Tuck and Winkie

I have a chicken addiction. I admit it! So when Speckle gets broody, if there are any eggs around that I think are fertile, I'll let her sit on them. This summer she sat on eight eggs from my purple bantam Cochin hen, Flossie. Flossie herself wasn't showing any interest in sitting. So Speckle got to be the mama instead. Chickens are cool that way.

On June 27, 2013, Speckle hatched four chicks. Two survived past the first day. Mo named them Tuck (a roo) and Winkie (a hen). I was terribly excited to have them and I moved Speckle and her new babies to a coop all by themselves so she could raise them in peace, away from the rest of the flock.

Tuck and Winkie

Mama, Look! I have a Chick!

One Day Old!

In this next photo, Tuck and Winkie were about two weeks old. They would come out of the coop under Speckle's supervision. I was very nervous about it, because they were small enough to get out of the pen through the fencing. But I watched them for a while, and though they would venture through the fence a little, they stayed really close to Speckle, and if anything spooked them at all (even a gust of wind), they'd run right back to her for protection. So I let them have their free-range time. Speckle needed it, and this way she could teach them how to forage and how to take dust baths. Chicks will figure that out all on their own as natural instinct takes over. But it's quicker and easier if they have a mama hen to help them.

Here it's easy to tell which is the rooster and which is the hen. His comb is much more pronounced and red than hers. Speckle is just behind them both on the roost. They were about eight weeks old in this photo.

Snugglin'

What'choo lookin' at?

Tuck had started to crow. He's pretty young so it wasn't a well-developed crow. More like a garble. Funny! But they all have to start. His daddy, Captain, was an early crower, too. 10 weeks is early. I think it's partly because they're bantams. My other roosters (other breeds, and full sized, not bantams) didn't start crowing until 20 weeks or later. Maybe it's the breed. I'm not sure.

About 10 weeks old. He's a gentleman. He lets the ladies eat first.

When the chicks got to be about eight weeks old, Speckle was pretty much done being the mama. She didn't roost with them at night any more, and they didn't depend on her for anything. But she didn't cut ties completely.

Even now that they're fourteen weeks old, she does like to come into the pen every morning and eat with them and she spends a good part of the day with them. But I think that's more flocking behavior than motherly behavior. Plus, she's smart. She knows I put food out for them. I put food out for the rest of my flock, too, but in this pen, there's only the two of them, so it's less competition. She has spent a lot of her life in this pen as a broody mama, so she's very comfortable in it. It's all the way across the yard from my other one, and she has taken to roosting in a tree at night and then coming across the yard and demanding that I let her in the pen every morning. I can't get her out of the tree--she's at least 20 feet high in it. So I can't break her of the habit. But I do let her in the pen when she asks. (She has me well trained, I guess.)

This morning, after I let her in the pen, per her demands, I was on the couch goofing off, reading Facebook posts, when I heard her cackling very loudly. She's a pretty vocal hen anyway, but this was loud and consistent and distressed. So I thought I'd go check it out. As I got closer to the pen, I could see she was under the coop facing the trees on the outside of the pen and the two younglings were nowhere immediately in sight. I began running. I could see Speckle herself was okay, but she was still making her loud distressed noise.

I was almost all the way to the pen when I saw the tiny inert body on the outside of the pen, laying down. Oh no, oh no, oh no, NO NO NO!!! One of my babies had been attacked. Right away I saw the signs of a hawk attack. The other baby was completely gone, no sign at all. The hawk must have flown away with it. I couldn't tell right away which one was lying on the ground, I was so upset. I was sobbing, Speckle was cackling, it was awful. I carefully checked the little one to see if there was any chance of survival, but no. Not at all. I must have spooked the hawk when I came out of the house or something. It's always my favorites! It seems that way. Mo came down the hill at that moment and saw me crying.


I usually try not to cry in front of him, because it disturbs him, but I couldn't get control of myself. 

"What's wrong, Mama? What happened?" he asked, brow furrowed. 

"My purple babies were killed by a hawk," I said, tears still flowing. I tried to sniffle them up. 

He took my hand in his small one, and rubbed my arm with his other one. "It happens, Mama. It happens sometimes." What a little comforter. "Are you going to bury them?" he asked.

"I could only find just the one, but yes, I'm going to bury him. I think it's Tuck," I said. He asked if he could help, but I said, "No, Baby, thank you. But he was hurt and I don't want you to see him."  

But Mo agreed to go tell Daddy, so I wouldn't have to do it. I went and got the shovel.

I found a good spot in the woods, and dug a tiny grave and placed Tuck (I was sure it was him, now) gently in it and cried some more. Speckle had come out of the pen and she was staring into the woods and emitting a low call. She kept doing that and it got my attention. I looked and listened and heard scratching. Squirrel? No! It's WINKIE!!! She's ok! She's ok! She'd escaped into the woods and she's ok! She was scratching around for food. The hawk must not have carried anyone off after all. I scared it away before it could get her. 

I called to Mo for help, because I though catching her would be a two person job. She's small and quick and she was already skittish because of the hawk attack. So he came over and we coaxed her out. He was smiling for me. "She's my best hen, Mama," he said. She was surprisingly easy to catch, after all. I guess I had tamed her more than I realized. He carried her to the chicken tractor, which has a roof, and we put her in that. I think she'll stay in that during the day from now on, and at night I'll put her in the coop that is divided, on one side by herself until she's bigger and the rest of the flock gets used to her. 

Safely in a Chicken Tractor

She's still so little!

I am amazed at how quickly a tragedy turns into "I'm so very lucky." I could have really lost them both. I was devastated at the thought. Josh did say that would have to be one gluttonous hawk, to have killed two chickens. But I wasn't thinking clearly and they're small, so it stood to reason for me that a big hawk could have killed both in one attack. But it didn't happen that way. Now I still have my little hen, she's safe and sound. I'll have to get her a new mate later. I'll figure that out in the spring, assuming she really survives the winter.

Speckle has refused to come out of the woods since the attack. But she has survived a dog attack and a previous hawk attack, and she's very resilient. She'll come out and roost tonight, and after that, she'll be ok. To help her feel less freaked out, I gave her some bread as a treat. Comfort food always helps. She scarfed it, so I was encouraged.

Chicken keeping has its difficulties. I learned quickly that they die easily. They can be killed by predators of all kinds, they can get sick and die, and some even make it into old age and die of that. Some chicken deaths are easier to take than others. I was pretty attached to Tuck and Winkie. I'll miss little Tuck and his beginning garbly crow. Winkie is the last of my purple chickens, too. I had high hopes of breeding them in the Spring and continuing  the line. But I don't always get to decide. For now I'll just be happy with what I have. Chicken keeping has lots of rewards. Eggs. YUM! And all the birds have their own funny personalities. Chicken antics are great. Now that all my flock free ranges, it's fun to see them run up to me when I come outside. Or chase Mo across the yard if they think he has a treat for them. I'm not giving up. And I'm thankful for my practical, sweet son. You don't anticipate as a Mama that your five-year-old will ever be the one comforting YOU. I'm so glad that he did and that he wanted to. I'm very lucky.

We went to the Fair!

Last year, I took Mo to the Circus. It was AWESOME, and I have photos, and need to do a blog about it. This year, I really wanted to take him again. But he's in Kindergarten. He's learning things all day every day, and his afternoons are full of math and math-related things. I can't just pull him out of school willy-nilly, even if it IS the Circus. So the 4:30 show was out. I'd have had to take him out at 2:30 to get there, since it's about an hour and a half ride from his school. But the 7:30 show wouldn't get us home until 11:00. I know because two years ago when I took him to the 7:30 show, we didn't get home until 11:00. That is just not going to work on a school night. I wracked my brain, but came up with no solutions. The Circus just wasn't going to happen unless I dropped all pretense of being a responsible parent. If the Circus would just come on a Friday...but it was only here Wednesday and Thursday this year. I'm sure it didn't miss us. 

I decided that since Mo didn't get to go to the Fair last year, and he's not going to the Circus this year, he was going to go to the Fair this year, no matter what. My husband was not so certain. "You want him to go to the Fair to ride the rides...by himself?" Josh thought that would be absolutely no fun, and therefore a waste of money. I agreed, but all the people that I usually ask have older kids, and now they're very busy with after school stuff and sports, etc. That's why Mo didn't get to go last year. I was so disappointed. I really wanted Mo to have fun, but I did agree that riding the rides by yourself, even if you're finally big enough, wouldn't be a blast. Then Josh hit upon a solution and it was perfect! If I could only work it out. See if Mo's little friend, Gabe, from Pre-K last year, whom Mo refers to as "his dude", was available to go. Fingers crossed, I texted Gabe's Mama. Well, I had to uncross my fingers to actually text her. I was so afraid it wouldn't work out...it took a few minutes before she responded (I mean, isn't that crazy? Everyone should be at my beck and call at all times!), and I was on pins and needles hoping Gabe could come. Finally, she texted back. Yes, she could meet us there. Woo hoo!!! All was right in my world again. Josh and I decided not to mention it to Mo, in case something fell through at the last minute. While it's true that kids do have to learn to deal with disappointment, I didn't want to have to impart that lesson just now. There will be plenty of opportunities later, I'm sure.

We met at the entrance, and Mo was extremely surprised and pleased when Gabe came running up to him. They hugged like family. It was super cute. Josh, designated food purchaser and money holder, went off in search of food while we got the kids stamped with the "all you can ride" stamp, and started the festivities. Gabe's Mom, Codi, and I chatted and supervised and took photos. I didn't take any photos of all the people taking photos, but I was tempted. It's hilarious--a line of parents against the fence, taking photos as their kid comes around. I was one, don't get me wrong. But it is this funny phenomenon. Here are the best of the pics of the night. Gabe and Mo are about the same size, and they both wore blue shirts, so if you don't know which kid is mine, look for the Superman logo.

Merry Go 'Round...Start on the tamest ride and work your way up...

This is the first Merry Go 'Round that I didn't get on with Mo. He's getting very independent. Plus, it's not cool in front of the "dude," I guess. 

Mega Slide

That slide was pretty tall. I thought the boys might be a little intimidated, even with Gabe's big brother (not in this photo) with them. But they showed no fear at all!

Mo drove the train and Gabe navigated...well, not really. But that's what it looks like!

Pilot and Co-pilot.

Every time the planes came around, Gabe put his hands up. These were the cool ones, where they go around in a circle AND up and down. And the big thing in the middle lifted up and tilted, so they're at an angle, too.

Glass House

Ok, let me just admit right now that I'm one of "those" parents. You know, the ones who let their kids go in the glass house without an adult, just to laugh when they bump into the glass. Josh is, too. Josh was very disappointed when the boys went through the first time without bumping into anything at all. "It's not fair, they're cheating. They're following other people through the maze." I didn't really see that as cheating. Rather smart, actually. Then we let them go again. And again. Several times, in fact. I would have thought, as smart as they were in the beginning, that they would know the route, but no. Gabe bumped into a glass wall so hard he fell down and got a goose egg on his noggin. I felt VERY guilty at that point, and tried to get Mo to go back in and get him. That didn't work. Pretty soon they were both turned around and bumped into glass more times. Josh was just picking himself up off the ground from laughing when Codi came up (she had taken Billy to ride some "less kiddie" rides). When I told her what happened, since I had to explain the goose egg, she asked me if I got it on video. Alas, I didn't. But it was funny. I still feel guilty about HOW funny. 

Dragon Roller Coaster

This is probably the fastest of the kiddie rides. I couldn't take a decent photo of just Gabe and Mo. But I did see the look on their faces as they went around every time. Gabe laughing, hands up in the air, loving the wind and the quick drops and turns. Mo, holding on for dear life, grimacing. Hmm. I just knew he hated it. I was very surprised when he asked to go again.

Climb up, Slide down...repeat

They went on this one again and again. Billy did, too. It's fun. At one point Mo lost his shoe, and had to climb down a bit to get it. When he came back up, Gabe was at the top, hand extended to help Mo up. I wish I had gotten that shot. It was very sweet.

Boats!

Mo must have asked to ride this one about a hundred times before we finally got to it. I don't know why it held such appeal for him. He rode about 20 other rides that looked more fun to me. But he couldn't wait. What cracked me up was, the whole time, Gabe was playing around with the outboard motor. So funny! And Mo looked like he was fishing. Those boys clearly need to be out on the lake!

They rode a bunch of rides that I didn't photograph. The one that had my heart in my throat was the spinning one...like the tea cup ride at Disney. Get in the...barrel...in this case, instead of a tea cup, and see how fast you can spin it in circles, then the whole ride goes in circles, too. Codi and I discussed it, before agreeing to let the boys ride it. Billy didn't want to, so just Gabe and Mo. Ok, we figured they wouldn't be able to spin it too fast, since they're not that big. We didn't anticipate the carney putting a bigger kid, with more spin power, with them. They nearly spun out of orbit! I just knew they were going to upchuck. That's why my heart was in my throat. It was going to be epically bad, and I could tell Mo was going to do it...it was just a matter of time...oh thank goodness, the ride stopped. They looked like drunkards stumbling off of it...they BOTH asked to ride again and Codi and I emphatically said NO!!!! Not risking it. 

They also got to visit the petting zoo and we walked and walked. After three hours, we were all done. Well, I don't think Mo and Gabe were done. But Josh, Codi and I were SO done! But I'm so glad we did it. Mo loved it, and Codi texted me the next day that Gabe did, too. Mission accomplished.

Visiting Currahee and the WMA

A couple of weeks ago, Josh went scouting hunting sites with a buddy. They decided to check out the Wildlife Management Area in Toccoa, GA, which is right next to Currahee. Yes, the same Currahee from the "Band of Brothers" series. It's about 30-40 minutes from my house. 

While he was there, he ran across a waterfall and sent me the photo. I promptly insisted that he take us there, since Mo is a huge waterfall fan. (Really, who isn't? But Mo definitely digs 'em, and since it's outside time, why not indulge him?)

It turns out that Josh also ran across a couple of really old graves, and since his Aunt Dianne is very interested in ancestry and genealogy and history, he decided to make a big afternoon getaway for all of us. He invited his mom, too, because he's a good son and she likes family togetherness. We went yesterday.

We decided to check out the top of Currahee first, and it's true that you can run three miles up and three miles down, should you so desire. We even saw someone doing just that. However, we drove to the top in the four wheel drive, thank you very much. The view was great!

After enjoying Currahee for a while, we headed back down and over to the WMA. There are about a hundred dirt roads through there, and luckily Josh had marked his GPS when he was there before, because he was able to navigate the labyrinth fairly easily. We parked at a place that was marked by an historical marker. It explained about the old home place that was there over 100 years ago and it talked about the graves. We had to hike to the creek to see the waterfall, which was on the way.

Right next to the creek, Mo spotted this lovely broken butterfly. I did feel very sorry for it. But the colors are just gorgeous! I had to take the photo. That was the first of hundreds of butterflies we saw. All the others were too quick to move for pictures.

Ah. Here's the waterfall! It was a very humid day, but the view...totally worth the sweat! Of course, it was nice and cool at the waterfall.

Mo couldn't resist the siren call of the creek. Every child of every generation must thrill at the sight and wonder of a creek, no matter how cold. We let him wade in it on the way back.

Josh headed to the top. As soon as Mo saw Daddy up there, he had to go up, too.

Must be a guy thing. I only went up to help Mo up the steep parts. And for the photo, of course.

Then we found this: 

Cute little cave-like thing, isn't it? I should have taken a photo with a person in it, for perspective. It's not big at all. A hen-sized entrance, maybe. Anyone know what it is? Yes, it IS the fireplace for a moonshine still! No, I didn't know that all by myself. Josh told me. You build the fire under the rocks and the still sits on top. Water is piped over from the nearby creek. Mountain history, right there.

Here is the tiny graveyard. I think it's the people who had the home place originally.

If you look very carefully, you can see the date reads 1874. Wow. 

Since a five-year-old can only handle "ancient" history for a limited time, we headed back to the creek for play. I let him take off the boots and socks and really have a good time!

We saw this flower. No one in our party knows what it is. Any thoughts?

Final stop of the day. Another historical grave yard. Short break, then back home. All in all, a great afternoon! 

Crow Update

Well, it has been 21 days, but I didn't know that until I got home today. Hens sit on their eggs for 21 days before the chicks hatch. I knew it was getting close for Crow's clutch, but I wasn't sure of the exact day.

It was today. I didn't get home until nearly 9:00 because Mo had a super play date with one of his Pre-K buddies, and we let the boys play way longer than we should have. They were just having so much fun! But it put us home fairly late and Mo fell asleep on the way home. He woke up just long enough to put on pjs and go to bed. Cute, tuckered little guy.

So it was dark before I got down to the chicken pen to close up the coops. When I went in to check on a convalescing hen (she has bumble foot), I saw Crow in the coop! It's very unusual for a setting hen to be off her nest at bedtime. I thought maybe she abandoned her nest, and was very curious and concerned. I went to the Motel 6. I was so sad to discover that 6 of the 8 eggs hatched but all of the chicks were dead. They had been killed by fire ants, I think. I can only surmise that once the chicks began hatching, the wetness of the chicks and the eggs attracted the ants. It really makes me regret my decision not to move the nest. I was very afraid to, fearing Crow would have abandoned setting on it. Now I feel like I should have risked it. 

The one bright side is that she had a really high percentage of her eggs hatch. Better than any that I've let Speckle hatch or that I've hatched in the incubator. I believe it's because they were her own eggs and she began setting on them very soon after laying them, and they were at optimum viability. I'm definitely going to let her set again if she gets broody again. But next time, I'm moving her into the Ramada. Sometimes chicken keeping isn't very fun. Lesson learned the hard way.

Where is Crow?

You may recall that I posted recently on Facebook that my game hen, Crow, is AWOL.

I first suspected a predator. I lost another hen not long ago to neighboring rogue dogs whose people refuse to confine them to their own property. I witnessed that particular event so I'm not just casting stones. Thus, it was logical to conclude that Crow might have become a meal. While it was an upsetting conclusion, I'm realistic enough to know it was bound to happen eventually. She refuses to shelter in the safety of the pen.

My own dog had her hemmed up against the fence a couple of months ago and that subdued Crow for awhile but she soon resumed her escapist ways. I would only know she made it through the day ok when I would collect eggs and see her smallish white one nestled among the blue, green and tan eggs of my other hens. Crow is the only hen I have who lays white eggs. Hers are delicious! They're the perfect size to fry for an English muffin or a slice of toast. They're always rich and have a dark yolk-likely due to her constant foraging. She eats feed that I provide, but she gets a lot out in the yard, too. Luckily, in the evening when I'd close the coop, there she would usually be.

It was last week, early in the week, that I noticed she wasn't in the coop. The next day she was, though, and I thought little of it. Then she was gone again and while I scouted around for her after dark with the red light (chickens can't see red light), I couldn't find her. Josh said it was because she's black and it was dark out and we have about 590 excellent hiding spots in our half-wooded yard if a hen wants to disappear. He had a point and I tried not to be too upset. Sure enough, I saw her the next day...for about a minute. 

Then I saw Lizzie eating a white egg and it occurred to me that I hadn't gotten a Crow egg in about a week! She's not my most prolific layer, but when she's laying, I can usually count on three to four eggs a week from her. Now it appeared Lizzie had found a stash. But I couldn't find it! And I hunted it, believe me. I read a blog about "hidden eggs" and how it's dangerous for the hen and attracts predators, etc. But Lizzie wasn't talking and Crow was officially missing. I hadn't seen her in three days.

But I was hoping she had gotten broody. I have Speckle, my usually broody hen, mothering two Cochin bantam chicks, so I know game hens can get broody.

But Crow hadn't shown any signs of it before. She's about the same age as Speckle-I got Crow about two months before I got Speckle, but Crow was about two months old when I got her and Speckle was about four months old when I got her. I figured Crow wasn't the broody type.

But then I saw her! She was on the fence rail waiting for me to let everyone out of the pen. She hopped down into the pen and ate when I put out the food and water. Her feathers were all puffed out and she was clucking like Speckle at her broodiest! Ah, yes! I guess the hormones just hit her later! Speckle is on her third set of chicks. She sets on adopted eggs, but she gets the urge regularly-I just don't have a rooster up to Speckle's standards. So she hatches adopted eggs. She just loves being a mama! I don't blame her.

Crow is more like the thirty-year-old

career woman who was waiting to find herself before agreeing to be a mother. She's a bit less selective about a mate, though. These are Crow's own eggs, not adopted ones. And, I know who the daddy is!!!

Yup, it's Captain! He's the biological father of Speckle's adopted chicks. Flossie, the biological mother, also has shown no broody signs, in spite of the reputation of her breed to go broody at the drop of a hat. Just goes to show, you never know! Flossie is less than a year old, though. And she took forever to lay her first egg, so I figured she might be a late bloomer. I can't say why I didn't think the same of Crow.

I watched Crow after she ate that morning. I wanted to see her secret spot! She boldly made her way into the woods. I didn't follow, but I kept watching. She scratched around in the underbrush for a bit. I guess for a tasty nibble. Then she furtively looked around as if to make sure no one observed her. I was pretty far away and generally no threat, so I guess I didn't count. Then she hightailed it into...the dilapidated abandoned well house!

This is the original well, dug in 1964, when the house was built. It's still in there, just capped off. I could do a whole other blog on the wells on my property-a story for another time, perhaps. This one has basically turned into a garden shed/catch-all for pots, mulch, soil, implements, etc. The door has rotted off, Josh has left a sheet of tin in front for some forgotten reason. It's pretty much a mess. I now call it the Motel 6. I don't know why Crow would choose the Motel 6 over the Hilton:

Or even, the Ramada:

I can only conclude that privacy is a major factor. Speckle and her babies currently occupy the Ramada. The Hilton is full of about 50 other residents--not an exaggerated number. So, I figure Crow wanted some place quiet and off the beaten path. I think she chose fairly well, ha ha. It's brick, so not drafty-a plus in our recent stormy weather. The roof is solid and doesn't leak. The biggest drawback is lack of security. For example, the paparazzi had no problem gaining access:

So could any number of unwanted visitors, including my Lizzie. But, Crow is wily, and I think she's relatively ok here until the chicks hatch. I think Motel 6 has been abandoned long enough not to attract any attention. And Lizzie has been a lot better lately, guarding the chickens rather than chasing them. But when there are peeping babies, I will move them all into the Ramada. It will be ok. Speckle will be about ready to relocate by then anyway. 

As far as Crow goes, I'm frankly afraid to try to move her nest of 8 precious eggs before they hatch because Crow is a first time mother. Speckle trusts me very much and I've moved her while setting on eggs before with no issues. But Crow is less trusting-she likes Josh better-and I don't want her to abandon these eggs. It could happen. Given my timeline of Crow sightings lately, she only has 10-14 days left before they hatch anyway. Stay tuned! I'll be sure to take photos of any babies, if we're lucky enough to get any!

Athens Kids Expo

Every year Athens has a huge Kids Expo. Every year, we already have plans to do something else and can't go or won't go. This year, I wanted to take Mo. It turned out to be a hugely good idea! The Home Depot booth had kids' workshops, and Homer was walking around. Mo ran up and gave him a big hug. There were bouncy houses galore and Mo wore himself completely out bouncing in all of them. Mo took photos with some of his favorite characters and even Spider-Man! Dora was there, as was Elmo, and some Disney Princesses. Mo made a point to meet the Athens-Clarke County police officers and he let them know right away that his uncle is a policeman, too. He liked the whole fingerprinting process. I told him not to get used to it! We headed over to the petting zoo and Mo held a guinea pig, a couple of different rabbits and had an encounter with a parrot. We ended up spending about four hours without even realizing it! By the time we left, both Mo and Mama needed a nap. I'm so glad we went.

Mo and Homer

Mo likes Princesses!

Face Painting--Tiger. Admittedly the artist didn't have much experience with Tigers. She mostly had to do about 500 Bulldogs and UGA "G" logos. But Mo loved it in the mirror and that's all that mattered.

The Parrot wouldn't turn around. Mo was a bit unsure about the whole "bird on the shoulder" experience.

"Oooh, Bunny!"

Guinea Pig

Ummm, Larger than Mo Gigantor Rabbit. That's a real live rabbit there, no lie.

Spider-Man is Awesome!

Head first? Not Mama-Approved! Not that Mo took a poll.

Hi Dora!

Elmo and Mo