The Skunk and the Buckeyes

There is a skunk amongst us. Well, it was amongst us. Right now, it is down in the Bottom, pushing up Daisies!

I really don't have a problem with the local wildlife. Until they start messing with my Babies, that is! Then it is Game On.

I went out a few mornings ago to let the birds out, crossed the electric fence and was halfway to the Eggmobile, when I noticed something small and black circling the chick pen. It took my brain a minute to comprehend what my eyes were seeing...SKUNK! There was a skunk trying to get in the Buckeye pen!

Immediately, I leapt outside of the electric net and tried to figure out what to do! You see, the Hillbilly was off property, it was 7 am, and I don't know how to shoot a .22. Something that quickly needs to be remedied!

My first thought was to try and chase it away. So I lowered two sections of net, all the while keeping my eye on the rascal who was intent on getting some breakfast. I then gathered some stones and threw them at him, hoping to get him to cross the downed net and go into the field behind the chicken pen. Alas, I am a terrible rock-thrower. Just terrible. So that did not work.

Next up, the children! I ran back down to the camper and rounded up all the kids, who were more than happy to rain down fire on the intruder. Problem is, they only have BB guns. And they have used them for things other than shooting, so the sights are off and, well, they are pretty much useless.

Plan C...panic?

Nope! I used technology to text my cousin-in-law over the hill, to see if there were any hunters on the property at that early hour. She (being the great chicken lover that she is, plus a great neighbor) sent her husband right up with a .22...thank you Lord! Cousin Dave scouted the situation, took his time, and with one shot, a loud boom and much excitement on the part of the chickens (and the children), the rascal was sent to, well, where ever chicken killing skunks are sent.

Little Man scooping up the now harmless predator.

For you see, what we did not immediately realize, is that the killer managed to kill two of our Buckeyes and it wounded a third.  While we are sad we have lost the two chicks, we are happy to report that the injured bird has healed up very nicely and is doing just great! We are trying to think of a proper name for her/him. Something that will help us remember how brave it was, to face the dratted skunk, and live...any ideas!?

Hanging out and enjoying the summer sunshine!

Lazy Summer Days

Things are summer lazy and slow around here, so I thought I would just post a few pics of the happenings over the last week.

First, a chick update! The Babies are growing like crazy! They are about 6 weeks old now and have graduated to sleeping with Georgia in the big coop. They sleep in a nest box...a "no-no", I know...but it is easier than dealing with caging the little family separately every night and they are safer. Which is a good thing, since we have smelled (and seen) a few skunks nosing around!

The chick on the left is Natasha. Darling Daughter wanted to call her Black Widow, because DD is obsessed with all things Avengers right now, but I talked her into something not so evil sounding. Front and center is little Captain. Still the most adventurous and wide ranging of all the chicks. Still can't quite tell if this one is a boy or a girl...

And then there is this little sweetie, Flossie, by name, who has gotten herself in some trouble that I don't know if she can survive. I went out one morning to discover that her bottom beak was twisted off to the side. She is still managing to eat and drink ok, but I am wondering how she will preen herself and free range with her beak in such bad shape. Right now, we are keeping an eye on her.  If you have any thoughts on how we might help her, please, do share!

And now, for breaking news...did you know that the Earth has a huge dent on one side?!?  At least it would appear so, based on the shadow on the moon in the image seen here. Who knew?

These two fellas are really growing up! It seems like just yesterday, they were getting up in the am to make a gun and tinkle (in that order) before breakfast! Now look at them! Guarding their gardens from pesky crows and tending their plants with great care. What fine young men they are becoming!

I am so very thankful, this week, for all of the herb training that I received at the Dawson/Forsyth chapter of LHG.  Last year we had an Apothecary Swap and I got a good start on my own apothecary. We put it all to good use this week, with three kids with summer colds. I have to say, I love me some Usnea tincture and Thieves salve! To find a chapter near you, check out the events tab at http://www.ladieshomesteadgathering.org/events?page=2

Here's hoping your summer is winding down nicely! What are you doing to get ready for fall?

Introducing Lucas McCain!

Meet Lucas McCain, the resident Roo at HoW!  He is a handsome fellow, don't you think? He was bred and hatched on our farm in Georgia. He is half Rhode Island Red and half Easter Egger...have you ever seen a RIR with a beard?!  Lucas is named for the TV character, the Virginian. We name all of our roos after old Western cowboys, and when I asked the Hillbilly for the name of a huge, but mild mannered cowboy, Lucas McCain is the name that immediately came to mind.

Thankfully for Lucas, he got his mother Duckie's temperament, and not his father's. His father, Jasper, ended up making a hasty trip to Freezer Camp when he decided to pen me in a corner, and all I could lay my hands on was a five foot long log. But that is another story for another day.

All in all, Lucas is a good Roo. He watches out for his Girls, calls them when he finds treats and is great at warning them when he spots a hawk. His only problem is, he is huge! He is about twice as big as all the hens!

Our giant of a rooster

I believe that this size differential is leading to some breeding issues with our hens. A few months ago, when one of our Rhode Island Red hens, Georgia, went broody, we had high hopes of her hatching out a good baker's dozen of chicks for us. Sadly, only three hatched, and I have to wonder, is it because we are not getting good fertilization because of how big Lucas is?

Anyway, Georgia did hatch out three chicks, and she is a very good Momma.  Today, Georgia got to take her babies out of the brooder pen, to explore the big, wide world, or at least as much of it as they will see inside the Electronet! They also got to meet their Daddy, Lucas for the first time, and everything seemed to go just fine!

Captain saying hi to Dad while Georgia keeps an eye on things

The interesting thing about breeding your own chicks is watching to see what you get when you mix different breeds. For example, Lucas is half RIR and half Egger. The chicks' Mommas are most likely Eggers, which makes them 3/4 Egger and 1/4 RIR...still with me? All the chicks have Egger coloring, but two have the classic "green" legs of EEs and one, a light colored chick called Captain, has yellow legs like dear old Dad. Only time will tell what color eggs we get out of our newest flock members!

Hey, I just had a thought! Maybe I should order a few of the 'heavy breeds' of chickens to get some girls that can handle our big Roo...hmmm...Think the Hillbilly will go for that? I am always looking for a reason to get more chickens!