The Sky Rains Tears

Shirley past away from coccidiosis this afternoon despite our efforts to save her. It rained this whole week, bringing this terrible outbreak with its moisture. It is raining again, and I like to think that maybe the sky feels guilty for what it has done and is crying in remorse. I know I certainly cried. It is hard to lose Shirley, she was a particular favorite and we raised her from the very beginning. Shirley was a great leader, and she will be dearly missed by both the flock and our family.

 

 

 

Coccidiosis in the Flock!!

Shirley has bad coccidiosis and we are afraid she might die. Luckily, we have a feedstore nearby so we were able to get medication as soon as we noticed that she was lethargic and had bloody stools. For now, we are trying our best to help Shirley pull through, but we need your prayers! Antibiotics, cleanliness, and sugar water will help but only through prayer will she fully recover!

The whole flock is being medicated to prevent anyone else from taking ill and we are keeping everything clean and as dry as possible given the recent rainstorm. Currently, everyone else is doing very well though Carmen is upset by her buddy's lack of energy and Dot spends all day keeping Shirley company. The babies are almost fully integrated into the flock and we are being extra careful with transferring germs to them because coccidiosis could very quickly kill them. Coccidiosis is present in most flocks but not harmful until a large number of the bacteria are digested. They spread through feces and thrive in water so the rain of the past four days has probably caused it to multiply to a harmful level.

Only the Good Die Young

It seems to me that predators have an innate sense of which birds I like best. My favorite was Zella until the raccoons got her. She was the sweetest, the most friendly, and the most cuddly. The raccoons had their pick of seven birds and they chose the best of them all. Yesterday, my favorite was selected to be taken from us again.
I had been warned that leaving my chickens out unguarded was an invitation for hawks. I thought, "Well, yes, for big hawks like red-tails, but they stay up in the hills. We only have little Cooper's Hawks. Even my babies are as big as a Cooper's Hawk! No way they would go for a chicken."
How very, very wrong I was.
It's true, a Cooper's Hawk can't fly off with a chicken. But that doesn't mean they won't kill them and tear off part to eat.
A few weeks ago this little fellow started hanging around our house more often.

It came repeatedly to wash its feet in the water along the street, probably attempting to cleanse itself of the blood of something innocent. Vile thing. Some thought it looked cool, but all I thought was how I wished it would shoo before somebody got hurt. But my chickens hated being stuck inside all day so I, regretfully, let them out anyways. The hawk seemed so tiny, incapable of attempting anything on my girls.
Yesterday, this little hawk killed Heidi. My sweet little baby was ripped to pieces by this cruel monster.
I understand the hawk was only trying to survive, but for goodness sake go survive somewhere else! Or don't, for that matter, go die!
I just can't believe that Heidi had to be the one. Heidi was my favorite, the best bird without a doubt.

Nobody came close. No other bird trusted me the way she did, no other was so gentle and tolerant.
 

Heidi was special. She didn't regard me as a threat at all. I was Heidi's protector and we were friends.

I loved Heidi. I loved her quirky character, her ways of resolving conflicts without violence, her little chirps, her cheek tufts, her tendency to not poop on me. Everything.

 Heidi was adorable, and not just because of her looks.

Heidi was adorable because she sought attention, she liked people, and she enjoyed being loved.

 She was the everything a chicken keeper dreams of in a pet and more.

My big girls love me because I give them food, but the little girls have not had treats. Yet Heidi loved me all the same.

 Heidi wasn't as frightened by the world as the other babies. She would fly around, not recklessly, but with a love of life. Sadly, this may be why she was caught.

Heidi was not a solitary bird. If she wasn't with her sisters, she was hanging with me, playing on my lap and hopping on my feet.

 If I had to guess, it was Heidi's example of trust that made Cora and Gwen comfortable around me.

Heidi was a chicken through and through, but her blind faith, her love of attention and her craving for human interaction set her apart.

 

 Heidi's life was short but sweet, and I doubt that our family will ever forget what a wonderful girl she was.

Have you got yogurt?

I tried feeding my hens yogurt - and they loved it! They made a huge mess, though. Globs of yogurt would get stuck to their beaks and they would fling them on to other hens. Then run after their glob, of course. Abby eventually had to try the yogurt too... and finish it. Everyone now has white smudges on their feathers, and won't let me clean them off. So yucky white crusties it is.

Mean Girls

These girls are so adorable in their awkwardness! Its hilarious! They are getting big - they are 1 month old today! Growing up appears to be causing some social issues too...

It will be a sad day when Heidi's unique facial pattern finally is replaced by her adult feathers. I just love it! But even now her chick fuzz is fighting a losing battle against maturity...

Heidi is such a sweet girl! She cuddles and likes to be near me even when given the choice of playing outside in the bushes. 

 I hope that she grows up to lay a beautiful blue egg. At least I'm sure she will be laying some sort of egg. The other girls have suspicious tails, combs, and fighting tendencies. Maybe I'm just paranoid after Betsy and Edith.

 Gwen! Her pearly whiteness is so striking. So striking that I worry about letting her out of my sight for a moment lest a hawk spot her lounging on the lawn.

 Gwen is a good chicken. She likes me, likes bugs, likes grass, loves to eat, and doesn't like shadows or alarming noises (like coughs). She will make a fine hen someday (please be a hen!).

Cora's speckles are beginning to come in! Do you see the speckliness on her side before her wing starts! I'm excited!

 Cora will most likely be the leader of the flock. I think she'll make a good one too. I'm just concerned that her noticeable comb is foreshadowing her move to join Edith and Betsy on the farm...

 Mmm... See those raised neck feathers? Somebody is looking for a challenge - and she gets it! Gwen and Heidi are willing to stand up for their spot in the pecking order, which causes more drama than I'd like. I hope this phase is a quick one.

These little girls play mean! They are in an intense period of working out the pecking order right now - but nobody seems willing to be at the bottom! If I had to guess, it will end up #1. Cora, #2. Gwen, #3. Heidi. Buts that's just a guess. Heidi knows how to stand up for herself though! (sorry the picture is terrible, but it gives an idea of what goes on).