Safe Flight, My Hens

Jeff and Heather, Chris, Brittany and their two month old angel Luca came over this evening to take several of my hennies to their new home.

The upkeep of three hen houses and the care of 18 hens and one rooster is a challenge for one person.  Jorge, the ranch hand, has been instructed to no longer help me with any of the animal care.  How unfortunate.

A great part of Jorge's love for his job has been working with the animals.  He told me he is uncomfortable with this new directive as he recognizes the labor involved for one person.  He said he was sad about it because he misses the interaction with the animals and the variety in his day, making it anything but routine.

It does tug at my heart to see him drive by the animals and not stop and do some of the things he used to do.  He actually looks the other direction.  He is fighting his instinct as he is a natural caregiver.  The animals do not understand his distance.  They grew fond of him, his kindness and his gentle ways.  The goats used to get daily rides in the golf cart.  Now it's as if he shuns them, but I know it is not so.

The time has come to ease my load a bit.

Juliet, Ruby, Blanca, and Zorra, four of my new baby hens, were put in the poultry crate along with Dumpling and Black, two of my one year old hens.

Dumpling has been like a mother hen to the babies.  She has been showing them around the ranch and the places to find bugs, take a dirt bath and where there is protection and shade for a nap.   When they scratch up by the grasses at the canal, she is always with them.  Black is a very docile Black Australorp who ruffles no feathers.  They will be a harmonious flock.

Chris and Jeff are biologists for the Wildlife Services.  I met Jeff when he answered my call for help in investigating what was killing my ducks.  He's smart.

Jeff had mentioned he was setting up his new chicken coop.  As you may imagine, it is entirely secure and predator proof.  When I made the decision to re-home a few of my hens, he was the first person who came to mind.  Jeff had his flock established already but Chris was just beginning his.

As sad as it was to hand over my hand-raised babies and grown girls, there was a sense of relief.  A touch of relief in my daily chore load; a greater relief that my girls were alive when I said good bye.  It doesn't always work that way on the ranch.

Tick Tock, Have You Checked Your List Today?

We are well on our way into January 2012.  I keep telling myself that the days are passing quickly because each day is packed with wonder, fun and joy, so what's another tick on the calendar page?

Given the variety of animals that call this ranch home, there always is something going on.  I know, I've said this several times before, but no two days are alike. I cannot count on a quick run out to get something done because inevitably, one of the animals or an animal related topic has other plans for me.  I have learned to prioritize--a challenge for a Sagittarian. 

There is the short list, the immediate list, the "oh crap" list, the in-my-dreams list, the where is my list list and a few more as yet untitled lists.

Juanita, one of my two year old hens, has an infection of sorts and is seriously underweight.  We don't know why.  We thought perhaps she was egg-bound.  Dr. Brown saw her, gave an antibiotic shot for the infection and a calcium shot to move along any stuck egg and recommended continued antibiotics and house rest.

A little research was needed as to the antibiotic.  How many days does it last in her system as we eat our hen eggs.  It's 21 days.  Juanita hasn't laid an egg since Wednesday, so no worries there.  She has an appetite but won't eat her pellets, which is where she'll get her calories.  She eats a bit and then stops. 

Today, I gave her the antibiotic in a water mixture via syringe in her mouth.  I also went to Target and got some Pedialyte and have given her that too.  She's a very compliant Rhode Island Red. 

My newest theory, she either has sour crop or an impacted crop.  Internet research is very helpful.  I know what to look for tomorrow morning and we'll see if this is what it is.

Graysin, one of my feral cats, has been acting weird lately.  She eats, which is good.  She's been hanging out under the windows of the house at night and sometimes hiding out in the hay during feeding.  Does she want in?  I put a kitty bed on the porch under the living room window.  I have yet to find evidence of a kitty in it.

I woke up the other morning to find Kenna in the pasture.  She took herself on a self-guided tour, including breaking through the wire gate.  We now have two gates.  It seems to be working.

Bodie and Pinkie had their excitement of the New Year.  They got into a real dog fight in the house!  The new Christmas toy was the instigator; it rolled under the couch and how that led to the outbreak, I have no idea.  It was ugly.  They were both sent to their respective houses for a time out.  It took them about half a day to really get over it and carry on as usual.  Well, Bodie was ready when he woke up; Pinkie needed her time.

All of the horses tested negative for the latest fecal egg count!  This is good news by the way.  In order to gather the samples, I have to separate the horses and wait for each to poop, collect a chunk of steaming horse manure, label it and get it to the vet for analysis.  This determines whether or not they need to be wormed.  Negative there too.

The newest excitement is that I'm going to purchase my own microscope (why didn't I include that in my amazon order tonight?) so I can do my own testing for the horses and goats.  Well, and look at anything else around the ranch that strikes my fancy.  Dr. Cole, the equine and caprine vet, will show me how to prepare the slides and what to look for.  I can't wait!

I am allergic to hay.  Ah, positive thinking restatement, I was allergic to hay.  Last week I did an acupuncture allergy treatment for hay.  This means I cannot be around it for 24 hours.  I planned my day to have as much time off the ranch as possible and to sleep in the guest house so as to avoid the dogs  who roll in the hay, my coats with pockets filled with hay, my shoes also filled with hay, the mudroom with hay on the carpet, the SUV with hay on the floor mats.  I even had the Lexus washed and vacuumed while I was in my appointment so any misplaced hay would be removed.  I met my friend April for lunch.  My phone rang.  As I picked it up, I noticed the big twig of hay stuck in the phone cover.  Need I go on?

Pippin and Shadow are complete and total wethers now.  They were banded at the end of September and I had to wait for their little ballicles to fall off.  I found Shadow's on the floor of their stall one morning.  Pippin's fell off a week later in their playpen.   I did find it necessary to show the men working on the ranch the little dried up goat testicles dangling on a rubber band.

The joy of seeing my goats everyday is indescribable.  Shadow is an absolute love bug and is becoming more so as he gets older.  He just eats up affection and happily returns it.    Pippin, who usually gets chased off by Shadow, is warming to the idea and now gets what it's all about.  I try to separate them so I can love on each of them.  When I hug them and smell their coats, which at the moment are about 2" thick, their smells are very different.  I know which one is calling me just by their sound.  I know which one is in the barn by the sound of various things crashing down onto the floor.  And I know which one will get out of any gate, on top of anything climbable, and inside anything with an inside.  Shadow just wants to be a goat and browse and eat.  Pippin eats while pondering his thesis.

The biggest news of late is that Pinkie finally learned to play ball!  Really, this is big.  She just never got it before.  Bodie was born to chase balls.  Yesterday morning in the pasture, I focused on her with the ball and tossed it directly to her with the words "Get it!"  and while she was in front of me, I said "Bring me" and then praised her for pretty much going nowhere.  Then I tossed the ball just behind her, then a little further and a little further.  When she got it and brought it back I thought she was going to go pee-pee with excitement.  Come to think of it, she probably did, she does this.  Today we played again and she is completely into the game.  I love it!

Just to round out the ranch tales, we had 8 domestic ducks.  A band of raccoons came and one by one killed the ducks.  I worked with Wildlife Services and trapped four raccoons.  There was at least a fifth that I couldn't catch and that was the end of our ducks.  It was quite sad to find a dead duck by the pond each morning.  I try not to go too deep into the sadness of ranch life but look for what comes of it.  I now know how to trap a raccoon, what their tracks look like, how to spot their place in a tree, and what not to do with a raccoon once you trap it.

On a lighter note, the holidays were spent with good friends.  We had some delicious times together,  and we played many games of Mexican Train.  If you have not discovered this game yet, check it out.  Lots of fun for us gamers.  

And the weather has been delightful.  Days in the 50s and 60s in December and January?  Why not.  Of course, we really do need the precipitation so everyone can water their pastures and keep the price of hay down.  It's a real need.  I vote for a day of wet every week followed by more of this winter warmth. 

As I say each time I post a blog, I'm going to post more often.  It's on the short list.

What is the Fine?

As you may recall, we have a rather healthy wild Mallard population taking residence at our irrigation pond--strike that--duck pond. All but about 4 fly off each evening but they are back here bright and early the following day.

Yesterday I was walking the perimeter of the pond and came across a duck egg! Our first duck egg. And I had no idea from which duck it came. I picked it up and brought it in.

Not quite knowing what to do with a duck egg, I started my internet research on duck eggs (I sure do miss pulling out a hard-bound encyclopedia, but I think this time, the internet may have served me well.)

First, the blue green egg is from the Mallards. A wild Mallard? Or our domestic Mallard, Mallory? They lay their eggs in ground nests, which in our case is a burrowed hole. This is impressive as ducks have webbed feet, not talons like a chicken or claws like a cat or dog.

Then this morning I found another egg. I wasn't sure if I just overlooked it last night or if it was from this morning.

After scooping horse poop for 2 hours, I came in to eat and I continued my internet reading.

Second, in the UK it is illegal to cull wild Mallard eggs. Gulp. What about Oregon?

Third, the shells of duck eggs are thinner than chicken eggs so the eggs tend to be flavored with the surroundings and possibly with the diet of the layer. So would that make these duck eggs sweet grass flavored? Hen crack flavored? Or with the taste of whatever more the duck eats when not eating at my pond?

Fourth, they say that because the shell is thinner, the risk of salmonella is present. So wash that egg nice and good!

Fifth, most research talks about incubating the eggs. Yes, duck eggs are fine to eat it seems, but incubating seems to be very popular.

Sixth, a clutch of Mallard eggs is 8-12 eggs and they lay one brood a year. Have I just reduced that number to 6-10?! Incubation is 24 - 28 days.

Seventh, our other domestic ducks, Blue Swedish, lay white eggs. I now am sure the eggs I collected are not from Fletcher or Max--well because they are drakes-- nor from Tuxedo Tina, aka Tuxey, Diana, nor Sophia.

Now I am in a pickle. What do I do with the two eggs I culled from the pond? Do we add them to our chicken eggs and eat them? I think I'm too late to incubate them. I can't really return them to the pond, can I?

And do I leave any new eggs that are laid? What about predators that eat duck eggs, such as cats (with the good quality feed these feral kitties get, I hope they wouldn't go after the duck eggs,) raccoons, dogs (they'd be in big trouble with momma,) birds of prey, fox, coyote, etc. We have these critters around.

I've been working on getting Larry to build a proper duck laying house that sits out over the pond. This would help protect them from predators, but can the ducks dig a nest inside a house?

I guess I have to let nature take care of itself on this one. Upon further research, I have discovered that I am in violation and would be in further violation of federal law if I intervene.

Shhhhhhh, please don't tell.

Check out this website: www.wildliferehabber.com/modules/wildlifesection/item.php?itemid=7

Catching Up on the Ranch

I'd like to say this is a quick update on the happenings of late on the ranch but quick may not be the right word unless you're a speed reader. But a read it is.

The cats. Well, my friend April convinced me that if I'm going to feed the feral cats that live in my hay shed and barn that I also should catch them and bring them in to be fixed. After some reluctance, I have embraced this challenge whole-heartedly.

I thought I had 4 feral cats. Then I started seeing these other 2. Then the other night I caught Mandy, one I hadn't seen before at all. So, really, I have no idea how far along in my project I am.

So far, Lynxie, Graysin (the beautiful mom with pretty babies--see photo) and La Negrita have been to Bend Spay and Neuter Project and returned home to spend a few nights at kitty recovery center. I brought Mandy in and they discovered that she had already been spayed so they vaccinated her and wormed her and she just spent one night in kitty recovery.

I have two recovery crates set up and the cats seem to do quite well in them. I think they really like the warm bed, canned kitty food, convenient water and clean kitty box. Mandy just curled up in her bed and looked at me through the slats when I put the crate in front of the door to let her outside, as if to say she'd like the extended stay package. Eventually she went out. La Negrita darted without hesitation. Graysin jumped out, stopped to turn around and look at me--I'm pretty sure with appreciation in her eyes--and took off. Lynxie, my first catch, was another sprinter. Although he has since been caught twice more.

My other hobby is cat tracking. With this snow and an occasional fresh dusting, coating or additional accumulation, I can see the kitty tracks and follow them to learn their habits. I think my years of Thursday night CBS watching has honed my CSI skills as I'm quite good at determining the "directionality" of the kitty.

Today, I saw precious prints going in to the pumphouse where the duck feed is stored, but no prints coming out. I went around to the other side and beneath a hole in the wall were dainty exit prints. My favorite is the collection of prints at the base of the heated water troughs. These troughs seem to be a favorite of cat and bird alike.

The ducks. We only have 7 ducks, well, 8 if you count Mrs. Mallard who joined the domestic flock several months ago. But we seemed to have attracted another 40-50 wild ducks. So, in order to feed our 8 ducks, I have to feed 50.

They were breaking the bank feeding them high quality Purina Flock Raiser at $14.95/bag. A kind woman at the feed store educated me in the economical choice of hen crack, I mean hen scratch. It's only $9.50/bag (recently increased from $8.95 due to the rising price of corn.) So, now I feed hen crack during the day to the larger flock and at night when the wild ducks fly off to wherever they go, I feed our ducks the fattening Purina. We seem to have a few regular overnighters--wild ducks that is. At least it's not 50.

This morning I was out there and saw Maxwell grab Tuxey by her neck and dunk her underwater. I had seen this the other day and started throwing bread at him to stop him. For sure I thought he was going to drown her! I hate to say it, but I think I was witnessing duck mating. It's brutal and very barbaric. I threw snowballs today. Then it hit me (not the snowball for those of you [Laurie] who think like that) that it looked a lot like the roosters mounting the hens--sans water. They hold the back of their neck, get on, fluff up and get off. I shudder!

Oh, and the big thing in the middle of the pond? That would be a horse shelter. That was adjacent to the hay shed when we had a freak wind one day that picked that shelter up, dragged it across the fence--broke the fence--tore up the grass and planted it in the middle of the pond (see photo.) It was 2 days before the ducks would go back in the pond. I imagine as that thing came flying in they all screamed, "Duck!" Then the pond froze.

The chickens. A very sad day recently. Three dogs visiting the neighboring ranch came over and killed Black Top, one of our much adored hens, and chased off Peep Peep, the problem rooster. They were missing that late Sunday afternoon and I waited to see if they came back. Night came and they didn't return. The next day I went out looking and found Black Top in the dry creek bed. I followed a trail of feathers to her body. It was so sad. It broke my heart to see evidence of what she endured. I never found Peep Peep.

A week later, I was out at the street talking to my neighbor Todd across the way and he told me a rooster showed up on the other neighbor's property. The rooster had been chased by a dog and bitten. They brought him someplace, I'm not sure where. At least I know he survived the attack. As a week had already passed and I was hoping to rehome Peep Peep anyway, I opted not to call Ron to inquire about getting him back.

Symbolically, that Monday that I realized Black Top and Peep Peep weren't coming back, the scabs on my leg from Peep Peep's last attack fell off in the shower (see photo if you dare.) I knew that chapter had ended.

Now we have just 4 hens, and very good girls. Cowboy Tim who up and rode off one day left behind 2 roosters, Red and Black. After one of them was attacked by another dog, but survived, we brought them over here to live. The boys abandoned their bachelor pad after Peep Peep left and now they all bunk-up inside the hen house. A happy chapter has begun.

The horses. The other day we had another foot of snow, on top of the foot that fell just a few days before. I was out for what I thought would be a quick morning feed and noticed Alibi trying to tell me something. I separated him from the other 4 and gave him his morning cereal with glucosamine and noticed him starting to shake. I watched and he progressed into a true shiver.

These horses are wooly wooly this time of year, but for some reason my hardy Alibi's body temperature was going awry. I brought him over to the unfinished barn and put a cooler on him to wick away the wet and dry him off. Took his temp, listened to his heart and respirations, checked his gums for dehydration. All vitals were good.

I brought over Alibi's friend, Faramir, to keep him company. Larry and I had to clear lumber, lights, saddle stands, hay feeders and several other miscellaneous items from the neighboring stall to accommodate Faramir. Like I said, the barn is unfinished. But now a little closer to ready.

We plugged in a heater lamp, brought in water, closed up the doors and let them be. We checked on Alibi regularly and he seemed to be coming around quickly. Pooped and peed several times--all good. The coolers dried them both off.

So around 6pm under the waning rays of sunlight, we blanketed them up and walked them back to the other horses, kicking through over a foot of snow to get there. Everyone seemed in good spirits. Alibi is a stoic horse. But I'm relieved he communicates when something isn't right. I love this horse.

And Faramir is so adaptable. He and Alibi are like really good brothers. Hy Note is a brother for sure, but there is that rivalry that rears its head on occasion. Alibi is the alpha of this group of gentle geldings. He is a passive alpha: just the ears starting to pin back or a slight head nod or even a glance and the other boys back away getting the message. So civil.

Kenna is learning, she just needs training and schooling and she is all too willing to learn--which is why we keep her around. She and Faramir are in love. Needless to say, when we brought Faramir back from the barn she was all goo-goo eyed to see him. Because we have so much snow, they haven't been out on the pasture but rather in their respective dry lots. Kenna and Faramir are not in the same lot but they can see each other and she spends a lot of time at the common gate.

Pursuit is a good boy. He is a foster child here. He is the low boy on the totem pole and he looks to me for protection and reassurance. He has a health history that we're not exactly sure of. What I do know is that he is stronger now, physically and emotionally, than when he arrived at the end of September. I feel happy for him.

All Arabs (Kenna is Arab/Quarter Horse.) It's so beautiful to open the gates and watch them all prance out to the pasture, tails held high--classic Arab characteristic.

The dogs. Bodie and Pinkie are my dear dear dogs. You have never seen 2 dogs love each other so much. They play for hours, from the moment they get up to the last minute of the day. When they nap, they nap hard, snoring and dreams included. Bodie is into the chase--the herding. Pinkie, the chase and I'm pretty sure the catch. They are obsessed with the couple of gray squirrels that feed at the bird feeder. Oh, you should hear them when I open the door and let them out! They have no chance of getting that squirrel but my goodness, they run like mad for that golden dream.

They love the snow. Well, I'm not sure the snow even registers with them. It's the same game come snow, dry grass, mud, rain or wind. Happy dogs make my heart happy.

The birds. At the moment, I'm pretty sure we have 95% of the Central Oregon Red-Winged Blackbird population. If you haven't seen this bird before, take a minute to look at them. They are very pretty and have the exciting call of spring: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id.

We also have a healthy population of Brewer's Blackbirds. Doves galore, fat doves. Quail are hiding eggs somewhere nearby. Hawks aplenty, falcons, juncos, woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Clark's Nutcrackers, oh the list goes on. During the coming weeks we'll start to see more migratory birds. We have our Field Guide to Birds of Western North America handy. We note what birds we have seen and when.

They really like the wild bird seed from Costco. Figures. I tried getting a 50# bag for the same price and they protested. So, we're back to the 40# box.

Deer. Rabbits. Fox. Raccoon. Geese. On a regular night you wouldn't know who has passed through. With the snow, I track prints and smile at the discovery of nocturnal activity.

Feed. When I go to the feed store the guys load up the truck. But when I get home, I'm unloading all that feed. Most feed comes in 50# bags, so a 25 pound bag of something or other is a breeze. Just yesterday I unloaded 6 bags, or 300 pounds, of feed. Moving hay is another daily task. Most bales are between 70-80 pounds.

I welcome day passers to my gym.

I wear a pedometer every day to keep track of my steps per day, striving for that 10,000 steps in a day. I feel good knowing on average I walk 5 miles/day in the winter. During January when we had 50 degree days, I was back to 7-8 miles/day. In the summer I walk as much as 10 miles a day, just around the ranch.

So, when I ordered my new Wrangler Low Rise ranch jeans and opened them to read the label, "Real women have curves" I was at a loss. I can carry grapefruits in my side pockets to fill out those jeans!

The days go by with always a taste of something different. Before I can sit and write a bit, I'm falling asleep only to wake up in the morning and head back out. I so enjoy the time outdoors and the time with the animals. They are funny, interesting, educational, loving, predictable, and hungry. I am happy to be their kitchen. It brings me such joy.

It's Not Easy Waking a Sleeping Chicken

A typical ranch day, if there is such a thing, concludes with counting all six chickens and locking up their pen.

Just before dusk they all make their way back to their hen house and climb in, make a heck of a ruckus organizing themselves, and then they settle in for the night. I count them up just to be sure all have returned, and then close their gate so no night-time predator can create its own ruckus with my hens.

It has been getting darker earlier and I was behind in my evening duties. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 5? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Hmmmmmm. It's Alice. Where is she? It was hard to see and to top it off, Alice is black and white.

I set out calling her, looking in all the places they visit throughout the day, under tree roots, under cars and trailers, in the creek, by the horse snack dishes (see photo.) Was it that monster hawk who got her?

Lately, my hens have been laying their eggs up in my hay bales. They have 4 perfectly comfortable and sheltered nesting boxes, but apparently they've tired of them. For days I was wondering if they had stopped laying eggs as there weren't any in the hen house when I would go collect them. It didn't make sense. My hens weren't quite a year into their laying.

Then one day I followed the hens out of their pen in the morning and watched one head straight for the hay shed, hop up a few bales, climb onto a wood post (see another photo) and then go down between the wood sides and the hay bales and tuck herself into a hole created in the hay bales (see other photo.) When she finally came out, I looked in and found 5 eggs! The jackpot.

So now, I climb in between the wood sides and hay bales and slowly lower myself down as to not catch myself on the snags on the wood and reach in, blindly because the space is so tight I can't turn my head, and retrieve the eggs.

Well, back to this evening of missing Alice. It dawned on me, maybe she's in her nesting spot. I look in from the horse lot beside and there she is, sleeping. I can't leave her there overnight, she'd be exposed to the feral cats, raccoons, and whatever else would climb in to bother a chicken. I couldn't climb in to get her because I had seen Bodie climb in there and a startled chicken fly out and that wasn't pretty on account of the lack of room to maneuver.

So there I stood, on the other side of the posts calling to the sleeping chicken: "Alice!" "Kiss Kiss Kiss" "Wake up girl!" "yooooo hooooo!"

It's not easy to wake a sleeping chicken. In fact, they tell you that the easiest way to catch a chicken or rooster is at night...if you can reach them.

So I took a stick and pushed it through to the hay and got her to perk up a bit. Then I had to scare her to get her out. Ugh. She jumped out, over the bales, down to the ground and ran straight for the hen house--and they can run as fast as 9 mph.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Clink went the gate lock.

Now, we have 6 ducks and a goose. They swim in the pond. Can you imagine what it's like trying to round them up to get them in at night? There is an owl that perches overhead; they seem oblivious. I have spent lots of time going from one end of the pond to the other trying to get them out. And look! They can swim clear to the middle! (see duck photo)

Despite how it may appear, my days are never the same.

Wild Animal Kingdom

I know I've said before that ranch life can be harsh, but the sweet birds at my feeder?!

We moved the bird feeder to the front of the house as the side patio is being worked on. It's pleasing to look out at the birds feeding while I myself am feeding at the dining table.

No sooner did I tell Larry the story that a Stellar Jay had come in and spooked off the smaller birds so I spooked off the Jay and the little ones quickly returned, than a falcon swooped in fast and furious, chased a small bird off and out over the pasture, caught it, and took it down to the ground and we must assume ate it based on the rough and tumble we saw going on!

Harsh!

We sat with our jaws dropped. It happened right in front of our eyes. We had to assume it was a falcon. What other bird the size of a large dove would eat a live bird?

A few minutes later, it came back, swooping through, and perched itself in the branches of one of the Junipers beside the house. I took the binoculars to be sure, and yes, it was a falcon. I went out and shooed it away, making threatening noises and clapping. It flew out over the pasture again and landed in a tree to the west. Eventually it moved on.

But really? Pretty little birds at the feeder being picked off by a falcon?

And I thought my biggest concern was the monster hawk scouting out the chickens and ducks.

Well, it is a wild animal kingdom, after all. But maybe we relocate the feeder.