Michigan

[RaZ]

Whoever said "mad as a wet hen" needs to take a look at my girls. They have been outside all morning long and are soaked through and through. They seem to be happy as can be.

I'm pretty sure that Gravy laid her first egg today. It has a different shape from what Nugget lays.

 

[NovaAman]

Ok... Here is what I think happened yesterday and why my Dotties decided to hang in the garage... They did not go in the coop with silkies, instead chosing to get up on the highest shelf in the garage. I had to put the silkies in their coop and shut the door on them quick, and that was at 10 pm! So not like them, but I think they were enjoying Vanna and Vonna... Well anyway, Since they were up high, I shut the light and left them. I think they were in the garage because a hawk came around several times yesterday. It did manage to get a bite off at one of Carls birds, but I don't think it managed to kill it. Then it started raining, and they decided they didn't want to go out in it, and the next thing they knew, it was dark outside, but still light in the garage and just decided to spend the night.

This hawk thats been stalking has a bluish look to it. It is very pretty, but it needs to go hunting elsewhere. My girls tho, they are smart enough to head for the pricker bushes and hide under them all day, and then run back and forth between the garage and the rabbit and the bushes. Carls are not so smart... They are stupid enough to run across the part of the yard with no coverage instead of to the coverage until the danger has passed. I know they are running for their coop, but... Well, not every chicken can be the bright bulb.

SO, here is what I got today... I never thought I would say, "AAAWWW! How cute!" about a chicken egg... BUT, it is a first ever egg from one of the girls... SO, it can be as cute as ever. Its next to my leggerns egg. She's laying medium whites right now, so I am thinking you should be able to see what I mean by cutest littlest egg.

I am waiting for my son to get home from his overnight so he can see it. He's gonna think its the coolest. Gotta love the enthusiasm of a 6 yr old!

 

[RaZ]

Just back from the pet store and toting stuff in to the house. Then I see a bunch of grey feathers outside the run.

Where are the BLAs? Where are all the hens? Not in the garage/coop. Start walking around to the back and am greeted by BLAs, Nugget and Gravy. The other 4 are in the tent coop hiding behind the hay bales. What smart chickies!

Checking out the feather pile, I see that a pigeon was taken and it looks like it was a nice clean kill. Score one for Gary the Cooper's hawk.

 

[M.sue]

This weather is literally for the ducks!! I'm gonna let the girls out in a bit. I imagine they won't look so pretty when dusk falls upon us.

 

[Chickmate]

Sure is for the ducks. Chickens were out almost all day in it though. They came in the run when I went out to clean and take them some kitchen scraps and they were all drenched. Worf looked like a drowned rat. Should have taken a picture. I did take a pic of the nice dark eggs I got today, though. It was so nice and dry and warm in the coop that they all roosted at 3:30!

My neighbor and her husband were out in the woods posting NO TRESPASSING signs about 8 or 9 feet up on their trees. Jim saw a truck out on their property and when he went to investigate he found piles of deer bait with orange tags above them. They put the signs up and wrapped them with shrink wrap and tore down the orange tags so the trespassers won't be able to find the bait piles. If they're trespassing, baiting and hunting on my next door neighbor's property, I'm sure they're on mine as well. It's so wet out there now I hate to try to go out, but I'm not going to let them get away with it on my land either. I'm going to see if the neigbor on the other side will go out with me and help me post signs and we'll do his property too. I posted it years ago when I bought the place, but the rednecks around here just tear them down and hunt anywhere they want.

 

[M.sue]

Beautiful eggs.....I just love the color!!! We don't have trespassers on our land but I know we have poachers around for I've heard gunshots at the weirdest hours.....1:10 am, 4:24 am......other neighbors in the area have heard them too periodically. Where is the DNR when you need them??

 

[dianaross77]

Chickmate,
I'd be mad too. It must be nice to be one of those people. You know, the ones who get to do whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want.

 

[Olive Hill]

M.sue :

Beautiful eggs.....I just love the color!!! We don't have trespassers on our land but I know we have poachers around for I've heard gunshots at the weirdest hours.....1:10 am, 4:24 am......other neighbors in the area have heard them too periodically. Where is the DNR when you need them??

Just because you've heard gunshots after dark doesn't mean someone is poaching. Some hunting -- raccoon, possum, coyote and fox -- are specifically nighttime sports, livestock owners may discharge firearms in the protection of livestock after dark, too.​

 

[M.sue]

Quote:
Just because you've heard gunshots after dark doesn't mean someone is poaching. Some hunting -- raccoon, possum, coyote and fox -- are specifically nighttime sports, livestock owners may discharge firearms in the protection of livestock after dark, too.

Yes that is true.....But a neighbor/farmer did come across a freshly cleaned carcass at back of his property in a drainage ditch

And it wasn't even deer season yet.

 

[NovaAman]

Well, maybe they were just putting it out of its misery cuz it stubbed its hoof/toe, and then figured why waste the meat and leave it to the carrion eaters. Better off in the freezer... SO, not technically poaching. But providing a humanitarian service.