A Journey Through a Different Way - Funny Story Pg. 69

[beefy]

ZooKeeper for chick pics of breeds try www.feathersite.com

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Thanks Beefy

 

[ruth]

SAD UPDATE: Last night I lost my first chicken to a predator while freeranging. They have been total free ranging for a year since they were 3 weeks old. Normally around 4:00 or 5:00 depending on daylight, I go out and start rounding them all up. They all come running from wherever they are because they know I have their dinner and I can then get them in the fenced run. Then I close the gate. Some of the older ones will sometimes jump the picket fence but for the most part they stay in the run and put themselves to bed and I go out later and herd everyone, including ducks into coop and do a head count and lock up coop. They don't want to go in and some of the older ones give me a hard time. Last night hubby and I were having coffee on front porch, both dogs with us, and I thought I would just let it get a little darker before trying to round up the big girls who wander way off. When I got everyone in coop and did head count I was missing a Buff Orp - kind of normal - always missing at least one of the big girls. Hubby and I went on our usual search for the ones that never want to come in. Sadly I found a pile of feathers just near edge of woods behind the old log cabin. As I was bending over to look at them I heard something in the woods and next thing I know the dogs came running from front of house and took off after something that had been right there next to me in the woods. I heard them chase it for a ways. This morning I went out to see what I could see. I saw feathers on every bush and briar for a ways till finally a big pile deep in woods. Whatever it was had just gotten her and carried her while the dogs chased it off. From the track marks I think it was a coyote or fox.

I know there are those who are going to say "I told you so" and "How irresponsible that you let them free range and feed the predators." but this is the first real predator loss I've had in one year. I should have gotten them in before dark and did so today and will do so from now on. I have gotten another German Shepherd that I am training to help guard the property. But will I change much else? NO. I still believe in what I am doing. I've seen so many posts lately from people who have kept their chickens locked up like Fort Knox and something is still killing them - or they eat/peck/kill one another - or they die of some disease. So I am grateful for the year of eggs she gave me and the year of enjoyment she gave me watching her run around both our properties and I will miss her but I won't sentence them all to confinement because of the loss. I have been expecting a loss from day one and though sad I truly believe a life well lived, though shorter, is better than a life locked away.

GROSS UPDATE: Today I did minor surgery on one of my black sex links' foot and removed bumble foot. She did great with allowing me to hold her and repeatedly soak her foot and cut into the pad with a razer blade and dig with tweezers. At first I thought it couldn't be bumble foot because there wasn't any black area on bottom of foot and she was swollen between the toes, not on bottom of foot. But after a week of no change I was afraid to wait any longer. At first nothing but blood was coming out but I kept soaking and squeezing and cutting and digging and resoaking and finally a big plug came popping out and more stuff after each soak and repeat. I gave her some antibiotic and stuffed the hole in foot with neosporin and taped it up. I've placed her in a hutch with some hay so she won't walk on the foot and will continue to monitor. Thanks to all who posted "How to" for bumble foot - I did a lot of research before I attempted it. She and I did amazing well and she seemed fine afterwards whereas I thought I was going to puke and faint at same time.

If someone had told me a few years ago that instead of traveling the world as a public speaker, and staying in the finest hotels, as I've done for 15 years, I would be trying to start a small farm and would be hatching eggs, raising chickens, cleaning coops and doctoring chicken feet - I would have laughed. Guess the joke's on me.....BUT....you know what.....I couldn't be happier.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm sorry about the loss of your hen, but if I lost one like that, I'd also not change what I'm doing. They enjoy their lives as they are and in the going on three years I've had chickens, I've not had one predator loss. I know my time is coming-you just cant free range them forever and not eventually expect the perimeter to be breached by something. The benefits outweigh the risks in my opinion, too. Thanks for continuing to update this thread.

Forgot to say that we've treated more bumblefoot than we care to remember. I have two or three with it now. This property has lots of old burn piles and there is not way to avoid abrasions on the feet. The heavy birds are more susceptible to it, but I've had lighter ones get it on occasion.

 

[basicliving]

Ruth, this is one of the most informative and enjoyable threads I've read in a long time on any forum. Even with the sadness you've experienced from one thing or another, I applaud what you are doing. Predators are a fact of life. I'm sorry you lost one of your babies - but I know you are comforted in the fact that you allowed that baby to be raised in freedom and enjoy life while she was here. I love what you are doing. I know your chickens love you for it. And you are absolutely correct that most will lose chickens to predators at some point, even if they lock them up tight and raise them in a bubble. You have nothing to regret.

Glad you took care of the bumble foot. I have no clue what that is. I'll be researching it a bit. Still, if it involves cutting, squeezing, soaking, and blood, I certainly applaud you for accomplishing the surgery and not fainting during it. I hope the chicken recovers quickly and completely. And I hope you had a nice, strong drink afterward!

Thanks so much for keeping this thread alive and updated.

Penny

 

[ruth]

Thanks Cyn and Penny -your words of encouragement mean a lot to me. It's not easy to lose them to anything but loss and death is a part of birth and life. I've not raised mine as pets, don't cuddle with them or pet them, but they are special and important to me and I would do anything for them. Today we had visitors from our old home in Covington that had not been here yet. They were amazed that I had so many chickens and even ducks now. Last time they saw me I just had the original dozen - now have about 50 chickens and 20 ducks. I explained that they are just so much fun. Our friends were getting such a kick out of seeing the chickens running up to us and following us all around the property as we showed our out-of-town friends the place. They were amazed that chickens followed us around like a bunch of puppies. They got a kick out of seeing them in my gardens and flower beds and herb gardens and just about anywhere we went on the grounds. I get the same enjoyment as well and that's why I free range.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Keep up the good job Ruth, surgery on a chicken foot LOL got to love the lazy farm life LOL.

On a sad note sorry for your loss, but what a way to go. No hanging in a cage/house waiting to die just living life to the fullest taveling, eating exotic bugs one minute and gone the next. You got to admire that in a strange sick way. Sure envy your ability to free range. One day I will be at a place I can free range too.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[WillsMama93]

I really have enjoyed reading all of your updates, experiencing life on your farm with you. I am sorry about the loss of your chicken. I know she had a wonderful life, and would not have traded it for the "safety" of a cage. Keep doing what you are doing.. and sharing each step of the way with us, please!

 

[ruth]

Well Scarlett is in LGD training. She follows me in and out of coop and run all day long. The chickens/chicks and ducks/ducklings are all used to her now. She lays quietly and watches them and does the same thing Rex does which is a kind of perimeter check each time she goes in coop. She walks around, goes up to any that will let her and sniffs them and then finds a place to lay down and watch.

She laid claim to their dust hole.

Here she is with the Motley Crew of chicks that someone dropped off. They are doing great and loving free ranging.

Of course she really loves Big Rex and think's she's his little Mini Me. He's finally warming up to her now and is teaching her how to play fight and wrestle. I think they will make a great guard team.

Here she is looking in and wondering why I closed the gate and didn't let her in.

 

[speckledhen]

OMGosh, that is the cutest puppy ever! I love Scarlett. She'll do Rex proud, I'm sure.