Chicken Joe's a-crowin'

At 6am this morning, we wondered what in the world was that strange, low, sort of gargling noise outside. Wild turkeys? A crow? The young cows down the street? No, it was our very own Chicken Joe, finally really going for a bonafide crow from inside the coop. I realized it was the same pattern I had heard coming from the coop last week (in the middle of the day), only today he was repeating himself several times. True, he sounded a bit strangled and like he didn't quite know what he was doing (he is a chicken teenager, after all, about 4 1/2 months old), but he's finally found his voice.

A few minutes later, we heard another rooster from a neighbor (don't know who has chickens by us!), and that one was the traditional high-pitched number. Chicken Joe's not the most macho of cockerels so far (for which we are grateful!), and I really hope his crow stays this nice, low, soft version. Unlikely, I know, but a girl can dream. Continuing to crow after 6am would be nice, too, but again, unlikely. ;-)

Sad week around here

Well, we have some sad news to report from Fat Beagle Farm. On Tuesday, we lost over half of our chickens. :-( When we went out near dusk to close in the chickens for the night, there were only 7 of the 15 chickens hanging out on their roosts. We beat the bushes and looked and looked, and all we found were 4 or 5 different piles of feathers at various places all over the back forty. We had just talked to our neighbor, who told us she saw a dog (that looked "like a wolf", whatever that means) hanging around our pens a bit earlier in the day. We figure this dog (or possibly more than one?) got as many chickens as it could catch or carry.

It's hard to believe over half the flock could be gone just like that (the survivors are in the picture at right), but after consulting other chicken folks online, it seems that neighboring and/or stray dogs are one of the biggest threats to a free-ranging flock, especially during the day. Many people also said finding just feathers (and no other parts) sounds right for dogs, especially a big, hungry dog. Who knows what dog did the crimes -- people around here let their dogs roam unfenced and unleashed as a matter of course. I doubt we'll ever find who did it.

As you might expect, we were all extremely sad. This remaining flock seemed rather stunned that first evening, but now they're just itching to get back outside. We let them out for a few hours one afternoon, but only because one of them escaped out the front door and we didn't want her by herself. Too bad for them, but since then, they've been in their coop. We've ordered some electrified poultry netting so we can at least set up a small area where they can at least be outside. Fully fencing a good area for them to roam is too big and expensive a project for us this season. It really bums us out since they really enjoyed free-ranging so much, but for now, the risk feels too high.

Plus, I don't think Ellie would stand for them out there without protection, at least for a while. We have spent time talking about how at least the hens led a great free life before the dog came, which is more than you can say for chickens at Tyson!

A few recent pictures...

So serious.....

....but now they're all having some fun.

Friends at the 'farm'

Recently we had a fun day and evening (and even a sleepover for some) with good friends at the homestead-lite. Four families were represented, with 13 children in attendance (not counting the soon-to-be-born baby boy in Megan's belly!) Here are a few cute photos from that day:

Max just loves babies! Here he is with 1-month-old Soleil.

Costumed fun was had by all!
From left to right, Jossy, Keian, Solveig, Peri, Ellie and Eva

Three families represented by some of their girls.

From left to right, Eva, Solveig holding Soleil, and Ellie

Bridge collapse in Minneapolis -- We're fine

Just a quick note to say we're all fine and were nowhere near the bridge collapse tonight in Minneapolis. I'm still trying to get in touch with friends, but the cell phone networks are overwhelmed right now, so I'm hoping all is well.

Take care!
Noelle