I realized that many of my updates seem negative recently. Yes, we have scares sometimes and every day presents a new puzzle. Most days are like today, nice. Everything working as it should, or presents an easy fix. I can go about a routine and enjoy watching the hens range, collect a dozen eggs, watch the growing chicks start to explore outside their brooder, the pigs running and playing, and even get some time in to work with the recreational livestock. These peaceful, routine days make the venture worthwhile.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
All Quiet in the Yard
As anyone with chickens will tell you chickens are only silent at night. That is, unless something goes amiss.
Thursday afternoon I arrived at a farm shrouded in silence. A hen ran from a pile of juniper branches across to the "hof" with mussed feathers on her back. Something had attacked her. When I parked I realized no other chickens roamed the pasture or the woods like normal. I found little piles of feathers, but no bodies and no birds. Panic and despair flooded my thoughts. Had someone stolen the birds? I just started getting a dozen eggs a day from my flock and people expected eggs now. I did not look forward to explaining that I lost my flock.
I searched the barn and found a few hens in the center stall that acts as their favorite free-range station. I walked toward the pine trees on the other side of the pasture and found one small juvenile bird and walked toward what I thought was a dead hen. Fortunately, it turned out to be a clever hen playing possum in the edge of the trees. I carried both hens back to the central stall.
After a few minutes the barred rock rooster and several hens came out from under the pig house and from the juniper trees near the pig pen. Relief started to flow over me. A few more minutes passed and the Freedom Ranger roosters and Polish Crested rooster (yes, I have too many roosters!) came out from other hiding places with hens. The juveniles came out of hiding last. They hid amongst juniper trees and scrub in the far corner of the pig pen. Despite the feathers, I do not believe I lost a single chicken. The roosters did their job, judging by the piles of their feathers and the number of survivors.
A look to the sky showed their predators; a small hawk and a vulture circled overhead. Neither attempted another attack.
While I am grateful to the roosters and glad that the hens hid themselves well, Nicholas and I are now on the hunt for a guard dog. Several other farms that range their flocks use such guardians and I think the guard dog method of protection will be the most efficient way to protect the flock while still allowing them to range.
Thursday afternoon I arrived at a farm shrouded in silence. A hen ran from a pile of juniper branches across to the "hof" with mussed feathers on her back. Something had attacked her. When I parked I realized no other chickens roamed the pasture or the woods like normal. I found little piles of feathers, but no bodies and no birds. Panic and despair flooded my thoughts. Had someone stolen the birds? I just started getting a dozen eggs a day from my flock and people expected eggs now. I did not look forward to explaining that I lost my flock.
I searched the barn and found a few hens in the center stall that acts as their favorite free-range station. I walked toward the pine trees on the other side of the pasture and found one small juvenile bird and walked toward what I thought was a dead hen. Fortunately, it turned out to be a clever hen playing possum in the edge of the trees. I carried both hens back to the central stall.
After a few minutes the barred rock rooster and several hens came out from under the pig house and from the juniper trees near the pig pen. Relief started to flow over me. A few more minutes passed and the Freedom Ranger roosters and Polish Crested rooster (yes, I have too many roosters!) came out from other hiding places with hens. The juveniles came out of hiding last. They hid amongst juniper trees and scrub in the far corner of the pig pen. Despite the feathers, I do not believe I lost a single chicken. The roosters did their job, judging by the piles of their feathers and the number of survivors.
A look to the sky showed their predators; a small hawk and a vulture circled overhead. Neither attempted another attack.
While I am grateful to the roosters and glad that the hens hid themselves well, Nicholas and I are now on the hunt for a guard dog. Several other farms that range their flocks use such guardians and I think the guard dog method of protection will be the most efficient way to protect the flock while still allowing them to range.
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