The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

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I let my girls out yesterday for a coupe of hours. One of us stayed outside with them, in case the hawk made a return. No hawk but lots of happy chickens! Foraging, rolling around in the dirt and just acting silly. :D
 
I let my girls out yesterday for a coupe of hours. One of us stayed outside with them, in case the hawk made a return. No hawk but lots of happy chickens! Foraging, rolling around in the dirt and just acting silly. :D
Isn't free ranging a beautiful thing? I am so glad hawks aren't an issue here *knock on wood*
 
We had them out all summer, when the kids were home. Not one hawk! Then last Friday night one showed up. They're so funny when they go out. The dusting is hilarious because they go to a dusty patch right by the house. They line up against the house and the dust flies. Then there's the group playing in the leaves. I just have one chicken that's afraid to go outside. I think she has a phobia!
 
We had them out all summer, when the kids were home. Not one hawk! Then last Friday night one showed up. They're so funny when they go out. The dusting is hilarious because they go to a dusty patch right by the house. They line up against the house and the dust flies. Then there's the group playing in the leaves. I just have one chicken that's afraid to go outside. I think she has a phobia!
I have no clue where mine dust. I've seen them do it ONCE, when they were about 4 weeks old. When they're out, they spend most if their time in the woods somewhere. If I try to find them, they hear me coming and scatter. Maybe they have a "favorite" spot somewhere in the woods.
 
 I have no clue where mine dust.  I've seen them do it ONCE, when they were about 4 weeks old.  When they're out, they spend most if their time in the woods somewhere. If I try to find them, they hear me coming and scatter. Maybe they have a "favorite" spot somewhere in the woods.
Mine dust bathe in the woods. Some dust bathe in the coop.. I do have a big pool filled with wood ash and black earth. They use that when the ground is frozen, and often just hang out there anyway.
 
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Took this pic from the window...the big girls are right under the window, and the silkies travelled right along with them. Took the Cochins an hour to finally start moving away from the run.
I retaped Dukes foot. Much better this time, and it's already looking better, the skin isn't all swollen anymore. Now I just need the toe to move and stay in the correct spot.
 
94F35316-0781-4D4D-9EA2-1A9B994E2A1A-978-0000064B5873F95D.jpg

Took this pic from the window...the big girls are right under the window, and the silkies travelled right along with them. Took the Cochins an hour to finally start moving away from the run.
I retaped Dukes foot. Much better this time, and it's already looking better, the skin isn't all swollen anymore. Now I just need the toe to move and stay in the correct spot.
:D Adorable!

What is that coffin looking thing in the middle of the yard? Peaks my curiosity :p
 
Took this pic from the window...the big girls are right under the window, and the silkies travelled right along with them. Took the Cochins an hour to finally start moving away from the run.
I retaped Dukes foot. Much better this time, and it's already looking better, the skin isn't all swollen anymore. Now I just need the toe to move and stay in the correct spot.
:D Adorable!

What is that coffin looking thing in the middle of the yard? Peaks my curiosity :p

Lol! That is exactly what my MIL calls it. The septic tank is under there. There are two big dips in the ground right there and we were afraid one of our girls would break a leg or something if they stumbled into one. So, the last project this summer was digging out around the septic covers, and building the "coffin". It's got two doors as well, so they can be opened when the guy comes to...clean.
 
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Isn't free ranging a beautiful thing? I am so glad hawks aren't an issue here *knock on wood*
It really is. Even if you have one chicken or two hundred. I never tire of watching them forage and explore. I have Great Horned owls that are hunting for smaller chickens in the wee dawn hours. I stopped letting my birds roost out doors after losing a few Call ducks. I was outside when it happened and heard the ducks desperate quacking as it was carried away. I later found his remains under an old growth Douglas fir tree in the neighborhood. Owls eat the crop of the bird. Ghastly.
The one predator I have that there would be nothing I could prevent during daylight are the Eagles. They are Federally protected and magnificent. I have never lost a bird to them yet but I saw one swoop into my yard and take a wild rabbit! It never even paused! Swoop, grab, and gone! Not a trace of that rabbit! Amazing to witness. Usually they feed on fish along the shore or in the Puget Sound. I think if one took a chicken it would be an adolescent or starving. They are so huge, they would have a hard time these days navigatiing the shrubs, clothes line, and Johnny ducking and hiding. Johnny even sqwawks and hides when the Blue Jays and Mourning Doves fly over head. An Eagle would give him a heart attack! Hah!
 
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