Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[rjohns39]

True raptors are incredibly smart and resourceful. Before I learned my lesson about chicken wire and dog crates. I had a small group of birds in a dog crate in the yard as a hospital pen. We have red Tail and some small breed hawk here (don't remember breed). They are all protected, but I guess the small ones are endangered. They actually nest at the high school 12 miles away in town, but still hunt this far out. Either way, they have a very unique "Key Key" call, which is what drew my attention. Had I not seen it myself, I would have never believed it. Like your tractor I move the hospital crate daily to fresh grass. The little hawk landed next to the dog crate and picked up some left over feed, then flew up on top of the crate and dropped it just outside the wire. When the chicken stuck it's head out to eat the feed the hawk took her head and flew into a nearby tree. I took the rest of the body and put it on top of the compost pile where the hawk could see it. I figured she earned a bigger meal.

btw, I have several tractors that I use of different designs for different purposes.

 

[Ribh]

True raptors are incredibly smart and resourceful. Before I learned my lesson about chicken wire and dog crates. I had a small group of birds in a dog crate in the yard as a hospital pen. We have red Tail and some small breed hawk here (don't remember breed). They are all protected, but I guess the small ones are endangered. They actually nest at the high school 12 miles away in town, but still hunt this far out. Either way, they have a very unique "Key Key" call, which is what drew my attention. Had I not seen it myself, I would have never believed it. Like your tractor I move the hospital crate daily to fresh grass. The little hawk landed next to the dog crate and picked up some left over feed, then flew up on top of the crate and dropped it just outside the wire. When the chicken stuck it's head out to eat the feed the hawk took her head and flew into a nearby tree. I took the rest of the body and put it on top of the compost pile where the hawk could see it. I figured she earned a bigger meal.

btw, I have several tractors that I use of different designs for different purposes.

Yep. They take budgies & things through aviary cages & people never learn NOT to hang their bird cages outside unattended. Here the osprey sometimes get tangled in crab pots going after the bait; chicken carcass is a popular crab bait. But the best one I ever saw was just after we moved here to what was still a very rural area. I was driving up to what was then the shop across the little causeway where the water table rises to the surface. A kite launched from a tree on one side, flew under the moving car to strike & kill & up to mantle in a tree on the other side. It was a whoa, what just happened moment. I had a carfull of excited kids too.

 

[rjohns39]

When DD went into HS I chaperoned. I was not trained or prepared for a van full of girls, but I learned quickly... Ear defenders are your friend. Nope as a young boy you really never wanted to know what they talk about. Up until then I always did boys. Put a van full of boys on a road trip and they all go to sleep. I was totally unprepared for girls.

 

[drumstick diva]

Kris, I love your posts -they are really like short stories and I enjoy them so much.

 

[Kris5902]

btw, I have several tractors that I use of different designs for different purposes.

Now you’re going to have to share some pictures and descriptions!

Kris, I love your posts -they are really like short stories and I enjoy them so much.

Thanks, sometimes I worry I’m boring and go on a little too much about things.

 

[Kris5902]

It’s a sad night, I’m hoping I only lose the one boy, but of all 4 cockerels I have left in the cockerel pen it had to be ‘Lil Peeps. He was the Top Rooster in the cockerel pen, and no one ever picked fights with him, so what happened tonight was completely unexpected.

There was a big scuffle as I went out to put them up tonight and one of the younger smaller Barnvelder boys, the slate blue ones, was harassing Mr Eyebrows, and then when I picked him up he went straight after ‘Lil Peeps. I crated the jerk and checked out Mr Eyebrows thoroughly, he was gasping and making a “squeak” squawk. I got him in to roost. He was ok when I last checked 1/2hr ago.

‘Lil Peeps was hiding in the corner, and by now it’s starting to get full dark, I gently took him out and put him in the roosting box, he seemed fine, just a little quiet, but it was fairly dark. He didn’t get up on the bar right away but I figured I’d give him a little time. My mother was helping me with a flashlight now, as the scuffle was enough to draw her over from her cigarette, and I was muttering about needing extra hands and maybe a drill (I thought I might need to open a side panel to check on Mr Eyebrows.

I moved on to my meat chicks and was just replacing the water when she frantically called me over “OMG, he’s in the corner and I think he’s not breathing” I rushed over and picked him up. His neck seemed broken, he died in my arms on the way to the cone, I think it was better that way, as I’m sure culling him would have been very hard for me.

He was my First egg to hatch... 3 days early. He was my very first chicken, he was sociable and Respectful of me and others. He was the Top Rooster in the pen, without being a bully. He was big, beautiful, well mannered, and I had planned to breed him to my Barnvelder girls and my Red Ranger hens. Here is a video of him being cool, at pen moving time, “not falling off” the weight buckets. And some pictures of him. I’m going to miss him.

 

[Ribh]

It’s a sad night, I’m hoping I only lose the one boy, but of all 4 cockerels I have left in the cockerel pen it had to be ‘Lil Peeps. He was the Top Rooster in the cockerel pen, and no one ever picked fights with him, so what happened tonight was completely unexpected.

There was a big scuffle as I went out to put them up tonight and one of the younger smaller Barnvelder boys, the slate blue ones, was harassing Mr Eyebrows, and then when I picked him up he went straight after ‘Lil Peeps. I crated the jerk and checked out Mr Eyebrows thoroughly, he was gasping and making a “squeak” squawk. I got him in to roost. He was ok when I last checked 1/2hr ago.

‘Lil Peeps was hiding in the corner, and by now it’s starting to get full dark, I gently took him out and put him in the roosting box, he seemed fine, just a little quiet, but it was fairly dark. He didn’t get up on the bar right away but I figured I’d give him a little time. My mother was helping me with a flashlight now, as the scuffle was enough to draw her over from her cigarette, and I was muttering about needing extra hands and maybe a drill (I thought I might need to open a side panel to check on Mr Eyebrows.

I moved on to my meat chicks and was just replacing the water when she frantically called me over “OMG, he’s in the corner and I think he’s not breathing” I rushed over and picked him up. His neck seemed broken, he died in my arms on the way to the cone, I think it was better that way, as I’m sure culling him would have been very hard for me.

He was my First egg to hatch... 3 days early. He was my very first chicken, he was sociable and Respectful of me and others. He was the Top Rooster in the pen, without being a bully. He was big, beautiful, well mannered, and I had planned to breed him to my Barnvelder girls and my Red Ranger hens. Here is a video of him being cool, at pen moving time, “not falling off” the weight buckets. And some pictures of him. I’m going to miss him.

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I'm so, so sorry. Sometimes it's just that way with chickens. We do our best & I know he had a great life with you.

 

[rjohns39]

I'm so, so sorry. Sometimes it's just that way with chickens. We do our best & I know he had a great life with you.

X2 Morning Kris So sorry

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning Kris. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

 

[WhoDatChick]

It’s a sad night, I’m hoping I only lose the one boy, but of all 4 cockerels I have left in the cockerel pen it had to be ‘Lil Peeps. He was the Top Rooster in the cockerel pen, and no one ever picked fights with him, so what happened tonight was completely unexpected.

There was a big scuffle as I went out to put them up tonight and one of the younger smaller Barnvelder boys, the slate blue ones, was harassing Mr Eyebrows, and then when I picked him up he went straight after ‘Lil Peeps. I crated the jerk and checked out Mr Eyebrows thoroughly, he was gasping and making a “squeak” squawk. I got him in to roost. He was ok when I last checked 1/2hr ago.

‘Lil Peeps was hiding in the corner, and by now it’s starting to get full dark, I gently took him out and put him in the roosting box, he seemed fine, just a little quiet, but it was fairly dark. He didn’t get up on the bar right away but I figured I’d give him a little time. My mother was helping me with a flashlight now, as the scuffle was enough to draw her over from her cigarette, and I was muttering about needing extra hands and maybe a drill (I thought I might need to open a side panel to check on Mr Eyebrows.

I moved on to my meat chicks and was just replacing the water when she frantically called me over “OMG, he’s in the corner and I think he’s not breathing” I rushed over and picked him up. His neck seemed broken, he died in my arms on the way to the cone, I think it was better that way, as I’m sure culling him would have been very hard for me.

He was my First egg to hatch... 3 days early. He was my very first chicken, he was sociable and Respectful of me and others. He was the Top Rooster in the pen, without being a bully. He was big, beautiful, well mannered, and I had planned to breed him to my Barnvelder girls and my Red Ranger hens. Here is a video of him being cool, at pen moving time, “not falling off” the weight buckets. And some pictures of him. I’m going to miss him.

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.... these horrible chicken stories make me cry
I’m so sorry for you...