Sunday, October 5, 2008

Frosty Morning




I had gone out to feed the birds and looked over at Walnut tree and saw this. Kinda eerie!




Look at the feathered children with frost at their feet, they're not cold though, they have built in goose down.
Look closely at Flippers bill, he has been fighting through the fence with the big turkeys off and on.
There are holes pecked in it. When he was really young one of the chickens pecked him and I think he has held a grudge. Flipper starts honking at the turkeys and gets louder and louder, all the while trying to grab them through the fence but he's not so quick, he loses. Buddy stays completely out of it. He's has a totally different temperament then his brother (or sister, still not sure yet).
Kevin moved the bell waterer from the meat bird pen to the coop area. This is the best. I was having to fill four waterers every three days. About 20 gallons every three days, what a pain. Now, look at my 55 gallon waterer! I only wish we could keep it frost free for the winter. If anybody know how I would pay good money for the info.


The waterer stays perfectly clean, it's up off the ground kinda high so I pushed a skid up close so the littler guys could reach.


Remember the eight little guys that the wonderful Bronze mamas diligently sat on for a month and have been taking so good care of? Well, we lost one real early.




Then another disappeared, then another....


And then there were four....rotten, lousy, #$%&*#@ hawks!

Friday, all that was left of one was his two little wings, bitten off and left there, it took the whole body and flew away with it. They are the smallest birds that we have left.

Does anyone know a good hawk deterrent? He has been sitting out on that same Walnut tree off and on this morning, I had been watching for him when I noticed the mist in the pictures above. Uh oh, Kevin just told me that the mama and the babies are down by the pond, I better go and watch them.

Til next time,

Beth

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2 comments:

  1. Laughing Orca RanchOctober 5, 2008 at 1:35 PM

    Those Walnut tree photos are award worthy. So beautiful and striking!

    If I were you, I'd keep your birds safe in a mesh covered coop until the hawk moves on.

    Obviously that hawk has discovered that your animals are providing an ongoing source of food. You've got to nip that in the bud, or there'll be more losses.

    And that's money and food off your table.

    Good luck,
    Lisa

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  2. EllaJacOctober 6, 2008 at 10:36 AM

    Beth, I replied to your comment on my blog. I've been (re)reading here, and realized I've been here before. I'm jealous that you've trained your hens to lay where you can find the eggs. We're working on that.

    As to hawk deterrent, um, I'm no expert (so don't call me as a witness in court!), but I *think* if even a protected bird of prey is threatening your livestock you are permitted to remove the predator. I *think*.

    I LOVE your waterer. I can't get bell waterers around here, and that irks me terribly. As for frost-free, I don't think it's feasible. You could easily keep the tank (maybe even the waterer) working, but that narrow tube is a lost cause. :)

    I've bookmarked you so I don't lose you in the future! :)

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