Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[drumstick diva]

I think FIL would love Antarctica , I hear it's very nice this time of year.

 

[Kris5902]

Hi everyone, still here and working on the build, getting ready for a hopefully quiet Christmas. The weather has been ok, mostly rainy but not too cold. I hope to get the phone/internet situation resolved for the new year. Some sad news to share.

I had my first loss to predators on Monday in the early morning in the Barn. Missy was headless near the roost, and Zeta looks to have panicked and died next to the nest spot attempting to hide, after laying her egg. Sammy was a good boy and managed to save Hoppy and Mrs B by sitting on them like a mama hen in the corner behind the isolation crate, he covered them so completely I couldn’t see them at all until I picked him up. Croppy hid so well behind the Freezer, I was certain it got her too for a while. They are safer, but a little less happy, in the meat tractor for now with the chicks from my last hatch. Much Rooster hugging occurred as I checked Sammy over for injuries then the two girls. Roostie and the meat girls are back in the hospital tractor.

I kept the bodies. I borrowed a trap from a neighbor, I borrowed the rifle from the farm. I was all set to murder the raccoon when I got him. But it wasn’t a Raccoon. It was a giant Barred owl (much larger than my previous night time visitor) that came back for dinner that night, I found it when I went to set the trap with the bodies. It is bold, and very lucky I have a soft spot for owls. If it was an eagle or Hawk it wouldn’t have been so lucky. I tried to shoo it out of the barn. It didn’t budge. I grabbed a short handled garden fork I use for cleaning the brooder and was nudging the owl with it, it clicked its beak at me, blinked a bit, and fluffed up, but otherwise seemed unconcerned. I managed to get the fork under Zeta’s body and lift that away from the owl, while covering my face with my arm and wishing my fork had a longer handle. It must have flown in the open gable end of the Barn, too high up for my ladder to reach, so I haven’t been able to properly secure it, or the spaces under the eaves, with hardware cloth. I never thought of an aerial predator coming into the barn like that.

We have had a lot of Hawk’s and eagles around lately as well, so the free ranging has been put on hold for a while. Our annual Island Christmas bird counters were here last Saturday, and as to the Eagles... “how many are there? There were too many to count... must have been 20 at least, with lots of immature ones, and they were following us!” And it wasn’t even a slaughter day the Friday before...

Spoiler: Owl on Missy in barn

Several of my girls are in full molt right now. Hoppy, Precious, the Columbian Rock, and (sapphires) Princess and Teensie are currently looking the worst. Hoppy went from looking a bit tattered to just like a hedgehog in about a day, but poor Precious looks like a naked neck and has for quite a while. I now wonder if they are doing it just to get into the really big coop for treats? I keep reminding them how beautiful they will be with their new feathers.



I am still getting plenty of eggs, and have been giving them away to hunters, I’m getting just under a dozen a day, and am worried that come spring, when everyone is laying, I will be completely swamped with them. I shouldn’t have an egg supply issue for the next summer markets at all. We have had, by invitation, two groups of hunters recently... two Parks Wardens that took a buck each, and some of Tom’s “friends” (how they met, I still don’t know it probably had something g to do with the documentary moosemeat and marmalade and mentions of goat hunting) who took 5 goats, all for eating.

So we are staying warm, my coffee table has been turned around for better cat/mealworm heating, and we are eagerly anticipating getting lots done in the New Year.

 

[BY Bob]

Hi everyone, still here and working on the build, getting ready for a hopefully quiet Christmas. The weather has been ok, mostly rainy but not too cold. I hope to get the phone/internet situation resolved for the new year. Some sad news to share.

I had my first loss to predators on Monday in the early morning in the Barn. Missy was headless near the roost, and Zeta looks to have panicked and died next to the nest spot attempting to hide, after laying her egg. Sammy was a good boy and managed to save Hoppy and Mrs B by sitting on them like a mama hen in the corner behind the isolation crate, he covered them so completely I couldn’t see them at all until I picked him up. Croppy hid so well behind the Freezer, I was certain it got her too for a while. They are safer, but a little less happy, in the meat tractor for now with the chicks from my last hatch. Much Rooster hugging occurred as I checked Sammy over for injuries then the two girls. Roostie and the meat girls are back in the hospital tractor.

I kept the bodies. I borrowed a trap from a neighbor, I borrowed the rifle from the farm. I was all set to murder the raccoon when I got him. But it wasn’t a Raccoon. It was a giant Barred owl (much larger than my previous night time visitor) that came back for dinner that night, I found it when I went to set the trap with the bodies. It is bold, and very lucky I have a soft spot for owls. If it was an eagle or Hawk it wouldn’t have been so lucky. I tried to shoo it out of the barn. It didn’t budge. I grabbed a short handled garden fork I use for cleaning the brooder and was nudging the owl with it, it clicked its beak at me, blinked a bit, and fluffed up, but otherwise seemed unconcerned. I managed to get the fork under Zeta’s body and lift that away from the owl, while covering my face with my arm and wishing my fork had a longer handle. It must have flown in the open gable end of the Barn, too high up for my ladder to reach, so I haven’t been able to properly secure it, or the spaces under the eaves, with hardware cloth. I never thought of an aerial predator coming into the barn like that.

We have had a lot of Hawk’s and eagles around lately as well, so the free ranging has been put on hold for a while. Our annual Island Christmas bird counters were here last Saturday, and as to the Eagles... “how many are there? There were too many to count... must have been 20 at least, with lots of immature ones, and they were following us!” And it wasn’t even a slaughter day the Friday before...

Spoiler: Owl on Missy in barn

View attachment 1983720 View attachment 1983721 View attachment 1983722 View attachment 1983725

Several of my girls are in full molt right now. Hoppy, Precious, the Columbian Rock, and (sapphires) Princess and Teensie are currently looking the worst. Hoppy went from looking a bit tattered to just like a hedgehog in about a day, but poor Precious looks like a naked neck and has for quite a while. I now wonder if they are doing it just to get into the really big coop for treats? I keep reminding them how beautiful they will be with their new feathers.

View attachment 1983728 View attachment 1983729 View attachment 1983730 View attachment 1983731

I am still getting plenty of eggs, and have been giving them away to hunters, I’m getting just under a dozen a day, and am worried that come spring, when everyone is laying, I will be completely swamped with them. I shouldn’t have an egg supply issue for the next summer markets at all. We have had, by invitation, two groups of hunters recently... two Parks Wardens that took a buck each, and some of Tom’s “friends” (how they met, I still don’t know it probably had something g to do with the documentary moosemeat and marmalade and mentions of goat hunting) who took 5 goats, all for eating.

View attachment 1983727 View attachment 1983741

So we are staying warm, my coffee table has been turned around for better cat/mealworm heating, and we are eagerly anticipating getting lots done in the New Year.

It is so exciting to hear from you. I am terribly sorry for your loss but you have to love Sammy. Take good care of that boy. Hugs from us.

Good to see the cats are warm.

It is amazing how unafraid of humans large flying predators are. It's also a little disconcerting.

 

[rjohns39]

Good afternoon Kris I'm so sorry for your loss But Sammy's earned extra treats Hopefully all settles down for you and you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

[BY Bob]

Since I am guessing you will not be running around looking at other threads, I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas.

That is not photoshopped.

 

[Ribh]

on the build!
on your losses
for Sammy. What a trooper!

Hope you have the quiet Christmas you are wanting & we will look forward to catching up in the New Year ~ hopefully with a completed house! Miss you, girl!

 

[Kris5902]

I’m playing catch-up and have been lurking around the main Farm building with the WiFi most of today. Things to be thankful for... “Christmas Shopping” has lured most everyone from the Farm today, and they aren’t expected back until tomorrow afternoon. I’m getting my “internet stuff” done! Basically just catching up here as best I can . I will have to head back to the trailer soon to put up the chickens for the night, it is only really light out 8am-4pm now.

@BY Bob I did get caught up (I think) over on your thread... and the story that goes with that card is just Epic! Lilly is one special hen. @Ribh I will probably have internet service back again long before the house is done... so, Although I would love to see it up in the early New Year, I expect to have some more updates for everyone on the build. It will need to get up before next Christmas though.

 

[BY Bob]

I’m playing catch-up and have been lurking around the main Farm building with the WiFi most of today. Things to be thankful for... “Christmas Shopping” has lured most everyone from the Farm today, and they aren’t expected back until tomorrow afternoon. I’m getting my “internet stuff” done! Basically just catching up here as best I can . I will have to head back to the trailer soon to put up the chickens for the night, it is only really light out 8am-4pm now.

@BY Bob I did get caught up (I think) over on your thread... and the story that goes with that card is just Epic! Lilly is one special hen. @Ribh I will probably have internet service back again long before the house is done... so, Although I would love to see it up in the early New Year, I expect to have some more updates for everyone on the build. It will need to get up before next Christmas though.

109 likes for me alone. You were a little behind. I hope it was enjoyable and it was so nice to "see" you today. Please have a Merry Christmas.

 

[BlueBaby]

Merry Christmas, all! My neighbor's just left for Texas to spend Christmas with some of their family, so I'll be collecting their mail and animal sitting their chicken's, 2 goat's, and 2 dog's while they are gone.

 

[BY Bob]

Merry Christmas, all! My neighbor's just left for Texas to spend Christmas with some of their family, so I'll be collecting their mail and animal sitting their chicken's, 2 goat's, and 2 dog's while they are gone.

My wife would love that. She used to sheep sit, Mary the lamb. I hope you have fun with the animals.