A Farm Mystery
We have a small flock of chickens, 15 hens and a rooster. The birds have a large fenced yard and a spacious coop. A month ago I noticed that one of the new hens we had purchased as a chick this year was missing. My wife and I searched the birds’ pen carefully, and then the area around the pen. Occasionally a chicken will fly over the fence, but they never go far. Our search was unsuccessful. We concluded the hen had fallen prey to a predator. This isn’t common but happens occasionally. In the past we have had problems with raccoons and weasels. We also have coyotes, and had watched a hawk make an aborted attack this past Spring. Attacks by any predator usually leave an explosion of feathers, which was missing in this case. We were disappointed as the hen had just started to lay, and produced eggs that were a dark brown. She was one of a trio of chicks we purchased this year. Even after they were big enough to be released into the general population, they hung out as a cohort separate from the rest of the flock. It was sad to see the trio reduced to a pair.
Several weeks went by and I was emptying the compost bucket into pen when I noticed the prodigal hen had returned. She seemed no worse for her absence, and immediately started contributing her dark brown eggs to the daily production. We are at a loss to come up with a logical explanation for her disappearance. Chickens are not solitary animals, and it seems unlikely that she could have been nearby without our notice. We are glad to have her back, and will have to let it go at that.
A warm October evening brings out clouds of woolly aphids.
The Economist quote of the day: “There is no improving the future without disturbing the present." - Catherine Booth ( founder of the Salvation Army )
Good morning!
I ordered a trail camera and set it up in the orchard. We’re curious to see who has been munching on the fallen fruit at night.
I went 30 for 30 on the September Photoblogging Challenge. I hope it strengthened my daily posting muscle, which was pretty wimpy.
The prompt for day 30 of September Photoblogging Challenge is treasure.
The prompt for day 29 of September Photoblogging Challenge is contrast.
The prompt for day 28 of September Photoblogging Challenge is workout. After the workout.
The prompt for day 27 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is embrace. (rugby scrum)
The prompt for day 26 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is beverage. This is a current favorite.
The prompt for day 25 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is flare.
The prompt for day 24 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is belt sander.
The prompt for day 23 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is a day in the life.
The employees of Rodent Control Inc. taking a well deserved break.
The prompt for day 22 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is road.
The prompt for day 21 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is fall. A fall hike on the breaks above the Snake River.
The prompt for day 20 of the September Photoblogging Challenge is disruption. This friendly young buck caused a bit of disruption around our place a few years ago.
The prompt for day 19 of the September Photoblogging Challengeg is edge. Latest woodworking project.
The prompt for day 18 of the September Photoblogging Challengeg is fabric.
