Colorado

[Percheron chick]

 

[21hens-incharge]

Uzi,
You and I and everyone on here knows you love those birds. You are stronger then you think. I wont tell you to keep or to get rid of just that you are a strong person. I know the healing is difficult and there are challenges to everything. You have shown that you have the grit to overcome and persevere. You have done things that even though I am not struggling with the challenges you have I could not do.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Yesterday evening, I was in the front room watching cartoons with my grandson. Suddenly my wife runs through the kitchen and out of the house onto the back deck and starts yelling for everyone to come outside.

I ran outside through the open sliding glass door, while my 2 1/2 year old grandson used our dog door. (He truly believes that it is his door).

In the backyard, a Copper's Hawk had one of my Welsummer pullets by the rump and was flying across the yard with it. Except for my wife...everything was quiet...even the chicken in the talons of the hawk was quiet. My son grabbed the chicken and I made a grab for the hawk.

Welsummers must have loose spongy feathers, I could not find any puncture wounds in the pullet at all. The hawk flew up into the Black Walnut Tree and surveyed all the commotion before flying off.

Wow...that was close. I can only figure that the hawk has been picking off the Eurasion Doves that come into the chicken feed, and today decided to take a chicken.

Sorry no photos....wasn't enough time.

 

[lomine]

@Rock Home Isle wow close call. Glad your pullet is okay.

@uzisuzuki great pictures, as always. I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with so much pain. I know that you love your birds and you will do what you believe is best for them. I believe that should you choose to keep them they will be well loved and well taken care of. They might be a burden on you physically but I think they are very good for your mental health. A bit like your own flock of therapy animals.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Yesterday evening, I was in the front room watching cartoons with my grandson. Suddenly my wife runs through the kitchen and out of the house onto the back deck and starts yelling for everyone to come outside.

I ran outside through the open sliding glass door, while my 2 1/2 year old grandson used our dog door. (He truly believes that it is his door).

In the backyard, a Copper's Hawk had one of my Welsummer pullets by the rump and was flying across the yard with it. Except for my wife...everything was quiet...even the chicken in the talons of the hawk was quiet. My son grabbed the chicken and I made a grab for the hawk.

Welsummers must have loose spongy feathers, I could not find any puncture wounds in the pullet at all. The hawk flew up into the Black Walnut Tree and surveyed all the commotion before flying off.

Wow...that was close. I can only figure that the hawk has been picking off the Eurasion Doves that come into the chicken feed, and today decided to take a chicken.

Sorry no photos....wasn't enough time.

I'm glad you didn't lose your pullet! We have a ton of hawks and owls (& even a couple of Bald Eagles since we're not far from Bar Lake), so this is something I worry about with my flock of bantams. Besides being nice to look at, I'm glad the peacock adopted me because he and his hens patrol the yard and keep the raptors from taking any birds and rabbits during the daytime. They try to run off the Eurasion Doves, but those birds are so dumb they don't get the hint.

 

[COChix]

Don't give up your flock, they are a life line to an experience that has helped you cope (they are your friends remember) I am 68 have crippling arthritis (numerous other ailments), walk with 2 sticks, use a mobility scooter when I am out, was told by a doctor that I would be in a wheel chair by the age of 50, I basically told him to go piss up a rope, 18 years after my 50th - still walking (not real good) but I manage to creep out to the coop 5 times a day and I process all my own birds (only can do 5 day, once could do 50 before lunch), they keep me going, even in the winter I get out there in the snow storms, I am not telling you this to toot my horn or to get those ovation things, I want you to know that no matter the situation, if you can make it your sole intent to find joy that is hidden all around, every day look for only that which makes you feel good in your situation and your life will still be better than many others have.

Wow well said...I bolded the part that spoke to me the most.

 

[Auntie Moose]

It's been cloudy and thundering here for an hour and NO RAIN Geez, just rain already!! My lawn is almost totally brown.

 

[Robilyn81]

It's been cloudy and thundering here for an hour and NO RAIN  Geez, just rain already!! My lawn is almost totally brown.

Seriously! We've gotten so little moisture all July where I am. I just sit and watch the storms all going around me. Not that I miss the hail but it's so dry!

Looks like some areas on the plains just got hammered though??

 

[Auntie Moose]

Seriously! We've gotten so little moisture all July where I am. I just sit and watch the storms all going around me. Not that I miss the hail but it's so dry!

Looks like some areas on the plains just got hammered though??

It never did rain here in Arvada. I thought this was monsoon season!

 

[Robilyn81]

Oh well I'll just enjoy this picture of chickens sneaking into my kitchen to cheer myself up