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November 24, 2007
Chickens can be so weird!
Helga, my big black chicken (I have no idea what her breeding is), is one of my favorites. She runs to see me when I open the door to the run to let the chickens and guineas range. If she spies me on the other side of the yard, she will run over to see if I have a treat for her. By the way, when chickens run to see you, it's very funny - they look like cartoon characters.
Anywho (as my mom used to say), I went out this afternoon to chase the guineas and chickens back into their run for the night. The dogs were dying to go out, and though they seem to be trustworthy now that they are used to the birds, I prefer to have the birds safely in before I let the pups out.
I got everyone in, but, I could only find 3 hens! I looked in the coop, in the nest boxes, everywhere - I only had 3 hens instead of 4. Helga was missing. I searched under bushes and in brush, all around the barn and the house. No Helga. I am pretty sure that she has started laying eggs - there was an extra egg on Wednesday - it was a darker brown and a bit larger than Ruby's eggs. But no eggs that looked like that since.
John got home from shopping at Cabela's and helped me search for Helga. Finally, we gave up. We figured a coyote must have been brave enough to grab her during the day. I'm pretty sure no hawk could pick her up - it had to be a dog or a coyote or a fox.
So we both went into the house and did whatever. Then, John decided to go out on the deck, to play with his new laser boresighter and there is Helga - trying to get into the chicken run with the rest of them!
I'm thinking she has found a place she likes to lay her eggs. I have NO idea where it is, though. So tomorrow, around 3:30 pm, I'll have to be sure to keep an eye on her and see where she runs off to for egg-laying purposes.
I have to get a digital video camera. You have got to see how goofy these critters are, and how sweet!
Oh, and John discovered that the Guinea Fowl will chase a laser pointer. I think they think it is a bug!
Posted by Beth at November 24, 2007 4:47 PM
Comments
Get one of those deer hunter's cameras they sell at Cabela's (and other places). The outdoor ones that take photos according to a programmable schedule. You can keep an eye on the barnyard when you're not able to actually eyeball it, and if neighbor dogs start coming in after your fowl, you will not only be able to ID them, you will have the proof to take to the neighbor, along with a bill.
Posted by: Rivrdog at November 25, 2007 2:53 AM
All you need to do is fit a "Helga-Cam" on. And see where she wanders off. Look forward to the next installment of Helgablogging.
Posted by: Boquisucio at November 25, 2007 12:26 PM
Oh, on the laser-pointer thing: Both of my kitties, the one who's still alive, and Phryne (Frenchy) God rest her soul, just yawned at laser-pointers. Of course they spent most of their lives outdoors dealing with real prey. I believe Temple Grandin had something to say about this in her book, "Animals in Translation."
Everyone should buy a copy, even though a lot of auties are annoyed at her. If you are a normal person, just go buy a copy and stay out of autistic politics!
Snork! :-)
Posted by: Justthisguy at November 26, 2007 2:54 AM
P.s. I'm afraid that Ron Paul is engaging in autistic politics. Dang. Well, so did Thomas Jefferson, some say. We could do worse.
Y'know, earnest?
Posted by: Justthisguy at November 26, 2007 3:07 AM