CREATIVE NESTING

Now that the chickens are free-ranging again, they have been copying many of the nesting techniques of the wild birds. Little nests are hidden away in the most surprising places. I spotted the first one this week, a moss and pine needle one next to the window air conditioner, one hidden on the back porch, and one from last year with sheep's wool woven through it. Goldie the chicken has made a very comfortable one for herself in the pansy flower box. The pansies were missing, but a nice, warm egg was there instead.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHICKEN IS SICK

I have been watching our chicken, Reddy for the past few days. She has not seemed like herself, quite slowed down and not keeping up with the other chickens. After careful examination, I could find nothing wrong, so I spent alot of time just observing her. They say that when you suspect an illness, the sick chicken should be separated from the rest of the flock, but since nothing was apparent, I felt that the fresh air and sunshine and scratching around were the best therapy. Today she was better, just a little careful leaving the coop door and trailing behind the others, but she was more active and did take her own dust bath in the afternoon (total relaxation therapy for chickens). It was probably just Reddy's way of getting used to the change in seasons, after being cooped up most of this long winter and the excitement that Spring brings was probably so overwhelming to her!

CAUTIOUS CHICKENS

It has been over a week since the Christmas Day blizzard hit, and the chickens are still quite concerned about venturing out. I have shoveled a walkway for them to their ranging area, but it seems quite risky to them. The red-tailed hawk is also free-ranging and the chickens against the white snow are like a bullseye for him. So for now, the Golden Comets are quite happy and safe in the barn, with fresh food, water and new daily straw.