Puppies attacked a chicken . . . .

OK, it finally happened. The puppies killed a chicken - well, they injured it to the point it's not moving much. Monty checked it and there are no visible flesh wounds, but I think she's got broken bones. He wants to see if it'll perk up after the shock wears off. It's a Rhode Island Red pullet - one of the babies. I'm very upset.

I knew it was coming, but I kept kidding myself that they were just being rough and hyper and playful. The would put their mouths on the chickens and hold them down and come away with a few feathers. Today they escalated. Now I have to pen the chickens back up. Tomorrow.

Everybody's ranging!

The pens are open, and the "baby" chicks are out. These babies are the ones who arrived in August, so they are 23 weeks old or so. I've been letting everyone out of the hen pen, and then rounding them back up at night, but today I've decided to let 'em all RANGE the pasture at all times.

I'm hoping we won't get any predators. Yikes. They are VERY happy chickens!

Baby Chicks are doing well!

6 Americauna mixes, 2 French Black Copper Marans, and 3 Silkie Bantams are all doing GREAT!! They produce more poop than imaginable, and they are growing like CRAZY. I love how they chirp really loudly down in the basement until I get down there and feed them in the morning, and then they are quiet and contented the rest of the day. ;-)

Today, a soggy, long-dead tree fell on the goat fence and took it down. We saw Billy and Betty go racing by the front windows like a couple of happy little puppies, and we're all like, "What the HECK??" Then we found the fence broken and had to move Betty and Billy to the old duck fence. Unfortunately there is no warm, water-proofed, straw-lined shelter out there, and it's going to get really cold tonight. Let's hope for their safety.