July 2009 The Coop Newsletter
The heat in the 100s has continued here at the Coop since the end of June and the girls are not happy. Egg production has slowed until it is a surprise to find one. We can wait. Meanwhile, the girls have been happy cooling their feet in the shallow plant trays/wading pools and their beaks with the ice water and watermelon offered every afternoon on the patio. The heat has been especially bothersome to the Silkeys. Gerty and Henrietta. They sit by the ice water cooler and murmur to each other and pant. I tried giving them little cooling baths, but that seemed to just upset them. Then Henrietta came down with a case of swollen abdomen (possible egg binding) and she began receiving olive oil and applesauce per the instructions on the Backyard Chickens forum. When that did not seem to move things along, She received warm soaking baths with massage (of swollen area). They said it might take several days to work so I kept it up. Gerty was always happy to have her friend return from her spa treatment so they could continue gossiping.
On July 3rd, things took a turn for the worst. After her usual bath and massage, she seemed exhausted, so I let her rest and washed up the sink. When I returned, Henrietta was gone. I tried CPR cardio to get her heart restarted but she did not respond. We buried her on July 4th, in the shade of the Chickey House, with cannas to mark her spot. We are heartbroken because she and Gerty were our first chickens (a Christmas present) and so extra special to us.
Camille and Margot the new Mille Fleurs, got introduced to Gerty and Millie on the Monday following Henriettas burial. At first, they all looked at each other from opposite ends of the pen, but when greens got tossed into the pen, they all launched themselves at the greens and soon it was all gobbled upcreating some chickey-table camaraderie. Since then, Gerty and Millie have accepted Margot and Camille as flock member-interns. The two youngsters are following the older girls around the yard, as well as into the Chickey house at night. Margot occasionally insists on rooming with Millie and is upset when I take her out and place her with Camille for the night. Millie is relieved, and only then will she eat her dinner. So much for new pals, huh?! I should have learned my lesson here, but . . .
I am currently on the hunt for a new friend for Gerty. I am hoping not to let too much time go by as I think that was my problem with Millie not accepting Margot and Camille. Although Henrietta cannot be replaced in our hearts, or Gertys, I believe she might like a silkey-someone to listen to her troubles.
Right now, the whole gang spends the afternoon enjoying the little poolstwo shallow flower pot trays filled with water. Gerty has first dibs until Millie decides time up and shoves her out. Margot and Camille spar over the other one under the tree. Around 5pm, it is treat time and the whole flock runs to the patio for watermelon rinds. When those are all gobbled up, they scatter to make one last hunt for wayward insects as they wander toward the Chickey house. This takes several hours until the solar sidewalk lights come on. The automatic fan has kept the chickey house temp in the mid 90s during the day and by morning in the 80s again.
Quickly found a silkey friend in Terrell for Gerty, we named Hilda. We drove the distance and found the rural home easily. She also had some black silkeys I was interested in so I brought an extra carrier. As we picked up Hilda and began to move away, two little black silkies peered in shock at Hildas leaving. We felt so bad, they came home with us too! By the time we got home theyd been named Twinkle and Tazzle. Then things turned ugly. As soon as I set Hilda down, Gerty drove poor Hilda away with flapping wings and snapping beak! Hilda got quickly picked up and soothed with apologies for Gertys bad behavior. After witnessing Hildas reception, Twinkle and Tazzle, kept quiet in the pet carrier. After that, the new silkies played outside in the puppy pen and Gerty could get used to their presence slowly. Rainy days then kept chickeys in their houses to visit more. By the end of July, Gerty was OK with the new silkeys. What did it? All the chickeys got to go into the morning pen together, but Gerty was kept back. She got to go in last. That must have lowered her on the pecking order and so now all seems calm at the Coopfor now.
Hope your beaks were full of sweet watermelon and your feet splashed in a cool pool this July! Thats all from the Coop this month.
The heat in the 100s has continued here at the Coop since the end of June and the girls are not happy. Egg production has slowed until it is a surprise to find one. We can wait. Meanwhile, the girls have been happy cooling their feet in the shallow plant trays/wading pools and their beaks with the ice water and watermelon offered every afternoon on the patio. The heat has been especially bothersome to the Silkeys. Gerty and Henrietta. They sit by the ice water cooler and murmur to each other and pant. I tried giving them little cooling baths, but that seemed to just upset them. Then Henrietta came down with a case of swollen abdomen (possible egg binding) and she began receiving olive oil and applesauce per the instructions on the Backyard Chickens forum. When that did not seem to move things along, She received warm soaking baths with massage (of swollen area). They said it might take several days to work so I kept it up. Gerty was always happy to have her friend return from her spa treatment so they could continue gossiping.
On July 3rd, things took a turn for the worst. After her usual bath and massage, she seemed exhausted, so I let her rest and washed up the sink. When I returned, Henrietta was gone. I tried CPR cardio to get her heart restarted but she did not respond. We buried her on July 4th, in the shade of the Chickey House, with cannas to mark her spot. We are heartbroken because she and Gerty were our first chickens (a Christmas present) and so extra special to us.
Camille and Margot the new Mille Fleurs, got introduced to Gerty and Millie on the Monday following Henriettas burial. At first, they all looked at each other from opposite ends of the pen, but when greens got tossed into the pen, they all launched themselves at the greens and soon it was all gobbled upcreating some chickey-table camaraderie. Since then, Gerty and Millie have accepted Margot and Camille as flock member-interns. The two youngsters are following the older girls around the yard, as well as into the Chickey house at night. Margot occasionally insists on rooming with Millie and is upset when I take her out and place her with Camille for the night. Millie is relieved, and only then will she eat her dinner. So much for new pals, huh?! I should have learned my lesson here, but . . .
I am currently on the hunt for a new friend for Gerty. I am hoping not to let too much time go by as I think that was my problem with Millie not accepting Margot and Camille. Although Henrietta cannot be replaced in our hearts, or Gertys, I believe she might like a silkey-someone to listen to her troubles.
Right now, the whole gang spends the afternoon enjoying the little poolstwo shallow flower pot trays filled with water. Gerty has first dibs until Millie decides time up and shoves her out. Margot and Camille spar over the other one under the tree. Around 5pm, it is treat time and the whole flock runs to the patio for watermelon rinds. When those are all gobbled up, they scatter to make one last hunt for wayward insects as they wander toward the Chickey house. This takes several hours until the solar sidewalk lights come on. The automatic fan has kept the chickey house temp in the mid 90s during the day and by morning in the 80s again.
Quickly found a silkey friend in Terrell for Gerty, we named Hilda. We drove the distance and found the rural home easily. She also had some black silkeys I was interested in so I brought an extra carrier. As we picked up Hilda and began to move away, two little black silkies peered in shock at Hildas leaving. We felt so bad, they came home with us too! By the time we got home theyd been named Twinkle and Tazzle. Then things turned ugly. As soon as I set Hilda down, Gerty drove poor Hilda away with flapping wings and snapping beak! Hilda got quickly picked up and soothed with apologies for Gertys bad behavior. After witnessing Hildas reception, Twinkle and Tazzle, kept quiet in the pet carrier. After that, the new silkies played outside in the puppy pen and Gerty could get used to their presence slowly. Rainy days then kept chickeys in their houses to visit more. By the end of July, Gerty was OK with the new silkeys. What did it? All the chickeys got to go into the morning pen together, but Gerty was kept back. She got to go in last. That must have lowered her on the pecking order and so now all seems calm at the Coopfor now.
Hope your beaks were full of sweet watermelon and your feet splashed in a cool pool this July! Thats all from the Coop this month.
