Coyote!

Good morning, blog readers.

This is an announcement. There was a coyote out by the coop this morning. If it hadn't been staring at my chickens, I would have said that they were majestic. They were an awesome coyote, with a full winter coat and a well fed look. 

Casper (see image below) was let out to the balcony. His barking immediately frightened the coyote, which ran off into the woods.

Casper the dog.

The girls were shocked by the incident, and still were when I went to check for paw prints.

. . .

The coyote was first sneaking around under a tree,

but then decided on coming out into the light of day. 

As evidenced by these supposed tracks. 

Of course, the girls were completely oblivious to it all, even when the coyote was in the open, until the coyote started running. Then they started doing a warning call like there would be no tomorrow, which there wouldn't have been (for the girls, anyhow) if we hadn't noticed.

But today's a beautiful day.

The Bears

 There were bears by the coop last night.

There was a big, possibly mama, bear that was attempting a break-in for some chicken. They moved a ton of dirt and broke part of the fence. They were caught in the act last night. They left once after discovery, and then came back for more yelling. They left again, and then two sets of eyes were spotted in the woods, so it was either the mama and the baby or two babies. This bear must have known about electric fences, because she just dug under the fence and broke part of it too. Now we have to patch up the hole and be on high alert. All the girls are fine and were absolutely oblivious to the fuss last night. They didn't even notice. When we went out to examine, they just yelled at us, telling us to let them out.

I wonder if this was going through the bear's head. . .

Stay tuned for more posts, and happy beginning of scratch week!

Chickens and Pumpkins

 October

is the time for pumpkins

and chickens.

This year, my flock of four are ready to celebrate the season (hopefully with pumpkin piñatas). Honey is more pumpkin-like, so in her honor I present to you my master piece.

Here are some flower pictures from the yard.

This one's a bit frazzled.

. . .

Anyway, I brought the girls some more food

which they rushed to get

and then left, except for Lily.

I have a good no-chicken-attacking-birds defense.

This stick.

Which doubles as a roost and a raven-whacking weapon.
Just in case.

When it's time to go in

I get the treats. 

It's the end of grub week, so last day of grubs before scratch week.

The girls look to me for tasty dried bug larvae.

I wonder

if they actually care about me

or if I'm just the 'Treat Fairy' to them.

Happy Grub Week!

. . .

Now onto other subjects.

The fall is coccidiosis season. We have found signs of a possible coccidiosis out break, but no one seemed too badly affected aside from Lily, who has just recovered from being lethargic for a couple days, possibly due to 'coccidiosis season'.

On that note, we'll end this post here.

Happy chicken keeping, and stay tuned for my next post.

Coral

 

Coral in her favorite bush.

She was always an independent chicken, but we loved her just the same.

She would always outrun and outsmart us when we tried to get her back in the coop without grubs.

She was an avid sun-bather.

She was kind to her flock mates.

. . .

As you know, she had a limp. This quickly escalated until she was unable to walk.

On top of this, she already had to be treated for other issues.

Soon she spent all her time asleep.

She died the night before July 16.

Goodbye, Coral.

Coral and her friends.

Questions

 

Hello!

Summer break has been great so far. The foster babies are doing fine and are currently learning how to roost (Two weeks late for starting that. . .).

However, Coral has been having many issues lately.

A couple weeks previously we noticed that Coral had lost feathers on her bottom and that the few feathers that were there were encrusted with chicken droppings. We started by bathing her (not much fun), but then we used a cream instead, (occasionally bathing her). We've been feeding her yogurt as well.

But that isn't the problem I have questions about.

. . .

7/14/2024

The regular daily chicken outing started as usual (but with a special treat    tomato). After their treat, they wander around the yard. Then, I notice that Coral is limping.

She is rather puffed as well, and when I pick her up, she didn't run, or squirm, which she always does.

Pictures of the previously mentioned Coral.

Her right foot (bad foot),

and her good foot (left foot)

. . .

Question #2

Cinnamon.

She is developing this big, pink comb and wattles, and thick legs, too.

Lucy legs

Cinnamon legs.

Investigating my toes.

Cinnamon's first shed feather I've found so far!

. . .

To conclude this post, a Pearl picture.

New Chicks

Meet the two new girls. 

Their names are Lucy and Cinnamon.

They hatched the day before yesterday, on the 11th. 

However, I am only fostering them until they are old enough to go their forever home.

Lucy is an Ameraucana chick. I'm not quite sure what color she will turn out to be, though. Her adopted sister, Cinnamon, is some kind of Maran cross who is supposed to turn out mostly black.

Mostly I'm worried about whether they're going to be roosters or hens.

The pictures above and below are of them riding in a cardboard box on the way to our house.

They were very interested in the chick heater.

. . .

After the chicks settled in for a nap I let out the girls.

Ginger soon walked up to the door (possibly wondering if that was where the grubs came from).

Everyone enjoyed the time outside.

Mornings and Mouseholes

 I have created a collection of sunrise pictures.

Most of these are taken on the way to school.

Next to our chicken coop, in the snow piled against it, there were several small tunnels.

Most of them are at least partially melted.

(Not sure why this picture kind of looks pink to me.)

Another half-tunnel.

The girls say hi!

This winter I also saw a mouse running along the bottom of the run when locking up the chickens one night. However, I'm not sure if it was a mouse or a vole. I can probably assume there are both types of rodent living near the base of my chicken's home.