I've noticed my Welsh Harlequin hen, Petunia, acting a bit odd the last few days. She wasn't with the others for most of the day and only showed up at night to be let in the coop. I had the suspicion she was going broody and had a nest somewhere. I did go looking for a hidden clutch on Saturday but with acres of land for them to roam it's hard to find their hiding places.
Last night she wasn't waiting to be let in the coop. I strapped on my headlamp and grabbed a plastic container with mealworms. I walked around my property looking under every tree and bush while shaking the container and calling, "Hey duck-duck." The barn cat decided to join me on my search and dutifully followed behind. Luckily she did because as I was heading away from one area, I heard hissing coming from behind me. I turned my light toward the sound and there was Petunia siting on a nest in the tall grass hissing at the cat. I picked her up and we made our way back to the coop.
It was about a 350 foot walk from her nesting spot to the coop. She was objecting the whole way but stayed calm and took mealworms when offered. We were less than 20 feet from the coop door when Petunia decided she needed to relieve herself. For those of you who have never dealt with a broody duck I will attempt to describe the smell of a broody duck poop. Image that you collect all the poop your duck produced in a day, then add some vomit, then take the whole mess and microwave it for 30 seconds. Take that awful, gag-inducing smell and multiple it by 10 and you have the smell of a broody duck poop. I mean this smell is right up there with skunk spray.
Now it wouldn't have been so bad if it was just the smell. It was cool last night so I wore my sweat pants. Sweat pants have loose pockets. You see where I'm going here. Somehow she managed to land her giant, noxious poo right in my pants pocket. I could feel the warm, wet mass starting to soak into the fabric. Guess what else was in my pocket. The thing I always carry with me in case I have an accident since I live alone. That's right. My phone was in my pocket.
After putting Petunia in the coop, I slowly removed my phone from my pocket. The foul, chunky excrement had landed right on the bottom edge of the phone. Thank goodness I had brought a new roll of paper towels to the barn the weekend before. I spent a good deal of time cleaning my phone and the case. I had to search for something small enough to dig out the speaker holes. The phone seems undamaged but it has a slight odor to it still. The case absorbed that putrid stink and no amount of soap, hard scrubbing, or soaking could get it out. I have ordered a new phone case. I also decided to finally order a UV phone sanitizer I've been eyeing for a while. I really hope I don't get a lot of phone calls in the next couple days.
Last night she wasn't waiting to be let in the coop. I strapped on my headlamp and grabbed a plastic container with mealworms. I walked around my property looking under every tree and bush while shaking the container and calling, "Hey duck-duck." The barn cat decided to join me on my search and dutifully followed behind. Luckily she did because as I was heading away from one area, I heard hissing coming from behind me. I turned my light toward the sound and there was Petunia siting on a nest in the tall grass hissing at the cat. I picked her up and we made our way back to the coop.
It was about a 350 foot walk from her nesting spot to the coop. She was objecting the whole way but stayed calm and took mealworms when offered. We were less than 20 feet from the coop door when Petunia decided she needed to relieve herself. For those of you who have never dealt with a broody duck I will attempt to describe the smell of a broody duck poop. Image that you collect all the poop your duck produced in a day, then add some vomit, then take the whole mess and microwave it for 30 seconds. Take that awful, gag-inducing smell and multiple it by 10 and you have the smell of a broody duck poop. I mean this smell is right up there with skunk spray.
Now it wouldn't have been so bad if it was just the smell. It was cool last night so I wore my sweat pants. Sweat pants have loose pockets. You see where I'm going here. Somehow she managed to land her giant, noxious poo right in my pants pocket. I could feel the warm, wet mass starting to soak into the fabric. Guess what else was in my pocket. The thing I always carry with me in case I have an accident since I live alone. That's right. My phone was in my pocket.
After putting Petunia in the coop, I slowly removed my phone from my pocket. The foul, chunky excrement had landed right on the bottom edge of the phone. Thank goodness I had brought a new roll of paper towels to the barn the weekend before. I spent a good deal of time cleaning my phone and the case. I had to search for something small enough to dig out the speaker holes. The phone seems undamaged but it has a slight odor to it still. The case absorbed that putrid stink and no amount of soap, hard scrubbing, or soaking could get it out. I have ordered a new phone case. I also decided to finally order a UV phone sanitizer I've been eyeing for a while. I really hope I don't get a lot of phone calls in the next couple days.
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I do not envy you, lol.
