Chicken Tid Bits & Other Things

Why Does a Rooster Crow

Cock-a-doodle-do! It's what most people think of as the crow of the cocky rooster just before daybreak. Cartoon roosters always crow at dawn. But most real roosters sound off at sunrise and beyond. And a threatening nearby train noise might spark his crowing as much as the sight of an advancing predator.

 This morning I heard Cornelius, the name given by Mary Agnes to Rooster shortly prior to 5:00 AM. He's quite a sight to observe during the day. When the kids, as we call them are out of their pen Cornelius will alert them to bugs he observes and stand over the object until a hen appears. He has 14 hens he's responsible for, and he does a great job. They are not out of their pen every day. They are only let out sometime after 3:00 PM. The reason for this, chickens love to dig holes and the back yard would look like the surface of the moon if they were out all day. Their pen is quite spacious, measuring 25 x 60 ft. When they have the entire back yard to roam in, it's almost an acre in size. Their coop is a manufactured one, built by the Amish in the Lancaster, PA area. The coop is heated in the winter by use of a red heating bulb hung above their water which will not freeze.

Over the years we have had numerous Roosters. There were some that an international tribunal would have brought up on charges. One in particular was Saddam Hussein, he was brought up on charges for stalking and attacking from behind. He was just downright nasty and was sentenced to death by neck wringing. A quick propeller like motion while flinging the nasty bird over ones head. May God rest his miserable sole. The Nasty Rooster! Chicken soup is very good this time of year.

Below is a picture of their coop and Cornelius.

The lifted lid to the left of the coop covers six laying box's. This morning at 8:15 AM I collected a dozen eggs.

Once again the chickens came out a little wary as the ground was covered in a good frost. When it snows I have to shovel paths for them to get to their outside feed trough. The outside trough is their AM treat. this mornings treat was some Gouda cheese mixed with their Layer Crumbles and Scratch Grain. Inside the Coop is a Large trough with more food. I have Cornelius and the girls accustomed to my Bumpety Bump Bump knock each morning when I unlock their door. You can hear the scurrying down from their perch as I unlock their door. They exit each day in great anticipation and scurry off to the trough for their AM treat.

And for them their day begins.

December 21, 2013

Today our weather turned warm, the last I checked it was 57 deg., not bad for December 20'th.  Late afternoon brought the Hallmark channel back to the TV. Yes Mary Agnes is home and the wonderful climatic romance adorns the screen meant for Sports, News and Weather. Sam Face Timed last night to chit chat with Granny. The kids from Columbus, MS have but a good night's sleep prior to heading off to Maryland. In rout they will stop in Wilmington, NC to visit Aunt Della and family. That would be the Baird family which also consits of Mitch, Austin and Eli. Della is one of Kathy's closest friend from her school days in Vernon, CT.

Another Quilt by Mary Agnes

This was Rachael's Birthday Gift from Granny and I.  I paid for the material and Granny did all the work.   This was given to Rachel a bit early on Thanksgiving. With it being a Christmas themed quilt we wanted Rachael to have for the entire Holiday season. She was quite surprised and appreciated the early gift.

December 22, 2013

Today was muck day for the Chicken Coop. After emptying all the manure, Chicken Shit for those that really understand, half a bale of pine shavings are spread about the floor. Muck day comes a little more frequently in the winter than summer. They bed down earlier, on their own I might add due to lack of sunlight. They go in to roost around 5:00 PM in the winter and 8:00 PM in the summer. I tend to let them out earlier in the summer also. We lock their door each night to keep predators out, should they get over the fence.

I took some eggs and a card over to the Culp/Kolb household this AM. Seems they have an influx of family this time of the year, some from as far away as Japan. I was met on the porch by a hug from Miss Agatha and that is always a grand start to the day. The chickens will be happy to note that their grunting and groaning has gone to a good cause.

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Tonight we go out for dinner to our daughter Sarah's for dinner. Dee Lataille will be in as she treks up to CT for the holidays , coincidently also from Wilmington, NC. Dee was also a neighbor and class mate of Sarah's from Vernon, CT.  The Weather Gods predicted a high today of 70 deg., it's now peak sun time and it's only 65 deg.  I thinks that,s all we're getting from the sun today, but it's still nice.

Where in the World is Jeff Berthiaume?

Yep, That where he be. He is home from Barbados and he and Kathy got out of the house to do a little shopping. Seems the cleaning lady was coming in to tidy things up for the kids from Mississippi.

Thats all Folks. I'll try and get back to you before the fat little guy gets down the Chimney.

Semper Fi