DAMMIT! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

 Or rather, another one gotten bitten.

There was a chicken kerfuffle this morning.  This is not odd.  They are chickens.  They kerfuffle every time one of them lays an egg.  And then there is the constant rooster rape.

I eventually looked outside and saw nothing.  So, went back to my breakfast.  I'd let the chickens out, fed them, the usual.  They are free range, not fenced.  

Then, as I went down the hill to the car I see a bunch of feathers!  Red ones.  FROM A GOOD LAYER!  Damn and blast.  I found the carcass.  dead, not gutted, ripped open or anything gross.  Neck snapped.  That is a canine type kill.   Either a neighbor dog or a wild canine.

So, time to fence the chickens in for at least a while I guess. And get a game cam so I know what I'm up against. 

If eggs weren't so expensive I wouldn't mind much losing a free chicken but the finance balance has changed now.

R.I.P. Prudence

 And another bites the dust...

Or rather something bit her dust.

My hen, Pru, Prudence, went missing this week.  She wasn't in the coop Friday night.  Also wasn't in her favorite sleep away spot (the old coop).  I couldn't find her.  Sometimes chickens sleep in trees.  Not often.  And not elderly hens who can't get on the lowest roost anymore and have quit laying.

Hope did not spring eternal.

 Saturday I found a SMALL cluster of black chicken feathers at the bottom of hill.  Later, walking around, more black chicken feathers and 1 blue egg (that was her color of egg...but hadn't got one in over a month) with a hole in it and no yolk/white left.  Interesting.   ALMOST NO blood.  One bit of bloody bone. Not enough feathers to account for an entire bird.  But clearly, she's gone.

She came a few years back with Porky and Pearl.  Only Porky remains...a giant barred rock who is still laying!  Though sometimes her eggs look like crepe-y old-lady-neck-skin.  Pretty gross and wrinkly.  But sometimes they look fine.  I'll have to look back to see what year they all got here.  They weren't chicks on arrival, but at least 1 year old, likely older.  

Anyway, farewell Pru and thank you for your service.