And then there were ten….again

This is going to be a really photo heavy blog entry, so if you are on dial up (only thing available at Possum Manor West) bring the page up and go take a nap.

First the news is that one of the wonderful Meryls (Silkies) is gone. Just gone. No break in. No feathers. Just gone. She had to have squeezed out somewhere, but we are not sure where. The Silkies do not fly, so we are sure she made something a good appetizer. She was not big enough for a meal. Second the news is that Brando killed one of the Rebas (Rhode Island Reds). It was odd. She got through a hole in the fence, made by Brando we are sure. It was a hold too small for him to get through, but big enough for a chicken. So, she came through and he got her. We think it was probably play, but she was killed none the less. We are reinforcing the fence now, as he head butts it when the chickens are near. I felt so badly about it, but at least he did not break in and get them. I don’t know what we would do if he was just a cold blooded killer.

The weekend began around 6PM when the dogs and I arrived at Possum Manor West. Ann was waiting for us, to see Xena half way out the window. This is a big deal for Xena. Some of you remember how timid she was. When she rode in the car, she would only lay on the floor. Now she loves the wind in her ears….until another car goes by, and then she jumps back to the floor.

This is the only Silkie left. I am sure if chickens have the capability of missing another chicken….she misses her sister. She now hangs with the baby Barr Rocks, who are now even bigger than her. I didn’t have the heart to ask her to wipe her mouth for the photo.

These are the babies. They get bigger and more beautiful each week.

The Aracanas are the most beautiful of the chickens. Oddly, they have no tails.

This is one of the remaining Rebas with an Aracana. These chickens are really, really beautiful.

We put a piece of metal roofing as a shelter outside. They sit under it all the time.

I cut up greens, potato, apple, and tomato for their breakfast. The tomato gets eaten first, then the apple.

Brando was resting after his first kill.

Then Xena did a really stupid thing. For some reason she decided to walk out on the inside of the basement rail. When she got there, she was afraid to come back. I tried to coax her, but she would only go as far as that support beam in front of her. She turned around and went to the back, under the bush. Then I saw her contemplate jumping, and I knew I had to do something. There are stairs down to the basement, but where she was was a whole flight down. So, I got the ladder and tried to put her over the rail. Nope. Then I tried to carry her down the ladder. Nope. She was clinging to me, crying and shaking. (Perfect name for her: Xena Worrier Princess!) So I stayed there and held her against the rail, and Carrie got the screw driver and took two of the slats out. We then backed her out. While Carries was reattaching the slats, RD tried to go through them.

This is a great photo of Carrie.

Stella Blue met our three dogs for the first time this weekend. By Sunday, they were all running and playing together in the backyard, that is when they were not killing chickens or getting stuck behind railings.

Usti loves his new sister, and she really loves him too.