Cal brought Barbara into the house today to say Hello. Decided to take a video of her as she was talking a blue streak and letting me pet her really sweetly.
It turned out so cute that I posted it on FB. Got numerous positive reactions. Tried to copy it and paste it to this blog. NO go. So you'll just have to go my FB page to see her in action.
Meanwhile Today was a good day for the Chicken Wrangler. The girls enjoyed the day, and we enjoyed watching them play in the yard.
Chickens make the day a better place.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
April 3, 2014: Spring Chickens!
In the midst of some rains storms, we've had some lovely sunny days. While we all enjoy the beauty of budding flowers, our chickens have gone completely nuts.
Today we let them out as usual and they ran as fast as they could, as usual, out into the yard BUT....
they continued to race around the yard jumping and squawking like crazy. I thought maybe a cat was prowling around and they were chasing it. Turns out they were just filled with the joy of Spring!
Shortly after that the gardener came, and we had to put the girls in the chicken yard. OMG the racket they put up. The whole time they screeched and screamed. Bet the neighbors liked that. I mean, they have Spring Fever bad. OR... it was the ripe tomato I gave them day before yesterday.
Love my feathered little girls.
Today we let them out as usual and they ran as fast as they could, as usual, out into the yard BUT....
they continued to race around the yard jumping and squawking like crazy. I thought maybe a cat was prowling around and they were chasing it. Turns out they were just filled with the joy of Spring!
Shortly after that the gardener came, and we had to put the girls in the chicken yard. OMG the racket they put up. The whole time they screeched and screamed. Bet the neighbors liked that. I mean, they have Spring Fever bad. OR... it was the ripe tomato I gave them day before yesterday.
Love my feathered little girls.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
March 12, 2014: Happy Hens in the Sun
We had a terribly windy day yesterday with strong gusts. I was worried about the girls being blown down the block, or across the river to Marysville. They stayed close to the house hunkered down, under the patio cover out of the wind most of the day.
BUT today it is sunny with no wind and they are delighted to be out running around as usual. I walked out to our loggia to see them together just enjoying the sun. They always greet me with their sweet little voices.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
March 4, 2014: 1.5 years of Chicken Wrangling and Still Love My Girls
Hi All,
It's been a while since I posted. Still working on my children's books about Mabel and Barbara. Been procrastinating about the publishing part. Reading how to self publish etc. I need a big kick in the butt.
The girls made it through a pretty cold December, but so far the weather has been milder and they are doing great. During the day, when it rains, they gather under the patio cover and sleep on the door mat when not scouring the yard for tasty tidbits. When we move to the bedroom they follows us so they can be a part of the family, standing outside that sliding door. I never knew they were so social. No chicken coop for them, they want to see Mom and Dad and their sister Annie.
I love that about them. This afternoon I went out and sat on the patio chaises. Of course they immediately ran around the hedge from the west side of the yard to see me. We chatted and they expressed an interest in some raisins. We shared a few stories and they ate raisins. It was so peaceful to just sit with the girls. Sometimes I think that hens are natures Zanax.
BTW: A few weeks ago I noticed a wet looking spot under Mabel's chin. Brought her in the house and sure enough she looked like she had a weeping sore area. Cal cradled her while I washed it with soap and water then applied Neosporin. She was calm an let us pet her and talk to her during the process. What a trooper. She has always been so sweet. Anyway it worked like a charm and completely healed in a few days.
It's been a while since I posted. Still working on my children's books about Mabel and Barbara. Been procrastinating about the publishing part. Reading how to self publish etc. I need a big kick in the butt.
The girls made it through a pretty cold December, but so far the weather has been milder and they are doing great. During the day, when it rains, they gather under the patio cover and sleep on the door mat when not scouring the yard for tasty tidbits. When we move to the bedroom they follows us so they can be a part of the family, standing outside that sliding door. I never knew they were so social. No chicken coop for them, they want to see Mom and Dad and their sister Annie.
I love that about them. This afternoon I went out and sat on the patio chaises. Of course they immediately ran around the hedge from the west side of the yard to see me. We chatted and they expressed an interest in some raisins. We shared a few stories and they ate raisins. It was so peaceful to just sit with the girls. Sometimes I think that hens are natures Zanax.
BTW: A few weeks ago I noticed a wet looking spot under Mabel's chin. Brought her in the house and sure enough she looked like she had a weeping sore area. Cal cradled her while I washed it with soap and water then applied Neosporin. She was calm an let us pet her and talk to her during the process. What a trooper. She has always been so sweet. Anyway it worked like a charm and completely healed in a few days.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
December 7th 2013: Chickens move into the kitchen.
Annie wants to check it out before we move it back into the kitchen.
The last 3 nights have been well below freezing here which is an anomaly, and flies in the face of the proponents of global warming. Today it snowed...in Yuba City....central California....Valley floor!With Mabel so naked, having finished molting but not anywhere near fully feathered yet, I have been worried about both she and Barbara out in the coop at night. Cal is exploring chicken sweaters, and I tried to fashion a chicken coat of sorts made out of small scarves. Mabel looked like a gypsy and did not like wearing them.
So again we resorted to the large dog carrier, filled with pine shavings, in the kitchen. The girls seem to like being in here, and readily go to sleep as soon as we turn off the kitchen lights. When I told the women in my book club today about bringing the girls in, I think they thought I was nuts. Do you think I am spoiling my chickens? It's only going to be 22F tonight, and Mabel is nude!
Friday, November 29, 2013
11/29/2013: Molting is Revolting
Happy one day after Thanksgiving, chicken lovers. What is it about the holidays that bring out the worst in some family members? Drama is truly overrated.
Mabel at her fully feathered best.
Speaking of drama, I have begun to notice large amounts of feathers on the back yard door mats. At first I thought the chickens had had a fight. But no signs of same on either girl. Then notice Mabel has stopped laying. Barbara is still happily laying one egg a day, but it's been several days since we've seen a pale greenish blue egg.
Today, after several days of flying feathers everywhere. Mabel is looking pretty groddy. Poor little thing looks almost naked, and in the winter too. Is this right? I thought chickens molted in the Fall, not mid-winter. Our sweet little pretty Ameraucana is bald in patches. and looks hideous.
We don't mention that to her, but I thinks she knows cause she looks at her self in the sliding glass doors. Barbara is strutting around like "look at me, I'm the normal chicken, Mabel is the mutant." Kindness is not a big part of Barbara's character.
So, to make it up to Mabel, I give her extra raisins, and yogurt, and tell her that this too shall pass and she will be our pretty little hen again soon. Then it will be Barbara's turn and Mabel will have the last laugh.
Mabel at her fully feathered best.
Speaking of drama, I have begun to notice large amounts of feathers on the back yard door mats. At first I thought the chickens had had a fight. But no signs of same on either girl. Then notice Mabel has stopped laying. Barbara is still happily laying one egg a day, but it's been several days since we've seen a pale greenish blue egg.
Today, after several days of flying feathers everywhere. Mabel is looking pretty groddy. Poor little thing looks almost naked, and in the winter too. Is this right? I thought chickens molted in the Fall, not mid-winter. Our sweet little pretty Ameraucana is bald in patches. and looks hideous.
We don't mention that to her, but I thinks she knows cause she looks at her self in the sliding glass doors. Barbara is strutting around like "look at me, I'm the normal chicken, Mabel is the mutant." Kindness is not a big part of Barbara's character.
So, to make it up to Mabel, I give her extra raisins, and yogurt, and tell her that this too shall pass and she will be our pretty little hen again soon. Then it will be Barbara's turn and Mabel will have the last laugh.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
October 16, 2013: Mabel and Barbara Missed Mommy amd Daddy
It's been a while since this chicken wrangler has posted here. Since I got my Smart phone I spend less time on my laptop. I have missed writing about the exploits of our girls.
They remain the delightful little critters they always have been, and we miss them when we travel. (That God for our surrogate chicken wrangler, Jim, a neighbor who also has backyard chickens and helps chicken sit when were gone.) We discovered this past week that they miss us too when we are gone.
After a 5 day trip to the San Juan Islands, we returned late last Friday night. We checked on the girls who were cooped up and asleep. Come Saturday morning, I got up, went to open the chicken run, and feed them their scratch. They were still in the net. Didn't even notice I was there.
After a book club meeting later that morning, I dragged myself home, opened the back sliding door to let Annie out, and collapsed on the living room couch, leaving the door open so Annie could come back in at her leisure. I was just dozing off when I heard a familiar cococoing sound, only it was not in the yard, it was right next to me. I opened my eyes to find myself eye to eye with Barbara who had strolled on in the house, Mabel right on her tail. Barbara began chatting with me, while casually pecking at the carpet. Mabel followed suit. I believe their message was "where the hell have you been"?
Still it warmed my heart to see these girls who were so afraid of us when they arrive a year ago, that we had to chase them all over the yard to get them in the coop, fearlessly walk into the house, through the dining room and into the living room to find Mama. We had a nice talk.
I did say a small prayer that they would not poop on the rug, and sure enough they didn't.
Aside: Earlier this summer we had a lovely green granite-like patio poured and added new garden furniture, umbrellas and even an outdoor area rug, flower pots, and garden art. It is lovely, like an Italian loggia. First time a chicken stepped on the new rug, she pooped big time! Only ten minutes of sheer bliss looking at my lovely new serene patio before the deed was done. I knew it was inevitable, but only ten minutes? They have the whole dang yard to poop in and Barbara has to go and poop on the rug first thing. Good thing I love those girls!
They remain the delightful little critters they always have been, and we miss them when we travel. (That God for our surrogate chicken wrangler, Jim, a neighbor who also has backyard chickens and helps chicken sit when were gone.) We discovered this past week that they miss us too when we are gone.
After a 5 day trip to the San Juan Islands, we returned late last Friday night. We checked on the girls who were cooped up and asleep. Come Saturday morning, I got up, went to open the chicken run, and feed them their scratch. They were still in the net. Didn't even notice I was there.
After a book club meeting later that morning, I dragged myself home, opened the back sliding door to let Annie out, and collapsed on the living room couch, leaving the door open so Annie could come back in at her leisure. I was just dozing off when I heard a familiar cococoing sound, only it was not in the yard, it was right next to me. I opened my eyes to find myself eye to eye with Barbara who had strolled on in the house, Mabel right on her tail. Barbara began chatting with me, while casually pecking at the carpet. Mabel followed suit. I believe their message was "where the hell have you been"?
Still it warmed my heart to see these girls who were so afraid of us when they arrive a year ago, that we had to chase them all over the yard to get them in the coop, fearlessly walk into the house, through the dining room and into the living room to find Mama. We had a nice talk.
I did say a small prayer that they would not poop on the rug, and sure enough they didn't.
Aside: Earlier this summer we had a lovely green granite-like patio poured and added new garden furniture, umbrellas and even an outdoor area rug, flower pots, and garden art. It is lovely, like an Italian loggia. First time a chicken stepped on the new rug, she pooped big time! Only ten minutes of sheer bliss looking at my lovely new serene patio before the deed was done. I knew it was inevitable, but only ten minutes? They have the whole dang yard to poop in and Barbara has to go and poop on the rug first thing. Good thing I love those girls!
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