Pearl, the Amazing Chicken 2-19-11

Here's an amazing chicken story. Pearl is a one-of-a-kind chicken. Yesterday, Parke moved the fencing in the yard to keep the chickens off the patio and surrounding flower beds. Pearl is notorious for flying over fences and scratching up the flowers/bulbs. Parke put a little higher fence up to hopefully prevent Pearl's destruction. Parke then was reading on the patio. After a little while, Pearl came walking across the driveway to get to the patio and flower beds. SHE HAD GOTTEN OVER THE FENCE AT THE OTHER END OF THE YARD AND WALKED AROUND THE HOUSE!!!!

Pearl is the only chicken that has laid eggs all winter. For many weeks, we got one egg a day, from our faithful leghorn. In the last week, two others have started to lay. Winter must be over soon for them to start laying again.

Ice Storm 2-2-11

Parke cleared ice away and put down dry dirt for the chickens. They are the most spoiled chickens in the world.

Finn and File Cabinet 1-31-11

In our renovations, we moved a file cabinet upstairs. Finn helped, as Zippy supervised.

Finn Napping 1-31-11

All that fur and he took a nap beside the coal stove.

Finn Doesn't Fit 1-29-11

Finn doesn't realize he has outgrown this little piece of cat furniture. He fit on it fine as a kitten. Cats can sleep in any position.

And it's right in front of the coal stove. Does he not have enough fur to stay warm?

Zippy, Baby and Finn Nap on Condo 1-8-11

Poor Ellie Jan 6-8, 11

Had a little problem with Ellie. She had some diarrhea, which left all her many back/butt/leg feathers a caked mess. Decided on Thursday to give her a bath. She was such a good girl. She just stood there and did not try to fly away. She just squawked the whole time. Some of my other hens would not have put up with this.

I couldn't get her clean, so I started cutting off feathers. Sprayed her with hydrogen peroxide, covered skin with Balmex (diaper rash cream) to sooth her skin. She stayed in the bathroom till today. Saturday morning I bathed off the cream (so it wouldn't freeze when I put her back outside). She stayed inside till this afternoon when she was all dry.

She is now quaranteened from the other chickens for a few days. She needs to heal up a little so she isn't pecked (even to death) by the other girls. Chickens will kill a bird that isn't normal. So to play it safe, she is in the 6' x10' kennel that is beside the other chicken area.

This video is her voicing her opinion about this situation.