I have a sad update, Nickels passed a hour ago. It is so hard raising newborn kittens. We have successfully done it in the past, but we have also lost some as well. The poor little guy had everything stacked against him though. When he was found he was already covered in maggots and my brother's girlfriend did not think the momma let him nurse at all to get the colostrum. I feel really bad for my brother, he and mom were taking shifts with him. When it was evident he was passing my brother sat there holding him with tears rolling down his face as he passed. My brother is the type of person who does not cry around anyone.
So hard and sad. I had a mama cat die after an emergency c-section. I tried with her 4 babies, lost one after another over 3 days. The entire event was very traumatic. Of course she was the best cat ever too.
 
Hector is officially in you "you randy idiot" faze. Yesterday morning he tried catching Pear. No dice. Last night he chased after her 3 separate times. She took him through the obstacle course of under the olive branches, over another branch, through the babies (or the adults still outside), around a bush, over the cinder blocks (he plowed into them), and lat attempt she slipped into the coop (I tried closing the door in his face, but wasn't fast enough) and hopped onto the nest boxes. He can jump up to the top....after pacing 15 laps around the interior of the coop, back outside 7 times to pace around, then back inside to pace back and forth in front of the boxes several times (jumble all the various pacing places together and mix thoroughly to find his trail). Obviously he got foiled again. He tried chasing Storm outside (she's been merciless with him at roosting time: 6 feet!). She looped a tree, came up behind him and pecked the back of his neck....repeatedly. He tried chasing Nellie. Cheetah was already roosted so just sent up the disgruntled bok bok and stayed put. She eeled through the olive branches and Hector plowed into them again. He caught Twirp on the floor of the coop, managed to get on her, only to have her squirm out from under him, whirl around and jump in his face, talons extended. She looked like Karate Kid with the Flying Crane (?) move. Result: his wattles were bleeding, he's back outside trying to tidbit for me and she's settling into her roosting place with nary a feather out of place.

In the past week I've seen (or heard) all of his girls and at least 2 of the younger girls pitch a fit because he's grabbed and they're not ready. I can see why the waterer is considered a prospective mate in certain other tribes....I swear he's going to try a rock or a tree stump soon...

Young idiot needs to be courting the ladies, not me, and the hormones are....:he
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Young idiot at full volume (still fuzzy)

:barnie:he
My hens will run straight to Sammy, Dean, or the nearest person to avoid unwanted attentions. Seems yours are a little more “independent” ladies. Although there are a few hens her that will just go full on attack mode instead. This sort of reminds me of yesterday though…. We had a goat/chicken issue.
 
My hens will run straight to Sammy, Dean, or the nearest person to avoid unwanted attentions. Seems yours are a little more “independent” ladies. Although there are a few hens her that will just go full on attack mode instead. This sort of reminds me of yesterday though…. We had a goat/chicken issue.
You can't just leave it there!
 
Oh, I wish I had gotten video… So these two girls finally managed after over six weeks of being broody to hatch one chick (and almost another that didn’t make it) last Saturday. They are co parenting it 🙄 somewhat successfully so far, in that one usually keeps an eye on it, and both will try to murder you if you touch it. Unless they are both distracted by food or dust bathing. Well, little Ciaran got too close and they charged. He charged back wanting to play head butting games with the girls, and meanwhile they are intent on defending their lone chick to the death. I separated them four times, walked him away from the hens, but still the challenge was presented and he wanted to win. Someone was going to lose an eye because the girls weren’t playing around. I had to pop Ciaran back into the goat pen safe from the defensive mamas for a solid 15 minutes to get him to give up the “game” 🤦‍♀️ went back to Jimmy’s pedicure, and released them both after the little puffballs of doom had moved their precious baby far enough to be well out of sight. Any bets on the chick’s gender? 😂 all I see is a sea of little combs and wattles this year!
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too bad i cant stand in their coop (it is not tall enough for a human to stand at)
also if they are free roaming outside good luck catching them hhahaha
also if i catch 1 they all start to do the chickhen alarm

thats the annoying part i cant pick them up because i cant stand in the coop and if they are free roaming u cant catch them hahahah
Takes time.
 
A sad update, Caramel didn't survive the surgery.
I'm too worn out to make a tribute like I did for Vanille. I will make a wish for her death. I wished Vanille an everlasting cherry tree, I'm wishing now that all ex-batts and high production hens may be free from needless suffering 💚.
Bye Caramel.
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