I was searching for Fathead minnows at the pond's edge when I looked down and noticed this beautiful moss growing on one of the big limestone rocks. Isn't it beautiful? Even the moss is showing autumn colors.
I custom ordered this decal for the chicken coop door. My goal is to remind the male types (particularly the largest one) to enter the coop quietly. Startled hens are not happy hens!
Gertie looks happy, although she did scold me for getting too close with the camera.
The chickens are enjoying this autumn day. They like searching for frogs and bugs in the cat tails. I love to sit on the lawn and just watch them forage. It gives me such a sense of contentment and peace.
That mossy rock is beautiful, good eye! Thanks for the blog assistance, I love having the photo on my home page. It is more tempting than ever to keep up on everyone's posts.
ReplyDeleteYour man storms the hen house? Why? Perhaps you need a Roopert-the-Rooster...he is in attack mode these days whenever my Jim comes around. That bird doesn't know what thin ice he treads on!
ReplyDeleteThe chickens are terribly peaceful to watch, aren't they? I love it!
Kim, I also like the photo preview. You HAVE to look!
ReplyDeleteDanni, my Jim is, how shall I put this--a bull in a China shop. He's learning to tread lightly, but new habits take time for him to pick up. Silver is not fond of him at all and start picking up sticks and tossing them on the ground whenever Jim is around. Then he crows and crows but it's not enough to scare him off! Funny, Silver doesn't mind when I'm around but I think that since I'm the one who raised the chicks (for the most part) he doesn't feel I'm a threat to the flock.
I agree, "Chicken TV" is terribly addictive. But it's a healthy addiction!
Silver picks up sticks and throws them? That's so funny! Roopert doesn't do anything nearly so clever - he just waits until Jim's back is turned and jumps him from behind. Up until now, it's been mostly chest bumping and wing flapping, but yesterday he actually ran at him and started pecking his legs. But, like with you, Roopert acts just like a big chick with me. He'll still eat out of my hand and I can sit for hours with them and he won't give me a bit of trouble. Funny, funny birds!
ReplyDeleteYes, apparently stick throwing is a sign of strength and virility amongst poultry. Go figger! I think it's comical. Silver had never tried the wing drop and tripping dance he does for the girls at us. The day he does he's in deep doo doo with me. It's a definite sign of aggression, not l'amour. A bird who drops his wing and dances at me better get ready to run a bit cause I'm going after him! So far he hasn't shown any aggressiion towards me or the boys, just Jim. That was when Jim teased him by picking up sticks and tossing them down. He made the mistake of reaching for Silver who came at him with claws extended ready to fight. I put my foot down and said no more teasing after that. Roosters don't consider themselves to be little birds. In their minds, they're bulls!
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious - you have GOT to get a video of this. I've seen absolutely no stick throwing/virility proving behavior here. And Roop isn't doing the wing drop, tripping dance for Jim ...he's running full boar at him and slamming into him...with both wings flapping. It's intense. Jim gives him the boot, which freaks me because I'm certain Roop is gonna get hurt. So far, it's only been his pride that's been wounded, but sheesh, you'd think that boy would learn!
ReplyDeleteDanni, just for you I will attempt to get a video of the stick throwing next time Jim is around Silver. It looks like nothing's going on until you see that Silver is picking up things and dropping them like he's trying to show his strength. The wing drop/tripping dance is what he uses to move wayward pullets back to the rest of the flock. It's definitely a bossy move and as long as no bird tries it on me I'm fine with it. We've never had an outright attack like you're describing though, just the subtle behaviors that can eventually lead up to it the more a rooster matures.
ReplyDeleteI love that sign! Your chickens are pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful moss picture! And yes, thanks for the help with the blogroll! It makes it look so much better and more inviting. Where did you get that sign? I would love to have one for my coop door which also has a window on half.
ReplyDeleteSusan, a lady (chickenzoo) on BYC is selling them in the "Buy Sell Trade Everything Else section of the BYC forum. It is a big decal and cost $10 but she sells smaller ones for $8. She does good work!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the wind is blowing. I love the sound it makes as it moves through the grass and the tree tops. Yes, it looks peaceful to me too!
ReplyDeleteKathie, Although I call our property "12 Acres" on this blog, the real name is "Whispering Pines". Grandma loved the way the wind sounded as it blew through the pine trees and I do too.
ReplyDeleteI love both your farm names! I especially love "Whispering Pines". It reminds me of camping out west.
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