All gone now

Little Red was hard to catch. I tried to lure her, but she wouldn't go in the coop after having been chased. I should have chased her until she was really tired and then caught her, but I had to go. She was killed too. I am sad about it, and I feel a bit guilty. I am not sure whether I should get more chickens or wait awhile. I don't want to raise pullets unless I have some laying hens. Everything seems up in the air about my life, so I suppose I should just get used to buying eggs.

Another one bites the dust.

Blackie was killed this morning. I saw Little Red alone and went to look for Blackie. I found her on the lawn, covered in wasps. I tried to pick her up but the wasps scared me away. I'll wait for nightfall when the wasps go away, and pick her up then. I am sad. Now I have a lone chicken again. I tried to catch her but I'll have to wait until she goes into the coop so I can close her in there. What a bummer. I guess it is no longer true that no chickens were harmed. It just wasn't the dog that looked menacing in the photo.

RIP Goldie

I finally renamed "Black Cheep" a name of her own, and then she disappeared. I found her eviscerated all over the lawn. I hope nobody else had to see it. She only laid two blue eggs, in August. weird. I wonder what killed her. I figured it may be a wild animal because the insides were gone, and the meat was probably picked off by birds. What was in my yard?

So far Blackie and Little Red are fine. I was inclined to coop them for safety, but after 3 - 4 more days with them being okay, I guess I can let them range and live in risk. I would hate to lose them. Perhaps I am being irresponsible by letting them roost outside the coop. I notice they both lay in the external nesting box. Again, it's that question of quality of life versus risk.

There has been no sign of further rat activity.

I am far behind where I had hoped to be, as far as getting the garage cleared out over the summer. My brother in law Del came by briefly, and will be back. He's a mover and he offered to help. I need to prepare before I can really get into moving things, but he's coming back around Oct 8 so maybe he can help me then. Projects are slowing down due to me having a new sweetie and wanting to spend as much time as I can with him. Del had a fun time with Kayleigh.

I still have the woefully broken door that needs repair, ASAP. Still not sure who to call.

Catching up

I let the chickens out before I went on my 3 day camping trip. They were fine, but I did find out first(from cooping them for 3-4 days) that Goldie who lays the blue eggs is not laying. I have had only two eggs from her since early August. Now I am getting two a day usually, from Blackie and Little Red. The funny thing is, I have not been eating as many eggs!

I left the glue traps out while I was gone, and no action on those, still. No sign of rats nibbling on poison. I did see a siamese cat here twice. She was watching the coop, although the chickens were not in it. The second time she came around, I only saw her scrabble away when Mona came out. If that is why the rats have not been showing themselves, great. I also met a neighbor, who asked me about a siamese cat. This neighbor lives near K's bus stop. They have two boys younger than her, and an old dog. So that's a good family to meet!

Also, my immediate neighbor has put their house on the market. They have lived there one year and had two forced entry break-ins. sucks! The guy was so nice and offered to help me in the yard. I am thinking, no don't leave! Their house is set right on the street. My cars are not even locked, nor the camper. I wonder why I have been so lucky. It's just set farther back. I no longer light the whole property. I am in the process of installing another light fixture with a motion sensor. They got an alarm system. I have one here, just have to pay for service. I am not that kind of person, though.

Sometimes I still miss Daphne and her big big bark.