The first day when I brought the chickens home, they were so terrified of me and the whole situation. Then, having obviously witnessed the slaughter by a raccoon of their companion, they shrieked and ran for three or four days, maybe more.
I talk to them as I approach their pen. When I dump their food, I say, "Delilah" in a very high voice. They still ran to the farthest place, just not so panicky. Finally, on Friday, Cher came to the door to greet me. When I came in, she moved away a bit. Bette still moved far away, but not in a panic.
When I dumped their food, Cher stood back about one chicken step. It makes me happy to see them relaxed around me. They no longer display terror when I approach. Of course, I am The Bringer of Food, so would like me.
Sunday, they were very relaxed and did not wait for me to move away from their food. Monday. Cher came right to my feed, looked up and jumped and snatched food from my hand!
Friday night at the Freosk, I got a good freebie. A little package of Belvita chocolate cookies were dispensed. They were delicious. Plus, the little chocolate snack in the store kept me from wanting a snack to eat in the store or to bring home.
I cannot go to the Farmer's Market. Octoberfest activities are occurring, so the street it blocked off. I cannot walk two or more blocks to shop. Bummer.
The temperature reached the 90s Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with blue skies and little breeze. However, this has been a wasted Saturday for me. My head is still stuffy with aching eardrums. I feel crummy but it seems not to be worse.
Showing posts with label hens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hens. Show all posts
Monday, October 8, 2018
Thursday, September 13, 2018
The Other Two!
Tuesday
I brought home three hens.
Wednesday
One was torn open by a raccoon.
Thursday
The other two are still alive.
Between worrying about the car and hens, I slept little. The car issue is bothering me so that my colon reacts.
Neighbor friend got things out the car today that I could not lift. Another friend, one who mows for me, is coming to see if he can see how the raccoon got in the pen. I will have him carry the trap back there and set it.
I am very relieved the hens are okay.
There are two can for trash that has to be carried to the road each week. Then, I have another three. All three of those were in chicken pen to keep them from blowing away or having to be moved for mowing. Of the three, one is for chickens to sit in under the table to protect them from wind or rain or cold. The other sits outside the pen for trash. That leaves one new can, the only one with a lid.
One of the three in the pen was near the door and on its side. When I opened the door to feed them yesterday, the other yellow hen was hiding between the can and the chain link fence. This is perfect for raccoons. They reach through the fence and grab the immobile chicken and rip it limb from gut. So, yesterday, best I could, I removed all the cans from the inside perimeter and put them toward the middle of the pen.
I attribute the hens being alive to the moving of the cans from the walls. Otherwise, they would snuggle up to the fence behind a garbage can. Today, the cans are all where they need to be.
The last hen, Dominique, knew her chickenly duties and performed them well. She scratched here and she scratched there. If I were in the pen, she made sure to scratch dirt all over my feet and onto her food I just put into as clean container! She scratched dirt through the chain link. However, she only scratched it through the door, never the walls! Consequently, dirt piled up right outside the chain link door. Eventually, the door would not open. Well, I could not force it open, neither could I shovel it away.
My friend today shoveled the mound of dirt in the heat and humidity and in a long-sleeved shirt. Now, I can get the door open. Before, I could barely squeeze through, snagging skin and clothing. The mosquitoes are so thick and fierce that I wore a heavy sweat shirt over my summer blouse and with long pants and feet in sandals sprayed with Cutter. It was like an oven out at 8 am, but anything is better than being blanketed by blood-sucking mosquitoes. My friend was looking very hot. He was on his way to work, but he knew what I needed.
So, other than stress about the car, I am a happy camper today.
I brought home three hens.
Wednesday
One was torn open by a raccoon.
Thursday
The other two are still alive.
Between worrying about the car and hens, I slept little. The car issue is bothering me so that my colon reacts.
Neighbor friend got things out the car today that I could not lift. Another friend, one who mows for me, is coming to see if he can see how the raccoon got in the pen. I will have him carry the trap back there and set it.
I am very relieved the hens are okay.
There are two can for trash that has to be carried to the road each week. Then, I have another three. All three of those were in chicken pen to keep them from blowing away or having to be moved for mowing. Of the three, one is for chickens to sit in under the table to protect them from wind or rain or cold. The other sits outside the pen for trash. That leaves one new can, the only one with a lid.
One of the three in the pen was near the door and on its side. When I opened the door to feed them yesterday, the other yellow hen was hiding between the can and the chain link fence. This is perfect for raccoons. They reach through the fence and grab the immobile chicken and rip it limb from gut. So, yesterday, best I could, I removed all the cans from the inside perimeter and put them toward the middle of the pen.
I attribute the hens being alive to the moving of the cans from the walls. Otherwise, they would snuggle up to the fence behind a garbage can. Today, the cans are all where they need to be.
The last hen, Dominique, knew her chickenly duties and performed them well. She scratched here and she scratched there. If I were in the pen, she made sure to scratch dirt all over my feet and onto her food I just put into as clean container! She scratched dirt through the chain link. However, she only scratched it through the door, never the walls! Consequently, dirt piled up right outside the chain link door. Eventually, the door would not open. Well, I could not force it open, neither could I shovel it away.
My friend today shoveled the mound of dirt in the heat and humidity and in a long-sleeved shirt. Now, I can get the door open. Before, I could barely squeeze through, snagging skin and clothing. The mosquitoes are so thick and fierce that I wore a heavy sweat shirt over my summer blouse and with long pants and feet in sandals sprayed with Cutter. It was like an oven out at 8 am, but anything is better than being blanketed by blood-sucking mosquitoes. My friend was looking very hot. He was on his way to work, but he knew what I needed.
So, other than stress about the car, I am a happy camper today.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
From Two Stories to An Efficiency Apartment
It's puzzling. But, it was a conscious choice. There were other choices.
For as long as I have had chickens, there were two boxes stacked on a table in the dog pen. Chickens like to go high to get away from predators. All four of them slept on top of the higher Rubbermaid bin. Then, when I had to get new boxes, there was no room on top and below the tarp. Then, the three left slept in the top box. No one wanted in the bottom box. When they started laying, no one slept in the bottom box. They laid in the bottom box. It's been that way since 2009.
Finally, Dominique had enough. I supposed she got sick of too much poop in her sleeping box up top. Maybe? At any rate, she decided to sleep in the bottom box. This worried me.
She had it all figured out. She sleeps on the right side of the bottom box and lays eggs on left side. However, she does not lay in the pine straw, even when I now make sure it is clean. Every day, I spread it out and makes sure poop is not on top. She kicks it all over to the sleep side and lays eggs on the bare plastic bin.
Let me straighten this out. She slept on top and laid on the bottom. When exbf could no longer change out her bedding, I tried to fix her bedding by carrying two handsful of pinestraw and laying it on top of the old stuff. Sometimes, I turned over the poopy stuff and put more clean straw on top. When I was shaking and crying for that week, I did nothing except feed her and check on her water. Oh, I did look for an egg.
Since I have never heard of a hen doing this, laying and sleeping in the same box, I am turning to you chicken people.
An update: This is Sept 10, but Blogger said this was posted on Sept 9. No, that is when I wrote it.
Update....grrr......when I did the update, blogger did and changed the date to Sept. 10, today's date.
Your turn
Yes, I know chickens are predictable and at the same time unpredictable. Have you ever heard of hens who choose to sleep and lay in the same box? Maybe you have a stranger story.
For as long as I have had chickens, there were two boxes stacked on a table in the dog pen. Chickens like to go high to get away from predators. All four of them slept on top of the higher Rubbermaid bin. Then, when I had to get new boxes, there was no room on top and below the tarp. Then, the three left slept in the top box. No one wanted in the bottom box. When they started laying, no one slept in the bottom box. They laid in the bottom box. It's been that way since 2009.
Finally, Dominique had enough. I supposed she got sick of too much poop in her sleeping box up top. Maybe? At any rate, she decided to sleep in the bottom box. This worried me.
She had it all figured out. She sleeps on the right side of the bottom box and lays eggs on left side. However, she does not lay in the pine straw, even when I now make sure it is clean. Every day, I spread it out and makes sure poop is not on top. She kicks it all over to the sleep side and lays eggs on the bare plastic bin.
Let me straighten this out. She slept on top and laid on the bottom. When exbf could no longer change out her bedding, I tried to fix her bedding by carrying two handsful of pinestraw and laying it on top of the old stuff. Sometimes, I turned over the poopy stuff and put more clean straw on top. When I was shaking and crying for that week, I did nothing except feed her and check on her water. Oh, I did look for an egg.
Since I have never heard of a hen doing this, laying and sleeping in the same box, I am turning to you chicken people.
An update: This is Sept 10, but Blogger said this was posted on Sept 9. No, that is when I wrote it.
Update....grrr......when I did the update, blogger did and changed the date to Sept. 10, today's date.
Your turn
Yes, I know chickens are predictable and at the same time unpredictable. Have you ever heard of hens who choose to sleep and lay in the same box? Maybe you have a stranger story.
Friday, September 9, 2016
I Need Competition
When I give Dominique food, she just sometimes looks at me as if to say, "Huh? This is it?" She dives right in most of the time, but sometimes she is very tentative.
This makes me think back to when I had four hens. They each would dive in and get a piece of bread or scrap of chicken or vegetables and then beat a swift retreat to one of the four corners of their pen. I wish I had made a video of this action.
Chickens are very competitive. But, Dominique has no competition! I need some competition out in the chicken yard.
When the children were small, we had Puppy who was the most jealous and competitive dog I have ever seen. My neighbor behind me would put out two plates of food on his patio each evening for our cat and dog. I was looking out the window as Puppy arrived well ahead of our cat, Cat. Puppy went to one plate and sniffed it. She then went to the other, identical plate and took the baked potato from it, deposited it on her plate next to her baked potato and started eating.
No one would name the cat and dog, so they remained Cat and Puppy. When we got another dog, I named him. I gave the rest of the household a week or so, maybe three days to name the second dog. Finally, I named him Rudolph. Everyone in the house moaned and groaned but no one had a name. So, his name stayed, shortened by me to Rudy.
Dominique needs some competition at the feed! Or, is it best she eats at her leisure?
Your turn
Do you have animals who are competitive? With food or your lap?
This makes me think back to when I had four hens. They each would dive in and get a piece of bread or scrap of chicken or vegetables and then beat a swift retreat to one of the four corners of their pen. I wish I had made a video of this action.
Chickens are very competitive. But, Dominique has no competition! I need some competition out in the chicken yard.
When the children were small, we had Puppy who was the most jealous and competitive dog I have ever seen. My neighbor behind me would put out two plates of food on his patio each evening for our cat and dog. I was looking out the window as Puppy arrived well ahead of our cat, Cat. Puppy went to one plate and sniffed it. She then went to the other, identical plate and took the baked potato from it, deposited it on her plate next to her baked potato and started eating.
No one would name the cat and dog, so they remained Cat and Puppy. When we got another dog, I named him. I gave the rest of the household a week or so, maybe three days to name the second dog. Finally, I named him Rudolph. Everyone in the house moaned and groaned but no one had a name. So, his name stayed, shortened by me to Rudy.
Dominique needs some competition at the feed! Or, is it best she eats at her leisure?
Your turn
Do you have animals who are competitive? With food or your lap?
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Forced Molt: Starvation for Increased Egg Production
When I read about this horrific practice, it made me ill. Thankfully, I know what happens to my hens in the backyard. Nothing cruel or inhumane happens here.
Egg producers withhold food from hens from 5-38 days in order to force hens to molt. During this time, hens lose their feathers and the hen ceases to lay eggs. Once the period of starvation is over, the hens lay more and larger eggs. All this boils down to greater profit for egg producers. The length of starvation varies.
The other way a molt is forced is to feed hens foods with little nutritional value. The hens don't starve; they are just malnourished. Malnutrition can lead to pecking, feather eating and further diminish the welfare of the flock.
Yes, chickens do die during this starvation. Chickens die every day in commercial chicken houses, but the starvation period multiplies the number of hens that die.
As for the period of starvation or malnutrition, depending on the method used, the time varies. I am quite sure that no hen is starved for 38 days, so this might be the period of diminished nutrition.
Since I have not yet found the way to copy and paste in 10, I cannot give you a link. The best was about.com. I did read Wikipedia, too, for information.
I need to go hug my hens.
Your turn
Have you ever heard of "forced molt?" Does it make you ill to think of starving an animal to increase profit?
Egg producers withhold food from hens from 5-38 days in order to force hens to molt. During this time, hens lose their feathers and the hen ceases to lay eggs. Once the period of starvation is over, the hens lay more and larger eggs. All this boils down to greater profit for egg producers. The length of starvation varies.
The other way a molt is forced is to feed hens foods with little nutritional value. The hens don't starve; they are just malnourished. Malnutrition can lead to pecking, feather eating and further diminish the welfare of the flock.
Yes, chickens do die during this starvation. Chickens die every day in commercial chicken houses, but the starvation period multiplies the number of hens that die.
As for the period of starvation or malnutrition, depending on the method used, the time varies. I am quite sure that no hen is starved for 38 days, so this might be the period of diminished nutrition.
Since I have not yet found the way to copy and paste in 10, I cannot give you a link. The best was about.com. I did read Wikipedia, too, for information.
I need to go hug my hens.
Your turn
Have you ever heard of "forced molt?" Does it make you ill to think of starving an animal to increase profit?
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
A Dream Deferred
Did you ever want something so simple that it was silly how excited you were? Did disappointment day after day make you more anxious to get your simple desire? Did you have to put on a happy face or happy voice and just wait for someone else?
Well, that is where why I am with getting my two Buff Orphingtons. I was supposed to receive them, delivered here to me on Sunday morning. Then, the woman had problems occur, so I was going to get them today, and yesterday, and the day before. It appears that tomorrow is the day and they will be delivered.
Thelma and Louise are going to be furious, again. Pepper seemed lonely at first as Louise rebuffed her attempts to even stand near them for at least a month. Before Fancy died, all three slept in the same box. Pepper slept on top of the top box and then finally in the nest box, all alone. My heart ached because she had no one to cuddle with at night.
Finally, Thelma allowed Pepper to dust bathe with her. Louise never allowed Pepper that closeness even though she and Thelma wallowed around together. To the end, Pepper would flinch when Louise raised her head while they were eating.
Therefore, I am getting two hens so the newcomer won't be lonely. Besides, I have read that Buff Orphingtons are docile and easily bullied. With two they will have a companion without always hanging around the fringes of fun, food, and cuddling.
Louise showed a side of her I never knew. She pecked Thelma when Thelma pecked Pepper. It was almost as if Thelma was being chastised for having been so bold to peck without permission. I had always thought Thelma was the alpha hen. Nope.
When I brought Pepper home and put her in the pen as I let the other two out of the pen, Louise just went nutso. She tried to get through the chain link of the fence, squawking and pecking at the air. This went on for about fifteen minutes. All the while, Pepper was struggling to get out of the pen through the chain link. Louise chased Pepper for about a week. It's a wonder Pepper even stuck around
Do you ever sit around (figuratively) and try to get into your chicken's/animal's mind in order to make them mentally and physically healthy? I wonder if Louise was upset because Pepper was in her pen. I wonder if the two new hens will run away if they are not put into the pen for a bit.
However, I am still convinced that the two new hens need to be put in the pen so they will at least know where they live before Louise gets mean and chases them away, out of my yard.
Am I over thinking this?
Well, that is where why I am with getting my two Buff Orphingtons. I was supposed to receive them, delivered here to me on Sunday morning. Then, the woman had problems occur, so I was going to get them today, and yesterday, and the day before. It appears that tomorrow is the day and they will be delivered.
Thelma and Louise are going to be furious, again. Pepper seemed lonely at first as Louise rebuffed her attempts to even stand near them for at least a month. Before Fancy died, all three slept in the same box. Pepper slept on top of the top box and then finally in the nest box, all alone. My heart ached because she had no one to cuddle with at night.
Finally, Thelma allowed Pepper to dust bathe with her. Louise never allowed Pepper that closeness even though she and Thelma wallowed around together. To the end, Pepper would flinch when Louise raised her head while they were eating.
Therefore, I am getting two hens so the newcomer won't be lonely. Besides, I have read that Buff Orphingtons are docile and easily bullied. With two they will have a companion without always hanging around the fringes of fun, food, and cuddling.
Louise showed a side of her I never knew. She pecked Thelma when Thelma pecked Pepper. It was almost as if Thelma was being chastised for having been so bold to peck without permission. I had always thought Thelma was the alpha hen. Nope.
When I brought Pepper home and put her in the pen as I let the other two out of the pen, Louise just went nutso. She tried to get through the chain link of the fence, squawking and pecking at the air. This went on for about fifteen minutes. All the while, Pepper was struggling to get out of the pen through the chain link. Louise chased Pepper for about a week. It's a wonder Pepper even stuck around
Do you ever sit around (figuratively) and try to get into your chicken's/animal's mind in order to make them mentally and physically healthy? I wonder if Louise was upset because Pepper was in her pen. I wonder if the two new hens will run away if they are not put into the pen for a bit.
However, I am still convinced that the two new hens need to be put in the pen so they will at least know where they live before Louise gets mean and chases them away, out of my yard.
Am I over thinking this?
Monday, July 2, 2012
Chickie-Boom-Boom Smoothie
 |
| Dinner for four days I was saying "chickie boom chickie boom boom" as I made this. Tomorrow, It will be a cold smoothie. Today, I gave them a quarter of this for lunch. They did not finish it. So, it was transferred to their pen at dinner. Ingredients: *1 can vegetarian beans *1/2 cup potato flakes *2 tbsp powdered milk 4 crushed eggshells *1 cup fig pieces. *1 tsp salt *3 tbsp sugar 1 tsp red pepper *from food bank I mixed it all in an antique berry bowl because it was handy and clean. The salt and sugar are for the heat. The potato flakes are to soak up the bean liquid. They should not have much milk when adults. The eggshells are for calcium. They love these figs that chopped pieces and covered with sugar. Then, I put some on a plate and called them. Only Thelma came over the carport wall. The other two just stood there like they were unsure what was on the other side. ME! and food that Thelma was gobbling down. |
Thelma, picking out the fig pieces!
I stood right there and watched as she deliberately picked out the figs! For awhile I tried to talk her into trying the rest. Then, I was hurting too much to sit and watch to see if she ate anything else or if Louise and Pepper ate anything at all. I don't think they are too hungry because of all the heat. What was left on he plate, I took to their pen at bedtime and put dry oats on top.
Tomorrow, it will all go into the blender and be served ice cold: Chickie Boom Boom Smoothie! They seem to really like cold food when it is warm.
I know that some people allow their hens to eat from different feeders of food, picking what they want. But, she needs the figs bits least of all, in my opinion. They eat their beans last.
Those figs bits are horrid. Exbf won't eat them either.
Now, I am off the see Magic Mike with a Tina who asked me to go and is paying my way so she won't look like a pervert. I told her we would just look like two perverts!
Now, I am off the see Magic Mike with a Tina who asked me to go and is paying my way so she won't look like a pervert. I told her we would just look like two perverts!
Your turn
When you put out a mixture of food, do your animals pick and choose? Mine do sometimes. I know they are supposed to know what they need. Hogwash. They prefer fig bits to beans. Pepper will just get a scrap of bread if Louise chases her away from the meat side of the plate. I really don't think her body says, "I need bread not meat and oats."
Friday, June 29, 2012
101 Degrees Yesterday
 |
| Cooling off the right way |
Your turn
How hot is it where you are? Do your hens love watermelon?
Monday, May 21, 2012
Rebellion with Evil Eye and Wing Flapping
 |
| "Yes, this really is where I want to sleep!" On Sunday evening, just before dusk, I heard thumping on the porch. As I went to look out the door, there was additional thumping. Above is where I found Louise, looking at me as if to say she were settled for the night, right where she wanted to be. "No chicken tossing." As I turned to go inside, I saw Pepper jumping up on the banister that descends as the steps do. She landed, yelped, and soon she was sliding. She slid sideways down the banister/rail, wings frantically flapping the whole way. It was over soon but was quite impressive while she was in motion. Funny Pepper. I lured them to their pen and shut the door. Chicken wrangling at dark is not my favorite thing to do.The iron railing looks rustier than it is! Your turns How are your hens doing? Acting up? Rebelling? Doing funny things? |
Monday, January 23, 2012
Wasted Food and the Weather
Yes, I was ill. The last two days I felt like slicing and dicing to dehydrate. But, before that when I was so ill, I wondered if preparing food to heat for that long and might have germs on it was such a good idea. Storing germs is not my idea of a prudent practice. My focus the last two days has been on laundry and dishes and getting my strength back, not food conservation.
Bananas and celery and blueberries would have to wait. I wasted 10 lbs of bananas, bought at $0.39/lb. Three pretty heads of celery mostly wilted because of the wait for me. Then, there were four quarts of fresh blueberries that Charlie gave me, all moldy. Really, I would have dumped the blueberries in a pot and cooked them down, but I had nothing clean in which to cook them. sigh....sigh. Two quarts remain for me.
Bananas would have lasted for a week even if they were bruised and going South fast. However, the temperatures at night have been in the 60s. Yes, January in the South was warm this year. The kitchen is the warmest room in the house. This all makes for very warm bananas this last week. Some developed mold, making them unsuitable for the hens. Plus, they are too far gone for me to handle without gagging, even for freezing them.
Just a few smoothies have been made from salvaged bananas and blueberries. I still crave gravy! No, I am not indulging, just feel like gravy would be good for me. What? You mean gravy is not infused with miracle drugs, minerals, and vitamins?
Just the weather for a minute
I love warm weather. I hate cold weather. However, a warm day in the winter fills Southerners with a nagging little dread--will we have a tornado? Yessiree Bob! Last night, we did. It was 68 degrees at 3 am this morning. We had a night of violent weather, tornado warnings, and tornadoes. It all hit south of me, and only one six-foot, one-inch limb fell from my huge trees! I did get the tremendous winds and rain. The hens and I made it!
So, being ill proved to be wasteful to me. It cannot be helped. Cooked food is out in the garbage can. Produce goes to the compost. Hens are eating lots of protein-filled chicken. I am trying to regain control over the kitchen and food.
Aaaack! I forgot about the dozen apples that did not like sitting around in a warm kitchen...mumble...mumble. It was one whole week, just lost.
Your turn
Does illness along with poor planning ever force you to throw out food?
Bananas and celery and blueberries would have to wait. I wasted 10 lbs of bananas, bought at $0.39/lb. Three pretty heads of celery mostly wilted because of the wait for me. Then, there were four quarts of fresh blueberries that Charlie gave me, all moldy. Really, I would have dumped the blueberries in a pot and cooked them down, but I had nothing clean in which to cook them. sigh....sigh. Two quarts remain for me.
Bananas would have lasted for a week even if they were bruised and going South fast. However, the temperatures at night have been in the 60s. Yes, January in the South was warm this year. The kitchen is the warmest room in the house. This all makes for very warm bananas this last week. Some developed mold, making them unsuitable for the hens. Plus, they are too far gone for me to handle without gagging, even for freezing them.
Just a few smoothies have been made from salvaged bananas and blueberries. I still crave gravy! No, I am not indulging, just feel like gravy would be good for me. What? You mean gravy is not infused with miracle drugs, minerals, and vitamins?
Just the weather for a minute
I love warm weather. I hate cold weather. However, a warm day in the winter fills Southerners with a nagging little dread--will we have a tornado? Yessiree Bob! Last night, we did. It was 68 degrees at 3 am this morning. We had a night of violent weather, tornado warnings, and tornadoes. It all hit south of me, and only one six-foot, one-inch limb fell from my huge trees! I did get the tremendous winds and rain. The hens and I made it!
So, being ill proved to be wasteful to me. It cannot be helped. Cooked food is out in the garbage can. Produce goes to the compost. Hens are eating lots of protein-filled chicken. I am trying to regain control over the kitchen and food.
Aaaack! I forgot about the dozen apples that did not like sitting around in a warm kitchen...mumble...mumble. It was one whole week, just lost.
Your turn
Does illness along with poor planning ever force you to throw out food?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Wet Hens
No camera=no picture
Last night, I went to bed very early, about 11 pm. So, I awoke at just before 4 am and got up and sat, reading blogs. At 6 am, I decided to go back to bed. No luck sleeping. Then, I remembered a payment I had to make on the 10th or pay a penalty of $28 on $61. I jumped from the bed, jumped in clothes, ran a pick through my hair, wrote a check and left in a hurry.
As I opened the door, I heard the hens. They were right outside the door! I know I locked them up last night. There was no time to secure them or feed them. They started begging and following me to the front yard. Feeding never happens in the front yard; I throw pine cones to make them go back; I honk the horn to get them to go back. So, they lost interest in following me this morning once I dashed to the front yard.
On the way back a crack of thunder and flash of lightning immediately preceded the skies opening up. I wondered where the hens took refuge. They have a favorite bush for rainy times.
As I ran to the house, trying to dodge little streams in the yard, I did not see them. Dashing up the front porch, I finally did. All three were pressed against the door, waiting for me. As they plead their case, they finally allowed me to get to the door. Then, they stormed the doorway as I stepped up and inside the door I unlocked.
At times like these, I just want to go ahead and let them in. But, then I reconsider and think maybe I should put them in their night cage and let them stay dry and warm inside. I am getting soft in the head as I get older. No, they are still on the porch, talking through the door to me.
They will stay there and poop all over!!!! Newspaper will be put over the poop and DE until I can properly clean it. There is no use cleaning it one poop at a time al day long. Exbf will be here soon, so the paper needs to go down so he won't have to navigate the poopfield that my porch will become. sigh....sigh.
Chickens can be so dumb and infuriating...like, why can she not find the door on her pen that she goes in and out of every day? No, she goes round and round two sides, back and forth, desperately putting her head in the chain link as though this link might magically be larger than the last 20 places she tried.
It only takes them two days to learn a new home. It took them that long to come to the door to be put away in the cage after the raccoon attack in October 2010. For two days, I had to pry them out of their Rubbermaid boxes, stuff them, squawking, into the cage and carry all three in the cage up the stairs and into the house. After those two days, they came willingly and jumped in the cage.
They know where they sleep now--in the fortified pen. They just prefer the dryness and warmth of the house. Poor girls. Maybe someday I can make them a not-windy enclosure inside the fortified pen where they will not get damp from blowing rain and become chilled.
Chickens are so endearing. I love them--Thelma, Louise, and Fancy.
If I lived outdoors in a blue box, I would try my best to talk my way into a warm house. Wouldn't you? Well, this house is cold, but it is warm compared to a box outdoors.
Exbf arrived. As we sat here, I kept hearing a noise. I finally looked and they had left. On the porch was an uneaten apple from the bag of apples I scrounged for them. They helped themselves. Cute.
Dinner: roast chicken, potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers
This afternoon I put 8 leg-thigh quarters and a thigh into a turkey baking bag with celery, onion, salt and pepper to roast. In a stock pot four leg-thigh quarters and a thigh boiled away. Exbf ate one for dinner. I had just a bit of meat.
I cooked a head of cabbage with a bit of salt. Cabbage was $.39/lb. Yum, it was so good. When I got the chicken produce today, I was thrilled because I have been wanting potatoes. In the box: four onions, mostly good and about three pounds of potatoes. I salvaged cucumbers for him. He picked out three of the apples from yesterday's bought box of apples.
He took home a divided dinner plate, Tupperware, with leg-thigh quarter, cabbage, oven-cooked potatoes. He is thrilled. Besides that, he took a bag with 6 leg-thigh quarters and a thigh, enough for thirteen meals of meat.
The other 4 leg-thigh quarters are destined to become chicken and dumplings. For the next few nights, the temperature will be about 10 degrees below freezing, so chicken and dumplings will warm me nicely. The kitchen beckons me to come back and cook more.
I still have chicken breasts I cooked last Wednesday, so those will be frozen shortly. By the way, the ten-lb bag of chicken breasts said it held 26 servings. That's about what I figured when I cooked these.
The chickens will receive the ample pieces of fat, gristle, skin, and bones to eat. All the broth from the baking pan will be theirs, added to rice or pasta or cornmeal. They are going to be soooo happy!
There is no picture because I cannot find my camera.
Your turn
Would you like chickens coming to your door and pooping, begging to get in? Or, do yours stay in a pen. Surely you find joy in your chickens personalities? Are you meals getting cozy-like as the weather gets cooler?
Last night, I went to bed very early, about 11 pm. So, I awoke at just before 4 am and got up and sat, reading blogs. At 6 am, I decided to go back to bed. No luck sleeping. Then, I remembered a payment I had to make on the 10th or pay a penalty of $28 on $61. I jumped from the bed, jumped in clothes, ran a pick through my hair, wrote a check and left in a hurry.
As I opened the door, I heard the hens. They were right outside the door! I know I locked them up last night. There was no time to secure them or feed them. They started begging and following me to the front yard. Feeding never happens in the front yard; I throw pine cones to make them go back; I honk the horn to get them to go back. So, they lost interest in following me this morning once I dashed to the front yard.
On the way back a crack of thunder and flash of lightning immediately preceded the skies opening up. I wondered where the hens took refuge. They have a favorite bush for rainy times.
As I ran to the house, trying to dodge little streams in the yard, I did not see them. Dashing up the front porch, I finally did. All three were pressed against the door, waiting for me. As they plead their case, they finally allowed me to get to the door. Then, they stormed the doorway as I stepped up and inside the door I unlocked.
At times like these, I just want to go ahead and let them in. But, then I reconsider and think maybe I should put them in their night cage and let them stay dry and warm inside. I am getting soft in the head as I get older. No, they are still on the porch, talking through the door to me.
They will stay there and poop all over!!!! Newspaper will be put over the poop and DE until I can properly clean it. There is no use cleaning it one poop at a time al day long. Exbf will be here soon, so the paper needs to go down so he won't have to navigate the poopfield that my porch will become. sigh....sigh.
Chickens can be so dumb and infuriating...like, why can she not find the door on her pen that she goes in and out of every day? No, she goes round and round two sides, back and forth, desperately putting her head in the chain link as though this link might magically be larger than the last 20 places she tried.
It only takes them two days to learn a new home. It took them that long to come to the door to be put away in the cage after the raccoon attack in October 2010. For two days, I had to pry them out of their Rubbermaid boxes, stuff them, squawking, into the cage and carry all three in the cage up the stairs and into the house. After those two days, they came willingly and jumped in the cage.
They know where they sleep now--in the fortified pen. They just prefer the dryness and warmth of the house. Poor girls. Maybe someday I can make them a not-windy enclosure inside the fortified pen where they will not get damp from blowing rain and become chilled.
Chickens are so endearing. I love them--Thelma, Louise, and Fancy.
If I lived outdoors in a blue box, I would try my best to talk my way into a warm house. Wouldn't you? Well, this house is cold, but it is warm compared to a box outdoors.
Exbf arrived. As we sat here, I kept hearing a noise. I finally looked and they had left. On the porch was an uneaten apple from the bag of apples I scrounged for them. They helped themselves. Cute.
Dinner: roast chicken, potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers
This afternoon I put 8 leg-thigh quarters and a thigh into a turkey baking bag with celery, onion, salt and pepper to roast. In a stock pot four leg-thigh quarters and a thigh boiled away. Exbf ate one for dinner. I had just a bit of meat.
I cooked a head of cabbage with a bit of salt. Cabbage was $.39/lb. Yum, it was so good. When I got the chicken produce today, I was thrilled because I have been wanting potatoes. In the box: four onions, mostly good and about three pounds of potatoes. I salvaged cucumbers for him. He picked out three of the apples from yesterday's bought box of apples.
He took home a divided dinner plate, Tupperware, with leg-thigh quarter, cabbage, oven-cooked potatoes. He is thrilled. Besides that, he took a bag with 6 leg-thigh quarters and a thigh, enough for thirteen meals of meat.
The other 4 leg-thigh quarters are destined to become chicken and dumplings. For the next few nights, the temperature will be about 10 degrees below freezing, so chicken and dumplings will warm me nicely. The kitchen beckons me to come back and cook more.
I still have chicken breasts I cooked last Wednesday, so those will be frozen shortly. By the way, the ten-lb bag of chicken breasts said it held 26 servings. That's about what I figured when I cooked these.
The chickens will receive the ample pieces of fat, gristle, skin, and bones to eat. All the broth from the baking pan will be theirs, added to rice or pasta or cornmeal. They are going to be soooo happy!
There is no picture because I cannot find my camera.
Your turn
Would you like chickens coming to your door and pooping, begging to get in? Or, do yours stay in a pen. Surely you find joy in your chickens personalities? Are you meals getting cozy-like as the weather gets cooler?
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
And, I Fell Down
It's not as bad as it sounds since it has been almost twelve hours since I fell. Having done too much yesterday, I decided that a pain med was in order last night. Actually, for a week or so, I have been trying to get something. The pharmacist has refused to fill two prescriptions called in by the doctor. I'm allergic to them. Okay, I hallucinate on codeine. Living alone is not the best scenario for hallucinating. Right?
Yesterday, after helping Mark get the tarpaulin on the pen and just sitting on a hard chair outdoors, I was in pain. So, I decided to take out the bottle of 60 diclofenac (75 mg) and give it a whirl. It made me so sick in March that I refused to take it. At about 6 pm yesterday, I took one.
This morning I slept through 30 minutes of the alarm. I awoke to exbf pecking on my bedroom window. I jumped up, sort of, hurried and was going to open the door. I started staggering just because that is what I have done all my life in the morning. My husband was fascinated about the way I weaved through the house, seemingly unable to walk a straight line or get through a door without running into a door facing. That's just me.
Of course, I had this pain pill still with/in me, so there was no correcting my course, and I started getting dizzy. I hit a piece of furniture, knocked it over, and screamed and moaned as I fell on top of it. Exbf was shaking the doorknob, asking me if I were okay as I cried. Finally, I disintangled myself and got the last two feet to the door, bawling as I went.
All day, I had trouble focusing my eyes, focusing my thoughts, trouble walking straight, just plain trouble. Exbf had to spot for me when I got into the tub to shower off with the hand shower attached to the tub faucet. I told him just to let me fall and call 911, but he stayed close and vigilant. I made it. I lived. The bathroom was soaked since this is a claw foot tub and not a shower enclosure and has no curtain. I hate showers anyway. No soak in the tub for me has been a trial. He has held onto me all day, helping me up and down the steps to go outdoors.
It is no problem to function and have no pain. I just cannot do anything! Nothing! That is my plan. I am officially a slug.
Dinner
Today, I did get a turkey in the oven. Okay, exbf put it in the oven after I had it all ready. I tried rehydrating sweet potato medallions I dried that came from the Thanksgiving Box. We had potatoes and cabbage that was left from Saturday. He does not like gravy, so I will make that later. Same with cranberry sauce. I had a box of dressing from the Thanksgiving Box and made that. I was not up to making dressing. Besides, my time just ran out. He took home lots of all I cooked/reheated. Actually, I gave him potatoes and cabbage that had not been reheated.
Hens
All three were alive this morning. I sent exbf out to check on them as soon as he determined I was not seriously hurt. Tonight, they gathered on the fake-grass doormat. He had to try to lure them to their pen with honey dew pulp and seeds. Fancy and Thelma refused to go past the near corner of the house. He finally got them out there by shaking oats in a cup. They can hears oats shaking from the front yard...lol.
I promise
No more pain pills. Finally, at about 8 pm tonight, the effects have almost worn off. That is 24 hours! according to the bottle, I could have had another this morning. No thanks!
I am not a person who takes meds for pain. So, this foray into pain is not something I relish. No, I won't be falling down again. It was the sudden awakening from sound sleep and the fact I am like a drunk in the morning AND the pain pill that made me veer off, crash into furniture, and fall. No scolding.
Your turn
Do you have bad experiences with pain meds? Have you ever fallen from the action of one pill? Do you walk around in the morning in a fog?
Yesterday, after helping Mark get the tarpaulin on the pen and just sitting on a hard chair outdoors, I was in pain. So, I decided to take out the bottle of 60 diclofenac (75 mg) and give it a whirl. It made me so sick in March that I refused to take it. At about 6 pm yesterday, I took one.
This morning I slept through 30 minutes of the alarm. I awoke to exbf pecking on my bedroom window. I jumped up, sort of, hurried and was going to open the door. I started staggering just because that is what I have done all my life in the morning. My husband was fascinated about the way I weaved through the house, seemingly unable to walk a straight line or get through a door without running into a door facing. That's just me.
Of course, I had this pain pill still with/in me, so there was no correcting my course, and I started getting dizzy. I hit a piece of furniture, knocked it over, and screamed and moaned as I fell on top of it. Exbf was shaking the doorknob, asking me if I were okay as I cried. Finally, I disintangled myself and got the last two feet to the door, bawling as I went.
All day, I had trouble focusing my eyes, focusing my thoughts, trouble walking straight, just plain trouble. Exbf had to spot for me when I got into the tub to shower off with the hand shower attached to the tub faucet. I told him just to let me fall and call 911, but he stayed close and vigilant. I made it. I lived. The bathroom was soaked since this is a claw foot tub and not a shower enclosure and has no curtain. I hate showers anyway. No soak in the tub for me has been a trial. He has held onto me all day, helping me up and down the steps to go outdoors.
It is no problem to function and have no pain. I just cannot do anything! Nothing! That is my plan. I am officially a slug.
Dinner
Today, I did get a turkey in the oven. Okay, exbf put it in the oven after I had it all ready. I tried rehydrating sweet potato medallions I dried that came from the Thanksgiving Box. We had potatoes and cabbage that was left from Saturday. He does not like gravy, so I will make that later. Same with cranberry sauce. I had a box of dressing from the Thanksgiving Box and made that. I was not up to making dressing. Besides, my time just ran out. He took home lots of all I cooked/reheated. Actually, I gave him potatoes and cabbage that had not been reheated.
Hens
All three were alive this morning. I sent exbf out to check on them as soon as he determined I was not seriously hurt. Tonight, they gathered on the fake-grass doormat. He had to try to lure them to their pen with honey dew pulp and seeds. Fancy and Thelma refused to go past the near corner of the house. He finally got them out there by shaking oats in a cup. They can hears oats shaking from the front yard...lol.
I promise
No more pain pills. Finally, at about 8 pm tonight, the effects have almost worn off. That is 24 hours! according to the bottle, I could have had another this morning. No thanks!
I am not a person who takes meds for pain. So, this foray into pain is not something I relish. No, I won't be falling down again. It was the sudden awakening from sound sleep and the fact I am like a drunk in the morning AND the pain pill that made me veer off, crash into furniture, and fall. No scolding.
Your turn
Do you have bad experiences with pain meds? Have you ever fallen from the action of one pill? Do you walk around in the morning in a fog?
I Miss My Hens
Tonight was the first night in their almost-secure pen. As I sat here talking on the phone to a friend, I sobbed to her that I missed their sitting five feet from me in their little cage, that I was lonely. I shed a few tears. I had no idea this would be so difficult!
Later, I will post pictures of the raccoon proofing. Even with a few generous donations, I am still suffering from what I had to spend out of pocket and what I owe Charlie.
Mark came Monday and Tuesday to finish what he and Charlie did not finish on Saturday. sigh...but the hog wired laid on the ground and slipped under the sides of the pen have not yet been tied to the pen's bottom rail. Mark will return on Thursday to finish the job. I certainly hope raccoons do not breach the bottom. I have landscaping pins to hold the four-foot wire down so I won't trip on it and so the lawnmower will not suck it up or get tangled in it.
I was getting so tired of chicken gas or poop late at night, filling the air...lol. I am not missing that. Sometimes, one of the hens squawked in her sleep, a dream I guess. Hens snore! You did not know that? LOL I could barely get in the back door with them in the cage, behind the door. I struggled. They hated music I played, especially the them to Little House on the Prairie. They hear me get up and called to me to take them out. The cage was so heavy I felt I hurt myself, shoulder, knee, and back, anew each morning and night. But, I miss them. Maybe someday I will have a house with a chicken room attached so they will be close but I won't feel like I am living with livestock.
This afternoon, about 4:15, I found all three hens sitting on the green, fake-grass doormat in front of the side door, the door I carry them through each morning and night. I loaded them into their house cage, put the cage in my wagon, and took them to the fortified pen. Mark put the cageful of hens into the wagon for me. They jumped right into the pen when we put the wagon in front of the pen door and opened the cage. They just hung out as I twisted wire to keep the raccoons from flipping up the bar.
As we walked away, all three ran to the door, fussing to get out and come with us. Fancy was the most vocal. It made me sad. I had pretty hens who wanted/needed to come with me. They were very vocal, bukking to me. As we stood at the side door, all the way on the other side of the house from them, I could hear them sort of wailing, not a usual chicken noise at all, just begging for me to come back. As I tuned and watched them at the door, I thought they looked dejected. It broke my heart. What did they think?
Surgery for Thursday has been postponed because I cannot afford the lift chair I need to help me get up with only one arm and walking where I need to go after surgery, mainly, the bathroom. No, I cannot afford a used chair. Right now, I am just wanting a Christmas tree and cannot afford one. I think I need hen ornaments.
Your turn
These are my pets. Do any of you have hens that you are missing for any reason? I am not talking about missing your layers. I am talking about missing sweet little hens. Do you have hens you are attached to that you would miss?
Later, I will post pictures of the raccoon proofing. Even with a few generous donations, I am still suffering from what I had to spend out of pocket and what I owe Charlie.
Mark came Monday and Tuesday to finish what he and Charlie did not finish on Saturday. sigh...but the hog wired laid on the ground and slipped under the sides of the pen have not yet been tied to the pen's bottom rail. Mark will return on Thursday to finish the job. I certainly hope raccoons do not breach the bottom. I have landscaping pins to hold the four-foot wire down so I won't trip on it and so the lawnmower will not suck it up or get tangled in it.
I was getting so tired of chicken gas or poop late at night, filling the air...lol. I am not missing that. Sometimes, one of the hens squawked in her sleep, a dream I guess. Hens snore! You did not know that? LOL I could barely get in the back door with them in the cage, behind the door. I struggled. They hated music I played, especially the them to Little House on the Prairie. They hear me get up and called to me to take them out. The cage was so heavy I felt I hurt myself, shoulder, knee, and back, anew each morning and night. But, I miss them. Maybe someday I will have a house with a chicken room attached so they will be close but I won't feel like I am living with livestock.
This afternoon, about 4:15, I found all three hens sitting on the green, fake-grass doormat in front of the side door, the door I carry them through each morning and night. I loaded them into their house cage, put the cage in my wagon, and took them to the fortified pen. Mark put the cageful of hens into the wagon for me. They jumped right into the pen when we put the wagon in front of the pen door and opened the cage. They just hung out as I twisted wire to keep the raccoons from flipping up the bar.
As we walked away, all three ran to the door, fussing to get out and come with us. Fancy was the most vocal. It made me sad. I had pretty hens who wanted/needed to come with me. They were very vocal, bukking to me. As we stood at the side door, all the way on the other side of the house from them, I could hear them sort of wailing, not a usual chicken noise at all, just begging for me to come back. As I tuned and watched them at the door, I thought they looked dejected. It broke my heart. What did they think?
Surgery for Thursday has been postponed because I cannot afford the lift chair I need to help me get up with only one arm and walking where I need to go after surgery, mainly, the bathroom. No, I cannot afford a used chair. Right now, I am just wanting a Christmas tree and cannot afford one. I think I need hen ornaments.
Maybe my Fancy, Thelma, and Louise will be alive tomorrow.
If not, I trap raccoons!
Your turn
These are my pets. Do any of you have hens that you are missing for any reason? I am not talking about missing your layers. I am talking about missing sweet little hens. Do you have hens you are attached to that you would miss?
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Maybe good news?
You know I have been worrying myself sick with trying to figure out how to afford chicken defense. When I have the torn rotator cuff operation, I know my arm will be strapped down firmly to my body. Of course, the back problem and torn meniscus in my knee will make straining to do things impossible and possibly injure me more. So, taking care of the hens, even getting their safe cage into the house has been a puzzle.
Charlie found about a hundred feet of wire fencing on the road or in the trash, forgot which. He offered it to me for the hens. He does not want to spend gas to drive 50 miles in his tiny car. I knew this, so I told him if he would come here and bring it, I would give him boxes of food and even dehydrate whatever he brought all ready for me to cut....washed!
I think all my problems have been solved except for getting him to say when he will be here. I will be stressed if he plans to come the day before surgery. He does not understand that, I imagine.
A very generous follower sent me a cage last year, very expensive and a wonderful gift. I cried because she cared. However, it had a few problems (too small for three hens) for keeping hens safe 24/7. It will be perfect for one hen who is broody next spring. If the girls slow down their egg-laying around their third birthday, they can still be mothers since I have people offer me fertile eggs.
I raised day-old chicks in the house once. It was such a novelty, but NO MORE if I can hens to do the job. Now, I have the perfect thing for a broody hen.
Two other people helped buy two rolls of the hardware cloth, that will be used also, by the way. But, I was still so short of what I needed. This roll from Charlie will finish the job! Okay, not true. Boards or pipes to build a 10'x10' frame for the top to hold the wire are still needed. But, I have pipes from the arbor built years ago and now fallen down. Boards will be easy to come by. Or, at least they will not be so expensive.
You are saying, "See, just wait and things will come." Please, don't. This is an exception to my waiting for things I need. Mostly, almost always, things don't happen this way, but thanks to all.
Raccoon Update
I think the raccoon is back. Last night, something munched on a pineapple that was outback. Charlie sent it to the chickens. With great effort and enormous pain, I brought the live trap to this side of the house. Since I could not see how to set the trap, left it for later tonight when I quit hurting and take a larger flashlight outside.
On Saturday, a guy with hens told me he caught 14 raccoon in 8 days or something like 8 days. They had been eating his chickens. He had no more problems! I caught three grown ones and three babies last fall.
How I got my trap
About fifteen years ago, my friend J borrowed this from another military friend and lent it to me. When James moved, he did not get the trap, so I have no idea who it belongs to. He also lent me tin snips and a magnet on a stick for nails after roofing. This is another reason I do not lend things. I never see them again.
Thanks, Terre Haute
Your turn
If you have or have had predators, how do you handle them and your livestock security?
Charlie found about a hundred feet of wire fencing on the road or in the trash, forgot which. He offered it to me for the hens. He does not want to spend gas to drive 50 miles in his tiny car. I knew this, so I told him if he would come here and bring it, I would give him boxes of food and even dehydrate whatever he brought all ready for me to cut....washed!
I think all my problems have been solved except for getting him to say when he will be here. I will be stressed if he plans to come the day before surgery. He does not understand that, I imagine.
A very generous follower sent me a cage last year, very expensive and a wonderful gift. I cried because she cared. However, it had a few problems (too small for three hens) for keeping hens safe 24/7. It will be perfect for one hen who is broody next spring. If the girls slow down their egg-laying around their third birthday, they can still be mothers since I have people offer me fertile eggs.
I raised day-old chicks in the house once. It was such a novelty, but NO MORE if I can hens to do the job. Now, I have the perfect thing for a broody hen.
Two other people helped buy two rolls of the hardware cloth, that will be used also, by the way. But, I was still so short of what I needed. This roll from Charlie will finish the job! Okay, not true. Boards or pipes to build a 10'x10' frame for the top to hold the wire are still needed. But, I have pipes from the arbor built years ago and now fallen down. Boards will be easy to come by. Or, at least they will not be so expensive.
You are saying, "See, just wait and things will come." Please, don't. This is an exception to my waiting for things I need. Mostly, almost always, things don't happen this way, but thanks to all.
Raccoon Update
I think the raccoon is back. Last night, something munched on a pineapple that was outback. Charlie sent it to the chickens. With great effort and enormous pain, I brought the live trap to this side of the house. Since I could not see how to set the trap, left it for later tonight when I quit hurting and take a larger flashlight outside.
On Saturday, a guy with hens told me he caught 14 raccoon in 8 days or something like 8 days. They had been eating his chickens. He had no more problems! I caught three grown ones and three babies last fall.
How I got my trap
About fifteen years ago, my friend J borrowed this from another military friend and lent it to me. When James moved, he did not get the trap, so I have no idea who it belongs to. He also lent me tin snips and a magnet on a stick for nails after roofing. This is another reason I do not lend things. I never see them again.
Thanks, Terre Haute
Your turn
If you have or have had predators, how do you handle them and your livestock security?
Friday, September 30, 2011
I won; I lost
 |
| Huge tote bag |
Great Loot
Over at Surviving and Thriving, my long-time (several years, now) favorite writer/blogger, Donna Freedman, had a fantabulous giveaway. I won. The box full of goodies came today, and I see Christmas presents in the flat rate box I just opened. The reusable bag is great, huge and has a zipper on the top, is waterproof (rubbery on inside), and a pocket with a pen place.
Now, she has a new giveaway. Yay! for giveaways. Join the fun. There is a time-limit on entries.
I did not cause the recent mayhem at her place!
And, I lost...
...my cooked dinner. Yesterday evening, I had a catastrophe. I burned to charcoal the chicken in a cast iron pot! When I came home the house was filled with acrid smoke that still makes my esophagus hurt. I rushed in, turned off the stove and dragged the pot off the burner. The back of the stove was black with soot. The knob above the burner had partially melted. I fled the house, eyes burning, and left the back door wide open and opened a window near the door.
I held cloth over my mouth and nose, trying to open the kitchen window. That's not possible unless I get on a chair so I can get on the sink. Yes, when I was younger, this was a piece of cake and involved no climbing.
The chickens were wailing to be let out of their pen, so I set them free to roam. They tried to follow me to the car.
Finally, I went to the car and ate a piece of cake that had just been given to me. When I had consumed the chocolate, I decided to drive two blocks to the fire station. Chocolate helps me think. When I came back to the house, the chickens I left in the front yard were nowhere to be seen. Uh-oh. No, they are not in the side yard. But, I do see a tail feathers sticking from the open back door. As I approached the side door, all three chickens looked out the door at me! They really, desperately want to be house chickens!
When I called them out, only Louise came. I had to take a piece of newspaper and sort of shove Thelma and Fancy out of the house. THEN, they hopped right back in. Unbelievably, neither pooped in the house, on the door mat, or on the porch.
It was bedtime for the hens, but I did not want them to die from the acrid fumes that choked me. After delaying as long as I could, I finally put their prepared cage in the doorway. They were so eager. After they had jumped in the cage I lined with paper, I left them in the open doorway for several hours, airing out the house. Thankfully, last evening was one of those rare evenings when neither flies or mosquitoes were out at dusk or after.
After awhile, the smell subsided. NOT! I just came home and the house is nasty smelling. I will set dishes of vinegar all over these rooms. Then, I will tackle the pot OUTDOORS in grungy clothing.
There is no picture to show you, just a horrendous odor.
Your turn
What have you won or lost lately?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Upcycled seating and hen bedtime
Last week I had to make a u-turn. Yes, I had to because I saw something I wanted to photograph.
My hens were the recipients of the leavings of my watermelon I finished today. They ate for awhile, seemed to lose interest, and left. Yet, when I came back out, they had finished it, including the rind. Only the outer skin remained.
Fancy is at 1 o'clock; Thelma is at 6 o'clock; Louise is at 11 o'clock. (above)
Before they became bored and walked away in search of grass, Louise got in with both feet, scratching.
I suppose she was scratching out more watermelon seeds!
 |
| Bed to seat Isn't this just the nicest remake ever? I have seen wooden beds remade for a bench, but never a metal bed. Below, you can see the seat for the bench. I have seen this mesh-type material, but cannot place it. Update: The seat is from a tabletop. The frame to go around the seat was welded to fit. Thanks, Stephanie for this information. It is all so clear where I have seen this material. Of course, something else would work.  |
The pictures are a funny color and angle, but I had to stand where the sun was not in my eyes. Consequently, I was closer than I wanted to be.
I have seen this very style of bed and never thought the bed could be made into a seat. Now, the wooden ones have been around since the 70s. My brother gave me a wooden seat made from a double bed. I never could get it 150 miles back home, so my mother got rid of it.
Hens
I started this blog last week in the midst of a fever. Then, with one keystroke, I lost it all. I thought the fever was gone. But, the fever remains and my sinuses are causing a massive face and forehead ache. I hope I can NOT erase all this time. |
| table for three |
Fancy is at 1 o'clock; Thelma is at 6 o'clock; Louise is at 11 o'clock. (above)
 |
| Louise is scratching with both feet |
I suppose she was scratching out more watermelon seeds!
 |
| Louise goes to bed But, the cage is still out on the porch, one step down. She objected to my taking her from the cage so I could put it indoors without having to lift her and carry her up two steps. As soon as the cage was in the doorway, she jumped right back in. However....  Fancy roosting outside the door Fancy, in the foreground, and Thelma are not going to come in. You can see how dark it is. Usually they are fussing at me, wanting inside. I talked to them and told them to come in. They usually jump right off the rail and into their cage when I get it all settled and tell them it is time for bed. This time, they both ignored me...for a long time. Thelma was facing the other way, but she seemed to want to ignore me, so she turned like she is, where she cannot see me. They have never done this. Usually, when I wait too long, well, longer than they like, they come right into the house when their cage is in place. I had to pick them from their roost on the iron rail by the porch and step and put them into their cage indoors.  |
Finally, all tucked in
Whew!
Your turn
Don't you just love these seats/benches made from beds? Metal in the yard will not rot! Do you have trouble getting the children to bed?
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Hen Hilarity
Okay, this is hilarious to me. You say this is cheap amusement.? Yes, it is. It costs nothing. I admit for the first fifteen seconds I was startled.
This morning, I put the hens' cage outside the side door and opened the cage. After we talked a bit, I left them to their own devices. Like every morning, I muddled about, trying to get myself awake. All of a sudden, after about thirty minutes outdoors, I heard a squawk. Someone was alarmed. Then, I could hear a hen running and making noise, going from this side of the house, around the back, and to the other side of the house where the pen is. She squawked a bit more, then--silence. Hmmm....? I followed the noise and looked at the pen. Nothing.
The squawk? It was not the quick, continual, high-pitched," buk, buk, buk, buk" translated "I see a predator. Watch out everyone." It was not the raucous squawk, "It's got me and I need help" kind of squawk. It was more the startled reaction that is brought by a hickory nut falling nearby or the sight of me with the snake-like hose, hissing as I drag it. If you have chickens, you learn "chickenese."
I went back across the house and looked out. There were the other two hens jumping onto the carport wall, ready to jump into the side yard. They were looking around for the third hen, Thelma. Finally, after seeming to listen as they looked, they jumped down and started pecking around.
Now three minutes from the time Thelma went squawking around the house, I heard her hen song. She spent three minutes on the nest. I can only assume that she waited until she was about to drop the egg and went scurrying off for the nest. I went out, and sure enough, there was a warm, HUGE egg. All three hens thought more food was coming as they followed me into the pen. We four are creatures of habit.
You know how little kids run funny when they must go pee? Well, I can see this hen waiting until the last minute, running to lay her egg, and I can see her in my mind's eye, running with her knees together. Okay, maybe this is not amusing.
Your turn
LOL, do I sound desperate for amusement? Have I spent too much time learning hens? Do you have hens that amuse you with their antics that are better fun than an amusement park?
This morning, I put the hens' cage outside the side door and opened the cage. After we talked a bit, I left them to their own devices. Like every morning, I muddled about, trying to get myself awake. All of a sudden, after about thirty minutes outdoors, I heard a squawk. Someone was alarmed. Then, I could hear a hen running and making noise, going from this side of the house, around the back, and to the other side of the house where the pen is. She squawked a bit more, then--silence. Hmmm....? I followed the noise and looked at the pen. Nothing.
The squawk? It was not the quick, continual, high-pitched," buk, buk, buk, buk" translated "I see a predator. Watch out everyone." It was not the raucous squawk, "It's got me and I need help" kind of squawk. It was more the startled reaction that is brought by a hickory nut falling nearby or the sight of me with the snake-like hose, hissing as I drag it. If you have chickens, you learn "chickenese."
I went back across the house and looked out. There were the other two hens jumping onto the carport wall, ready to jump into the side yard. They were looking around for the third hen, Thelma. Finally, after seeming to listen as they looked, they jumped down and started pecking around.
Now three minutes from the time Thelma went squawking around the house, I heard her hen song. She spent three minutes on the nest. I can only assume that she waited until she was about to drop the egg and went scurrying off for the nest. I went out, and sure enough, there was a warm, HUGE egg. All three hens thought more food was coming as they followed me into the pen. We four are creatures of habit.
You know how little kids run funny when they must go pee? Well, I can see this hen waiting until the last minute, running to lay her egg, and I can see her in my mind's eye, running with her knees together. Okay, maybe this is not amusing.
Your turn
LOL, do I sound desperate for amusement? Have I spent too much time learning hens? Do you have hens that amuse you with their antics that are better fun than an amusement park?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
I had chicken food for dinner
 |
| Move over girls. This is mine. |
I have several places that give me food for my hens. My friend picked up a box full of scraps before he left his town. Armed with a big bowl in the backyard of my home, he put it all on the table in the back yard and picked out anything that looked promising.
Food I salvaged to eat
Potatoes--1 gallon
bell pepper--1/2 cup
2 pears
14 oz squash
cucumbers--more than a pint
tomatoes--about two cups
The potatoes are in a bowl of water, ready to be cooked.
Bell pepper is in the dehydrator with other things.
Pears! I hate pears, so he took them home. They are not mushy, just not pretty.
We had squash on two salads tonight. The rest will be cooked for tomorrow.
Cucumbers! They will never pass through my lips. He had them on his salad and took the rest home.
There were enough tomatoes for two salads and the BLT I have planned for tomorrow.
Salad greens were given to me. We had chicken on our salads...free to me. So, the only thing I had purchased was the bit of salad dressing I purchased with a coupon. If I were feeding just me from the free chicken produce, I could eat for a suppers for a week if I include the free chicken and free Romaine.
He took home enough Romaine for two salads, besides the other vegetables. Two chicken thighs were frozen for him to take home.
Chickens don't like potatoes anyway. Potatoes and citrus went into a compost where I will not use it for growing anything. There were plenty more cucumbers...they attack those. I think they probably had two gallons of produce today from this box. Another half gallon is in the house for tomorrow.
 |
| The sliced, refrigerated tomatoes did not make this picture. |
Even if I managed to stand at the counter and do all this, the ants were all over. Despite everything I have tried, including vinegar, cinnamon, pepper, and Terro, they remain. I get the counter all wet with Dawn and water. That drowns some and seems to discourage others until it dries.
Tonight, I will use the vacuum on the fruit flies, ants, and the one fly that just came in.
Doing well
I have only spent about $40 and the month is almost over. This is how. I will need milk and bananas. If I see stock-up prices, I will be buying those.
Your turn
Have you started eating your animal food?
Monday, July 25, 2011
Pecans for Chicken Food
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| one gallon of broken pecans These are salvaged pecans. I had them in the freezer along with four other gallons for two years, took them out last winter and took them to a food bank to be shared with others. They still tasted really fresh. Of course, I stored them whole. Somehow, these were left behind. They taste okay, not prime, not really fresh. So, they became chicken food. I gave exbf a shallow box, a hammer, pecans and instructions. Just break these up enough for the hens to pick out the pecans. I figured that two blows to each pecan would result in the hens being able to pick out the meat. He spent a long time on these and thoroughly! crushed some pecans. A few were still whole. I can crack the last six pecans. Hens will probably eat the crushed shells as grit. At any rate, they liked the breakfast I gave them all mixed up in a casserole--several cups of rice and grits, half can of tuna, 3/4 cup of pecans, 1/2 cup of sprouts and reconstituted powdered milk. Hopefully the sprouts get covered in tuna and also are eaten! The pecans were not mixed up, just dumped over the top. I gave them almost a cup of broken/crushed pecans each day, over their other food. It is amazing how clean the hens can get broken pecans that still have tiny pieces of meat. I suppose a pointy beak and a keen eye, up close, coupled with a love of pecans helps. Every day I am amazed at their talents. By the way, I was told by pecan producers who are also farmers that pecan shells put into compost makes for very fertile soil. Of course, they don't compost completely at first. But, imagine how fertile this chicken pen is--composted leaves, pecans, and poop. LOL Your turn Do your hens love pecans? Do you make sure to throw the shells in your compost? Even if you don't compost, just throw out the shells to the earth, anywhere. Spread thinly enough, they are not an eyesore. |
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Tidbits
Meal moths
They are back after the cold winter in lesser numbers, but into my arsenal has come a cordless vac. These critters cannot fly well, so they fly erratically, making it hard to swat or clap my hands upon them. Hopefully, the vac will just suck them up. Yeah, good idea, but the vac has a handle on the end, making it unwieldy to handle...gone back to store, unused. Thankfully, almost all my food is now in Tupperware or half-gallon Ball jars. The rubber canning seal protects from an invasion of even the smallest of pests. I just screw the lid on very tightly.
Celery
The celery now has 5 stalks. The taller of the two original stalks grew 3/4 of an inch in two days. Indeed, it does taste like celery. I ate a leaf. now, there are now two 5-inch stalks, up from 4-inches when I first wrote about them.
Hen security
Two people donated to their security. Thank you. I still have a long way to go to protect them from predator raccoons.
My health
Knee (L) has tear in meniscus and will need surgery. An open MRI has been scheduled for my shoulder. The doctor also believes it could be a torn rotator cuff. I cannot go into the hospital for the knee until the chickens have a secure place because I won't be able to get them into my house each night. I had knee surgery on the right knee a few years ago and know exactly what I face.
Egg production
I now regularly get three eggs each day once again. Now that winter is over and the days are long, the hens are all back in business. The hens were two years old around March 21. They are doing well.
Raccoon attack
Did I tell you that one morning I awoke, fuzzy about the dream I may have had? A squirrel had been caught in the live trap. Was it a dream? I went to the trap and there was a squirrel head. Raccoons pull their victims though the bars, ripping them into pieces in the process. No, I did not mean to leave the squirrel to die. But, its demise just proves that at least one raccoon is still around here, a threat to my hens. Since there are woods nearby, there will always be raccoons....sigh.
Birthday
My son turned 43 yesterday, April 16, 2011. How did he get so old, so fast? I have vivid memories of him as an infant, a toddler, schoolboy, young man, student. Now, he is married to a very lovely young woman and father to a six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter. He was seven in this picture.
They are back after the cold winter in lesser numbers, but into my arsenal has come a cordless vac. These critters cannot fly well, so they fly erratically, making it hard to swat or clap my hands upon them. Hopefully, the vac will just suck them up. Yeah, good idea, but the vac has a handle on the end, making it unwieldy to handle...gone back to store, unused. Thankfully, almost all my food is now in Tupperware or half-gallon Ball jars. The rubber canning seal protects from an invasion of even the smallest of pests. I just screw the lid on very tightly.
Celery
The celery now has 5 stalks. The taller of the two original stalks grew 3/4 of an inch in two days. Indeed, it does taste like celery. I ate a leaf. now, there are now two 5-inch stalks, up from 4-inches when I first wrote about them.
Hen security
Two people donated to their security. Thank you. I still have a long way to go to protect them from predator raccoons.
My health
Knee (L) has tear in meniscus and will need surgery. An open MRI has been scheduled for my shoulder. The doctor also believes it could be a torn rotator cuff. I cannot go into the hospital for the knee until the chickens have a secure place because I won't be able to get them into my house each night. I had knee surgery on the right knee a few years ago and know exactly what I face.
Egg production
I now regularly get three eggs each day once again. Now that winter is over and the days are long, the hens are all back in business. The hens were two years old around March 21. They are doing well.
Raccoon attack
Did I tell you that one morning I awoke, fuzzy about the dream I may have had? A squirrel had been caught in the live trap. Was it a dream? I went to the trap and there was a squirrel head. Raccoons pull their victims though the bars, ripping them into pieces in the process. No, I did not mean to leave the squirrel to die. But, its demise just proves that at least one raccoon is still around here, a threat to my hens. Since there are woods nearby, there will always be raccoons....sigh.
Birthday
My son turned 43 yesterday, April 16, 2011. How did he get so old, so fast? I have vivid memories of him as an infant, a toddler, schoolboy, young man, student. Now, he is married to a very lovely young woman and father to a six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter. He was seven in this picture.
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