Crack of Dawn Farms

Abominable Snow Dog, Chicken Hospitals, and More

Sorry for the cliff-hanger, folks! Ever since the night of the missing bird, so much has happened. Where, oh where, to begin?!

Well, I can summarize the past several days with a cartoon. Imagine my livestock guardian-in-training Atlas as the Abominable Snow Man:

I know that he’s just a puppy, and I know that he just wants to play with them. However, his play results in serious chicken damage. Besides, “George” is a crummy name for a hen.

To catch you up, the prodigal hen DID return! Wednesday morning, when I went down to feed the critters, I was SO surprised to see her down in the lower part of the yard. Turns out she was INside the yard, but before I could get to her Atlas had started chasing her up the fence line. By the time I got back in the yard I couldn’t find her. Crazy.

After more searching, it turns out she had taken refuge in the doghouse. She looked like a mere shadow at the back corner. I woke Ryan up and had him come help me since he could actually climb in the dog house.

Penelope the Prodigal Hen taking refuge in the dog house.

Got her out and separated her into a dog crate outside the yard to give her a chance to settle down and relax.

Whew!

Crisis averted. Or so I thought.

When we went out to check on the chickens at their bed time, I couldn’t find her. Finally, she was located under the dog house. (Jerry had let her back in while we were gone to my Mom’s in the afternoon thinking she looked ok.) We had to raise the dog house to get her out, and she was a mess! She had a good patch missing from her neck and her back feathers were seriously plucked.

I was in shock, and I had no idea what to do – in hindsight I should have been more prepared for chicken emergencies. So thankful for another “phone-a-friend”. Elaine talked me through it and I cleaned her up with some peroxide and got her into indoor hospital quarters in the garage. If she made it through the night, she would probably be ok.

That was a rough night. If I was struggling with my chicken-keeper credibility before, now I was really in a mess. I tried to run the next morning, but it just was a walk. I mentally couldn’t handle anything more. I had no idea whether I would go downstairs to a survivor or to having to figure out how to dispose of a dead chicken.

Well, she was alive! And when I cleaned her up I could see that she was truly healing like a champ. Amazing creatures, these!

Things get a little blurry after all the drama with Penelope (yes, in case you’re wondering, the way you get a name in this hen yard is to go through a major trauma and survive). Now we’re at Thursday I think. By the end of that day, I had one more in the infirmary – not as bad though. Just her back feathers plucked pretty good.

It turns out that Atlas was getting INTO the coop via the ramp door. We thought we had made it small enough, but clearly not. His curiosity seems to get the best of him when all of the new chickens are in there, and he goes in and drives them out. In the process of their clucking and fluttering to get away from him, his puppy play gene takes over the protector gene.

After another phone-a-friend to Heather, I decided to use the crate. When I couldn’t be down with a leash to directly supervise his time in the yard, Atlas was going to have to be in the crate. He was NOT happy about this, and when I put him in there Saturday morning he showed me that he can do an excellent imitation of a dog hung in a trap. Sorry dude, not working on me.

We are still crating for now, but he is getting some non-leash time when he can be supervised. Plus, Jerry measured his shoulders and reduced the coop door entry to the point that we are pretty sure he can’t get in now. The chickens did a double take when they got to the door, but they fit just fine.

Atlas figured out the crate is a nice place to store his bone for safe keeping.

I am looking very forward to his next little maturity spurt to match his physical growth. We are at 3 1/2 months and he is getting bigger every day!

This chicken thing is definitely turning out to be much more of a challenge than I ever dreamed. I imagine I got a little over-confident after Atlas was doing so well with the “old guard.” I underestimated the impact the new chickens would have on the dog. I was more worried about how they would interact with the other two.

As for that, imagine two cliques of high school girls that just tolerate being in the same general space. The red one from the old guard is pretty stingy about the feeder under the coop. If she is half way across the yard and notices one of the new hens eating there, she comes on a beeline up to the feeder and they run to some other place to scratch. Nothing violent, just asserting her place in the pecking order.

As we start a new week, I am hopeful that we will find a turning point so that Atlas can start having more freedom while the girls are out and about. I am grateful that the two hens seem to be well on the mend. They are very bedraggled, but they are alive. And perhaps someday they’ll give us eggs 🙂 With all of the chicken drama and a lot of extra curricular activities this past week, we struggled getting all of our school done. Grateful for the flexibility, but now it is time to start getting back on track. I am looking forward to a productive week!! Here are some more photos from the week’s adventures:

: Enjoying the shade

: It was hot and the old guard found a nice dirty place in the shade to cool their feathers.

: Atlas behaving well: eating breakfast and the old guard gals are just milling about.

: Dog house moved to the shady stand of trees in the middle of the yard. Should deter further escape attempts.

: Atlas behaving well again: just watching them go in.

And Then There Were Five

I wasn’t really thinking I’d write again so quickly, but too much happened today to let it sit. My brain is swimming trying to sort it all out, and the best way to tackle it is to start typing. Please pardon my longer-than-normal stream of consciousness writing (I did include cute puppy pictures though!).

Looking forward to letting the ladies out of that coop now!

I started my day with a run. What better way to start getting things back to “normal” after the holiday weekend than trying to get back into a crack of dawn running routine? It was nice, and I spent much of it contemplating the morning of letting my hens out and into the wonderfully buggy yard.

It has really bothered me to have them cooped up like this. Part of having chickens for us is to be able to have the most naturally raised eggs (and eventually meat) that we can. Confining them to the coop for multiple days was justifiable for long term health of the gals (teaching them their safest place to be at night), but it just didn’t sit right with me in the here and now.

So, I was VERY happy to open that door and let them out. Jackson came down with me, and we were prepared to just hang with Atlas and the flock in no particular hurry to leave while they all got reacquainted after the time away.

The picture in my mind while running this morning was 6 hens clamoring at the door to see who would be first down the ramp (assuming that had all been sorted out – pecking order and all).

Instead, nothing.

Nobody seemed in any particular rush.

Now, mind you, the “old guard” didn’t waste too much time contemplating the open door. It did not take them long to find their way back to Bugville.

The "Old Guard" getting first dibs on bugs. — The “Old Guard” getting first dibs on bugs.

Atlas decided to start trying to make his way UP the ramp. Not a good plan. We had words.

We sat for a while. He got lots of scratches and attention while we allowed the others time to exit the coop.

Only one newbie decided to leave the coop. And then the chasing began. Atlas and I had more words. These were me, very much in his face, holding him by the scruff of his neck, and establishing “NO.”

Ok. For a while.

Then again with the chasing. Down to the corner yard, and the new bird got some serious air to the point I thought she was going out of the yard!

More words. Stronger this time. But I’m not sure it’s working. I decide to use my “phone a friend,” and give Heather (Atlas’ breeder) a call. I know she has dealt with this, and I needed some advice. She reminded me that his immature puppiness probaby just wants to get a hold of that new arrival and play with it. She gave me a recommendation to actually get him on his back for the correction instead of having him sitting. This would help establish me as the alpha.

I stayed close for a while, and we actually did school for the morning on the deck above the yard so I could observe. When I went up, though, Atlas had decided it was nap time, and all was calm. He napped a good part of the morning.

Chasing chickens is hard work. It's doggie nap time. — Chasing chickens is hard work. It’s doggie nap time.

The morning went well – lots of napping by Atlas, and lots of scratching and pecking outside by the old guard and the brave newbie. The other three were content to stay in the coop.

Gee, mom, I'm so sorry. I promise I won't chase chickens any more. — Gee, mom, I’m so sorry. I promise I won’t chase chickens any more.

Check out this video… Atlas is trying to extract a forked limb from the fence (and happily ignoring the scratching of the three chickens in the background, I might add :-)).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlGXIMcR0yQ

When I checked on the crew after lunch, the brave newbie was not to be found. I was convinced she must’ve flown out the corner where I initially saw her take to the air. I hadn’t heard any commotion, but I figured Atlas must have been at the root of it. But I couldn’t do any correction because I would be WAY to late.

We searched all around the wooded area below the yard, knowing it hadn’t been too too long since I had been down just to peek in at things. Nothing.

Then, Jackson yells that he found her. She was UNDER the dog house. I looked back there, and at first was afraid she had been taken there by a certain canine, and that she wasn’t ok. All I could see was her booty sticking out from under. I hesitatingly touched her with a gentle poke and she scampered her way deeper under and managed to turn around (we’re talking maybe 3″ of clearance here!) and get out. She went straight up onto the roof of the dog house.

That works. Whew.

More monitoring through the afternoon. I checked on them several times and all seemed to be happy. We even got a second newbie chicken out of the coop at one point. I was so pleased.

TWO birds on a roof. Perhaps they were plotting the escape???

We finished up our school work, and got some of the house chores done inside. We had a library book that I tried to renew and couldn’t, so we planned to leave early for karate to make a bank/library stop first. We left about 10 minutes before Jerry got home, and all was going well, so I was not concerned. He’d be able to feed Atlas and hopefully close up shop with all six ladies indoors before we got done.

But, no. That would be too easy. My phone rings while in line at the bank. It’s Jerry. “You’re chickens are out. Three in the driveway.” I guess we won’t make that library stop after all. I finish up at the bank and head straight home.

By the time I get there, he has gotten all but 1 back in and locked in the coop. The old guard are in the yard, but not in the coop.

Oh, and did I mention there was a storm imminent? As in, it is thundering, and rolling, and the sky is darkening as we are wandering the edge of the woods (with no idea WHERE this chicken headed) trying to find a mostly black chicken! Good grief!

I don’t know what to think. I feel like a terrible chicken mama. I have no idea if Atlas chased them or if they were just up on the dog house (the 2 that were out really seem to like it up there) and saw an opportunity to clear the fence more easily.

I have been so distracted this evening. Did she find herself a safe tree in which to roost? Is she near the nest of the barred owl we often hear off in the woods? Did she make it up before the coyote could catch her scent? Will she survive tonight? If she does will she come back? Will she ever get a chance to lay an egg? Will Elaine ever sell me another chicken?

Yes, I know it is “just a chicken.” But, she was my chicken. And she was going to provide breakfast and baked goods for my family. And I really don’t want to be an irresponsible chicken farmer. This doesn’t look good on my resume.

What will tomorrow bring? It’s supposed to storm again. Maybe everyone will just stay put.

Here's one of the newbie chickens out enjoying the sunshine this afternoon. Is this the missing one? I honestly have no idea!! They all 4 look alike to me, and they haven't been out and about enough to have learned any personalities. She's pretty though :-) — Here’s one of the newbie chickens out enjoying the sunshine this afternoon. Is this the missing one? I honestly have no idea!! They all 4 look alike to me, and they haven’t been out and about enough to have learned any personalities. She’s pretty though 🙂

The Crazy Coop Dance

Six. Count 'em... SIX hens in the coop! — Six. Count ’em… SIX hens in the coop!

For those of you who have been following our progress, you know that my two original hens, the “old guard,” have been choosing to sleep in our beech tree instead of on the fine roost inside the red roof inn that we built them. Well, I finally have ALL parties locked in the coop, and it was no easy feat!

When I brought the new pullets home Saturday, I decided that we would put them in the coop and lock ’em up for a few days so they’d learn the proper sleeping habits. I was mostly ok with the two originals staying in the tree.

That seemed like a good idea, until Sunday morning when the two old guard started pacing like a woman in labor! I had hoped they’d just find another place to lay, but that was not going to happen! 🙂

I am going to try to relate this story the best I can, but I know I can never do the scene justice! You’ll note there are not too many pictures of the craziness because, well, it is hard to take pictures at the same time as catering to the laboring needs of your hens. You’ll have to bring your imagination to the table for this post.

The Dominique was first – up on top of the nesting box (with Atlas sitting staring like she was crazy). I don’t think I can accurately paint the picture of this bird pacing and clucking back and forth. She was up on top of the coop (over 6′ high) at one point! She went in the dog house for a while, but I don’t suppose it was good enough as she came out and left no egg. Finally, she hopped on the skid at the side of the coop and was craning her neck like she was trying to figure out if she’d fit in the little crack between the ramp door and the coop.

I decided to open it, standing guard to keep the others in in case they decided to make a break for it. She hopped right over to the opening – and did a double take before going in – I think she wasn’t expecting company 🙂

I quickly closed the ramp door and did a little celebration dance since now we just had one to try and get in.

Later in the afternoon, the red hen started the same dance… on the egg box, in the coop. I’ll spare you the details since they pretty much mimic what happened with the Dominique. Except that the first time I opened the ramp door, the red hen didn’t see me, and in the delay the wily Dominique escaped! I did manage to get the red one in though, and we resolved to get the Dominique in after she was asleep.

When we were getting ready for supper, I got worried a bit about our prospects for hen retrieval… she was in her tree but easily 14 feet up!

Yeah, I heard you guys talking. I'm going way on up here. Just see if you can get me now! — Yeah, I heard you guys talking. I’m going way on up here. Just see if you can get me now!

By the time we wrapped up for the evening and we’re ready to go catch her, she had moved down considerably. Jerry was able to get her easily on the normal ladder.

They have spent all day today in the coop, and I plan to let them out tomorrow. Everyone will have had at least 2 nights in there, and the newbies 3. I didn’t really like leaving them locked up today – I know the old guard especially must be missing their bugs. I did get them some meal worms and cracked corn to scratch at and they seemed to like that. Just doesn’t seem right to have them cooped up with all this yummy yard in which to forage.

Side note: we did get an egg from each of the old guard after all the crazy antics of the morning!.

Just hanging out here enjoying my yummy bone while I have a little guard dog vacation.

Atlas did get a tasty pork femur to keep him occupied while he’s having some time off from his livestock guardian duties. I think we’ll all be glad to find our new normal tomorrow!