Sick birds, Rain and Flowers

I dropped Watts off with my mom yesterday for another sleep over. I was able to clean the entire house in under two hours. This is definitely my happiest time... when I am surrounded by cleanliness and order. I tend to freak out and get very agitated by slop, mess, untidiness, chaos, noise..... I wonder if I'm slightly Autistic?

Most that know me would say "YES!"

Anyway, I went out to check on my birds this morning.
Little Mango was sitting on the ground with her head on backwards... they are kinda like owls... they can turn there heads around .... its a freak show.

At first I thought Mango fell off the big bird perch and broke her neck... but on closer inspection I think she is close to dying from sickness... she is trying so hard to breath and is definitely trying to get something off or out of her throat. I might as well be ringing her neck... she does this seizure like motion weave with her head.

I brought her inside, put her in a diaper box, gave her a stuffed animal to hang out with, and put a heating lamp on her... she appreciated it all. She just wants me to stay with her and stroke her and hold her head still. She seems the most content when I support her head, so she can take a peace nap.

The vet was on his way here.... and then I received a phone call that he had an emergency and he would have to reschedule. I told the lady on the phone that I too had an emergency. My birds are in risk of not making it through the night.

Rogue is also extremely ill. She was sleeping in the mud today, AND let me pick her up and put her in a Tupperware container with some dry bedding. She is currently sleeping in the shed, away from the other birds. She too likes me to stroke her head, and talk to her....

Birds are intelligent creatures. They have feelings, and they are masters of communicating with their eyes. They have almost human eyes, with expression. You can really see through them if they are happy, sad, sick, or mad. Birds also like to hide the fact that they are sick... which is why if they are acting sick... it is much worse then they are letting on. They are tough bastards!

So while waiting, I cleaned the house, and to cheer me up I picked some flowers. Purple Iris's are growing in the garden now. I picked them along with some lilacs and used some of my Hosta leaves to fill in the rest. It certainly cheers me up on such a shitty- rainy gloomy day.

Sick Chickens on the Homestead

So, I have a lot to learn about chickens. They are complicated little creatures. It's not at all like having a dog or a cat that you can put into a carrier and take to the vet.

I think Rogue must have been sick when I found her and put her with my flock. She looked somewhat sickly at the time... I should have known better. Learning lesson #1. Quarintine new birds for three weeks! 

It was the first week of Spring, so I cleaned the chicken coop, and changed out all the shavings, and hosed down the walls and scrubbed everything. I then went out and got some chicks and added it to my flock. This all happened within a week about three weeks ago?

Next thing I know Regina is coughing and sneezing and making terrible wheezing sounds. 

I put garlic powder in their water to help naturally cure their cold. 

I thought that maybe it was the dust from the new bedding, or maybe the damp cold air from hosing down the sides of the coop. 

Anyway, now all of my adult hens are sick. I can't give them medicine because I don't know whats wrong with them. 

Ginger told me to call her horse vet. He makes house calls and has chickens. 

This is going to cost a fortune. For chickens....

Anyway, he is coming tomorrow at 12. Fingers crossed that the medication that they need doesn't cost a small fortune. We aren't rolling in money at the moment. 

This morning I opened the coop and normally all the birds come running out to say good morning... today they all walked out slowly, and one was missing. I opened the inside of the coop and there was Martha... still sitting on her perch looking terribly lethargic. Her comb is starting to fade in color and turn blue... which means something is wrong with her air sacs?. This is bad... it's really bad. 

I sat there for a moment petting her, she closed her eyes as I stroked her behind the ear.... I told her to hold on for one more day... "don't you go dying on me now!" I lifted her off the perch and placed her on the ground, she feels lighter then normal. She slowly walked outside to go sit with the other birds... they aren't even interested in looking for bugs. It's a pathetic site. 

I went in and made some hot oatmeal and rice crispee cereal mash for them. This should warm their tummies. I brought it out to them...they gathered around eating and coughing... normally its' a brawl to get to the food. They gathered around the bowl all taking turns. What is going on?! Friendly, Docile Girls eating nicely together without pecking each other? There is definitely something wrong.

Anyway, I put up a video of my birds on You Tube and Facebook. Once I know whats wrong with them, I will tell the world what these symptoms need. 

Anyway, Enjoy the video of my sick birds. 

The Red Hen is Martha, the large hen next to Martha  is Regina, the Hen in the back is Becky, and the skittish hen in the corner that is lacking a comb on top of her head is Rogue. 

Easter Weekend

Watts has discovered money and candy are hidden in these eggs. We had to do a practice run before he went to do the real Easter egg hunt. 

It was Easter weekend and we got a ton done! My mom is finally back from her vacation which allows the hubster and I to work together to get projects completed.

My dad came over to help again and brought with him a 17' bamboo pole that he chopped down on his way here. He pulled into the driveway with it sticking out of his sunroof. I can't believe he drove around like that, but if you have ever met my dad you will clearly see that he is aloof when it comes to wacky looking things.

The bamboo pole was the perfect addition to the chicken coop roof. The hubster erected two beams and then laid the bamboo pole across the top to act like a roof ridge line. We then pulled chicken wire over it, and secured the edges to the sides.

With three people working on it, we completely covered the top in chicken wire and it only took 5 hours. Not bad. I can now go and get more baby chicks and actually watch them grow into ladies!

I also planted my peas into the new garden beds. However, I forgot to harden them off first. (to put them outside for the day, and bring them in at night to acclimate them to the weather) They will most likely die. I can just plant some more.

We also made it to nanny and pop-pops house in Reading, Pa for an Easter Egg Hunt. The weather blew chunks, but Watts and James had a blast.

James turned 8 months old yesterday, and with that he decided to climb all the way up the stairs on his own, looking back at me, as if to say... "really your going to let me do this?!" Watts decided that James was getting too much attention from me, so he brought some toys up the stairs and they played on the stairs for a while.

I also managed to teach a jumping class on Friday. It was so much fun. I rode a horse named Finn who is super fancy. I can't get him out of my mind. I would like to own him... only he is 17, and that is a bit old. I also worked with pony Raven. I jumped on her back and got her to walk, trot and canter. I gave the ok for her to do lead line classes, which is a big deal because she can now earn her own keep and will no longer be a useless pony sitting around eating and farting her day away.

It was a good weekend to say the least!

James and Watts getting ready for the Easter weekend. Watts is feeding James  a banana. 

James is 8 months now and proved it by climbing the stairs. Watts played with him on the stairs to pass the time. 

Our new Alcatraz chicken coop. We shortened the one side away from the trees where the hawks like to sit and wait. 

The 17' bamboo pole that my dad brought works as a great ridge line for my chicken wire. 

Rogue and Fluffy- best buddies! And now safe and sound.

Our vegetable gardens waiting patiently for plants. Notice my pea's? 

Doh! I forgot to harden it off first. Hopefully it will still thrive. Hardening off means to bring it outside for the day and bring it back in for the night till it has become used to the outdoor climate. 

Regina, Becky, and Martha behind two layers of fence. Safe and Sound, and hating me for coming empty handed. 

Finn and I cantering up to the next jump. Isn't he a handsome boy?! We get on marvelously. He's my new bestie! 

Finn and I jumping for the first time together. He over jumped it by about a foot. I don't mind. The higher the better!  He agrees with me because we share a brain. 

Farewell Goldie

Rogue looking after her new flock. Fluffy (white) and Goldie

Taken earlier today 2-3 hours before Goldies demise. Rogue looking after her new flock.

Its a nice day out. I am completely miserable... but it's nice out.

I feel as though I have a very bad concussion. I'm lightheaded, feel dizzy... see black spots... my stomach hurts a little. 

I took a nap. Or tried anyway, I ended up with sweaty nightmares instead. All this equality stuff on Facebook has given me dreams about being a lesbian. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I'm all for it...  but I would rather have 5 more two year olds then be the other. 

I woke up to Rogue making her distress call. 

I run outside... no Goldie. 

Goldie is gone. 

Fluffy is inside wedged between a wall and a nest box, visibly upset. Fluffy is never without Goldie.

Rogue is upset. 

Rogue is upset because she has taken to being their guardian. Everywhere those babies went Rogue went... looking after them. 

I don't think I'm going to the barn tonight. I think I need a break... I feel so awful. This is all very stressful. Nothing like watching babies die one at a time. 

Ain't Nature grand?

Free Bird

Just got home from a pony party and there was a knock at the door. I normally do not answer the door cause I'm weird and don't like to talk to new people. I went against my better judgement and saw a spiky haired silhouette behind the door.
"Yes?"
There stood a stout older lady with black spiky hair and Jackie O sunglasses. She was very sure that my bird was in her yard, and she kept saying something about a rooster. I knew immediately that this lady was either nuts, or confused... she was rushing me out the door. Before I knew it, I was in the yard with this stranger looking at all of my birds. She was still not satisfied. She told me that her dog was going after this bird and it has been camping in her bushes for about two weeks. This lady needs help, and I seem to know in my heart that I can wrangle this rogue bird. I tell the hubster to look after the boys while I go and help this lady. He has no idea what is going on, except that I am "going to look at a bird".  The hubster looked at me and I recall thinking this may be the last time I ever see him... because I was about to go into this ladies Ford Taurus station wagon, and she was elderly, and she almost pulled out into oncoming traffic. I almost didn't get to save the bird- I was thinking how this was one of the dumber things I have ever done. No cell phone, hubster had no idea where this lady lived, she was acting a little nuts, and her car was a death trap.


It turns out Mary was awesome. Very nice lady that just wanted to save this chicken because her dog was surely going to eat it.

We pulled onto her front lawn cause that's where she parks her car? She points to a large bush... I make a bird call and a little head pokes out "Oh hello!". Yup that there is a hen... a scared very small bantam barred rock chicken.

Now I just needed to get her out of the bush... and with that she ducked and covered into a thicket. I pushed her out one end and she bolted down the yard, I blocked her like David Beckham handling a soccer ball, she went that way, so did I... I was trying to corner her... but nope... she had some moves... her little feet were slapping against the pavement... pavement? I look up... we are now on a road... to main street. I needed to cut this off now... I wonder if birds run out of steam? I was not used to this. My girls will happily come to me... not run from me as if I were a monster. A monster in breeches and boots looking ridiculous at 3 pm on a Saturday afternoon!

Finally! One last turn and this girl was done... she finally squatted and let me wrangle her up into my arms for a nice warm cuddle. She looked almost relieved. "You're not going to eat me?" "Nope not today my friend"

Mary was thrilled. "Wow that was quite the show!" "Now what are you going to do with her?"
Take her home I guess... can she go in your car?
Soon enough I was shaking hands with Mary and was alive and well with a friend back at my homestead.
I put "Rogue" in the coop with my baby chicks and watched as she gobbled up all of their food. They came over and looked up at her, "Mama?" "Sure, I can be that"
A friendship was made with the babies. Good she can stay.

I introduced my other ladies to Rogue and they cocked there head to one side... did a side step right up to her and gave her a hard peck in the head.
"HEY! That wasn't nice!"
They each went up to her and pecked her in the face... so pathetic to watch.  This bird had either been with a Rooster or was moulting... she had missing feathers on her back... and seemed to be stressed as it was. My ladies could almost tell this about her and kept pecking her hard on her bald spots.
Poor thing... she was very submissive and just wanted to be liked.
They finally all settled in... and stopped pecking at her... but I noticed that she couldn't hang with the big girls... she was like the nerd that sat at the end of the table with no friends... It was really hard to watch.

Nighttime fell and it was time for them to go into their coop for the night.
I went out to make sure Rogue had made it in with her new family.

Nope... not there. Great. Where is she?

I shone the light around the run looking... and up in the brambles sat little Rogue on a nice big nest of brambles a good 5' off the ground. "no no silly girl" You're not an owl... and you're civilized now!
I plucked her out of the brush with no problem- gave her a cuddle, and told her that she has a home now. I opened the door and sat her on the perch. She made a thud sound... but sat there... the ladies just stared at her. Blindly. They can't see anything at night. I could have sat a a roasted Turkey there and they wouldn't know.

They didn't seem to mind.
My babies were in their box happily sleeping with each other.
I think she will be safe for the night.

"Goodnight ladies, see you in the morning!"

Poor Rogue. It's hard to be the new girl.

Rogue is on one side of the pen and the ladies are on the other.

Regina is going over to Rogue to peck her "Go on git!"  Notice how well they blend in with their habitat? This is why I don't worry about them and the hawks. 

She doesn't have a comb on top of her head, I think she must be a different Breed of chicken. I feel sorry for my little Rogue girl.