Illinois...

[jerryse]

There are many color phase variants in squirrels . Olney IL has albino fox squirrels . Near Pekin IL I have seen a more yellow fox squirrel .

 

[SnootyHen]

Winter is coming... Not quite ready.
I have been finally catching up on yard work. The chickens, turkeys and ducks got piles of grass clippings (no chemicals added to the lawn this year). The compost got quite a pile as well. I've had my fire pit burning for the days to get rid of logs, branches, twigs, etc. It's still going right now slowly burning what's left of a log that was nearly two feet in diameter. We cleaned up and mulched the flower beds around the house. I began tilling the garden, which needs a lot more tilling yet.
There's so much to do and so little time.

My poor garden took such a shock on Monday I'm not sure it's going to bounce back. I thought I had another few weeks of tomatoes and cucumbers at least. And I bring the herbs inside and pot them for friends because they just explode outside and I don't have room for it all in my kitchen but even they look wilted and sad from that cold day.

 

[SnootyHen]

The babies got some grit and treats today and I backed off the heat lamp a little. They grow up so fast!!!

 

[Molpet]

Winter is coming... Not quite ready.
I have been finally catching up on yard work. The chickens, turkeys and ducks got piles of grass clippings (no chemicals added to the lawn this year). The compost got quite a pile as well. I've had my fire pit burning for the days to get rid of logs, branches, twigs, etc. It's still going right now slowly burning what's left of a log that was nearly two feet in diameter. We cleaned up and mulched the flower beds around the house. I began tilling the garden, which needs a lot more tilling yet.
There's so much to do and so little time.

Too dry to move the e net or the wind has been wrong... so I have this large burn pile I have squashed with the tractor bucket. It's about 6ft high and 6x10.
I cover the garden with grass and leaves. Haven't tilled in a couple decades. Where the potatoes are is the only rows that get dug up. Garlic will go in one row soon. Have 8ft of another 25 ft row of potatoes to harvest yet.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Jerk got me good this time

 

[Molpet]

Jerk got me good this time
View attachment 2363596

Jerks taste the best.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Too dry to move the e net or the wind has been wrong... so I have this large burn pile I have squashed with the tractor bucket. It's about 6ft high and 6x10.
I cover the garden with grass and leaves. Haven't tilled in a couple decades. Where the potatoes are is the only rows that get dug up. Garlic will go in one row soon. Have 8ft of another 25 ft row of potatoes to harvest yet.

I was growing sweet potatoes. All dug up and eaten by possum or raccoon.
Only 2 raccoon so far but am up to 7 possum. Today's possum must have scuffled with a skunk.

 

[Molpet]

I was growing sweet potatoes. All dug up and eaten by possum or raccoon.
Only 2 raccoon so far but am up to 7 possum. Today's possum must have scuffled with a skunk.

I couldn't catch most of the coons with a havaheart box. Got dog proof and caught a bunch.
Used to have coons and skunks fighting, stinking up the place... lucky you to get a Stinky possum

 

[Molpet]

Jerk got me good this time
View attachment 2363596

Just remembered you only have a hen.
Did the possum do this? Glad they rarely get rabies. What happened?

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Just remembered you only have a hen.
Did the possum do this? Glad they rarely get rabies. What happened?

My 1 rooster. Black Australorp. As soon as I stepped outside and felt the warm temp I knew he was going to be in a bad mood lol. He gets crabby when it's hot and he started to fill out his winter coat. Once I was bleeding 3 hens ran up pecking when I wasnt looking lol.
Also he might be stressed from the visiting predators. He was good for a while and I knew they were stressed for some reason before I lost the chicks but didn't know why. 1 day too late. I better double up security to be safe now.