Another Chicken Funny

Who said chickens were stupid...

Actually I have said it several times.  I may have to eat my words.

This weekend the whole family is going to Rockwood to celebrate Michael's life and spread his ashes.  I call it his "coming out of the closet party" because that is where he currently resides if you get my drift.  Since everyone will be at Rockwood we need someone to watch our plethora of animals.  Melissa is the lucky winner!  I sure am glad to have her help...she's great and I'm not just saying that because she's doing me a favor.  (I'm getting to the point...patience)  Anyway, last night Melissa came over so I could show her the ropes.  I showed her how to feed everyone and then I gave her the run down on the chickens.  There's an art to opening the coop without letting the girls out at the same time.  Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT Brian's way which is to blindly kick into the coop when the door is open.  You have to squat in front of the door so you can shoo them back with one hand.  Once done I shut the coop up and we went inside.

Fast Forward: several hours

I'm sitting at the table and it's dArK outside.  All of the sudden I hear a bang on the porch window.  All of the critters inside are quite curious.  I'm thinking it was a possum that fell and I was a bit upset that I didn't catch him hiding on my overhang.  Mom went to check what it was...PEARL!  Why was Pearl out after dark???  After a short investigation by Mom she found that I FORGOT TO OPEN THE COOP BACK UP FOR THE GIRLS TO GO TO BED so Pearl the Wonder Chicken came to let us know.  Isn't that cute?  I guess chickens aren't stupid after all.

Chicken Humor

Hurts my Heart: Yet Again!

Well, Miss Hattie never seemed to get over what she had. Friday night we force fed her and gave her liquids and then she drank a little on her own. Mom sat with her till the girls went to bed. Then Saturday morning Mom found That miss Hattie had passed away sometime during the night. We're not sure what happened. I feel maybe she became too dehydrated. Poor thing.

The picture below was taken while Mom was holding her.

Is Water Supposed to Come Out of There?!?!

(Not sure why the pictures are turned...)

I'm not sure if I got a sickly batch of chickens or what.  Maybe I'm doing something wrong.  I was under the assumption that chickens were easy and "cheep" to care for.  I feed them organic feed, mostly organic kitchen scraps, and they get to roam my back yard most evenings...what am I doing wrong here???

The past few days Miss Hattie has been kind of lethargic.  Sunday while I was napping in my back yard she jumped in my lap and fell asleep for longer than usual.  Then Monday when I got home from work I let the girls out and Hattie wasn't walking well.  She seemed very weak.  Mom and I made a quick decision to take Hattie to the vet.  We quickly put her in the carrier and I took off towards the vet's office.  It was only AFTER I arrived and stepped out of my car that I realized I was not dressed for public viewing!  I had on really old maroon shorts with a fairly new light blue Relay for Life shirt...keep it classy!  Anyway, Brian met me at the vet's office once he was off work.

on the way...

While waiting to be seen a little girl walked up to me because she wanted to pet the "cat" that I had in the carrier.  She was a bit surprised to see it was a chicken!  She gently touched Hattie's feathers and her foot.  Once she was done she started trying to recruit more people over to touch the chicken.  I'm sure Miss Hattie was less than thrilled.  haha

Once in our room I might have taken lots of photos.  I happen to like to photo-document everything.  Brian might have gotten a bit irritated...so I snuck in a picture of him too!

Doesn't he look happy?

She's plotting her revenge...

The vet comes in.  Feels around...and I mean feels AROUND (If you know what I mean)!  By feeling she was able to determine that Hattie did NOT have an egg stuck and that she probably had a GI infection that can be fixed with antibiotics (This translates into ME having to wake up earlier to administer meds).  We chit chatted a bit and she asked about Jessie...was sad to hear the news.

WARNING: The next few lines are not intended for people with weak stomachs.

(If you have one I do apologize.)

Then the vet had the bright idea to ask if Hattie had been having watery stool.  I responded with a "yes," but that wasn't good enough for Hattie.  She felt the need to demonstrate...ALL OVER MY CELL PHONE, the table, wall, and floor.  Got it!  Loud and clear, literally!  Ever heard of projectile vomiting?  Apply that concept to this story.  Absolutely disgusting.  It would have been HILARIOUS had it been Brian's phone and not mine, but Brian wasn't being a chicken paparazzi and irritating Miss Hattie.  I'm certain she did it on purpose.

Needless to say, I now have a new cell phone case (Thanks, Leslie.  Check's in the mail!)  I don't think I would have been able to put the phone up to my ear with the old case on...even after a good cleaning.
 

Hurts my Heart: The Final Chapter

After giving Jessie antibiotics twice a day for over a week he started feeling much better.  I could no longer hear congestion in his chest and he no longer had a runny nose.  His crow continued to be raspy, but the vet said he may have scar tissue.  I guess this is common for the over achieving rooster.  The chicken attacks started back up and Brian had to have security with him at all times...a green towel. haha.

Since Jessie was feeling so much better I decided it was time to contact the farm animal rescue that had agreed to take Jessie earlier.  I never got a response...meanwhile Jessie continued to "protect" his working girls.  This meant I had to carry something with me at all times to be a barrier.  He packs a mean punch!  this went on for quite some time...then Jessie started sounding congested again.  OY!!!  I felt horrible for him!

One day while out tending the flock (aka doing yard work) I heard my neighbor ask me through my fence if I get eggs yet.  I had been meaning to give her some since the whole family put up with the crowing and NEVER complained.  As I was delivering the eggs we got to talking about poor Jessie.  She graciously offered to "take" him and bring me Chicken Mole!  I quickly turned down the second part of the offer, but took her up on the "taking" Jessie part.  It really broke my heart, but what else was I to do?  I make a horrible farmer! 

So long story short...Brian and Breanne dropped Jessie off for his play date last Thursday and my backyard has been quiet ever since.  I still feel horrible, but it's for the best.  Let's hope I change this mindset before I have children, otherwise, they'll be getting toddlers in dog crates dropped off in their back yards.  No worries, I would send them with some food too.

(Insert sad music...)

When we still thought he was a "she."

First Picture

When we still called him MISS Jessie

AAARRRRGGGHH

Mohawks, Dirt bathes, and BIG feet.

Peace out!

A Family Divided

Chicken Stalker has the girls competing against each other and they don't even know it.  When we start a new carton the race is on!  I periodically get picture updates.

"The hens are neck and neck.  Let's see who wins!"

"And we have a winner!  The reds win!"

"And the race is on!"

"Ladies and gentlemen...we have a winner!"

I am certain if Jane and Miss Kitty knew what was going on they would up their game.  So far they are 0 and 2. 

Chicken Stalker

Who knew chickens would entertain anyone other than me.  I now know where I get my kookiness from...my Mother.  She sends me daily updates on the chickens. Some days she's nosier than others.

"Jane just went upstairs.  Maybe we'll get an egg."
"I think Miss Kitty just went upstairs."
"Got another egg!  It's still warm."
"The girls have been upstairs for a while now."

Do you think they ever get that creepy feeling that someone is watching them??

Hurts my Heart, Part Deux

Well, Jessie is getting a little too big for his britches.  His "rooster instincts" are kicking in and he's started getting VERY aggressive with Brian...and me...and mom.  As funny as it is to see someone run from a chicken it's time for him to go.

Craig helped me find a Rooster Rescue in the Metroplex, but I think in reality I think the woman is just a Chicken Hoarder.  She would not let me visit her facility and was a little rude when I questioned her so needless to say I did not let her have Jessie.  I thought it was odd when she told me she brings all of her roosters INSIDE every night so they did not have to be out in the elements.  I'm a little chicken crazy, but that has NEVER crossed my mind.  OK, maybe once when I didn't want the neighbors to hear Doc, but he would have gone in the garage and not my actual house.

Then mom got involved and found a farm animal rescue.  She spoke with the man in charge and he was happy to take Jessie.  He had a flock of hens so it was going to work out perfectly.  That's when Jessie got sick.  I diagnosed him with allergies, but the Vet (yes, we took him to the vet) though differently.  $65 later Jessie was diagnosed with a possible cold and possible scar tissue in his cock-a-doodle-doodler which was causing him to sound hoarse.  Since chickens sickness can spread quickly we did not take him to the rescue.  Mom wanted to be honest and so she told the rescue that we would bring him when he was feeling better.  So now it's antibiotics twice a day.  This means Mom and I have to wrestle a chicken and shove a syringe down his beak.

He wouldn't even hurt a fly...just Brian! hahaha

To be continued...

When Chickens Attack

Here's a little video I shot of Jessie bullying Brian. 

Just a little background:  I set Brian up! (surprise. surprise.)  I asked him to get dirt from the composter which is conveniently located in the chickens' side of the yard.  He had to walk past Jessie to get there.

Now you may watch the video...