hen pecked” her. So for now, they are all being nice. That ‘s good….real good.

Billy and I….well….we are enjoying the ducks.

10 Jun

Here’s the scoop…on the coop

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: animals, fence line, nature. 2 comments

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!

4 Jun

Not good……

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: animals, nature, outdoors. 2 comments

Every day I count the chickens when they come out in the morning…and when they go in at night. Anytime I pass by the coop area…I count heads. I have a neighbor who loves the girls as much as I do. She cooks them homemade cornbread regularly. They run to the fence when they see her just like they do when they see me. They cluck and make the cute little noises that hens… make when she heads toward the fence. They know that she is coming with a treat. She talks to them and can tell them apart better than I can.

We went out of town a couple of weeks ago just for two or three days. When we returned we had two girls that had disappeared. The only trace of evidence were a few feathers here and there in the yard….and a war wound left on Roo.

He obviously tried to protect the girls, but whatever took them….was a mean old thing. My neighbor said that Roo comes at her like he is going to get her now that the attack has happened.

The girls stayed close to him for days after that.

A week or so went by and I was passing by and did the head count. I was missing one….and I saw something in the grass.

I went into the fenced area and followed the trail

Whatever it was…it chased our girl around the yard before it got her. Sprinkling feathers everywhere.

Then it apparently pulled her through the fence and into the woods.

Talk about a sick stomach….that will give you one. And it all happened just an hour after I let them out that morning.

I have been really watching…and trying to do what I could in between cows being born…bottle feeding calves, and goats getting their heads stuck in the fencing. Sometimes it is almost more than you can do in a day…..or a week.

I put everyone up the other night and they just looked pitiful. They all hunched together in the coop.

Egg productivity is way down. I didn’t know if they were just not producing because of the trauma…or if something was stealing the eggs.

The next morning….I let them out as usual and within an hour and a half….Roo was gone. This time there were feathers in the coop.

The girls seemed scared…and I don’t blame them.

Billy and I have discussed what else we could do fencing wise. It is a big undertaking to make most any kind of improvement. We are trying…but the predator is faster at this than we are.

Saturday, I cleaned the coop real well. I removed all Roo’s feathers and all the old bedding. I put fresh shaving down for the girls. They like it when I am working near them. They are curious little creatures, scurrying around to see what you are doing. Making you feel appreciated when you are through. Once complete they walk around their little dwelling and coo, seeming to admire everything you did for them. How can you not love that.

Sunday morning we had a quick, but hard rain shower move through. I decided not to let the girls out until we got home from church. I would then be around to keep that third eye out for trouble. I opened the main door…thinking this time I would keep the little side door shut…. so I could monitor all activity. I counted them as they passed by….One, Two, Three….

What?…Where’s Four? I put up four last night when I closed them in…..where’s four? I almost panicked. I looked behind the door, under the nesting boxes, and in the little rafters overhead….GONE.

NUMBER FOUR WAS GONE… The only evidence….was feathers…. again. This time I knew they were fresh feathers because I had just cleaned the coop. YEP….another sick stomach.

Those poor, poor babies. What horror they must have witnessed. And they were stuck inside with whatever it was!

Sunday afternoon…Billy and I looked at every possible opening that the coop might have. It is built really well so the only place we could see were the eaves. There is a tree right behind the coop….possibly a raccoon is climbing the tree and getting onto the roof and climbing in through the eaves. If it isn’t a coon it must be something that climbs. It could possibly be a snake, but there again it looks like it has to come in through the roof. I sure don’t want to walk in on whatever it is!

Billy worked until dusk getting it secured. While he was there he hung a star that we had been intending to do for a while.

The girls stood from a distance looking as if they were making sure the star was centered….however, admiring his work…I’m sure.

While Billy was there one of the girls laid and egg in the flower box. He hadn’t remembered to grab it before he left that night. The next morning this is all that was left of the egg. I had seen an egg like this one day after Roo died in the coop. Soooo…..whatever came up was the same thing that had come in the coop before.

Monday morning three girls were still in the coop safe and sound. Hopefully…. we have at least gotten the coop secured.

Yesterday, one of the girls didn’t want to come out of the coop, she decided to sit in the nesting box all day long. I suppose she is scared. I didn’t get an egg either yesterday. However, I didn’t move her to see if she was sitting on one. I decided not to bother her. Poor girls.

This morning everyone was well….. so far.

9 May

Little Tug…..

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: animals, motherhood, nature. 3 comments

I am writing this story with great hesitation. It is actually embarrassing.

Why? You might be asking yourself………

Because we are feeding TUG……..

I know…..another animal that we are having to bottle feed. Sometimes I think that our critters just know that we will…..so they have them….and leave the feeding up to us.

The whole labor and delivery was very different with this heifer. This is her first calf. Maybe you remember that she had it almost three weeks ago. When I found her in labor she was with all the other cows….which is unusual. Normally a cow will go off to herself to have her baby. Later she rejoins the group….sometimes with the baby..but usually she will hide the baby in the woods or high grass. She returns to feed it throughout the day. That usually goes on for about two weeks or so. The baby then starts to join the mama in the field laying down while the other adults graze. The baby will get up ever so often to move with the herd then lay back down. They are like newborns and nap a good bit for the first month or two.

Back to the delivery story…the cows stayed with this Mama…Bailey….the whole time. Once delivered the Mama licked him a couple of times….but oddly enough some of the other cows came over and started licking him. Mama’s lick the babies to clean them… This also stimulates them to stand up. Tug took a little while to stand. Mama didn’t want to get up either….Billy and I pushed and pulled….but it was the encouragement and pushing of another cow that actually got her to stand. Once on her feet she walked away. She wouldn’t come back and feed her baby. That is not good, because the baby has to have the colostrum within so many hours after delivery or it will die. By night fall she had not fed the baby…..it was weak and could hardly stand. We got Bailey and tug into an enclosed fenced area so she would more or less have to feed him. Besides, we had a lot of rain headed our way and this would be the best spot for them. Apparently delivery had been stressful and long for both of them. Our neighbor said that sometimes if they have been stressed the Mama might act weird like this for a little while. Especially a first time Mama. So we just watched and waited.

Bailey still wouldn’t let the baby nurse. He was able to get a swig here and there…but she would kick him off. The next morning when we checked in on them we saw her bag was so full she was dripping milk….but she would not let him nurse. This went on for another couple days. He was just getting a swallow here and there. Mama was wanting out of the fence….oddly the other cows would come up to the fence and moo at her. Not all of them at once, but one every so often. I don’t know what they were saying…but it was different. It was a different kind of mooing that was going on. I promise you it was if they were scolding her.

Billy and I finally decided to just let her out into the field. Keeping her contained was not giving us the results we had hoped for. She still was not being the kind of mother she needed to be to this baby. Sometimes new mothers just need to learn….but it was obvious….she doesn’t want to take care of this baby.

I opened the gate and she bellowed a big moo and took off to meet the other cows in the next field. Baby went too, but he slowly walked away…not knowing what to do. He found a section of brush to lay under. Bailey greeted the other cows, but they were not very happy to see her. They all started pushing her around. Especially the black cows. They head butted her a couple of times. That is not normal for our girls. They pushed and shoved for a little while….and then they kind of shunned her. She eventually walked off by herself. The other cows went up to the baby and all started licking him. He was hungry of course and tried to nurse on each and every one of them, except for Punkin who is already nursing the other baby Rey. I was totally amazed at how patient they were. He even checked out the donkey. Throughout the day I saw that she still was not going to feed him and the only cow that has milk right now…wasn’t going to share. After much deliberation…..Billy and I eventually decided that it looked like we better feed him.

I know….we even discussed it with some other farm people here and they said that they would feed him too if he was theirs. Sometimes…just like with humans….you get one that just doesn’t want to be a Mama. I think that is extremely sad.

Still, when he is in the field with the others….he goes up to them and tries to nurse. Later, I give him a bottle when they aren’t paying attention. I hope they think they are satisfying him. Brandy is Tug’s grandmother, she will be delivering soon herself. It is my hope that she will let him nurse with her new baby when she delivers.

Meanwhile, we are soaking up the sweet affection of this baby. It is rare….and although I hope he will be taken in and fed by one of the others…..I am enjoying this rare opportunity.

He is really friendly and enjoys being petted. I try not to baby him too much…but every once in a while I have to love on him.

At least I hope this will be a rare opportunity…….we really want them all to be raised by their Mama’s.

He is precious….precious.

« Older Entries

I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

Posts Tagged ‘nature’

More Scoop on the Coop….

The Hen Whisperer

A Little Tug Time

The New Chicks on the block….

Maggie Mae and her baby chick

Goat Buffet

Birds of a feather….flock together….?

Here’s the scoop…on the coop

Not good……

Little Tug…..

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