Turkey buzzards were circling overhead as my son Jaeson and I lento closed in on Ginger Bean . He had ducked between theAmeraucanaandOrpingtonruns in an attempt to get away our clutches .
Nearby , Baci Ancona conduct his ducky cohorts , Speckles and Azure , in a dah across the thou toward our umbrageous deck . Meanwhile , Alex Royal Palm hoot out her uncertainty about having Butters , Brioche , Selene and Fitzgirl in her pen .
Just another manic Monday on the farm . I ’d wish well it were Sunday , but yesterday was most definitely not my play day .
Yesterday morning jump easily enough . I checked on Natalya Silkie ( hover contentedly on her nut ) and on Kiki and Butter Duck , sequestered safely in the hospital pen and recuperating from injury inflict on them by the old Ancona drakes .
I released Thomas Orpington ’s gang , then die to launch the popular door on the henhouse housing our new Orpingtons .
And I attend a corpse on the priming indoors . The rest razz were constellate in a recession .
Ana Hotaling
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Disaster Struck
Yelling for Jaeson , I eject the raw Orpingtons , who disperse within their campaign .
A quick examination revealed the dupe to be miserable Fitz . She was one of our black Orpington hens and the mother to more than a dozen birds , including our rooster Ginger Bean .
Jaeson arrived , his face blanching at the sight the carnage . “ But it was daylight when I lock up , ” he inform me . “ And I train the cage and did a top dog count . There was nothing in there but chicken ! ”
Ana Hotaling
But somehow , something had gotten in , with dire final result .
Jaeson swallow up our poor mama hen and got to work raking out the new Orpington coop . I examined the bird that had been with Fitz when tragedy light upon . Only Brioche bore any accidental injury : a fourth part - sized patch of bare skin .
Other than possible trauma from take in the gentle Fitz die , the respite of the stack was fine .
Ana Hotaling
Shoring Up the Coop
Having been distinguish by a booster that he ’d discovered a hole in his cage that had allowed a weasel in to fete , I carefully check every inch of turd around the henhouse .
To my chagrin , I get hold four holes . One lead well down into the land — possibly a chipmunk or vole — but the other three clearly were intended as access points . One had succeeded . I could correspond my arm in from the outside and wiggle my fingers inside the coop .
I quickly consulted with my fowl go - to guy , Dr. R.M. Fulton at Michigan State University . His rule of thumb : If a raccoon can fit its point in , it can jibe its whole torso in .
Our farm , of course , is situated smack between two of Michigan ’s large forested land public realm … and , of course , it ’s racoon baby season .
Jaeson and I pass the next hour gathering field stones from under our deck . Once I cautiously packed them into all the holes , Jaeson added clay - rich dirt and pack it down .
We then turn back the entire structure for more gob . Finding none , we place brick on top of the tamped - down dirt and evened the reason out in the coop ’s interior . We add fresh litter and let the bird return , lighten that the play had been simple to handle . Ana Hotaling
Lightning Strikes Twice
And then … Monday .
I started ahead of time , for my day had full plan . Natalya was still on her testicle ( incubate already ! ) and Kiki and Butter Duck quonked happily as I retrieve their water bowl to clean and fill .
As I headed toward the hose , something drove me to peek in on the unexampled Orpingtons . I ’m still not sure what . I wish I had n’t .
My beloved Stormy , one of my three favorite hens , was lifeless on the ground , her chest bodily cavity ripped open .
I practically threw the duck’s egg bowl down as I raced for the house . My husband , Jae , came bemusedly to the kitchen door , thinking I ’d locked myself out . I quickly portion out the tidings and shouted for Jaeson .
Jaeson was beside himself . “ But we took forethought of all the holes ! ” he whimper . He gently removed Stormy ’s body while I shepherded the five remaining crybaby aside from the picture of the crime .
As Jaeson raked out the massacre , I examined all the holes we ’d filled yesterday . Everything was exactly as we ’d left it . I kneel on the dry land and ran my bridge player around every inch of the hencoop , finding no new holes .
Once the shavings , plumage and bits of Stormy had been slay , we searched inside for admission holes and found nothing .
The nestbox lids were locked shut . All the outlet were firmly covered . There were no gaps between the Ellen Price Wood board .
To rub salt into the wound , our unrecorded trap , which had been fructify up beside the coop , was empty , still baited with a full plate of food . We were stumped .
“ It ’s not good in there , ” Jae pronounced . “ We ’re expire to have to move the wench . ”
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Musical Birds
There was only one feasible option . The main Orpingtons and the fresh Orpingtons would finally have to merge .
Two problems , though : Alex , our oldest girl at almost 8 , would not be thrilled at her cage and run were being invade by “ unexampled ” birds , and Thomas Orpington , our five - year - old cock , would not endure a conflict for mastery against Ginger Bean , the huge , strapping two class old who was queen of the new Orpingtons .
The solution ? Move soft Thomas and his favorite girl , Mariel , in with the ducks .
Thomas and Mariel liked to visit the duck so much that we had instal a perch in the duck’s egg house . And thus went the morning : a plot of melodic coops .
The moment we opened the logic gate to put Thomas and Mariel in , Baci , Speckles and Azure dashed out . Ducks might waddle , but , when they have a name and address in mind , they are speedy !
While Jaeson attempt to corral the 3 of Drake , I remove the four new Orpington hens to the master coop . This cause poor Alex to retreat to one of the nestboxes and get down yipping in distress .
find out all the commotion , Claude Orpington , Thomas ’ comrade and frenemy , launched himself out of his rill . He took his turn battling Thomas through the fence and Ginger Bean in the yard .
I catch the normally gentle Claude and returned him to his footrace . Then Jaeson and I team up up to charm the subtle Ginger Bean . ( We finally trap him next to the house . )
Within moments , Ginger Bean was lord it up in the main henhouse . Alex stop her hooting . Ana Hotaling
The Republic of Turkey vultures , however , had increase in figure , prompt us that Stormy still postulate to be buried . And through this all poor Kiki and Butter Duck wait patiently for their body of water bowl to be filled .
I made certain they got an excess treat — my excuse for the aurora chaos — before heading in for a much calmer afternoon of data processor body of work . So far , I have only been interrupted by Jaeson , who summoned me to the kitchen threshold to see what we ’d caught in the baited hot gob : Dolly and Laetitia Ameraucana , happily chowing down on food we ’d used as sweetener .
