Ironic Names

Today we received the preliminary report from the lab on Fat (Phat). What we've discovered is that we should avoid names that could be ironic. For instance, "Lucky" was the poor hen that got carried off by a hawk. And Fat, well, ....



In case you can't read that, it basically says she's fat and died of a ruptured liver.

I have to confess, all of my chickens are on the large side. I never considered them to be obese ... perhaps I'm in denial? Well, we'll get the tests in another week or so to see if there was something else to it all (bacterial or otherwise). Although I had just read a snippet on Backyardchickens.com about a similar sudden death with someone else's Buff Orpington. Their tests came back also saying that the chicken was obese and died of a ruptured liver.

I don't know ... maybe it was the cocktails? (Actually, there was no pun intended originally there).

Dang, it's cold!

So, it was down somewhere between 17 and 22 degrees last night (depending on which thermometer we check). But it was cold enough to freeze up the pump again putting laundry at bay. And most critically, the poor chickens! Michael broke the ice on their water once this morning. But it froze back up. Speckles is show here doing a little ice skating. Or, maybe she's stuck in the ice?

Life and Death on the Ranch

It is with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to Fat, aka: Phat. She was a good mother (if briefly) to two little chicks (who survived a week before being filched by a neighborhood cat).

We're not sure what happened to her. Yesterday Michael was outside working on the coop. We both said good night to all the chickens as they scratched around for snacks and hopped into their coop. This morning Michael could see her standing in the corner of the orchard standing quite still with her tail down. Mr. Johnson was all upset about something. Michael went out to take a look and came back shaking his head. Soon she lay down in the sunshine with labored breathing, had a few convulsions and passed.

So, there were no signs that she was getting ready to depart. I wonder if perhaps she had a parasite or came down with a virus or bacterial infection? I'm kind of nervous to see what condition her friends will be in the morning. Whatever it was seems fast acting.

We're sending her remains off to UC Davis to have them analyzed for answers.

In the mean time we did a major clean up of the area and rinsed the water bucks with bleach and gave them a good scrubbing. I've heard that adding food grade diotomaceous earth to the food can be a combatant against parasites. According to some of my sleuthing, about 80% of pastured flocks are susceptible to parasites.



And in other news, poor Mr. Whiskers has had another burst abscess. Poor guy. He is getting too expensive to let outdoors. He came home with a bunch of stitches and the cone of shame the other day. The cone would not allow him to eat and drink ... or have peripheral vision. So, we thought he'd be more comfortable if we made a shirt for him to cover his stitches and drain. Well, of course he is a cat. So he says he is really not comfortable with the stitches, the drain, the cone, the shirt or being cooped up inside. I tell you, there is no pleasing some pets.

Okay, let's hold together some good health for the family and all the critters! Send healthy thoughts this way.

The Chick Inn

Above is pictured a pretty fantastic December 2011 sunset. The view is looking West from from our driveway (note attractive minivan!)

I was going to post another photo of the sunset showing the back of our house. But then I realized the back of our house still looks like a junkyard. I've been collecting cardboard for sheet mulching the front (which I still haven't finished) and it's blowing all over the weeds in the back. So, I'd rather just paint you picture with my words. I'll bet you're glad I just did. Probably feel better about your own yard now, don't you?

So, today our friends deposited 4 little 4 week old chicks to spend a week at the "Chick Inn" while they run off to Utah and Colorado. I still don't understand why they wouldn't want to undertake the drive with four prolific poopers (in addition to their three kids). I guess that kind of adventure is not on their 2012 list. Anyhow, the Chick Inn is located in Valerie's bedroom. She's delighted. The little feathery birds haven't spent much time in their pen. They've mostly been carried around on the shoulders of the neighborhood kids.

Napoleon isn't too put out by the new visitors. But he wanted to remind me that he should be star of this blog post. See below.



That said, he is a little curious about the new critters.





Amira says Valerie is opening a pet shop in her room. We say Valerie is a pet shop. Remember, Ellie May, you're just chick sitting. We have to return these critters when our friends come home.




In other news, I've been drawing up more plans for that backyard. As soon as I figure out how to use the scanner, I'll put them up here. Needless to say, we've got some more fencing and gating work cut out for us. Also, some trenching for pipes. Today I just put in an order for 25 White Rock Roosters to be delivered around the week of February 6. Those will be our "meat birds". We'll see how that goes.




I've also got to talk to the feed store about ordering some turkeys. I think I'm going to get 3 Broad Breasted Bronze (that will take about 6 months to get to market weight) and 3 Bourbon Red (heritage breed) turkeys that will likely take 18 months to get to weight.





Oh, and I've got my feelers out for bees. I'm getting ready to order an assembled starter kit for bee keeping from Dadant. They've got a shop right close to the house. And I'm hoping to hear back from Selby Honey to see if I can order some bees. I hope to get them installed in time to pollinate that orchard.





Between all these critters and the garden and other yard issues ... well, okay, as usual I'm overly optimistic. Probably. But, if I want to have eggs, chicken, turkey and honey and veggies, a girl has got to get on it. It's a process. That reminds me, I still have some lard to process and sausage to make. I'm sure I'll find the time.