It seems as if there is always something going on since we moved to the land. The other morning I went to the coop and let the girls out. I counted as they waddled out of their little coop opening. Softly cooing as they scampered down the walk board, they are just full of energy in the mornings. I counted only six….as I made my way into the coop I looked for the missing hen. There she was….pretty as a picture…sitting in her little hen box.
She was working real hard, trying to produce an egg. I couldn’t leave….I just had to hang out for a little while…hoping to catch it in action. Sure enough, after a few more minutes, she laid an egg…right there for me to see. I tell you…..it is just a little miracle. Every time I see that happen I stand in total amazement.
I notice that the hen tends to stand over the egg for just a minute while the shell dries….causing it to harden. It is the neatest thing. She took her foot and rolled it over a tad, then exited the hen box. She scooted down the walk board and headed to the feed. By this time several of the other girls had come back into the coop….cackleing….as hens do. It is too cute. They all have such personality. One of them likes to stand at my feet while I scoop out the feed and put it into the container. She likes for me to put some in my hand and offer it to her. She gets all excited when I lower my hand and let her feed from it. I was a little scared to do this the first time…..thinking… what is going to happen if she misses the food and gets my hand? Well….I found out…because that does happen from time to time…but surprisingly enough…it feels like a tug…it doesn’t hurt. So that has become a regular thing and it seems that we both enjoy that time together.
This is a picture from a different day…but our routine is the same.
I love it when the girls stop and give me a photo opportunity….such as this one.
The other night after work I went to check on May, our goat. She is nice and round…I do not know exactly when she got pregnant…but I have a general idea. You can’t go on the fact that they are just…. Round…but taking that and my calculations into consideration….hopefully…. I am at least close to predicting the date. So…I opted to pin her up so I could help her IF she needs it in the near future. Besides, being pinned up is like staying at a goat hotel. She gets a lot of extra’s…..I am not seeing her complain about the accommodations….if you know what I mean.
This picture was actually taken back at the end of November…..before I put her up. She’s a cute little Mama to be.
It’s been about a week since she entered the goat hotel. Thus far, when I go over to the farm to take a good look at her….she just looks right back at me. Nothing happening…..yet. However…..I am anxiously waiting.
It gets dark so early this time of year…it makes it hard to check on everyone in the evenings. Billy and I decided to divide and conquer…the other night after work. I was to check on May…and Billy said he would put the girls up.
May and I exchanged “LOOKS” once again and then I headed toward the house.
Billy was still at the chicken coop. I slowed the car down and saw that he was in the adjoining woods with a flashlight. I stopped and observed….. up and over came one of the girls….her feet hit the ground running as she scooted as fast as she could to the coop door. He stayed in the woods for a few minutes longer. I didn’t have a good feeling about what I was seeing. Sure enough, a few minutes later he came to the car and said….and then there were six.
When you see this….it is NOT a good sign.
It literally made me sick to my stomach. Apparently something reached through the fence and attacked one of the girls.
I’m not sure why the other hen was on the outside of the fence when Billy arrived. Possibly she got frightened when the other hen was attacked and flew over. Billy said she was trying so hard to get back into the fence. She ended up alright…but the other hen….not a good ending.
Possibly you remember that we lost our rooster and a hen while we were on our Mission trip a few weeks ago. The hen disappeared, leaving nothing but a mound of feathers. The rooster lost his head….and many feathers. This latest attack was another one where the head was taken off…..but she was left….laying in a pile of feathers. I spared you from having to see that part. I buried her before taking this picture. It is a very sad thing to have any of our critters die….especially like that.
I made the girls stay in the house the next day. The coop is big enough for them to meander around….but they would rather be outside. I just couldn’t think about having to bury another one. I was also in hopes that whatever had been lurking around might go away if the hens weren’t out for a day or so. Meanwhile, I have been thinking about how I can better secure their surroundings. I know these things are going to happen from time to time…but I sure DON’T like it.
I suppose when you have animals…you have to take all the good excitement along with all the bad excitement.
Even though I never was able to name each hen….because I still can’t tell them apart….I find that I still get attached to them.
Hopefully, we will just have good excitement for a while.
I am on a quest to find more girls to add to the coop…and another rooster.
And I will be busy…. securing their area….trying to make it as safe as I can.
Ah….the ups and downs of farm living.
All life is beautiful…..precious…..and fragile.
I've Gone Country 