tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27175487375452133432024-02-22T05:54:15.451-08:00Hen Fresh EggsKismet brought Hazel and Myrtle for a visit in January 2008. We adopted them, making a home in our back yard, which is where this blog begins. Betty, Lulu and Zelda are our new family of hens!Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-6305302166223513502011-02-23T15:24:00.000-08:002011-02-23T15:24:28.564-08:00Flower Pot Dirt Bath with Betty and Lulu<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5CZFtvwnM_8?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5CZFtvwnM_8?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-9660908281067870152011-01-08T08:15:00.000-08:002011-01-08T12:18:51.542-08:00Catching up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGmAb9aXLjI094_7TlMq4SMaXtyxe6YyL_EF7y8W0F5mMVMtQAgWmeDCEMDLWo4ijmFH7Iw4yxDQzsL74T2aafZgvqfMMvIbynETJBkQjnauwvvEQ8a0KvO5vC9Nq-n-OUiU3v-Q-m-Wz/s1600/2010-04-26+15.13.43-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGmAb9aXLjI094_7TlMq4SMaXtyxe6YyL_EF7y8W0F5mMVMtQAgWmeDCEMDLWo4ijmFH7Iw4yxDQzsL74T2aafZgvqfMMvIbynETJBkQjnauwvvEQ8a0KvO5vC9Nq-n-OUiU3v-Q-m-Wz/s1600/2010-04-26+15.13.43-1.jpg" /></a></div>Wow, I just looked back and realized I have written virtually nothing about my girls in six months. Hmm, where to begin.<br />
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I mentioned Betty just quit laying on me. This summer was hot and I remember the day my daughter picked Betty up to show a friend and a soft egg squirted out of her in a burst on the ground. It was kinda cool, but that marked the last egg we've seen from her. She hadn't moltted, didn't seem sick, but a few months down the road when I was reading outside, Betty walked by and pooped, as she does often, and as I looked at it, I noticed a squiggly worm. Damn! I hate treating for worms.<br />
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Treatment means giving some dreadful chemical and a minimum of 14 days of egg laying and they all have to go in the trash. You can't treat one hen, it is assumed if one hen has worms, then they all do. So I began treatment and we waited.<br />
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Betty had been looking not herself, as I mentioned in my previous post. Her comb was floppy and not the red I had come to love in contrast with her black and white feathers. She then started to molt and feathers were everywhere. We just waited. <br />
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Then, about three or four weeks after treatment for worms with Wazine-7, Lulu started to molt, which also meant the end of the eggs for her. Zelda has laid steadily since we got her and we have been very grateful because her eggs are big and a beautiful blue.<br />
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Now that Lulu is back with fresh feathers, we still wait for Betty, but I am confident she'll start laying again.<br />
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Another adventure that has changed all their habits happened a few months ago. One evening as my husband and I were outside talking, my dog went nuts at the hens pen. he was barking and scratching at the gate and finally managed to get the door open. He was circling the coop, sticking his nose in the cinder blocks that keep the coop off the ground and we went in to investigate.<br />
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It was really dark and the security light that flicked on as we entered proved useless. We grabbed a flashlight and discovered a possum hiding underneath. Max must have scared the bejezus out of him. He played dead as we tried to force him out with a broom handle through the dark cinder block hole. He wouldn't budge, so we put the dog inside and came back out to give it another try, but her was gone.<br />
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Zelda decided she wasn't interested in her coop any more. Zelda is my skittish wild girl. An Ameracauna with crazy beautiful eyes and was the only of my girls I had never managed to catch and hold.<br />
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The next night, I peaked in the coop and Zelda wasn't there. I wasn't home as dusk led them to bed and I searched everywhere. Around the house, under the deck, in the bushes, at the neighbors house, behind our house in the bamboo forest. Nothing. <br />
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Then it occurred to me that she had some serious wings and could fly high, so I started looking up high around my house. Maybe she was roosting on the six-foot fence. Nope. I came back into the backyard with my flashlight and spotted her high up in our Cedar Elm tree. The silly girl had leaped from our picnic table up to a high safe branch almost completely out of my reach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4rPfOMns9gy8szbxPR_b_Qo1bTDUXovnpAqha4Ia6hCGvI7ixXSSd_MayfyTWHwM6BUyglzddwN7LQkBkZx08dxLNiVc5Kn4btp-hNnQbSDUxFgpPZgRWUKN7NyjmjIqPIHX_CIO2Xt-/s1600/Zelda+Elm+Roost+2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4rPfOMns9gy8szbxPR_b_Qo1bTDUXovnpAqha4Ia6hCGvI7ixXSSd_MayfyTWHwM6BUyglzddwN7LQkBkZx08dxLNiVc5Kn4btp-hNnQbSDUxFgpPZgRWUKN7NyjmjIqPIHX_CIO2Xt-/s320/Zelda+Elm+Roost+2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This posed a couple problems. I could reach some of the branch and pull it down, but this silly bird has never let me hold her. I haven't even touched her since she arrived.<br />
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Also, assuming I could pull the branch down to grab her, how could I hold the branch and secure her amongst all those limbs and leaves without hurting her or making her fly higher.<br />
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Well, I dropped my flashlight and just went for it. I gently pulled down the branch and she squawked quietly. I maneuvered through the spiky limbs and managed to get near her feet. I figured it was easier to get her feet than try to encircle her body. It took several tries and she protested mightily, but I managed to get her on my hand, lift her over the poky limbs and gently release the Elm.<br />
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She flapped and protested, but she didn't peck me. She seemed pretty disoriented and that's when I realized that hens are completely drunk after dark. She gave me permission to carry her to the coop by not attacking me and I got her safely inside.<br />
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The next night I urged all three hens into their coop and closed them up at dusk, but the following night, we didn't get home until after dark and sure enough, Zelda was in her new favorite spot. Damn.<br />
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I pulled the same tricks, but not as easily this time and managed to get her to bed.<br />
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Fast forward a couple weeks and Zelda found a new spot to roost. She flew up roost on my husbands bicycle wheel, which was hanging about seven feet off the ground. We continued the ritual of carrying her to bed every night, when Betty decided that was a great idea. She roosted on my bike, which was on the ground. Fast forward another few weeks and Lulu thought this was a grand idea. She was lonely in her coop and the rubber grips on the handle bars of my daughters bike were nice and comfy.<br />
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Every night, if we haven't ushered them into the pen before dark, we now find all three of them perched on my treadmill, which is much easier to roost on than a spinning bicycle wheel.<br />
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So much more to tell, but this is a long post. I love having these girls in my life. I want to build a bigger, more secure coop and get a few more hens, but who has time to build structures. Not me. So I will continue to dream of a larger hen family and of the perfect coop, while collecting and eating the eggs we get semi-regularly.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-84658090231692592252011-01-08T07:41:00.000-08:002011-01-08T07:41:43.556-08:00Finally, an Egg from Lulu!Betty, my sweet Barred Rock hen hasn't laid an egg since July. She went into molt in early-November and all the advice I have received said to give her time. One hen father said give her until February. Dude, that is a long time, but what's a hen mother to do except wait. Since she molted, her feathers are back in full fluff and her comb is getting more red and finally standing at attention after months of flop and sallow pinkness. She isn't laying yet, but I have hope for her.<br />
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Lulu began molting in mid-November and quit laying. I thought, "Great! Three hens and about five eggs a week." This is not what I was expecting when I dubbed my weekly dinner, "Fritatta Tuesdays." <br />
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Yesterday the hens were completely out of feed. I made the oatmeal with flax seed and scrambled eggs (store bought out of desperation), with some cut up green beans. They ate it so fast I made another batch, but added quinoa and left out the eggs.<br />
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After a new batch of feed was supplied late afternoon yesterday, I looked at Lulu his morning, and she was squawking awkwardly. I thought, "She's gonna lay an egg." Sure enough, an hour later I went outside to visit with my girls and survey my garden, and I noticed Lulu missing. I peaked quietly around the corner to see if she was in the run eating, but she wasn't there. A few minutes later, she came waddling out of the pen and joined her sisters as they scrapped and picked under the fallen Red Oak leaves around the compost bin. <br />
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I peaked inside the coop and lo and behold, a sweet little brown egg. As I clutched it from the trap door in the back of the coop, I felt the eggs warmth spread through my very chilly hands. Lulu's back!<br />
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Maybe we can restart Fritatta Tuesdays, if not this week, then definitely next. Not sure what prompted the lay, but maybe it was my gourmet breakfast yesterday.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-41850180130795334712010-07-19T06:06:00.000-07:002010-07-19T06:06:07.192-07:00What's all the racket? It's 6:20 a.m.!My daughter comes scrambling in my bed this morning saying the chickens are cackling like crazy. I scramble out of bed, grab my husbands bathrobe, slip on some sandals and head for the back door without my glasses. I get the backdoor unlocked (with effort) and head around the corner to their pen where Betty is pacing the front of the run and cackling her heart out. It is LOUD, too. She was acting like she was locked up in her coop and a worm was just outside and out of reach.<br />
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She made some really funny sounds too, like she was announcing herself to the world. Lord, I feel sorry for my neighbors. College kids by day, restaurant servers by night. They are quiet and respectful and probably would appreciate sleeping past 6:30 am. I would be so pissed if I was them. Betty was obnoxious.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-68076903940488467502010-07-17T21:21:00.000-07:002011-01-08T12:16:10.715-08:00Three a day!! Whoo hoo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4TnyKWvayzX96Gzhznfb-hnLgQy4fg7e-fwO_GPSBN3drHQzJzO-ILnl0wtSuGUOnkC1WLlPkfjjolo1gCRUtu8GNvZGiiCHlawPhKRRzG1VON7YLdR7ksqix-uv9t4meTOKtT7iu6KU/s1600/three+hens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4TnyKWvayzX96Gzhznfb-hnLgQy4fg7e-fwO_GPSBN3drHQzJzO-ILnl0wtSuGUOnkC1WLlPkfjjolo1gCRUtu8GNvZGiiCHlawPhKRRzG1VON7YLdR7ksqix-uv9t4meTOKtT7iu6KU/s400/three+hens.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zelda's, Lulu's and Betty's Eggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lulu finally laid an egg yesterday. What, has it been a month since I got her? She seems to be a sensitive girl, but yesterday and today there were two brown eggs and a pretty blue one in the nest. I think Lulu's are slightly more brown and Betty's are slightly more pink, but who the hell knows. Just glad she is a contributing member of the family now, cause she sure eats a lot!<br />
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Finally bought them a 25 lb bag of feed. I bought 10 lbs and it lasted a week. I wish they wouldn't spill so much. All is well. It is getting hot, but I have a courtesy fan blowing on their favorite spot under the bushes. Probably need to get their water someplace with more shade. Noon time is roasting in their pen, but by 2:30 or 3:00 they are in shade the rest of the day.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-50689948888051223352010-07-01T14:08:00.000-07:002010-07-01T14:08:29.737-07:00Finally a Blue Eggs!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaXeOPEwFNLDsfKW2wVTDmGvDOkq7-8xrE_1cD2o6UmSGKzYqbKCZz9tl027uBvUZYfK-SaYmyY1P-QxjnbI9tmGjbg-J6O53XA7ON-r7JknoyhdMbZpNKi8gLmm1qNsOJzGzVOiApFyj/s1600/IMGP4956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaXeOPEwFNLDsfKW2wVTDmGvDOkq7-8xrE_1cD2o6UmSGKzYqbKCZz9tl027uBvUZYfK-SaYmyY1P-QxjnbI9tmGjbg-J6O53XA7ON-r7JknoyhdMbZpNKi8gLmm1qNsOJzGzVOiApFyj/s320/IMGP4956.JPG" width="240" /></a>On June 24, 2010 I finally got a blue egg from Zelda!!!! </div>It is a good sized egg compared to Betty's as you can see in the image, and I just love the color. Lulu still hasn't laid and I'm beginning to wonder at what point do I worry. I'd say soon. She has no reason not to lay unless she is actually too young and hadn't started laying yet when I got her. I let them roam the yard now when I get home and that makes them happy.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-88690372686659067932010-06-23T19:41:00.000-07:002010-06-23T19:41:30.223-07:00Free to Roam...SometimesWell, after keeping the girls under lock and key, I now let them roam the backyard from about 6pm until sundown. They dutifully go back to their coop and I shut them in sometime after swim team is over, around 9:00 p.m.<br />
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Betty is laying about every other day, which is nice. Zelda gives me nada. Lulu is seriously slacking as well. Their former hen mother said to give her a call if they aren't laying by two weeks, which is Friday. My God all the work to make them mine; I can't just swap them out. I have faith they will lay eggs, after all, that is their purpose and my home is as good a place as any to do it. Still, kinda disappointing.<br />
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Betty runs to me at full speed when I come outside and I snuggle her regularly. She is an awesome hen and I'm glad that the Dominique was swapped out, because Betty Two rocks. I can occasionally snag Lulu. She feigns the role of escape artist, but isn't in a huge hurry. She knows she is ok, even if I catch her and she doesn't squirm a bit once I have her in snuggle position.<br />
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Zelda is my wild girl. Never touched her, which means no clipped wings and no snuggles, and I bet she doesn't hang out long, if I ever catch her.<br />
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They fight over the big bugs and I was surprised to see Zelda win in a war over a tomato worm. They are happy, but I just wish they could eat mosquitoes!Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-21134971452217974522010-06-16T15:57:00.000-07:002010-06-16T15:57:27.843-07:00Meet Zelda, the Astounding Ameraucana Hen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhJTXAbuZe9-Bp1YodXh5OjlYCAjIakQ6f1mds9Vg2fhr53zErNe4rmmfXSwpgnplvoPeFgrUT6eeNQ5jdAhHy8AWkVpuqvNpSTx8Ruh_Uj9y3zM9nVw3s1hAxFWYQq7aBMiQlxLYpc06/s1600/Zelda+6-16-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhJTXAbuZe9-Bp1YodXh5OjlYCAjIakQ6f1mds9Vg2fhr53zErNe4rmmfXSwpgnplvoPeFgrUT6eeNQ5jdAhHy8AWkVpuqvNpSTx8Ruh_Uj9y3zM9nVw3s1hAxFWYQq7aBMiQlxLYpc06/s400/Zelda+6-16-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-70646847037853723602010-06-16T15:55:00.000-07:002010-06-16T15:55:29.592-07:00Meet Lulu, the Buff Orpington Wonder Hen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhyVW-33uZW-7_2HFzKy2nwASJ8SopWUomnHB-nwruIG3Acyn-ZQ9V7Nky_gkwKbIobW0p9PJ3VI1UoU9eJ4REXUr8jPyNnnmDldTN4xrOVhqRpNOwwKWxNFEK_DTb8ziZe91K7yGqmQP/s1600/Lulu+6-16-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhyVW-33uZW-7_2HFzKy2nwASJ8SopWUomnHB-nwruIG3Acyn-ZQ9V7Nky_gkwKbIobW0p9PJ3VI1UoU9eJ4REXUr8jPyNnnmDldTN4xrOVhqRpNOwwKWxNFEK_DTb8ziZe91K7yGqmQP/s400/Lulu+6-16-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-23549842167014927582010-06-14T21:49:00.000-07:002010-06-14T21:49:28.442-07:00Tiny Eggs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsHUrx4hYzQ2FUVfo97IZ5qkrP9Xk0TcV3D6xETq2YdvCcc3eYN4MfjiOh4fODEppbgKWion_s5SDx9QBFIvvsGZhFN1-XThOe9heeBaBetICGFme2GWY4g8YzmI2cYJmGPXEPgcdTaFz/s1600/First+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsHUrx4hYzQ2FUVfo97IZ5qkrP9Xk0TcV3D6xETq2YdvCcc3eYN4MfjiOh4fODEppbgKWion_s5SDx9QBFIvvsGZhFN1-XThOe9heeBaBetICGFme2GWY4g8YzmI2cYJmGPXEPgcdTaFz/s320/First+egg.jpg" /></a></div>After talking to the guys at Buck Moore, I think I got two Barren Rock hens eggs yesterday and today. They are tiny. No go on the two other hens, but tonight they put themselves to bed, which is a nice step in the right direction. <br />
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Betty is a very Huang chicken. She eats non stop. She will jam her head through the fencing to get a blade of grass a foot away. I put out a 20oz jar of food this afternoon and it was 3/4 gone in ten minutes. Working on getting some netting for the run. I bought some, but a friend offered a roll, so I'll gladly use that.<br />
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Anxious to let them roam, but I need help clipping their wings. That is not a one person job.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-47889862757248404722010-06-13T05:45:00.000-07:002010-06-13T05:45:59.637-07:00Morning! Day Two in Henville<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBWUfOHNYxp_KBWxp7dzz4aTVFrkRHUcgUFALuFqDimMlr3nkw-6jggSkGjvuRYd58IcjtRcGgYyfqTEespGDoLxSZ5_8D5JBZ8aYsdXwK99UKSf2oYsSYbQn-GrT0dhYNPpa2jsiMTos/s1600/Lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBWUfOHNYxp_KBWxp7dzz4aTVFrkRHUcgUFALuFqDimMlr3nkw-6jggSkGjvuRYd58IcjtRcGgYyfqTEespGDoLxSZ5_8D5JBZ8aYsdXwK99UKSf2oYsSYbQn-GrT0dhYNPpa2jsiMTos/s320/Lavender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So this morning is hot. Dang, I always forget how incredibly hot and sticky Austin can be and it is indeed this weekend. The girls were waiting at their coop door at 6:15 am. I intended to sleep in, but woke at 5:00 am. Lord! <br />
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I got them fresh food, water and went on a snail hunt, which brings me great joy! Their nice sharp beaks have no trouble devouring these abundant, slimy suckers.<br />
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Off to the <a href="http://www.blancolavenderfest.com/festival/">Blanco Lavender Festival</a> today, so the girls are hanging alone. I have to admit it gets pretty hot for a few hours around noon on their side of the house, but they will be fine. <br />
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I forgot to mention that I am counting on some eggs today.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-6617945145205930942010-06-12T15:20:00.000-07:002010-06-12T15:21:33.993-07:00Meet the New Betty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd41gun0DKOv6lUXUh-pt5Y76iDLhbPBsFRkuaoTc_bBYdlPS8LZcYeMZw-zDLCLNdMbYNqEETvucyTIEkxSjvMydHI3v689Lptm9be2QM3xQzf9uiFX-kg19gEQvGEYUB97AuOLxQ78W/s1600/New+Barred+Rock+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd41gun0DKOv6lUXUh-pt5Y76iDLhbPBsFRkuaoTc_bBYdlPS8LZcYeMZw-zDLCLNdMbYNqEETvucyTIEkxSjvMydHI3v689Lptm9be2QM3xQzf9uiFX-kg19gEQvGEYUB97AuOLxQ78W/s400/New+Barred+Rock+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meet the new Betty. She is a Barred Rock and pretty frisky. I liked the calmer Dominique, but this hen will be a nice addition to our family. The hen lady who did the exchange also brought us a dozen eggs and some good feed to say thanks.</div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-50487535281075187482010-06-12T12:02:00.000-07:002010-06-12T14:33:05.875-07:00Bon Voyage Betty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuaIfMftCWEeP3DDfEkvbsjI6UIRdk91eZLbzGCGeJGu3i5DtWdNzzXp-bBDRqjIzN1S4mK7c5r56bT0MWEGiHxYg0phuusvBdJUUwEwHKU4RktBlYC7yBypjhvCZEdX7HHbzq9ylF_bJ/s1600/Hens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuaIfMftCWEeP3DDfEkvbsjI6UIRdk91eZLbzGCGeJGu3i5DtWdNzzXp-bBDRqjIzN1S4mK7c5r56bT0MWEGiHxYg0phuusvBdJUUwEwHKU4RktBlYC7yBypjhvCZEdX7HHbzq9ylF_bJ/s640/Hens.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It appears that the woman I purchased these birds from gave me the wrong bird. Meaning that the Dominique (black and grey) is a show bird that she breeds and accidentally scooped up yesterday in her rush to meet me. She offered to bring me an additional hen, but I simply don't have room for four. I don't need that many eggs either and I don't want to buy that much feed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She is coming today to swap her out for a eight month old Barred Rock, which is supposed to lay some 50 eggs more per year. Kinda sad though, we had pretty much settled on Betty for her name.</div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-12764870789078666912010-06-12T09:10:00.000-07:002010-06-13T05:47:25.512-07:00Hens Penned<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRk0awlnLhyphenhyphen2nWQ9_ZD9GA26BkZBkD2XdcbCk16R5g-OG2vlhMpS3GBgLf_-AlfviibIOupo90T34ofFhlQPRWr2hpkFX9uQRyZdy3Rzd69H6xEIgdTrBCuz57kJmoXt-b-SbKIr_VNVf/s1600/Pen+before+baby+proofing+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRk0awlnLhyphenhyphen2nWQ9_ZD9GA26BkZBkD2XdcbCk16R5g-OG2vlhMpS3GBgLf_-AlfviibIOupo90T34ofFhlQPRWr2hpkFX9uQRyZdy3Rzd69H6xEIgdTrBCuz57kJmoXt-b-SbKIr_VNVf/s200/Pen+before+baby+proofing+sm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcLBgV6Gyj3r_Kxle150vt8xd2eK8cA5FjqoEakc-dYsqbEpizS0stfuubn1mxeJGmS4eNKFPuxFRc4p6NvmaQq2uzBbDfBOiyA1qOud9URqwiowqrec8wTku6w_x6mYnMDyl9HPbSPx/s1600/Small+pen+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcLBgV6Gyj3r_Kxle150vt8xd2eK8cA5FjqoEakc-dYsqbEpizS0stfuubn1mxeJGmS4eNKFPuxFRc4p6NvmaQq2uzBbDfBOiyA1qOud9URqwiowqrec8wTku6w_x6mYnMDyl9HPbSPx/s320/Small+pen+sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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On the advice of lots of folks at the BackYardChicken.com forum, I decided to build a mini-pen and cover it with a tarp to 1) shade and protect from rain and 2) keep them from flying away. </div><br />
They spent the majority of the morning happily in their coop and it is plain to see they don't know what the heck is going on or why they are here. So, strategy is to keep them in their smaller pen space for awhile, a week maybe, and give them time to adjust and keep them safe. <br />
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Then, we'll clip one of their wings and give them space to roam in their larger pen. But free ranging may be sometime down the road. I still may need to get some kind of fruit tree netting to keep them out of the neighborhood airspace, but we'll cross that road later.<br />
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Next, serious coop repairs...Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-72553093079030788782010-06-11T19:28:00.000-07:002010-06-11T19:29:54.079-07:00These hens are WILD!So, this evening was trying. Here is my plea for advice from members of backyardchickens.com:<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPSdojNSlSZfGqOfRZnW8O9MleXkPi3e8BZqT_0-8Yl6oU451gG5jX9xElTi8ZEhSxb8KQ3DbwLqXh_NVUnzr-buWr1ypfH3KBMI2qtg6hmuMSzq46nRiT9h_8NXjGu2VInOVkRkO96Yt/s1600/IMGP4670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPSdojNSlSZfGqOfRZnW8O9MleXkPi3e8BZqT_0-8Yl6oU451gG5jX9xElTi8ZEhSxb8KQ3DbwLqXh_NVUnzr-buWr1ypfH3KBMI2qtg6hmuMSzq46nRiT9h_8NXjGu2VInOVkRkO96Yt/s320/IMGP4670.jpg" width="242" /></a><strong>New hens (6 months); totally lost!</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I just brought home three new hens. My other two hens died after a nice long life and I thought getting new hens would be easy (please stop laughing). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First of all, my other hens were adopted at about age two or three, so they were calm, tame and very spoiled girls. These new girls are WILD. I have one Ameraucana, one Dominique and one Buff Orpington, all from the same flock. They are about 6 months old and I thought that I could just drop them in to my pen and they'd settle in nicely.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Catching them tonight to put in the coop was a bloody nightmare. Mainly because of the mosquitoes attacking my husband and I while were tried to catch them, so question #1 is: Will they get to know that this is their coop and go in nicely...ever?</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Also, they FLY. My other birds never flew anywhere more than 2 feet. I saw some other posts about using netting for fruit trees and clipping one of their wings, but can you train them to behave? Question 2: Do they calm down? Can you train a chicken? Any advice to get them on the road to chiilin' chickens? </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Really ANY kind words are appreciated and any advice to get us through this transition to their new urban home would be helpful. I'm not ready to cry yet, but I wasn't at all prepared for these crazy teenagers!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanks warmly,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wendy</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-18745220470100680572010-06-11T15:56:00.000-07:002010-06-12T10:08:53.430-07:00We have a new family and I'm scared to death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFdXSkqux16u3FXsgI1UKL9Rc2Z9gKCOGA6dN847RpLKj8umWZwxL-dOoB_S5tRmxItxFLHfbIDZ2YN5FZafUvmgAl2vBiHBYi_0GZ-YteXCfq76HGQjyPykewLpMiLaip2Bvg3VRtCTw/s1600/new+hens+6-11-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFdXSkqux16u3FXsgI1UKL9Rc2Z9gKCOGA6dN847RpLKj8umWZwxL-dOoB_S5tRmxItxFLHfbIDZ2YN5FZafUvmgAl2vBiHBYi_0GZ-YteXCfq76HGQjyPykewLpMiLaip2Bvg3VRtCTw/s400/new+hens+6-11-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, we were really lucky to welcome extremely well behaved hens to our home when we adopted sweet Myrtle and Hazel, but I brought home our new girls just hours ago and things are a bit different.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Ameraucana is beautiful, but so wild looking. We are going to work on names this weekend. The Dominique seems really timid and I think <em>Betty</em> might end up being her name. My daughter asked for the names from the Flintstone's, thinking they would be old fashioned and Betty seemed to just fit the Dominique. She is quite beautiful.</div><br />
Our Buff is skittish and so lovely. She completely freaked out when Max, the sweet retriever, stopped by the gate for a gander. He was oblivious to the girls, but I think they will take their time getting to know him.<br />
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I tried to build a new door for our coop yesterday, but the isosceles triangle measurements and angles for cuts got me re-questioning my spatial reasoning. I actually think I got it right, but am afraid to make the circular saw cuts without my husband's confirmation. I just require a second opinion about most things involving math, as hard lessons have taught me to seek them. I remember a time I tried to cut some fabric to make a dress for my toddler without drawing a pattern, measuring or even ironing the fabric. What was I thinking? I totally just started cutting and ruined a beautiful piece of white linen.<br />
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Waiting for my hubby and daughter to get home. I am obsessed and petrified, but really looking forward to making the girls feel at home. Go egg layers!Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-46077022218378787302010-06-09T16:17:00.000-07:002010-06-09T16:26:52.793-07:00Starting a new family<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY99neWkoOxwSAcEuAbN_yOzFYfWyiGYfXoHWwceqb_j-KFPRgy04-4DHJ1GtVJXc0C-C8tUFd-PpwYyhuB6ED1-o1iBoULnjJf6wNqFGxuDk1EZOG8dffJ8AtNs0haYF7Fr7EJ48cOeLj/s1600/americauna-225x169.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480918660845904882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY99neWkoOxwSAcEuAbN_yOzFYfWyiGYfXoHWwceqb_j-KFPRgy04-4DHJ1GtVJXc0C-C8tUFd-PpwYyhuB6ED1-o1iBoULnjJf6wNqFGxuDk1EZOG8dffJ8AtNs0haYF7Fr7EJ48cOeLj/s200/americauna-225x169.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-KZUqKbI8SrCXKcu6ocFkXlylWqcXEGKToYxAHQixcXnTw0TD5At-BdAX4t5QLrnqE6W2bUvHxbU46l83ueofJ5s9CHxu7uJ2P7mBrCSVLhlfPf-hOd4QR1nLlYmhfLbptF0b-rOg3IE/s1600/buff_orpington_bis.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 159px; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480918764151139554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-KZUqKbI8SrCXKcu6ocFkXlylWqcXEGKToYxAHQixcXnTw0TD5At-BdAX4t5QLrnqE6W2bUvHxbU46l83ueofJ5s9CHxu7uJ2P7mBrCSVLhlfPf-hOd4QR1nLlYmhfLbptF0b-rOg3IE/s200/buff_orpington_bis.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8mpbvzHuXcMatFOOFXREHNpTIvd1XFOsUOMQ8yoD4asYa27-ory-Om4kZTWvGqdCqaHy94LAcNJ3Uu_Xx3bDIqWMKrHxkybJiwGSLE8SWedU9z7FUTZWGgaDejsuhu0JfYbmGUeqenid/s1600/dominique+hen.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 151px; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480918936158093010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8mpbvzHuXcMatFOOFXREHNpTIvd1XFOsUOMQ8yoD4asYa27-ory-Om4kZTWvGqdCqaHy94LAcNJ3Uu_Xx3bDIqWMKrHxkybJiwGSLE8SWedU9z7FUTZWGgaDejsuhu0JfYbmGUeqenid/s200/dominique+hen.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>Friday I am picking up three new hens. An <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ameraucana</span> that lays blue eggs, a Dominique hen and a Buff <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Orpington</span>. They are six to seven months old and laying regularly. I have some work to do on their coop; fixing the door, cutting the branch I want to use as a roost, add fluff to the nest. Also want to get some feed that is pellet vs. the crumble, which is a HUGE mess and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">attracts</span> so many pigeons, I'm not sure the chickens ever get to eat. I hope they'll eat the pellet, along with the scratch I have on hand already.</div><div></div><br /><div>I'm really excited. I've missed having hen fresh eggs and can't wait to use my yummy garden veggies to make some quiche and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">fritattas</span>. Also looking forward to the different variety. Hope they get along and become one with our family unit. Nervous, but happy to pull the trigger and finally commit to getting birds.</div></div></div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-31773240315079820712010-05-18T16:54:00.000-07:002010-05-18T18:14:53.746-07:00RIP Sweet Hazel and Loveable Myrtle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia22_jpW3dIJvKMV4cuGFpbxdLURKb0Y-vPSsXWGDm-VaPsfG8iTBO7E7NnQyI-K98Etywz9GSGewrRw2AEP5EI6fyaNcP8bFwzfWo5ZsvZkcHmqZTi32d5ZVt-NWDbs62kySgqyBjEC4O/s1600/IMGP3737.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472782617831424338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia22_jpW3dIJvKMV4cuGFpbxdLURKb0Y-vPSsXWGDm-VaPsfG8iTBO7E7NnQyI-K98Etywz9GSGewrRw2AEP5EI6fyaNcP8bFwzfWo5ZsvZkcHmqZTi32d5ZVt-NWDbs62kySgqyBjEC4O/s320/IMGP3737.JPG" /></a>Miss Hazel died today only a short month after Myrtle. We think she died of a broken heart, although there was a mysterious illness that neither antibiotics nor de-wormer could cure. <div> </div><div>I cried my heart out. I'll miss them badly and so will my family and friends.</div><div> </div><div> </div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-46879253574897565292010-03-07T10:40:00.001-08:002010-05-18T18:20:04.554-07:00My pets used to make breakfast...Ok, so Hazel and Myrtle have been a bunch of freeloading, poop laying pains in the ass. They eat, a lot. They poop, a lot! And I am tired of their free range lifestyle with out some eggs.<br /><br />They haven't laid in months. When they were laying a few months ago, the eggs were not so pretty inside. No details, but more often than not, I chucked them. Now, after a round of worms, they are eating, pooping lazy birds. Healthy, but lazy.<br /><br />So today, I wrangled them and put them in their run. Tented the coop so I could shelter their food and water from the rain. I fluffed and added shavings to their nesting box. Found some nice green grass, scratch and oyster shells to toss at their feet and walked away.<br /><br />Oh! I added a store bought egg to the coop for inspiration. I will give them some lentils for extra protein in a bit, but then I want to see some business. I miss my fresh eggs. My daughter now says, "neh!" to store-bought-egg omelets. "The eggs don't taste good," she says. I have a nine year-old egg snob. What have I done? The girls are just not earning their keep.<br /><br />I know they are older, but they have a good life, big yard, green grass, bugs galore, organic feed and hugs whenever they need them. All I ask for is some EGGS.<br /><br />Ok, I am done. I will get them some lentils and hope for the best, but I appreciate any egg-laying vibes that are sent my way...or my hens way, which would be better.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-76891674433763953682009-08-25T18:02:00.000-07:002009-08-27T18:11:11.984-07:00The Ugly Underbelly: Heat, Molting and Snakes, Oh My!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, 66 days of more than 100 degrees in Austin this summer. It is past ridiculous. Those 100+ degrees days aren't like a tepid 101 degrees; they are 104 to 106 degrees and let me tell you, that is really hot!</div><div><br /></div><div>The girls are just plum tuckered out. Eggs only once or twice a week despite our best efforts to cool them, offer ice water, feed them the good stuff. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>But I have to tell you, I completely freaked out this morning. Hazel began losing some feathers on her head a few months ago and it didn't get worse, nor did it get better. I dusted for mites and thought, "Oh well." But today I picked her up to give her a once over <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">because</span> her head looked raggedy and noticed something very wrong with her underside.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Familiar with molting?</b> Well, according to my friends at www.BackyardChickens.com, I think this is it:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH5YVNoXHtuqA3jplFVEVrXGXWiKf9gkUNyNLL5yuiMAfMp4p75sp0QwJEtpl2fO5Uy0c9i7TVMT3ypaHCbOnppOLtT5y96wkB_-3MTJucW_tbhJB-iTFF6wbFwM-dwUt4OC39ykqjZA_/s320/Hazel+Belly+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374759613218801106" /> Yuck. I have found many similar pictures of molting via google images. Not pretty, but normal. I had no idea those were new feathers. In fact, I didn't really want to look too hard.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Now for the snake</b>. I think I know why my girls prefer not to go to their coop on their own anymore. I found a five foot Texas Rat Snake in my yard one evening walking from their coop.</div><div>Check this out!</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzMw4gPJsmfsLKjwlzVSn41b7um-F92gpgR-sHaT_tyB2ziBw3OHQ20W3SvOYhd7YY_bAdpPiCKWA82Tc7Y7CHD3KgrnLuRXND8H3zuxO-BoxtYvgSrmKcixxBiwMylIfqubV6-5fBeVI/s320/Snake+2a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374760820389303602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px; " /><div>I mentioned in an earlier post that my girls were laying all over the place, well my neighbors two year old discovered six eggs in the corner of my yard and I am certain that is where they moved after Mr. Snake came around. I don't mind the snake, in fact I think they are really cool, but I don't like my eggs being stolen. </div><div><br /></div><div>I ate store eggs out of desperation and they were so bland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, found a nice wine crate and put a decoy egg inside with some fluff and Myrtle has been laying there ever since. Hazel is busy molting. Can't wait for that to stop.</div><div> </div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-81549171460300520942009-05-23T10:19:00.000-07:002009-05-23T10:41:08.803-07:00That Screeching Sends Me Running for my Babies!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAjYT8VV4BqF8ec14GqF1g3y5BO8hWF7m6wG6k-Y7kGIGbsW9SbJosuNrGKeIOFlYzoiem1o_digQ97m-VZ0DF_5eBCIilsMIHMQ8_2xFFXvfpajez6qIg7jyZ5dnFVlFNa5_18aq8uIU/s1600-h/Redtail+Hawk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339070747294237106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAjYT8VV4BqF8ec14GqF1g3y5BO8hWF7m6wG6k-Y7kGIGbsW9SbJosuNrGKeIOFlYzoiem1o_digQ97m-VZ0DF_5eBCIilsMIHMQ8_2xFFXvfpajez6qIg7jyZ5dnFVlFNa5_18aq8uIU/s320/Redtail+Hawk.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>We've got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Redtailed</span>-Hawks, at least two and maybe a family of three, as one seems smaller than the other.</div><div></div><div>I hear them screeching and I can't stop myself from running into the backyard to make sure my hens are smart enough to be under the patio, a tree or their favorite hideout, the picnic table.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>They usually are under cover with lots of big trees in the back yard, but when you see two hawks take flight out of one of them, you can't help but worry.</div><div></div><div>I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">exquisitely</span> interested in whether on not the hawks are watching my girls. Hunting them. Why else are they roosting in the trees behind my yard?</div><div> </div><div></div><div>I wonder if they can <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">maneuver</span> through the branches of my rotting 65 year-old cottonwood tree to snatch up one of my girls. Is that a worthy risk? I would suspect that they would prefer prey in the open, which I why I run to the backyard and make sure my girls are hidden. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Perhaps it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">doesn't</span> matter where my hens are. They'll get snatched if the hawk's deem the reward worth the risk. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>They have been circling for months, maybe they nested in the Post Oaks in the neighborhood behind us early this spring.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>I remember driving out of my neighborhood and I looked north to see one of them circling over what looked like my part of the block. I called home and asked my husband to check on the girls. He just laughed and said, "They're fine, honey." </div><div> </div><div></div><div>We have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">raccoons</span>, possums, rats, armadillos and probably a host of other critters that I am completely unconcerned about, but the screeching of the hawks makes my hair stand on end.</div><div></div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-35210383265736603742009-05-23T10:05:00.000-07:002009-05-23T10:16:47.363-07:00Mrytle is Fine. Best Advice was to Trust Your InstinctsMyrtle fractured her leg. I discovered that some bone was poking through, so I cleaned it, feed her water by dropped with aspirin and kept her in her coop for three days. We then kept her in her coop for most the morning, but opened the door mid-day and she would hope out on one leg. <br /><br />It took about two weeks before she would put pressure on it, but she only has a slight limp now. She has a bump that has totally healed on her leg, but she is doing great.<br /><br />Egg production has slowed. Both chickens are laying all over the place; under tables, under the oak tree, behind my treadmill. The have made a nest out the the plastic bag that holds the pine shavings for their coop and are laying there. I know Hazel is doing that, but I haven't witnessed Myrtle laying at all. I actually wondered if she is laying period. She must be, although our eggs have been markedly Hazelesque recently; browner with speckles.<br /><br />I referenced the <a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/">Backyard Chickens</a> forum for help when she was injured and I got great advice. She nice and knowledgeable people who said to just trust your instinct on how to treat her. It was good to hear that because I couldn't do much else. I made sure she got plenty of water, aspirin for pain and cleaned her injury.<br /><br />We are pretty sure that she fell or something fell on her, becuase if a racoon got her, he would have eaten her.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-46786565456773668182009-04-22T15:39:00.000-07:002009-04-22T15:45:51.201-07:00Myrtle is HurtI'm not sure what happened, but I think a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">raccoon</span> might have tried to get Myrtle. It may have been a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">freak</span> fall or something, but she has a very hurt left leg. It isn't messy, just a small abrasion, but she will not put her foot down. She won't flex her toes and she has seemed to be in pain.<br /><br />I fed her water with aspirin yesterday afternoon for the pain and kept her in her coop most of the day. The temp hit 95 degrees, so Marshall took her out and put her in the shade. She rested for awhile and then decided to hop around and look for bugs, but she won't let that foot touch the ground.<br /><br />I'm considering a sling. Seems kinda silly, but her leg kinda dangles and if it hits the ground she pulls it up really quickly, so I thought giving her the option to just let it rest in the sling might be more comfortable. Still deciding about that.<br /><br />Hazel is pretty distressed that she isn't feeling well; she stays close.<br /><br />I'm going to put her to bed early tonight and hope for the best.Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-82741818657546239752009-02-01T18:48:00.000-08:002009-02-01T18:58:10.474-08:00Still layin' and playin'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJWShLAlko7actBJfqt4ltfAsXE_fNwx5sM0pT1hQ2xMTRwF_8SC3R3-_SJTvBgZqyX6LTCamQ-G4wQPWVvzeQm6_co1UP9hQbfAXz7NGLGeIAIxZSXPS58g2SNlDtFn90wc7j-2Vedtg/s1600-h/Camera+Unload+starts+with+Ruby%27s+B.+Day+2008+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298028356296719186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJWShLAlko7actBJfqt4ltfAsXE_fNwx5sM0pT1hQ2xMTRwF_8SC3R3-_SJTvBgZqyX6LTCamQ-G4wQPWVvzeQm6_co1UP9hQbfAXz7NGLGeIAIxZSXPS58g2SNlDtFn90wc7j-2Vedtg/s320/Camera+Unload+starts+with+Ruby%27s+B.+Day+2008+035.jpg" border="0" /></a>Been a long time and since the zillion 100 degree days of summer, but the chickens are happier, laying more eggs and pickin' the yard clean of bugs.<br /><br /><div><div></div><div>Today my family ate lunch outside and the chickens and dog wrestled over fallen french fries. Hazel is fast, Myrtle always misses out and Max is totally intimidated by both hens.<br /></div><div> </div><div>This is my lovely girl with my other lovely girls!</div><div></div><div> </div><div>It has been just over a year since we adopted the hens and we love having them around. </div><br /><div></div></div>Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2717548737545213343.post-22515601876302782942008-08-02T10:53:00.000-07:002008-08-02T11:04:48.052-07:00Still Freakin Hot, but Hen's are Happy<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229981597051148770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" height="199" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Zd2sTz1eBDcSn-MFIzaCPHjC5CHUabdAbQoBQw5IpEigHnkIvRTA8X5GPnESGaVX4D8TOJdnW3aQ7OlOLa-qy5-OLSxWj0hO-fJRjvoKsPbo-WmK3KISwwbQLTzM3pqzO77IsGeKwHgw/s320/P1030386.JPG" width="267" border="0" />Lord, another 100 + degree day in Austin and the hen's are resting in the shade of my red oak tree, near the compost bin. They burrow a spot in the cool dirt and just sit until the sun moves them to a fresh spot.<br /><br />A couple months back I found a great feed store on North Lamar, Buck Moore Feed and Supply, that sells organic layer crumble produced in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Elgin</span>. Nice to buy local and the girls love the stuff.<br /><br />The eggs are coming more frequently now that they have adjusted to the heat. Had fresh egg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">migas</span> this morning with Hatch Green <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Chile</span> sauce--Yum!Dot Connectorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05548044894797082328noreply@blogger.com0