down to 3

Big Girl is dead. What happened? I have no clue.

We’ve been gone for the past two days and on Monday everything seemed just completely normal with all the girls. Today my grandmother was coming up the path to visit and she smelled it. She knocked on our door and delivered the bad news. The girls got a little upset. I was shocked I really didn’t feel much. Chickens are definitely a different type of pet. There are no warm and fuzzy feelings with them. They seem to love me only because I am the treat giver but other than that, they show no excitement or sadness – really they have no personality. Don’t get me wrong. I love having my chickens it’s just not this terrible loss to lose one.

Grandmother and I used a shovel to lift her and place her in a bag. There was no blood and her head was still attached. Thankfully grandmother (my HERO!!) insisted on burying her for me. She was badly decomposed and I almost couldn’t stomach it. Not sure what the cause was. Hopefully we won’t lose anymore.

So … to Big Girl. You were the first of my chickens to lay an egg. I will never forget the moment I freaked out and jumped continuously up and down with joy the day you laid it. You egg color was extremely unique and they were especially delicious. You started at the top of the pecking order, constantly bossing baby coffee around but she grew up and became top chick and knocked your rating down to 3rd. Thanks for the memories and all the eggs. You’ll be missed.

Adolescent

A young woman

somebody wants some babies

Ruby is broody – which means she REALLY wants some babies. She will not get out of that nesting box. She won’t get out to eat, drink or even roam the yard. She just sits. We only have one nest in our coop which is now a problem. When one of the other girls has the need to lay an egg, they yell a few cussing squawks at her. She responds by just sitting. They are then forced to just sit down beside her and drop one of their own. She will then take their egg for herself and keep it nice and warm. When we want the eggs we have to reach up underneath her and pull them out. I almost feel guilty as I walk away leaving her egg-less, knowing she will continue to sit and wait though nothing is beneath her. The poor girl. She will never get a chance at being a mom since with gave Games the rooster the boot.

This is Baby Coffee saying, “Tell that Ruby to STOP trying to hatch MY eggs!”

only hens allowed in the house!

Chicken news: The Rooster is gone! He attacked me about a week ago thinking I was trying to harm his “girls” while trying to scare them away from my pansies by the front door. I kicked him and stupid him came back for more. I kicked him four feet from me and he left a bruise on my shin. I really didn’t think too much about it and then it happened. Friday I heard the most repeated terrified scream EVER. By the time I got outside Games had forced #2 half way down the backyard. He was attacking her over and over and over again. It was horrible. I took off my croc and beat the snot out of him. He came back for more instead of running away. He’s smart enough not to eat leftover hot dogs but he’s dumb enough to come back at me to get another beating with a shoe. Go figure.

I scooped up my sobbing child and brought her in promising I would kill him right away. She did not object. I called my neighbor to borrow an axe. Then my #3 heard the conversation and broke down begging that I not kill him. What’s a mom to do? I call my grandmother (raised on a farm and has killed chickens before) and ask her to help and she tells me to not butcher the rooster. It would just be too traumatic for the kids. I am thinking, “NAH … it’s a cycle of life!” Next idea was to call the local feed store. The owner immediately says, “Chop his head off and have him for Sunday dinner. Once they start attacking they won’t stop.” Then I see my #3. Her face all red and tears streaming down her face and I realize it’s just not worth it. I ask him can he help me in any other way? We make an agreement for me to pack him in a box the next morning and he’d find someone else to “take” him.

So where Games officially is … I do not know … dead or alive … I do not care. I am thankful for the peace and quiet and I am so sure my neighbors are very thankful his crows can no longer be heard at 5 am or at noon or at 3 pm or any other time he felt like being vocal.

Bottom line … no more roosters for me!

chicken talk

Still getting just one egg a day and I am irritated about it. Big Girl lays about 5 to 6 times a week. That’s right on par for her particular breed. Ruby. OH Ruby – she’s, you know – s-mature but she’s NOT laying any eggs. So. NO field trips around the yard until I get two eggs a day TWO days in a row. I remind them of my new rule every day in hopes the others would encourage her to lay but it’s been 4 days now and she has not complied. They are anxious to bust out but I am staying firm. I want two eggs!

Games is crowing. Thankfully it’s not very loud and not too often. You can barely even hear it from inside the house. I swore I’d butcher him once he was vocal – but I am softy after all. He’s just too pretty and I am attached. He’s a great leader for the girls – keeping watch over them while they roam the yard. He is also the first to come to me when I round them up to put them back in the coop. Hopefully it will work out for him to stay around.

Big Girl – the layer

She listening to me say, “Ruby – just lay a freakin’ EGG!”

Games – the man

hot hot days

That one dollar kiddie pool has been a life saver this week. I can’t get the kids out of it.

Three little monkeys

The move seems so “real” this week. I’ve been so moody about it. Today when they delivered the “pod” I thought I might have an anxiety attack. I so love to think I love change but when it is time to dive in and make the change I always panic.

My tomatoes plants are beasts. I have never EVER experienced tomato growth like this. (thanks again Rena)

There are tons of these fat greenies just teasing me. I so want them to be red already!

I experience a first this week – picking a chicken’s nose. I had too. It was so pretty gross. Ruby chicken has like a cold. She sounds like a congested toddler who needs to cough.

a bunch of random information

I keep telling myself to sit down and document what exactly the kids have been doing the past month. But I just keep putting it off with means I am not even blogging about the now b/c I keep waiting until I feel like writing about the “past”.

ANYWAYS – I am procrastinating starting a project tonight so I think I will just ramble a bit. We’ve just been a tad bit busy lately – like everybody else. All the kids were in a play. I seriously cannot believe my #2, who wouldn’t even be the leader in a simple game of Simon Says with her siblings one year ago, stood up on stage and performed. Never thought that day would happen. She was so adorable and I am so proud of her. #3 was the shy one on stage despite the fact she is so out going at home. #1 was a natural. He has a knack for it and I love to see him on stage.

We finished up a few projects for our homeschool group’s end of the year program. The kids showed off their mummified chicken which lay half wrapped in a homemade shoe box sarcophagus. We did a tri-fold on the incubator and Ancient Egypt. Also #1 got up on stage and did a pantomime skit that was quite funny.

We’ve sold our house so we’ll be moving in 3 weeks. We’re making a temporary move until we can find the right home. I am so thankful we were able to sell in this market and not take a loss. I can truly see God’s hand in all of it!

The kids are all in one room right now. I chose to pack the girl’s room first. I am over their floor and tiny little pieces of junk/toys everywhere. It’s been so cute to see just how excited they are to be all together in one room. I swear I just love my kids.

Some times I wish I could just freeze time – savor every kiss longer, feel their embrace for hours, stare into their precious faces and slow down and pray I never forget a moment.

Now onto the … chickens – we got more. ONLY girls this time. Between us and my in laws we were a few hens short. Our boys will be leaving us soon to go and live with someone who has dinner plans for them. So, last week we headed north to the farm and the lady sold me a big girl. She should be laying in a few weeks!!! (I know I am going to completely spaz out when I discover that first egg.) Big Girl was quite the bully when she first stepped in the pen. Lucky for the rest of the chicks – the minute I step in the coop to set the new ones free, the bottom dropped out and it began to pour down rain. I crouched down in the corner of the pen to wait until it let up. Well during the 20 minute wait I had to put Big Girl through new coop boot camp so she’d leave my other little ones alone. A few swift taps on her back after she assaulted my little babies, she realized which hen really was in charge. She’s been pretty polite ever since. We’ve named the girls – Baby Coffee – she’s a French Black Copper Maran (thanks Rena) Scotch (the kids came up with that one???) she’s an Ameraucana which will lay a blue egg. Ruby – she’s a Wheaten Maran and then Big Girl – Cuckoo Maran. All three Marans will lay a dark chocolaty speckled looking egg. They are very entertaining but no, they aren’t pets that are in the same class as a dog or cat. I’d say they’re like fish – entertaining to watch and not too much maintenance is needed but not real smart – they don’t come when you call their name (cats don’t either though), poop a WHOLE bunch and they could careless where that poop lands.

Meet Big Girl, Cuckoo Maran

Sweet Ruby our Wheaten Maran
Baby Coffee and Scotch were too busy pecking to slow down and have a pic made.

new coop

It’s 100% completed! Whew!

The chickens have been in the roost and nesting area for a week but now the ramp is complete and the coop has been moved out to the yard. Tonight at dusk we opened the door from the roosting area to let them venture out into their own personal yard. It was so exciting! My man did an amazing job building it. I love it! I didn’t take a picture of the completed project because a huge storm was looming overhead and we needed to get to dinner. Maybe tomorrow I will get a picture.

what makes a boy chicken a boy?

I am still laughing – so first let me share this. #1 and I were looking into the girls brooder box (tub that contains our baby chicks) and we were examining them to note the differences between what we think are girls and boys. He held a chick and looked at its wing and then the comb. As he was looking it over he turned to me and said, “Now we just have to wait for the chick’s sperm to come in.” I gave him a bewildered look so he repeated his statement, “The chick’s sperm – to tell if it’s a boy or girl. The boys will have a sperm.” Then he pointed down near the foot. I replied, “OHHHH you mean spur, not sperm.” I was so giggling inside but I just kept a straight face.

So, it was all about the chickens this weekend. Poppy and Nanny (my man’s parents) came over Saturday and helped frame up our coop. We made more progress on it today. I am super pumped about it!

I wish I had a photo of the fight that came right after I walked away to put up the camera. I can’t even remember what they began to fight about but it was funny how this sweet family moment suddenly became vicious.