Welsummer Baby Chicks

A week ago today, my little Welsummer biddies arrived. The post office called me at 6:20am, so I ran up and picked them up. They are so cute. Bless their hearts, it's been a long trip. They were born on Aug. 06, so they were on their last leg.

This is right after I got home with them. I put extra water so they all you yum up. Sorry to say two didn't make it. Then my friend bought three and I gave my sister four for her upcoming birthday.

So, now I have six. They are really growing and doing good. I had just cleaned their cage and put new pine straw in. This one Biddie looks more like a rooster to me. I hope he isn't, but there it is. What can you do.

I also pick grass and put it in their cage. They love it! I 'll put them in the outside cage Saturday, hopefully. I've got some work to do yet.

This is an old hamster cage and they like the little top shelf.

Has it really been since May 31st that I blogged? Pitiful.

Learning Lessons

Lesson number one is for me. Once you have caught a snake; kill it! This was a chicken snake that was caught in the bird netting around my pond. It scared Chili and she hollered. Then I saw it but decided since I was going to eat pizza, I would take care of it when I came back. I came back and it was gone. That is the first time I have seen a snake get out of bird netting. The next night just guess where the snake was. In my shed where the chickens lay eggs; eating an egg. My brother came down and killed the snake.

Then Oscar was after it. I don't know if Oscar has ever encountered a snake before, but he knew it was bad. Skylar just walked past it to bring me a stick to throw.

Now Molly is learning this is a bad thing and you have to be careful. I've got to tell you though, both of these dogs would have been bitten if the snake had been alive. I guess you have to learn. When I was young I saw our catahoula curs kill rattlesnakes. It was something to see.

Okay, we got this.

Here is another problem. You might notice it is inside the pen where I keep my little biddies. They are locked up in the cage at night where big bad critters can't get them.

And here is the remedy. He is in the cage and Molly had no idea what this is. She does know it is something she is not getting close to. She kept making a wide circle. That stupid little Oscar would have been right next to the cage. He has no fear.

Time to say bye. He's off to another location.

Happy Memorial Day

 Thank you veterans, families of veterans and all military for your service to our country. I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day!

Hazards of Windows

 Last Sunday we were just sitting around when BAM. It was a poor little bird that flew into the window. I think he knocked his self slap out.

It took several minutes before he even open his little eyes and  moved any.

This is a Downy Woodpecker. He's really cute. I think this is an immature one. I did have to look it up to see what it was. He flew off right after this picture was made.

New Additions

Minus one. A couple of coons have been making pest of themselves, so I trapped one Tuesday night and relocated him. The other one hasn't been back yet.

 I'm getting the cold shoulder from Chili and Skylar.

And this is why. They don't like her. This is Molly. A guy I know didn't have time for her and she stayed in a kennel all the time. I'm trying to see if we can work her in here. She's only about a year and a half and has LOTS of energy. The problem is Chili and Skylar are old and don't feel like putting up with her.

Exploring boundaries. Of course she had to learn NO to the chickens.

I also have two new little biddies. These are Buff Brahma. That is an Americana that is about two weeks older in there with them.

They are adjusting fast.

A Little This And That

While I was out feeding the chickens and watching the squirrels scamper away, I noticed a nest way up in the trees. I think it once was a squirrel's nest. It is really large.

And it's really up there.

I am so glad I have the chain link fence up now or Skylar would be able to run at Suki. The horses seem to know now she is on the other side just making a bunch of noise. Skylar heard me come out to take the picture, so she is turned around watching me.

Up we go.

You can tell by Skylar's tail up and wagging that she is still barking at Suki.

It's A Good Life

You go outside, soak up a few rays. (don't mind the yellow cord; that's to light up a lamp for the little biddies.)

Stretch and roll around.

 Then come in the house and really stretch out on Mom's lap for a good nap.

Guess What This Is!

 Muscadine! Nope, not talking about the suet hanging down. Years ago I dug up some muscadine vine that was growing wild in the woods. I put a fence up for it to grow on and everything.Well, a few years later, I read that transplanting muscadine vines is a waste of time because there are so many male vines that don't produce. Okay, so I cut everything down. You guess it; It came right back. Okay, that's cool. Just grow, that will be fine for birds and such. So last year I was walking past the tree and just looked up and saw four muscadines. Yea!!

Look what I've got this year. It's hard seeing the little cluster of berries because the camera wanted to focus on the leaves. Plus the clusters are not very big yet. But there are gobs of clusters on the vines. Now I also have to make sure the vines don't go to high in the tree.

I bush hogged my pasture yesterday. It looks so much better now. But the blades need lowering and then do it again.               

Look For Something "Happy"

Today is the bad ole tax day. Yuk! So I need something colorful and happy. This is one of my gladiola. I dug these plants up from down at the homestead and planted it here. Really old timey gladiola.

The other day after I gave Skylar a bath (her first outside this year) she came in and rolled on the rug. I had already dried her; this is just something you got to do.

She will finish up.

 Chili said "I don't need a bath. I'm not dirty."

Oscar and the Fish

I was adding some water to the pond and the fish really like to swim in the flow. Don't ask me why, they just do.  

When I go out to feed the fish and Oscar is here, he runs out and starts barking at the fish. The fish know that means food; they start swimming at the top.

They think Oscar is calling them for supper. As much as Oscar is here, you would think Oscar is my dog.

I got fourteen eggs today. Every hen laid an egg. That doesn't happen real often.

Baby Chick Time

Yesterday I bought seven little baby chicks. Three Buff Orpington, two Rhode Island Red, and two Americana. Oh so cute.

Here is one of each in the cage. I have a tarp over the cage and of course a light in the cage for them.

Today I opened the cage door and this afternoon they ventured out. The two little Americana right here.

An Americana and Rhode Island Red.

An Americana. Even though they are in a totally enclosed pen, I still close the cage at night. And because they are still so young and I pull the tarp completely over so they can get toasty at night.

He's Back

The little thief. It's not just him munching it up. No, he spills it all over the ground. This feeder holds a lot of bird seed. But, it is now empty again.

Of course, my chickens love it. "Send some more down, please."

Chili has three little beds in the bedroom. I stuck the old one in a place to get it out of the way while I decide what to do. I threw a down throw, that needs to go to the cleaners, on top of it to get it. That's the one Chili wants. She also wants me to stop waking her.

Sissy

Poor little Sissy left for Doggie Heaven yesterday. I'll miss her.