RIP 15

I ran into town to get the mail as a parcel had been delivered. When I returned home I went straight out to the chicken coop to collect the eggs.... as I was walking up the hens didn't run over as they usually do, only 2 were outside and they were kind of 'talking' weird. When I reached the gate I saw a hen laying there without a head. 

I broadcast a message into the house on our Google Home app to tell Brad to come out (as I wasn't sure what kind of predator I was dealing with or if it was still around) and as I was opening the gate a cat started meowing from the corner of the building (outside the run). 

This is not one of  'our' cats... but a new stray which I had tried to carry into the pump house just 2 nights ago before the blizzard started but it wouldn't have anything to do with it.... Brad had seen it previously on the other end of the property and felt it was 'stalking' the birds but I figured the birds were too big as the other two hadn't bothered them.... I was wrong.

I didn't take any graphic pics as I wouldn't have posted them anyway but here she is packaged up... we can't even eat it - who knows what that cat has. I am so upset with myself, but its a valuable lesson and affords us the opportunity to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Our first loss

Because the bird was not frozen or rigid, I assume it happened just before I arrived home and the cat ran off when it heard the car.

The remaining chicks are all a bit ruffled and so I have put them in the coop for the rest of the night to help give them a sense of security.

Eggs, Blizzard and Fire Cider

Farm fresh eggs ready for freeze drying

I do 18 per tray.

I also freeze dry the egg shells and add to oatmeal etc for the chickens which obviously aids in egg production

Brought in what we hope will be enough hay and straw for winter

2 Hay, 6 Straw

Ladies are happy and providing a full meal deal of 15 eggs/day

Not too shabby for 15 chickens! In winter!

The rabbit cages are ready for pickup, but....

We had a blizzard!

8" of snow in 14 hours

Baby its cold outside

The snow sure looks magical on the trees, though. The bows are hanging low and heavy. We had trouble getting the new snow blower going, Brad had to disassemble and fix it which took up a lot of the day yesterday. It propels itself along, which is fantastic!

I had to shovel a small path from the back door down to the rest of the garden as the deep snow and incline was too much to get that thing up to the back steps. 

I also had to shovel a small area beside the back door where Robbie is trained to do his business, he doesn't like to get snow on his underbelly and likes to have something tall to lift his leg against so I just made a higher wall with the moved snow and voila.

I cleared a path in front of the chicken coop and put down a bunch of straw along it so the birds have an outdoor space without burying their whole bodies in the snow as it was taller than most of them. I haven't taken a picture of it yet, sorry.

This morning I strained a 'Fire Cider' that I made - well, 6 weeks ago and so I am taking the strained bits out to the chickens for a treat... have to remember to add a bit of eggshell to it first.... (I did run it under water for a few seconds and strained it just so it isn't soooo strong for the chickens).

For the chickens

I've been keeping a stash of our used glass bottles and I thought this one was fitting for the Fire Cider. I did show it to Brad and advised that he not confuse the two!!! 

HAHAHAHA

Once we get the cages, we have to complete the rabbitry area to make arrangements for their highly acidic urine and to separate the poop as we will use it for the garden. Free this year, last year we bought it from a local I found who was willing to sell it, not cheap either. 

Then we can get the rabbits!

 

Coop humidity woes

I gave the ladies a roost in their run and strung a cabbage on it too.

I can only assume they couldn't crack it even though I'd started the pull for them so eventually I just chopped it up into teeny pieces for them and now they love me.

Before

The heat lamp was hanging quite low because we didn't have a second one for balance.

Because chickens don't need much, if any, heat (we will give them heat in Dec/Jan temperatures) I revamped the heat lamp situation in the coop. It is now very securely strapped, tied and looped to the ceiling where they can't get at it or bump into it.

After

I have it tied up 3 ways to secure it to the ceiling, so it won't fall, be knocked or otherwise cause havoc.

I hope.

Currently, I have a dehumidifier in the coop because I have been trying to lower the humidity in there for ages without any luck. 77% humidity this am and that won't go over in the winters we have here so it must come down! I'm hoping that using the dehumidifier will set the baseline and it will manage itself from there. 

I think I've stated before, we've put holes in it, a window, a fan, a heater.... nothing is working. I have put mesh over the window today and hope that by having the window completely open all the time (except in severe cold) that will help.

Nov 5th. Guy Fawkes Night

(He tried to blow up the House of Lords (UK))

Anyhow.... its a damn fine day today for Nov 5th outside of Edmonton, AB! No snow (4 ft to come, I'm sure) yet, sun is shining and its +10C (50F). I'll buy that for a $ -- :D