Virginia

[ApiaryandAviary]

Oh no. My hubby and I came home to find one of my two Ayam Cemani hens dead in the yard next to the drive. There were no apparent attack wounds. Dont know what happened to her.

Now I am worried because I I have been selling off the Phoenix Bantams and Ohiki fowl bc I have changed my "Master Plan" as I have been getting out of the delicate, small, warm weather loving, exotic and expensive fowl. Now I think I have to keep back a couple of Cochin Bantams, Ohiki or Phoenix Bantams just so she will have company. There is no way I am going to put out money to buy her a friend. She went in to the Chocolates house tonight.

Tonight when I went back out to check on things... I thought, a zoo might want her. But the thoughts of caging her is very upsetting. She has had a lifetime of free ranging with those I have been selling off.

She is sleeping with the Large Fowl English Orpingtons tonight as she wandered around with no sense of direction. I still have a few of the Cochin Bantams, Phoenix Bantams & Ohiki and will have to make sure she is with them for bedtime next night. I am either going to need to keep back a small ohiki or cochin bantam for her to stay with or bite the bullet and buy a friend for her and I really dont want to invest the money in that direction. Really not sure which way to turn. What to do? I am at a loss?

 

[MistyMountain]

Well, I paid the free range tax this morning. Some time between 7:30am and 8:45am something caught my large leghorn/SLW cockerel. The scene of the crime was in front of our shed. smaller feathers and some tail feathers there. I then followed the trail of white along the treeline (inside it) and to our neighbors field. There he was, on the edge of the treeline in our neighbor's field but behind our coop. Head is missing and the back was torn open to the insides. Sorry if that is too gory for you all. We've had hawk attacks in the past, but to me this screams fox or coyote--- sound about right? It is odd to me that it chose this particular bird as it was the biggest and flightiest of the bunch. He was white though, and I suppose he could have been protecting his siblings from the predator. He is young, though at only 16 weeks.

 

[Cknldy]

Ap&Av- hit by a car since found by driveway? Hope you choose well. Disorientation may mean that she will make the decision for you:-(

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

My Ayam Cemani (Ethel) decided to bunk down with a Gold Phoenix Bantam and his 6 girls since her house was empty again last night. If she decides she is moving in with them I will not be selling him and his girls. Their coop is next to her old coop she shared with Lucy ( now dead) and a dozen Ohiki & Phoenix Bantams( now sold).
Lucy was important to me.
Ethel still here.
My hubby suggested I lock her up considering the inital cost. I think it would kill her to be locked up. She loves playing along side the creek. I dont think anyone around here knows what she is. She looks like an all black hen from the road. I have never feared anyone would take her. What I feared was some one accidentally hitting her in the drive or a hawk, mink, bear or coyote getting her.

Hopefully this will be it and she will be happy in their house. I would never pay out for another chicken like I did for Lucy and Erhel. I did not get a male and thought I would get more eggs but the costs climb and I could no
Longer afford the Ayam Cemani eggs to hatch and one ever knows what will hatch. I just can not put the money out again. She has to be happy with another breed. There is no way I can sell her. I am too attached. Sort of a catch 22.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Ap&Av- hit by a car since found by driveway? Hope you choose well. Disorientation may mean that she will make the decision for you:-(

You may be correct.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Well, I paid the free range tax this morning. Some time between 7:30am and 8:45am something caught my large leghorn/SLW cockerel. The scene of the crime was in front of our shed. smaller feathers and some tail feathers there. I then followed the trail of white along the treeline (inside it) and to our neighbors field. There he was, on the edge of the treeline in our neighbor's field but behind our coop. Head is missing and the back was torn open to the insides. Sorry if that is too gory for you all. We've had hawk attacks in the past, but to me this screams fox or coyote--- sound about right? It is odd to me that it chose this particular bird as it was the biggest and flightiest of the bunch. He was white though, and I suppose he could have been protecting his siblings from the predator. He is young, though at only 16 weeks. 

Sorry to hear of your loss. We put so much time, effort, love and care into our little darlings, I know everyone just does not get it how we can know each and everyone of their names and eachs little quirks. And they all have their quirks. Again sorry for your loss. I have a Crele Orpington Roo around 6+ months you can have if that helps any? If you want him. He is a sweetie. Gentle giant. Please let me know and I can pass him on to you.

 

[MistyMountain]

Sorry to hear of your loss. We put so much time, effort, love and care into our little darlings, I know everyone just does not get it how we can know each and everyone of their names and eachs little quirks. And they all have their quirks. Again sorry for your loss. I have a Crele Orpington Roo around 6+ months you can have if that helps any? If you want him. He is a sweetie. Gentle giant. Please let me know and I can pass him on to you.

Thank you for your kind words and offering your rooster. This rooster happened to be an extra rooster from a summer broody hatch that I was trying to find a new home for. I still have my SLW and EE rooster with my grown up flock and am now considering keeping this rooster's half brother as long as the boys continue to get along well. It's such a difficult thing, free ranging or not. In the end, I will free range within reason (Nov through Feb/March is supervised only because of hawks) and rely on my roosters to protect the flock. I may one day be able to extend my dog's wireless collar range into their main coop/ranging area for better protection. We've just never had a four footed predator before, so this is a learning experience as to how they operate. For now, everyone is on lockdown and the game cam is set.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Good news, Ethel is eating again and sleeping with the Gold Phoenix Bantam and his 6 girls. She even fluttered get wings as she ran across the yard.
My hubby closed the doors on the house she shared with Lucy (found dead by drive) and the young Ohiki and Phonix Bantams (sold at recent flocks swaps). This was done to prevent her from carrying out her life long pattern of running with those no longer with her.
But the good news is she looks like she is happy again but with a different pack of Phoenix Bantams. So, I did not show up in Roanoke this morning to sell anything. Oh, I still have Ohiki & Phoenix Bantams to sell. I was giving Ethel the chance to make up her mind where she wanted to be. The fact that Gingerbreadman did his rooster thing with her and she remained in the submissive squat mode for a couple of seconds afterwards, let me know she quickly integrated with his crew. I hope I read her correctly.

Now what to do about those eggs? I will have to tell buyers that there could be egg each day with a half breed Ayam Cemani mixed in with the Gold Phoenix Bantam. If I hatch them I will know by the fact of the tell tell black feathers and may even have black inside the mouth. Over time people have not shied away from the eggs or pullets because of a mixed breed in the bunch. I think it is bc of the occasional Ayam Cemani mix showing up with the Ohiki & Phoenix Bantam. Not sure.

But my good news is it looks like I do not need to force a relationship. And she is eating again.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia, Tractor Supply Co. Parkinglot this coming Saturday 25 October 2014, barnyard animal sell, flock Swap. Will you be there for this last one? 4th Saturday of the month at TSC 58 Virginia Market place drive, Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Va. 24151. Hope to see you there for this last one.

 

[ShadyGroveFarm1]

Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia, Tractor Supply Co. Parkinglot this coming Saturday 25 October 2014, barnyard animal sell, flock Swap. Will you be there for this last one? 4th Saturday of the month at TSC 58 Virginia Market place drive, Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Va. 24151. Hope to see you there for this last one.

Sounds fun!, wish I could come. I didn't know Rocky Mount has a TSC

Does anyone know if the Christiansburg TSC is still having their swap meet?