My Birdy Buddy

Spike and I were hanging out the other day watching some late night TV.


















He's a wild Junco that flew into our greenhouse window last year. He had broken his wing -you can see in the picture his right wing is droopy- and smashed his beak, which has grown back crooked.

He's not only survived but thrived in captivity. In the evenings when he gets antsy I let him out to explore my bedroom. He flies around a bit but always returns to his cage, which makes me feel good. He must see it as his safe place.

In the mornings he and Bruno the Zebra Finch have singing contests. Since I got Bruno, Spike's songs have gotten longer and more complex. Spike has an oh so sweet little voice, very quiet but unbelievably beautiful. Bruno modeled his song after the ringtone on my phone. He's a noisy little guy, but very cute!

Dinosaurs make too much noise!

Good gravy, ok so I was watching Primevil, a show on BBCA (I love British TV) it's about rifts opening between the past, present, and future, and creatures- such as dinosaurs -wandering into our time. Great premise right? I though so.



A pet peeve of mine is that astists conception of dinosaurs are really innacurate, they're always running around top speed, fighting and roaring, now honestly have you seen reptiles? Like at the zoo, or in Mexico, or the southwest? I have, and let me tell you, they were not running around fighting and roaring. They spend a good chunk of their time chilling out. Watch an iguana for an hour and the you can count the times he blinks on one hand.



And fighting? I was lucky enough to see an iguana fight in Mexico. It was under the boardwalk in Chankanaab on Cozumel Island. It was a lot of posturing and some hissing, not even as loud as a cat. It was fierce enough, and they can move really quick, but nothing like the roaring ridiculousness you see on TV.



Sadly Primevil has fallen into the nosiy trap of roaring growling, hissing, and hunting everything in sight. Animals aren't so silly as to hunt something they can't take down or taking such huge risks in hunting like diving through plate glass windows. Ok some of them are, but that's usually teenage predators who are full of hormones.



So I'm watching and they have giant spiders on the show and what do the spiders do? They snap, hiss and chatter. Sigh.

Relief!

I took my kitty Esmerelda (Izzy) into the vet this morning.



She's been having ear trouble since Monday. She was obiously sore and didn't feel well, she took the stairs one step at a time instead of flying up at light speed.



I'm not one to rush an animal to the vet at the drop of a hat. I like to know what's going on first, but I flatter myself that I know the difference between an emergency and something that will clear itself up or that I can treat at home. I have a pretty fair assortment of vet supplies, and I've treated quite a few different conditions.

But I was not eager to mess with her ears, if you don't know if it's mites, bacteria, fungus or other you can't treat effectively. And if you don't know if the eardrum is comprimised anything you use could cause permanant damage.


The other day she was sitting in bed with me and when she shook her head she left a spray of blood across the wall. I looked and it seemed that she had scratched it open not that it was coming from the eardrum or inner ear but still, I was worried.



So in we went today. The vet did a short exam first and I could see she didn't really think it was mites or an infection, but she did have some gunk in her sore ear so she got ready to clean it out and was going to run some tests. As she was cleaning the first flap that you see as you look in the ear, it ripped apart. It's about 1/2" long cut into the cartalige. Ouch, poor girl!



Neither of us had seen it to begin with because it had sealed itself back into place. The cut looked clean and wasn't infected (YAY!) but she disinfected and sealed it with a liquid adhesive and gave her an antibiotic shot. Total cost $83. Not bad at all, and so worth it for my little girl.



We did her annual shots too so she doesn't have to go back in. We're home now and after being denied going outside she went upstairs and is moping. She was so unhappy about not being let out last night so she pushed Kip's camera down the stairs and around the floor. I have a feeling she's going to be ok.

First Ice

One thing about living on a working farm is it really keeps you in touch with what is happening in nature every single day. Farm animals require certain care and as the weather gets tougher the to-do list does too.

Sunday morning was the first time this year we had ice in the waterers... and the stock tank... and the pond.

The waterers are plastic, so the ice in the base pops out like an ice cube, easy right? I bet you're conjuring images of a cocktail or a refreshing glass of lemonade. Not quite, it's 30 degrees out- not too bad, but not comfortable- and bare fingers first thing in the morning do not want to be digging into muddy chicken water. Too bad fingers!

Out comes the ice but the spout is frozen anyway, so the 3 waterers get dragged into the house to thaw under hot water in the laundy tub. Full of water they're about 25 pounds each and akward to carry. But good grief the chickies NEED water, so rain, snow, sleet or ice fog, the waterers must be filled!

So what's the pay off? Being forced into the cold I see things I never would otherwise.

Rabbits playing in the frost, sparrows huddled under the pine tree fluffed up from the cold, the way the light turns golden in the afternoon. I love it, I love the silence in the frozen morning, I love the wind through the bare branches and I love the patterns the ice makes in the stock tank.

Yes winter is difficult, but it's also so very beautiful.

Chicken Hugs are the best!

Whenever I'm stressed or just tired I love to go out to the coop and get the best medicine, a great big chicken hug.

I love it when the flock sees me and comes running, the sound of 30 some pairs of feet pounding the ground at full speed always makes me giggle. Usually I pick a spot in the grass, preferably free of poo, but whatever, sit down and instantly have 4 or 5 hens climb onto my lap while the rest of the flock settles in around me like I'm going to tell them a bedtime story.

There are those who just like to sit on my jeans and don't care if I touch them or not, but most want the contact and will snuggle up around me or try to roost on my shoulders. Hazel and Lucy especially demand attention and will peck me in the sides if I'm not paying attention to them, so they get first hugs. Once they're satisfied they're still loved they'll settle in and watch the goings on in the yard.

But Ella is my snuggliest hen by far. She wants to be right up next to me snuggling up under my arms or against my shoulder. She loves it when I tuck her head under my chin and give her a little squeeze. Her happy mumblings always make me smile.