Bluebell has hatched another chick. Born either today or yesterday, a dark colored Araucana. Tweet.
And other news in the coop, the latest previous hatch now a lovely dark Araucana, nearly black with red speckled wings and iridescent green wing bars, is a rooster. It’s all in the posture, tail shape, attitude.
We took the llamas and goats for a walk the other day essentially off leash. Only one llama on a halter and lead, we walked to the end of the pond and back. It’s a treat to watch the llamas especially walk outside of the enclosed areas, off lead, just moving freely and being
Silkie Bluebell’s two hatchlings are much quicker to learn the crazy ramp into the coop than the white silkie baby who took it seemed a week at a few weeks of age. These younger araucana chicks got the ramp the second day out and were perhaps only 3 weeks old at the time.
Within the last week the duck hawk was sitting on the roof of the silkie pen wire enclosure, hoping to frighten a morsel into running out of the wire into the open. Happily they all stayed put.
Today we watched a young red-tailed hawk sitting in the maples and then the snag pondside in front of the house: very alert almost quizzical.
There is a pileated woodpecker here again, seen and heard. It’s a great profile in a dead tree by the pond. All the big birds seem so dinosaur-like, whether chickens or herons or this great pterodactyl of a woodpecker. And I love the maniacal laugh.
Born last year, Bluebell had diligently sat on three clutches of eggs this year, finally hatching two little Araucanas. She is often joined in the nest by other hens which makes her job harder.
This morning clear and bright, practicing tai chi on the deck. There are tree swallows circling now over the pond. Amazing that the insectivorous birds can get enough food this early. Jet Li the llama seemed interested in my meditative practice and stayed watching near the gate in a comfy lying down spot. Maybe he was just monitoring that I’m up and moving, so when does he get grain?
Some days are so brilliant they’re hard to capture on film. Today is a great March day of teasing winds and warm sun full of promise.
We cut some trees Saturday and opened up the pond-side llama enclosure. Looking good. Not a lot of fire wood but we definitely gained water view footage. We opened it up for bluebirds and grazing. Still plenty of catbriar to go.
Our lovely girl. She seems to be responding to the vet’s prescriptions, is more comfortable, less “goopy” in her eyes, less mouth fragrance - and better appetite! Yay.
Mini crocuses on March 15th. Actually sooner but my camera was not at hand.
Spitzhauben chickens enjoying the sun and finding yummies where the snow is gone
Spring snow today, beautiful in its ephemeral way!
Jane has good attention and patience. She likes treats (surprise!) and likes working for them, or even being the focus of [my] attention.
Our lovely silky hens have raised many sweet broods this year. Sadly the most recent was completely swallowed by predators. 4 chicks disappeared one at a time, heartbreaking. One didn’t know to go back in the house. I think the others were prey either to a visiting lone coyote seen by both Mark and neighbor Jen, but not with feathers on his lips, or the ever present red-tailed hawk. The hawk’s been a fixture in the trees above the silky house. That hawk killed one of the brown silky hens. I think a youth from this year’s brood, not the mama that just lost her brood.
All so sad. But also the beauty of this rich habitat for all is vital, even when it’s a little brutal.
on what I call the lady slipper path in neighboring conserved woods
She’s Pebo’s new buddy, they romp, share the comfy bed sometimes, disagree occasionally, both bark at the gate when I get home. She’s becoming a part of the family. Happy.
May 1998 – October 21, 2010
photo taken January 2009 Mark Jones
