Painful learning lessons on the homestead.

Left to Right: Mango, Spots and honky

It seems like just yesterday I picked up my chicks and was excited to start a new chapter "Hawk Free". Looking at this picture now I suppose I should have known that I had two sick birds on my hands. It has been a very stressful month dealing with sick chickens.

The only chicken left in the picture that I still have is, Honky, the white chick, and she is enormous and healthy.  She is a pullet not a bantam, meaning that she is a large girl. She still sounds like a baby but is already bigger then my adult bantam hens, I keep looking for spots thinking that my tiny favorite girl will peak out around the corner to run into my arms like old times... but alas... it's Honky.

When picking chicks you are supposed to look at their eyes, skin, lift up their wings and look at their feathers. I was too busy looking for friendly, and docile birds, which I suppose means... sick bird.

Mango's legs are very pale in the picture and she never grew. Spots, was so little and frail, she must have gotten pecked in the eye, and was stunted from the large doses of antibiotics needed to save the adults.

Honky is the picture of perfect health. They say to look for yellow legs ( although a silkie should have an extra toe and black skin). So not in all cases are we looking for yellow.

I was playing with spots one day when I noticed that she had one eye closed and was starting to weave her head a little. I opened her eye to find a large white dot on it, and it was all foggy. She was blind in that eye, and she was disoriented. I sat with Mango and Spots in the yard while Ron sat in the middle life guarding the chicks. I got up to get a drink of water and Spots came running after me... "Where ya going?" She said in her little voice... I picked her up in my hand and she promptly plopped herself into my palm and went right off to sleep. She was always looking for a place to sleep... another sign of sickness maybe? I put her back in the coop and said goodnight to her, she went in and immediately heard a squawking... little spots came sliding down the ramp and was chased out by Regina... the head of the flock. That's not good either.... If birds are kicking the weakest link out, that is also a good sign of sickness. They won't even let her sit on the perch at this point. I picked her up gave her a kiss on the head "well I still love you no matter what little one" and placed her on her perch. That was the last I saw of her. I had left the gate open by accident and in the morning all the chickens were roaming, and Spots was gone....

Last night I came home after teaching riding lessons and without even saying hello to my family I made a bee line to my special girl Mango to see how she was doing. "Cheep Cheep! Mango" Not a sound. Shit.... I touched her, and she normally wakes up and gives a soft cheep cheep back as if to say, "Damnit mom!! I was sleeping what do you want now?!!!"
Nothing....She was cold.... and it was 85 degrees out. I picked her up, my hands shaking...She gave out one last cheep and her cold claw wrapped very slowly and limply around my finger.... She was still alive, but barely.

I was startled by the hubster who quietly walked up behind me and placed a warm gentle hand on my shoulder. "It's time I think... scooter" I nodded my head and said a few words in my head and kissed her head and told her I would see her again one day on my Noah's ark of other pets waiting for me. I showed him where I wanted her to sleep... and he took her out of my shaking hands, and told me to go inside.

I came out this morning to pay my respects,  and there was a tiny American flag placed at her headstone. Appropriate seeing as she put up a bloody good fight for me.

As always, I am a little devastated by my weeks journey of death, but it's a learning lesson. I now know to quarantine new birds. Wait till the weather is really warm to clean the coop out. Use a larger grade of shavings. Get medicine into the sick birds faster, don't just wait around for three weeks waiting for them to die. Kill them if they are in pain and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, don't just keep them around because you want them around. AND.... I suppose, don't love them... it hurts too much when they die on you. The last part is impossible....by the way. No matter what.... chickens will pull on your heart strings.

The Weekend.

Ellie and her baby birds

Once again the hubster and I got many things done this weekend. We adopted three new chicks. A Buff Easter Egger born in February. This bird should produce blue eggs. We also got a White Plymouth Rock born in March along with a Speckled Sussex born in March. They are already in the coop having a great time with the rest of my girls.

Nancy is my bird lady, or rather a bird breeder that I go to; to get my birds. She showed me around her place and let me look at all of her adult birds. She had one White leghorn rooster that was the size of a Beagle. Only bigger.

She also had a three year old daughter with long shaggy hair that would go in and grab all the baby birds and place them on a running machine that was in the same room as the babies. Her name was Ellie. It was hard to watch little Ellie grab babies by a wing or a head and play with them as if they were little dolls. Yet Nancy assured me that she wouldn't kill them, she knows better now. You can tell this kid will end up becoming a Steve Irwin type that loves birds.

 I assume there were lots of killings before the age of 3? Nancy is passionate about her birds, and gets very excited about them and talks really fast. I was trying so hard to pay attention and once and a while I would get a tiny poke or a pull from Ellie. "Yes Ellie?" "I like your car!" "Thanks! you have good taste!" poke poke "Yes Ellie?" "What does tem-per-mint mean?" "uh..... it means.... uh..... ummm.... " meanwhile... Nancy hasn't skipped a beat and is throwing more birds into my arms to "hold". "Do you like this one? Here hold her for a second while I get this one"

 We were in Nancy's house and I was standing on what looks to be a nice rug... and there... goes a poop onto the rug...."oops that one just pooped" Says Nancy...casually. "I am so sorry!, I don't know... what....to... do about that" "Oh no worries, it happens all the time". Ellie comes running out with a squirt bottle in hand ready to clean up.

I came home with the three chicks.... absolutely drained. I was there for an hour. I was jammed with new knowledge but was exhausted from three year old Ellie, baby bird screams, and the constant push to look at an IPhone to see what these chicks would look like when they mature. I hate looking at Iphone pictures. I HATE IT! I especially hate looking at the internet on an iphone. It's not a computer, it's just too small. I have a dumb phone. I refuse to upgrade to the future.


So baby birds... check!

 Then we went to my mom's house to see a strange man. We went out to lunch and feasted. The weather couldn't have been nicer. I decided to pluck some fish from the pond. Check. Done.

We now have 7 Koi... swimming around on our front porch. Alive and well! They made the transport. Which means I can go and get some more. I think there are at least 25 fish to be plucked... or not plucked... we will see, I think my mom wants to keep the pond and fish. Which means it needs to be repaired. Which is not an easy task.

I also cleaned out the chicken coop completely. I even hosed it all down with a pressure washer. It is so clean I could sleep in there and that is saying a lot. (Chicken Coops can be notoriously disgusting).

I also went to watch a horse clinic this weekend at Snap Dragon Stables http://www.ridesnapdragon.com/. I finally got to meet Coelli Netsky. http://cnetskyequine.com/ . She is  a big deal where I live. She judges horse shows, and is a certified horse trainer.  I wanted to make my best impression on her; so... I dressed as a professional horse trainer. It did the job. I gained some respect, and hopefully have re-launched my reputation as a good riding instructor and horse trainer.

I'm hoping that my cartoons take off too. I havent' decided whether I will eventually make this into a book, or just do an illustrated novel like Robert Crumb. http://www.crumbproducts.com/ . I'm getting a lot of feedback from the cartoons on facebook. I would like to be the next american Norman Thelwell http://www.thelwell.org.uk/. I will never do it like him of course, but maybe with time I will get my own style. As I have mentioned before I love his work.

So that was my weekend!
Here are some pictures and maybe a cartoon if I have time.

Feasting with family.

James likes the strange man

James and Watts lounging and reminiscing about the old days.

Fish in the new pond!

Say hello to the new chicks. Mango, Spots, and Honky

a boy and his bird

My boy Watts (age 2) and his bird.

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?

Buffy, Blue and the Crew

My chicks have moved outside to live with the big girls. They have a box with a screen in front and an opening just large enough for them to enter. This morning I went to check on them. I pull the rope to open the sliding door and I hear the girls jump down off their perch. I always wait for them to come out, and I say to them  "Good morning ladies" they look at me as if to say "yeah? whats so good about it?" wheres my grub?"
Anyway, this morning I didn't bother to look for them, I just opened the door, and then went into the hen house to check on my babies. One, two, three... where is Blue?! I started to panic. Of Course Buffy comes over and wants to be cuddled. "Not now Buffy, where is Blue?" I run out to look for her... There she is! Hanging with the big girls... Buffy comes running out as if she knew who I was looking for and gives Blue a little peck as if to say, "You got mom all upset! Look! Stay with us babies, your not big enough" Buffy herds Blue back into the hen house. They are getting so big so quick, Just a week ago they were in my closet... now look at them, strutting around with the ladies. Oh... they grow up so fast.

Martha says "Is this food? Where's my oats? You always bring me oats... this doesn't taste like oats." 

Back to front: Blue, Fluffy, Goldie, and Buffy. I think Buffy is a rooster. She seems to charge around and boss the others around... always protecting them. 

Regina and Martha heading out the door. "No oats? Screw you mom" is what that look is. 

CHICK Alert

Yesterday the hubster and I went and picked out some new family members. I found a lady named Nancy on Craigslist that lives about 5 miles down the road. She had a green house full of chicks, all different kinds. She was awesome and gave us four of her birds and some food for $30.

We chose a White Silkie ("Fluffy" till other wised named), a Blue Laced Wynandotte, ("Blue" till otherwise named), a Gold Laced Wynandotte, ("Goldie", till otherwise named), and a Buff Cochin (Buffy).

They are the sweetest little birds. Buffy is the oldest and largest. Fluffy is the smallest and youngest. They are currently living in a Tupperware container in my bathroom in the closet with a heating lamp. They cuddle with each other and sleep all day. They know my voice already and make sweet little chirping sounds. They have no problem with me holding them and look at me lovingly when I tell them how beautiful and perfect they are.

I love them.
nuff said.
Shut up!!!! I know... I have become that weirdo that loves birds (Well I love them till they poop on me... ) and then I am done playing with them. That's normal right?

Why didn't I have one of these as a kid?! I would have totally killed it... but so? I would have loved it till I loved it to death. I killed all of my pets (by accident) till I was around 12 or so. Now I can't get any of my pets to die- they live forever. I think it's cause I know what kills them. how morbid.

Anyway, my moms house is a pet cemetery. These suckers are going to live forever!! Unless the hawks get to them, I can't help that. Maybe I should show them video's of hawks going on a killing rampage... do chickens have nightmares? That would give me nightmares. I don't want to scare them, but they need to know they are in danger. Argh... I can't win... maybe I will make them some tin foil helmets. and give them guns- that they can't hold because they dont have hands...that's dumb. Or rather I could put some laser beams on their heads... so they could just look up and kill the hawks. But it's illegal to kill hawks in NJ.... and then they would get in trouble.. or would they?... if it was self defense?. Oh I will just have to teach them to fight. But I don't want them to be violent. Oh they are as good as dead. I can't help them.

Anyway, feel free to help out with names. Here is a picture of them. They even loved the photo shoot. They are little runway models, I have never seen poultry work the camera so well.

Look at how cute they are! They love to snuggle. 

Buffy is a Buff Cochin. Buffy say's "I don't slay vampires I slay hearts! watch out, I'm going to love up on ya!"

White Silkie Fluffy say's "I'll have a taco and a medium coke please"

another one of Fluffy, (soon you won't be able to see her face, so get a good look now)! 

Golden Laced Wynandotte Goldie says, "I'm freezing my ass off out here, put me back or I'm going to poop- ...oh too late!"

Blue Laced Wynandotte -Blue says, "I love you and you and you...your cool....wait what is that? .... is that my poop or.... damnit Goldie! your disgusting!"

Anyway, these are my new babies, and I'm not a hot mess after bringing them home! Adoption is best. I should have done this a long time ago. Wish these girls luck- they have lot's of things that wan't to kill them. It's a tough life, but I want them to have a good life. I can't wait to watch them grow here at the Den.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

I'm feeling like Mr. Rogers today boys and girls. It's the first real show of Spring, in fact that reminds me I have to pay the mortgage, my cell phone bill, and a few other bills that suck. nothing like the first day of the month. Whooo....

But I noticed that there was daylight at 6:30 this morning, not dark and gloomy. I went out first thing to let the chickens out... normally I wait as long as possible. Ron (the cat) was chasing his tail and scampering up a tree. The chickens are even high stepping all over the yard heads held high. Yesterday I went out with Watts and dug up the vegetable garden. I found some worms. Why were they green though? They looked like little zombies... I think they were still in hibernation. Anyway, I'm in good spirits today... it's rare. This winter has been rough on us here at the homestead. Depression was at an all time high and moral was low.

This weekend we are going to hopefully purchase some chicks! I found a lady that lives down the road and she has a variety of different birds. I'm not really that interested in the eggs... I just want a whole bunch of different looking chickens. The one chicken that I am looking forward to meeting at this ladies house is called a Blue Laced Red Bantam Wyandotte. She also has White Silkies, and Buff Cochins!

Blue Laced Red Bantam Wyandotte

White Silkie

Buff Cochin

The Hubster likes the white silkie, but they need special care. I'm not feeling that. Look at that Buff Cochin and his hairy legs. He looks great. I shall name this guy "Kevin". The white Silkie will be named "Kotex" and the Wyandotte will be named "Steely Dan!" Damnit though... these are hens. I need girl names. I'm drawing a blank.

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Blogger is very glitchy when you insert pictures... I just lost a good hour of work and about a page of writing.

I'm too angry to write the rest of this blog now...

I will pick up on this later when I calm myself down.

YOU SUCK BLOGGER! My day is gone to shit. I need honey. NOW.