What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

Today, I found a red mite infestation in the coop.

I've been battling these awful bugs since ages, but this time I got a bit distracted because of my father's death, and they've reproduced the hell out of themselves.

And now that I only have one chicken left, it's worrying to think that she gets all the bites!

So I got ANGRY. I removed all the bed material and set it on fire. Then I cleaned the hell out of that coop with the most toxic products you can imagine and moved Callia to 'temporary housing'. She'll be in cement for a while so that it'll be easier for me to spot the mites and clean.

I'm so, so sorry to hear your dad has passed. Sending love and hugs your way ❤

 

[TropicalBabies]

Ferdy's absolute favourite treat! He gets sooo excited when he sees we're having tacos for dinner. I have to offer him a tiny piece of everything on the plate (except avocado and anything salty, of course) or he sulks and pushes his face in front of my mouth to intercept the goodies

Obviously a cat in his last life....

 

[TropicalBabies]

We have food and water inside the coop as well as in the outside shelter. Most of mine are staying in those two areas. No one is venturing out into their yard to free range. They like their cozy coop. I also think they may be avoiding an aerial predator. I haven't seen one, but it is unusual for all of them to stay inside like this.

**Gulp **

 

[TropicalBabies]

Today, I found a red mite infestation in the coop.

I've been battling these awful bugs since ages, but this time I got a bit distracted because of my father's death, and they've reproduced the hell out of themselves.

And now that I only have one chicken left, it's worrying to think that she gets all the bites!

So I got ANGRY. I removed all the bed material and set it on fire. Then I cleaned the hell out of that coop with the most toxic products you can imagine and moved Callia to 'temporary housing'. She'll be in cement for a while so that it'll be easier for me to spot the mites and clean.

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Sending hugs your way. I'm glad you have Callia to give you some reprieve from the sadness, even if it is mites. And killing mites may strangely make you feel better for a few seconds. A way to vent emotions, maybe. Anywho, I wish your heart godspeed on healing. It is down right strange losing a sick parent. I have lost both mine in a stretch of 3 years, in-laws in a stretch of 7 and basically all four in 7 years. Our parents hold so much power over us in so many ways, their passing leaves all kinds of voids. I hope good things come your way.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I did not see my red dot for this tread and thought maybe it was quiet.
Happy Martin Luther King Day!! Good man ♡. A strange dichotomy with the inauguration and all.
Anywho, I've been super busy with inside chores and have only gone out to feed and water chooks and kitties. Though, hubby has been helping me feed Kitties the last few days. I've been needing the help.
Chickens have been laying 3-4 a day now. This is 3 days with a decoy egg.

Not unhappy with that at all. I've been letting them out in the eves every other day. Joy must be my smartest chicken as she makes a beeline for the starfruit trees and snacks on the dropped fruit as the others wander in other directions.

 

[ValerieJ]

**Gulp **

I know. We have bald eagles, large horned owls and hawks here. I saw a hawk on the top of our flag pole yesterday. I'm pretty sure that was/is the threat. It was a large one. We have had an eagle attack before. The most devastating experience in chicken keeping that I ever had. One of my deer hens died three days later from shock. Bless her heart, she kept trying to tell me she was terrified of the sky, but I was busy trying to save an injured hen. I feel bad that I didn't pay enough attention to her. I checked her over and she wasn't attacked, so I concentrated on the one I might be able to save. We live and learn....but it's hard.

 

[Shetland lover]

I know. We have bald eagles, large horned owls and hawks here. I saw a hawk on the top of our flag pole yesterday. I'm pretty sure that was/is the threat. It was a large one. We have had an eagle attack before. The most devastating experience in chicken keeping that I ever had. One of my deer hens died three days later from shock. Bless her heart, she kept trying to tell me she was terrified of the sky, but I was busy trying to save an injured hen. I feel bad that I didn't pay enough attention to her. I checked her over and she wasn't attacked, so I concentrated on the one I might be able to save. We live and learn....but it's hard.

How heart breaking. We don't have eagles to worry about here in town (although I did see one quite recently on the moors) but we had a peregrine falcon attack my tiny flock last year. Ferdy and Stan were such brave boys and fought it off. They both had puncture wounds and Ferdy is now blind in one eye because of it. I think it was targeting Clara as she's the smallest and lightest. At least we don't have to cope with the multitude of predators you have over there, my heart couldn't take the stress

 

[TropicalBabies]

I know. We have bald eagles, large horned owls and hawks here. I saw a hawk on the top of our flag pole yesterday. I'm pretty sure that was/is the threat. It was a large one. We have had an eagle attack before. The most devastating experience in chicken keeping that I ever had. One of my deer hens died three days later from shock. Bless her heart, she kept trying to tell me she was terrified of the sky, but I was busy trying to save an injured hen. I feel bad that I didn't pay enough attention to her. I checked her over and she wasn't attacked, so I concentrated on the one I might be able to save. We live and learn....but it's hard.

So bitter sweet. The beauty vs danger.
I'm so sorry for the guilt you experienced. I feel the same with every bird I lose. There is always something I missed, something I should have done better... but I remind myself that I have some wins too. I can't see around corners and providing a good life for them to the best of my ability has to be good enough.

I had a dog who snuck and killed my chickens but was never near by and never left a mark. The day I caught him chasing my favorite adolescent chicken 10 feet from my husband was the deal breaker. My chicken died of fright and i was fuming. We had done so much training and to realize it was him all along was the end for me. I chose my chickens over him. He got rehomed. I felt like such a jerk for not knowing and trusting that damn dog.

 

[ValerieJ]

Oh, I's so sorry about your chicken loss to your dog. That's a double tragedy because then you also have to rehome your dog, who I'm sure you also loved. That poor little chicken that was running from him and died of fright!!!

The free range area for my chickens is fenced in, so I don't worry about the dog or any land predators. The fencing has electric wire around it too. But, it's hard to stop the aerial predators. But, with one attack in 9 years, I've been lucky. My neighbors have had several. There are a lot of shelters where my chickens free range, and I think the older chickens remember the eagle. In that attack, I lost one chicken outright, then I lost the one I was trying to nurse back to health, and then finally the frightened one.

 

[TropicalBabies]

13 perfect, clean, beautiful eggs in two days. Love my chickens ♡♡♡