~ Retired and Starting My Future In The Foothills ~

[Carols Clucks]

My suggestion, and probably not what you want to hear, is that you reduce down to just a couple of roosters max. I know it is nice to have a good rooster who will watch out for the flock, so having a back up is not a bad thing. But two roosters sure can get in some crowing contests! More than that and it could be more than your average neighbor (with out chickens) can stand.

Since they are pets and not really a breeding program, maybe keeping a couple of bigger roosters and not the noisy ones is the way to go. I know George is a favorite and a tiny guy, that does not put him in a great spot.

Have you thought about seeing what would happen if you took George inside at night? He might be part of the reason Carl wakes up at night. Worth a try?

 

[gryeyes]

Thank you, everybody! I do think it's the bathroom light which awakens Carl, so I'm going to put some of my battery & timer-controlled "Flameless candles" in the bathroom for low light all night long. (Although I do love a dark house at night when I sleep, I think I can get used to the gentle illumination of those candles.)

Today whilst John and I were working on the deck project, he asked which roosters get to stay. It's kind of a changeable list, as I work through the emotional issue of giving some up. He wished he still had a ranch because he'd love to take George, but where he lives is a "no chicken" community. I'll be working on a "Bantam Roosters need good homes!" flyer to disseminate.

Not sure when the Environmental Health inspector showed up, as he didn't contact me, but he did call my number just before 1 p.m. to leave a message on my voice mail. Either he showed up before 10:30 a.m. or John and I didn't notice anybody while we were working on mixing concrete and setting posts. Anyway, he said he hadn't needed to come onto the property; he had walked the front fence line three times to assess the situation. He found absolutely no problem, had seen the chickens, geese and ducks ranging freely in the yard, they are healthy and there was no environmental issue. He will be closing the complaint as unfounded.

John exulted when I told him what the message had been. "Linda - two, [butt]hole neighbors - zero! In every war, there is more than one battle - whoever wins the battles wins the war."

Before John showed up at quarter to noon, Mr. Retiree from next door called to me from his truck in front of my gate (he has to pass it to enter or leave his property) to say he was on his way over to pick up "that stray cat" and bring her to me. The lady who had been feeding her returned with him, delivering the cat in a carrier, plus a new bag of cat food, two dishes and toy she'd brought for "Faith." I get to keep the blanket inside the carrier, too. I gave her an 18-count carton of eggs. She said she'd wanted to buy eggs from me, anyway, so I told her these were to thank her for bringing me the cat. "Besides, first cartons are always free." She used to keep chickens so she understood about the eggs not being washed ahead of time. She confirmed it by looking inside the carton and saying, "Oh, Araucanas - and I see Barred Rock eggs, too. Thank you! " She wanted me to be sure to call her if "Faith" didn't work out, and she'd find her another home.

I never tipped to having had the cat previously or that I'd named her Lizbeth. She's in my guest room right now, still in the carrier, even though the door to it is open.

While we were working on the deck, Mr. Retiree walked over along my back fence to ask if we would be bothered by the smoke from the burn pile he was starting. I'd just put out a cigarette, so I said, "John would probably prefer that to my smoking - no problem!" (Yesterday, he'd been out there dumping some crackers over the fence "for the chickens." )

Late this afternoon, one of the two couples with property behind mine were working on clearing brush, so we said howdy. The woman of the house came up to the fence to admire the deck work. We chatted a bit and she commented, "I understand you have a new cat." Apparently Laura had called Rosemary with the news.

On one of his passes by his work van, John reached into the cab to get something. He held out a can of peanuts, asking if I wanted "some of these." No, thanks, anyway. "Are you sure? You may miss out on something good."

Inside the can were a whole bunch of rooster drawer pulls! "You can thank Dave, my painter, for them." He looked through his phone directory for Dave's business and cell phone numbers so I could call him myself. "People like hearing all that "Oh, how wonderful, they're perfect, you're so thoughtful!" stuff," John said.

I am compiling an ever-growing list of local folks' phone numbers. What a nice feeling it is!

 

[Casey3043]

Just wondering if this was addressed before--did you ever figure out how Lizbeth got out the first time? Sure she doesn't have some secret bolt hole that you don't know about??

So glad you have her back!

And--is she still preggers?

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

So glad that the complaint is closed! And that Lizbeth is back ... and that you have 'some' really nice and friendly neighbors ... and that you got some really cool rooster drawer pulls!

 

[coloradochick]

Glad that some of the hoopla is getting straightened out Linda. Are you sure the girlfriend of the old guys son or whatever she is doesn't have a thing for John and she's not happy about the time he's spent working at your place

Just sayin........stranger things.......


So glad that LB is back at her mamma's

hopefully she'll appreciate the full belly and warm bed more and stay home. Does she look bigger now with her babes.

 

[gryeyes]

Lizbeth has not exited the pet carrier (as of 10:30 p.m.). I've set up a fresh litter box for her in the guest room, put the 3 silkie chicks BACK into the white cage (moving the EcoGlow brooder back into it for them, along with their feed and a waterer) so Lizbeth won't consider them a meal while she and they are sequestered in that room of the house.

I moved her dishes of water and kibble up onto the daybed with her. She mews but then hisses when I reach in to pet her. She lets me skritch the top of her head and just under her chin, her flattened ears, however, indicate she's not at all happy. I don't wish to palpate her tummy at this early stage of our reunion. But Laura had said she was restricting "Faith" to two small dishes of kibble a day "because she's getting a little fat." The gestational period for cats is generally 63 to 67 days - so, if she hasn't already had her kittens, she will either have them awfully darned soon OR she's just a tubby kitty.

Two of my three silkie babies seem to have trouble with pasty butt. They're the first of any chicks I've hatched who've suffered from that problem. Feed store and shipped chicks, yeah, but not any I've hatched. Their black skin sort of freaked me out when I cleaned their little bottoms. Not used to looking for a "winking" vent of that color.

I now have two sets of flameless candles in the bathroom, set to flicker alight at midnight and go out at 5 a.m. every day. I do leave the door open between my bedroom and the bathroom because the electronic pet door is in there. Besides, who wants to fumble with a doorknob when sleepy stupid? I live alone, I can wander around nekkid from the shower if that's what I want to do and there's only the furry kids to hear any embarrassing sounds of nature, anyway.

Here are a couple of self-explanatory photos from today.

.


Last minute update: Lizbeth has exited the cat carrier and is investigating the guest room. There's a nice, covered, wicker cat bed under the Incubator table for her; I put the towel and toy from the cat carrier into it so she had a familiar smell to follow. She peeked into the litter box but didn't use it. As I get ready to go to bed (only a couple hours later than I should be doing so) she has passed by my feet to go huddle under another low table. She mewed as she went by me.

She's still looking pretty "solid" but not all that bulgy. Hmmmmm.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Congrats on the spirit award!

 

[redhen]

Linda, can you check her nipples to see if shes been nursing at all?? Or anything??
Maybe she had the babies already?? I hope not..

 

[wolftracks]

Linda I met with a new BYC member at the auction yesterday to give him some layer chicks. He raises Asils and uses sound boxes. I immediately thought of you. Do you think you could keep a roo if he was in a sound box until later in the day?? I can give you his info if you want it.

 

[DelcoChix]

OK...I'm coming out...of the coop. Been following your story from the start, but till now had nothing to contribute beyond the numerous well-wishing and support that has already been posted...UNTIL NOW! Ok, maybe this is not a good idea as you know your home best...but would it be possible, and easier on everyone (you and your wee-hour alert, noisy roo) if you could simply hang a room darkening shade in your bathroom window? Pull it down when you head to bed...pop it up when you get up in the morning....voila..no light to cause rooster alarm.
I am now returning to my coop in Ohio and will remain here, lurking on my perch....until another brilliant (in my opinion of course) idea strikes me. Until then, keep on trucking and I'll keep reading!