Morning has Broken, 4

Young life cut short

Ulani was so agitated this evening. At one point I made her go outside and I heard the neighbor (over 1/4 mile away) hollering, so I thought that might be the issue.  Then when the barking didn't stop, I made her come inside and do a sit- stay next to me while I watched tv. She held that for a while, then got all riled up again.

So I sent her outside with Oskar. They ran to the back fence and barked and barked.  I peeked out to see what they were barking at.

Well I don't know what was in the back corner, but there in the middle of the yard, between me and them, was a chicken. And as it registered to me, Ulani caught on, too. It only took a second for
her to chase it to the fence and snap its neck. I immediately went inside to get a bag, knowing she would not eat it, just poke it in hopes that the chase game could be continued.

As soon as I approached she picked it up in her mouth, but when I said drop it she did. I picked it up and disposed of it, then went into the barn. I thought it was maybe the mother hen, but as I did
inventory I realized it was the stripey chick. She'd grown large enough I thought she was one of the adults, but that's the one that's gone.

How'd she end up in the dog yard?  In the past few days the Godzilla Hen has chased her chicks away when it's time to roost.  She wanted them to find their own space.  I noticed that they were trying out different places each night in an attempt to find somewhere comfy and safe.  Tonight the white hen was roosting right above the gate into the coop -- and there's about a six inch open space between the gate and the crossbar where she sat.  I imagine both chicks were there, then the one for whatever reason hopped down into the open barn.  Why it went over the Dutch door into the yard is anyone's guess.  The chickens are never allowed there, for obvious reasons.

I can't be mad at Ulani, she was only doing what her instincts demand of her. But I'm sad that the chick never got to grow up.

Breakfast

I've made sixteen pints of strawberry jam since picking 10 pounds of berries last week.  I have just one thing to say.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Eight Week Check-in

These two birds hatched April 11.  Remember?

Yup, that was them, with Godzilla Hen.  I've been hoping so eagerly that they are girls.  Two roosters (Egglebert and Eggy Jr.) are plenty in this barn.  We have no need of additional testosterone.

I am partial to the white one.  No other chickens in the coop look like that.  This morning when I scattered the scratch, she was so excited she jumped up on my shoulder and shimmied down my arm to reach the source of the delicious treat!  Then when my palm was empty, she nestled her belly into my hand to relax for a bit.

But here's the thing.

I'm having trouble believing that these long legs are on a pullet.

More and more, this chick's structure reads "male" to me.

Darn it all!

They are eight weeks old now, and that's when I can start to distinguish.  I've been wrong before.  I really wish I was wrong here!

Maybe someone more experienced will chip in their two cents on this!  Or vote in our new poll!

What will this chick become?
	Hen
	Rooster
pollcode.com free polls

As far as the other young'uns go, I think the Runner Ducks are looking great!

When I bought them, the guy at the store basically went through the bin of mixed ducklings and patted them, the ones that stood up a little straighter he'd say "that's a Runner."  I was skeptical.  They looked like this:

Sometimes they stood upright, and sometimes they were more in your traditional duck pose, like the one in the background.

But they turned out to be the real deal.  They're kind of skittish, but very curious about everything!  They still whistle and again, I do not know whether they are boys or girls.

Look at those chocolate markings -- really lovely!  I can't wait for them to go outside and swim!

So life in the barn is good here at the two month mark.

F U N E X

A word game after my own heart!  You can hear about it here at A Way with Words.  The show is an hour long, but this part is right at the beginning.

And if you're wondering what this is doing on the Busy Solitude Farm blog, read the title again, pronouncing it letter by letter!