The Neruda Exodus

She's alive and she home!

(Shes the chicken in the middle)
Last night as I my son was rounding up the chickens from their free grange playtime we noticed that the newest addition to our flock the new Ameraucana chick we named Neruda was missing. Soon we realized that she was under our backyard deck and would not budge. We tried everything we could to coax her out-- it was beginning to get cold out, winds blowing and the temp was dropping quickly towards the 50F degree mark.

We tried until past 10pm. Dark, tired and no signs of a peep.. we gave up. I silently hoped she was somehow still alive.
I bounded out of bed this morning and went to the backyard deck to check for any sign. Not a peep.


I went about the daily chores of being an artist, mother and all around superhero. I had finished a raised garden bed box and was hauling it out to the backyard when I heard it... the faintest "cheep, cheep, cheep". I rushed to the deck and slammed my ear to the boards... "cheeeeep"


My son and his friend were over and came out side at hearing that we had found Neruda! Already wearing my tool belt.. it was obvious... my son rushed to get my reciprocating saw and I got to work making well placed cuts. I could already hear my husband saying "You did what to our deck?!" Then I would remind him that I'm the household handy-diva... not him.

Scared she kept running away... until my sons friend swiftly like a chicken-snatching-ninja grabbed her in a flash and pulled her to safety. She is returned to the safety of the coop after some rest and relaxation,  food and feed inside the house.

The Natural History of the Chicken

So-- I was doing what I do most nights lately. Petting my buff silkie chick and watching PBS. I know-- that's some pretty raucous behavior and I won't be able to party like this for much longer.

Then suddenly-- Like a ray from Chicken Heaven a documentary I had not seen before.. *YAY*.. but wait.. it's called "The Natural History of the Chicken" *EEEEEEEEE YAY!!!*

Not being able to break away from the glorious delight coming from the image box-- I waited a total of three seconds before going online to The Natural History of the Chicken DVD - shopPBS.org and ordering the video for myself. And also because I'm a PBS junkie and need to pay back with a little support for the station that brings our family loads of entertainment.

In case your local PBS stations are not showing it in your area you I have posted it here on my blog courtesy of youtube.com. It is in six parts and thoroughly enjoyable.







  


 

  

 

 

If you enjoyed this blog-- please join my followers! I know there are a lot of lurkers out there and would love to have your input.

Thanks!

Chicken Coop-- the saga.

It wasn't going to be that hard I thought.

I worked for weeks on plans and finally had a solid idea of how to go about things.

Lowes was my go to place for materials. I spent about $300 in materials and tools.. then spent the last of my sanity and hand strength building the darn thing.

Looking back- I would have still built the coop myself. It was the only way to get the satisfaction I wanted with the price tag I was ruled by.

So now I have a lovely tractor coop. It is 4x4x4.5. It has a chicken door, a back large access door. Tool cloth floor to allow for the deep litter method and easy cleaning. Vented ceiling that is screened in with tool cloth. Sloped roof and even a drop hatch door that leads to a chicken run beneath the whole coop.

I've never built anything larger than a cat scratch post.. which took me three days. eeysh.

So here she is in all her glory.. sporting all cedar walls---

I would have written sooner-- by my hands are still recovering from what I swear is carpel tunnel from building the glorious coop.

My little chicks are all settled in an cozy.

We lost 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte chick to some strange illness. But we are still ahead of the curve as far as fatalities go. We had been estimating we might lose as many as four. To date we have a happy healthy flock.

I am very attached to my Ameraucana's. Specifically a splash blue wheaten Ameraucana-- I've named her Ginsberg. Her sister Ameraucana's are Fehrlingetti and Neruda.

They are keepers for sure!