tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33632273310393204252024-03-17T03:55:31.725-05:00Randy's Chicken BlogHipster hens, wonder eggs, and the meaning of life. Everything chicken!Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-74441834418739432822018-07-13T16:42:00.001-05:002020-09-08T15:30:46.429-05:00Randy's Chicken Blog Has Moved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span face="" style="font-size: large;">Well, Randy's Chicken Blog followers, this is it. This is my last post on the old website. I've moved from Blogger to a brand-new platform with a new domain name. I feel like I've barely moved in at the new site--there's still a lot of stuff in boxes--luckily they are all virtual boxes. My new home is with Squarespace. Making the move is a bit of work, but ultimately, Randy's Chicken Blog will have a fresh new look with a lot more functionality! Go on over and take a look! Like it says in the picture, the address is <a href="http://randyschickenblog.squarespace.com/">randyschickenblog.squarespace.com</a> .</span></span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-size: large;">Need to check out the info from one of my old posts? For the time being, all the old stuff will continue to be archived right here!</span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-57930372192576259082018-07-13T11:53:00.000-05:002018-07-13T11:53:29.439-05:00Meet the Flock Roundup - May & June 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The latest bit of
paraphernalia that I've added to the coop to keep the girls entertained is a
small mirror. Here Moe the Faverolles takes a quick look to make sure her
feathers are all attractively in place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pippi & Squawky
the Speckled Sussex hens like having the winter insulation panels gone from
around the coop. Now they can see out into the great wide world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s Mary the
Campine and Squawky the Sussex sharing a nest box. Lest you think that these
two are best of friends who like to spend time together laying eggs while
talking about their favorite brand of mealworms, new trends in roosts, and the
latest coop gossip, let me tell you right away that this was an invasion. Mary
was just sitting there engaged in the business of egg production when the young
upstart, Squawky, impudently hopped right in and settled down beside her –
And would not leave despite Mary’s loudest protests. Then, insult to injury,
Squawky snagged the golf ball! There’s a golf ball in each nest box to remind
everybody that the nest boxes are where all things round and white should go.
They are actually a very popular item—each hen spends a good deal of time
getting the golf ball in just the right spot before settling on top of it. So,
it was shockingly rude when Squawky poked her head under Mary and used her beak
to roll the ball from under Mary and over to her side of the box. But in spite
of her outrage, Mary seemed to be in it for the long haul and when I took this
picture with my phone she was hunkered down with a determined and tenacious
clench to her beak. Later I came back and both hens were gone, but there was a
brown egg and a small white egg in the nest box. Mission accomplished, ladies!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mary knows that to
get the choicest bugs, one has to do some scratching to get under the leaf
litter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Emile exudes
roosterly honesty and intelligence in this shot, don’t you think? If he ever
runs for public office, he definitely should use this pic for his campaign
poster!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday's
adventure: I was stacking wood when I heard sudden, terrified chicken noises
coming from the big chicken run - so I dropped my armful of firewood &
dashed over to the run. There were only three hens in the entire half-acre run.
Squawky the Sussex was calmly scratching through the leaf litter and eating
bugs. Meanwhile, Moe and Paula, the two Faverolles hens, were standing on the
far side of the run, fixing their vision on something in the woods on the other
side of the fence, and filling the air with fearful cackles. From my vantage
point I couldn't see anything in the woods. But it is a fact that chickens have
very keen eyesight. It's also a fact that chickens have a brain about the size
of a marble, and I wasn't sure which fact was at play here. So, I walked around
the outside perimeter of the fence to the spot that was terrifying the
chickens. There was nothing there. Then a totally camouflaged baby fawn jumped
up from the leaves right at my feet and ran off into the ferns. Thus, Paula and
Moe proved that they can see stuff that is totally invisible to me. But last I
checked, fawns are not ravenous chicken predators. In the end, I guess both
keen vision and marble-sized brains were at play here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may remember my
string of posts last year chronicling the story of Betty the Easter Egger. In a
nutshell, Betty started getting lame. My best guess was that she suffered from
a tumor that was pressing on a nerve. In addition to becoming lame, she did
something remarkable--she stopped laying eggs, her hackle feathers became long
and pointed, her comb became very large, and then she started crowing. My first
blog post on Betty was in September of last year and is called, <a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-life-and-times-of-betty-transgender.html">"The
Life and Times of Betty the Transgender Chicken."</a> The story with Betty
is no doubt the same as similar documented cases. Something, perhaps a tumor in
Betty's case, interfered with her ovary, and when the ovary stopped producing
estrogen, she became masculine. It happens! Well, the update is that Betty is
still with us, and still in the news. She is still very lame and still has the
large comb and rooster hackles, but her posture and attitude have become much
more hen-like. And last week she started laying! Sometimes the process reverses
itself, and it certainly has in Betty's case. She can't get herself in the
high-up nest boxes, but there are some floor-level boxes for the Silkies.
They're small, but as you can see here, they work for Betty!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paulette, Nicky, and
Marissa the Cream Legbar hens know that the choicest bugs live under the leaf
pile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s my good pal,
Squawky the Sussex – aka Squawkarino aka The Squawkster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sammy casts a
coquettish look over her shoulder.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-12895300218462178752018-06-03T00:21:00.000-05:002018-06-12T22:00:33.753-05:00A Carton of Eggs: Part 5—Vital Farms Organic Pasture-Raised Eggs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">An
egg carton: Great for keeping a dozen fragile eggs grouped together and cushioned.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Also, great as a
blank canvas that can be filled with written and visual messages.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This is the fifth in a series of articles
about all that info printed on an egg carton.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also
in this series:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-carton-of-eggs-part-1-hipster-hen.html">Part
1 - Hipster Hen Wonder Eggs</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/a-carton-of-eggs-part-2-aldis-goldhen.html">Part
2 – ALDI’s Goldhen Farm Fresh Eggs</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-carton-of-eggs-part-3-wild-harvest.html">Part
3 - Wild Harvest Cage Free Large Brown Eggs</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-carton-of-eggs-part-4-locally-laid.html">Part
4 – Locally Laid Eggs</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For
my fifth venture into egg carton messaging, I picked up a dozen eggs from Vital
Farms at my local Whole Foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I first
heard about Austin, Texas based Vital Farms when I ran across their <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/VitalFarms">very
amusing and spot-on ad on the net. </a></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to being really funny, this ad
calls “bullsh*t” (their word choice!) on all those eggs labeled “cage free.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you buy eggs with “cage-free” stamped on
the carton, you probably think you’re doing the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cage-free eggs <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> a huge improvement from eggs that come from hens living in
tiny, cramped battery cage torture chambers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as Vital Farms points out in its ad, hens laying cage free eggs probably
live in one square foot of space in a cramped barn and never get to go
outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vital Farms advertises its eggs
as “pasture raised” and guarantees that each hen gets 108 square feet of
outdoor space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These seemed like my kind
of eggs, so I bought some and then took a look at the information on the
carton.</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zz0PVDgekYk/WxNofbwRmQI/AAAAAAAACxo/db80t8F8z-A9wLO7Rs4ovnE4PRYMEUn6QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Carton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zz0PVDgekYk/WxNofbwRmQI/AAAAAAAACxo/db80t8F8z-A9wLO7Rs4ovnE4PRYMEUn6QCEwYBhgL/s640/Carton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
top of the carton shows drawings of two hens and a few explanatory words and
phrases:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The company</b>, “Vital Farms, est. 2007”; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the product</b>, “Organic Pasture-Raised (Vital Farms also sells
Non-GMO Pasture-Raised and Al Fresco Pasture-Raised eggs); and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the contents</b>, “12 Eggs – Large Grade A
Eggs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, there are the
phrases, “Girls on Grass” and "Free to Forage.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More about those later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
remaining space is filled with simple drawings of flowers, plants, and
vines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The botanical design follows the
same rustic theme that every other egg carton I’ve written about or ever seen
in a supermarket follows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consumers
obviously like to be presented with rural imagery when they shop for eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have seen though, that the hens that laid
the eggs in the cartons festooned with rural imagery have often spent their
entire lives in a cage or locked indoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What did the Vital Farms hens experience?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read on and I’ll tell you what I could find
out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7vnNkVHNAo/WxNrff4D4zI/AAAAAAAACyM/-AZVJ6EBxts9IU7QUlrPUQnKIJHCI-ewgCLcBGAs/s1600/logos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7vnNkVHNAo/WxNrff4D4zI/AAAAAAAACyM/-AZVJ6EBxts9IU7QUlrPUQnKIJHCI-ewgCLcBGAs/s640/logos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There
are a few phrases scattered around the carton that seem to be mostly about the
Vital Farms copy writers having a good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy copy writers are okay, actually, as long
as the hens are happy, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Free to
Forage” is one example of a pleasant little phrase that just sort of tumbles
off your tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But does it mean
anything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, yes. Vital Farms' eggs
are all pasture raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Pasture-Raised,”
which is incorporated right into the name, is the main selling point. And that's the reason, Vital Farms will tell you, why their eggs are better than your
average egg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Free to Forage” is just
another clever way to say that the Vital Farms hens are happily wandering
around a pasture every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there’s
“Girls on Grass.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another happy little
word nugget!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And again, it’s the very
same story—these hens spend their days hanging out in the great outdoors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWAUv1u9FFY/WxNowwDeCWI/AAAAAAAACyA/gQ_ooJ0x8Xs6uwWo_HnTNVZB-gmI9rcjACEwYBhgL/s1600/Tended%2Bby%2BHand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1600" height="158" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWAUv1u9FFY/WxNowwDeCWI/AAAAAAAACyA/gQ_ooJ0x8Xs6uwWo_HnTNVZB-gmI9rcjACEwYBhgL/s640/Tended%2Bby%2BHand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
then there’s the phrase “Tended by hand on small family farms,” which conjures in
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my </i>mind an image of a woman in a
gingham dress and white apron scattering grain in the hen yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kudos to the copy writer who created this enchanting
phrase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assume what it really means is
that the economics of smaller flocks dictates less automation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you only have a couple thousand hens at a
given farm as opposed to the few million that a factory farm might have, you
probably opt for a less fancy machine for distributing the chicken feed, for
example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of a
computer-controlled auger system, you maybe pull a wagon-load of chicken feed
out to the chicken barn behind your tractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can you use a tractor and still say that you're tending your chickens by
hand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to give them the benefit
of the doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And are there really no
bachelor farmers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say all the
farmers have families, and again, I’m just going to trust them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzciJDGB2O4/WxNooVXiIOI/AAAAAAAACx4/z8aINSHeYNYYdGAlF1PZ9JXeAjSsrRkZACEwYBhgL/s1600/USDA%2BOrganic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="973" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzciJDGB2O4/WxNooVXiIOI/AAAAAAAACx4/z8aINSHeYNYYdGAlF1PZ9JXeAjSsrRkZACEwYBhgL/s320/USDA%2BOrganic.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On
the back of the carton there’s a whole string of certification labels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one on the left is the USDA Organic
label.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all Vital Farms eggs have the
USDA Organic label on the carton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
they explain on their website, they follow the tenets of organic farming in
producing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all </i>of their eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But since hens do need supplemental feed in addition
to their pasture forage, the difference is that the hens producing the “Organic
Pasture Raised Eggs” are fed certified organic feed and the hens producing the “Al
Fresco Pasture Raised Eggs” are fed less expensive feed that has not gone
through the official certification process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that’s the only difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you feel, with everything else being the same, that a certified organic diet
for the hens is an important thing, it's definitely worth it for you to spend
the extra money to buy the eggs with the USDA Organic label.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
is a good place, though, for me to point out that not all egg brands carrying the
USDA Organic label are pasture raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of the requirements egg producers have to meet in order to qualify for the organic
label is that their hens have access to fresh air and sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would think that this requirement would
demand that the hens be able to go outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most organic egg producers interpret the rule this way and allow their
hens into large runs or onto pasture. But a few producers skirt this regulation
by providing a roofed concrete slab with screened walls. Fresh air certainly
penetrates the screens, as does sunshine. But there’s no soil for the hens to
scratch at or dust-bathe in, and the area is completely devoid of any kind of vegetation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not really outdoors at all—it’s a big
indoor room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the egg
producers engaging in this dishonest practice are few in number, they’re all large
“factory farms” so they produce a bazillion eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
comes down to this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you rather buy
a carton of eggs laid by hens who spend their day foraging in a pasture like every
Vital Farms hen does, or a carton of eggs from hens confined indoors with tons of other hens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a preference, you can’t rely the
USDA Organic label to guide your choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both cartons will carry it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
year, after years of review, the USDA was ready to change its rules to
eliminate this loophole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same
dishonest egg producers who keep their hens indoors lobbied to prevent the rule
change and the USDA ultimately killed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(If you would like to find out the whole scoop on organic eggs, read my
recent blog post <a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-short-history-of-organic-eggs_9.html">“A
Short History of Organic Eggs.”</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZP65nQl9mY/WxNoMWNOOrI/AAAAAAAACxk/OEqZqrphjdwDMaJcGhW6GHE0X9rYIM0AgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Certified%2BHumane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1082" height="276" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZP65nQl9mY/WxNoMWNOOrI/AAAAAAAACxk/OEqZqrphjdwDMaJcGhW6GHE0X9rYIM0AgCEwYBhgL/s320/Certified%2BHumane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To
the right of the USDA Organic label is another label that's a much better
indicator of hen welfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Certified
Humane label appears on food products that meet the standards of <a href="https://certifiedhumane.org/">Humane Farm Animal Care</a>, an
organization endorsed by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Cruelty_to_Animals" title="American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals">American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humane_Society_of_the_United_States" title="Humane Society of the United States">Humane Society of the United States</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since there are no good federal government
standards or certifications for animal welfare, there are a number of
certifying organizations that have sprung up to fill that void. There is, of
course, a gradient in the stringency of the certifications of the various organizations and differences in
what they cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-carton-of-eggs-part-3-wild-harvest.html">I
listed the certifying agencies and the gradient of stringency in a previous
blog post.</a> Certified Humane falls somewhere in the upper half of that
gradient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://certifiedhumane.org/wp-content/uploads/Std18.Layers.3A-5.pdf">Certified
Humane regulations</a> mandate that flocks designated as “Pasture-Raised” be
provided year-round pasture at no more than 1000 birds per 2.5 acres and that the
fields must be regularly rotated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With pasture
rotation and that amount of space, the pastures should never become overgrazed
and the hens should always be able to peck away at green stuff to their heart’s
content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vital Farms locates all of its
farms in the southern part of the US in order to meet the requirement for
year-round pasture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are any number
of egg companies with hens on pasture in the northern part of the country, but
obviously, in the wintertime those hens are indoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you live in the north, your dilemma is
choosing between local eggs from hens that are confined indoors in the winter
due to dictates of the climate, or non-local eggs such as Vital Farms where the
hens get to be on pasture year-round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OJmFlN36dJg/WxNnv881jfI/AAAAAAAACw0/BASbq4GKCdc46xNYN-48kWedLrW1R4YoQCEwYBhgL/s1600/108%2Bsq%2Bft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="775" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OJmFlN36dJg/WxNnv881jfI/AAAAAAAACw0/BASbq4GKCdc46xNYN-48kWedLrW1R4YoQCEwYBhgL/s320/108%2Bsq%2Bft.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vital
Farms makes a big deal about the 108 square feet of pasture that each of their
hens gets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is truly a humane and sustainable flock
density.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But why 108?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the Certified Humane standard is 1000
birds per 2.5 acres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do the math,
that comes out to 108 square feet per chicken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That standard, officially the “British Free-Range Standard” was researched
and developed by the <a href="https://www.soilassociation.org/organic-living/organic-food/organic-eggs/">Soil
Association</a>, a British sustainable farming organization founded in 1946 that
determined 1000 chickens per hectare (a hectare is 2.5 acres) was the maximum allowable
density to maintain healthy, sustainable, chemical-free pasture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chickens are allowed on a section of pasture
for one to three weeks and as they forage, they fertilize and aerate the
soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they’re moved to another
section while that section regrows—a truly sustainable system that results in
sustainable, healthy land and healthy, happy hens!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AY-d_lAxxiQ/WxNnvkCf6TI/AAAAAAAACww/gk06IEjcVMU7uRLNmQLNq30SKr97eaMiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/CA%2BSEFS%2BCompliant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="1428" height="90" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AY-d_lAxxiQ/WxNnvkCf6TI/AAAAAAAACww/gk06IEjcVMU7uRLNmQLNq30SKr97eaMiwCEwYBhgL/s320/CA%2BSEFS%2BCompliant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In
2008 California voters passed Proposition 2, which mandated better treatment
for the hens that laid any eggs sold in California.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2016/08/edging-away-from-cruel-eggs-californias.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(I
wrote a series of posts about Prop 2 and how it affected the egg industry.) </span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a result of Prop 2 and other legislation
enacted in California, any eggs sold there must comply with a number of
standards </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">regardless of if they were produced in California or somewhere
else. </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The CA SEFS (California Shell Egg Food Safety) label on a carton
indicates that the eggs in that carton meet that standard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How
do egg producers have to treat their hens to earn the right to that CA SEFS
label?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language in Prop 2 was
vague—it simply required that hens have enough room to fully extend their limbs
and turn around freely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Prop 2
passed, there was a lot of skirmishing between animal welfare advocates and large-scale
factory-farm egg producers regarding what the actual space requirement should
be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, when the dust settled, the
new regulations gave hens 116 square inches per bird. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Battery caged hens spend their lives with 67
square inches of space - a space about equivalent to two egg cartons. CA SEFS
hens get not quite four egg cartons worth of space. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pasture-raised eggs obviously have no problem
meeting the requirements necessary for sale in California.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vital
Farms is clearly in the business of selling ideas as well as eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That becomes apparent when you flip open the egg
carton and find not only a dozen eggs, but also a lot more text.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having filled the entire outside of the
carton with their message, they still felt the need to say more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This message needs no further explanation
from me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj_TtNMTdjY/WxNo7HNOTLI/AAAAAAAACyE/rjSM6XodGUUgxwQ3vicl8gMmsvs19_lJACEwYBhgL/s1600/Inside%2BCarton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pj_TtNMTdjY/WxNo7HNOTLI/AAAAAAAACyE/rjSM6XodGUUgxwQ3vicl8gMmsvs19_lJACEwYBhgL/s640/Inside%2BCarton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
then there’s this:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwXggRZHW9k/WxNo1T1_88I/AAAAAAAACyA/XE7fNkpqPqInBeNa8oCiTGbEr8-Fb-FoACEwYBhgL/s1600/roam%2Band%2Bforage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="1600" height="126" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CwXggRZHW9k/WxNo1T1_88I/AAAAAAAACyA/XE7fNkpqPqInBeNa8oCiTGbEr8-Fb-FoACEwYBhgL/s640/roam%2Band%2Bforage.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You’ve
got to love a company that cares as much about selling ideas as selling eggs—that
wants to be successful as a business enterprise, but also wants to save the
planet.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vital Farms is doing everything
right!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once enough of us are buying eggs
from Vital Farms and other egg companies like them that produce humane and sustainable
pasture-raised eggs, even the large factory-farm egg producers will take notice
and change their practices.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that
would be great!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For all of us!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the planet! And the hens!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-90877805051768036892018-05-01T18:11:00.000-05:002018-05-02T10:44:57.636-05:00Meet the Flock Roundup - March & April 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmDxMLwYYUE/WuncyRv0tMI/AAAAAAAACv0/dw6CaTQKkFkpic44-XM46oZ42pW6fzyZQCLcBGAs/s1600/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmDxMLwYYUE/WuncyRv0tMI/AAAAAAAACv0/dw6CaTQKkFkpic44-XM46oZ42pW6fzyZQCLcBGAs/s640/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmxLPpNza5E/WujYu5uxZnI/AAAAAAAACu4/dv7ty2fk9s8tfyxtzYLk8aDSDibHBF_awCEwYBhgL/s1600/Moe%2B2017-10-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1600" height="614" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmxLPpNza5E/WujYu5uxZnI/AAAAAAAACu4/dv7ty2fk9s8tfyxtzYLk8aDSDibHBF_awCEwYBhgL/s640/Moe%2B2017-10-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Moe the Salmon Faverolles saunters
through the tractor alley in the pole barn. I let the girls into this normally
chicken-free space occasionally in the winter to break the monotony. On warm
days I open the pop door to the chicken run whereupon all the hens rush to the
door, take one look out and exclaim, “What?? There’s still snow out there!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why would we go out there?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPgUhvxES_A/WujY0rrjBTI/AAAAAAAACu4/SHQiUQKOp9wFMwGZKUJPbmo0mp6Poh6DwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paula%2B2017-10-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1600" height="528" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPgUhvxES_A/WujY0rrjBTI/AAAAAAAACu4/SHQiUQKOp9wFMwGZKUJPbmo0mp6Poh6DwCEwYBhgL/s640/Paula%2B2017-10-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s Moe’s friend, Paula the other Salmon
Faverolles pullet. One of her normal features is wet chin feathers—her feather
“beard” is long and tends to dangle in the water when she drinks. So, a
dry-bearded Paula is a truly a rare and momentous occasion and worthy of a
photograph!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VqidHRaEdU/WujZBsdI26I/AAAAAAAACvA/oTtRzTUgF68V78kYTZwerSZ38Pwa4LrQQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Rose%2B%25282%2529%2B2017-10-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1586" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VqidHRaEdU/WujZBsdI26I/AAAAAAAACvA/oTtRzTUgF68V78kYTZwerSZ38Pwa4LrQQCEwYBhgL/s640/Rose%2B%25282%2529%2B2017-10-01.jpg" width="634" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rose the Golden Laced Wyandotte pullet
was standoffish as a chick, but as a young adult is so underfoot when I go into
the coop that I have to be careful not to trip right over her. Is she just super-friendly
or is she trying to do me in?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8puDOmNMxhc/WujZCokNmVI/AAAAAAAACvE/uFD8cZTMlrIrcqY1igmok1SPD7KVFdsBACEwYBhgL/s1600/Rose%2B2017-10-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1591" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8puDOmNMxhc/WujZCokNmVI/AAAAAAAACvE/uFD8cZTMlrIrcqY1igmok1SPD7KVFdsBACEwYBhgL/s640/Rose%2B2017-10-01.jpg" width="636" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s one more shot of sweet and lovely
Rosie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gxYstmpmdk8/WujZMVeRPhI/AAAAAAAACvM/QNF_i7V56Lopo9QyKbzWNGh-cBoOk2cMACEwYBhgL/s1600/Nicky%2Bin%2Bpole%2Bbarn%2B2018-04-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gxYstmpmdk8/WujZMVeRPhI/AAAAAAAACvM/QNF_i7V56Lopo9QyKbzWNGh-cBoOk2cMACEwYBhgL/s640/Nicky%2Bin%2Bpole%2Bbarn%2B2018-04-15.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nicky the Cream Legbar wanders around
the pole barn and thinks wistfully of being outside. Someday all this snow will
go away and spring will really come!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WUVK9n8mXhc/WujZWVr0P2I/AAAAAAAACvU/GFoopYkq1CcKf5AkQD_83LITLKSQN_4DACEwYBhgL/s1600/Snowball%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1290" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WUVK9n8mXhc/WujZWVr0P2I/AAAAAAAACvU/GFoopYkq1CcKf5AkQD_83LITLKSQN_4DACEwYBhgL/s640/Snowball%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="516" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My little buddy, Snowball the Silkie
Rooster, passed away in April. I like to imagine that he’s now in a place where
the grass is soft, the ground is covered with treats, all chickens free range
in lush meadows, and it is always springtime. He held a special place in my
coop and my heart. The Hipster Hens and I are all going to miss him. </span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-40221141776762659672018-04-22T10:13:00.000-05:002018-04-22T10:13:24.953-05:00When Your Hen Dies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkkxfuK_CME/WtVixoN5IXI/AAAAAAAACsY/JWC_xhFyRFMo2pQQVzDIytuJY_tggabWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkkxfuK_CME/WtVixoN5IXI/AAAAAAAACsY/JWC_xhFyRFMo2pQQVzDIytuJY_tggabWQCEwYBhgL/s640/Title.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I dedicate this post to the memory of Snowball the Silkie Rooster, whose good and happy life in my coop ended just last week. And to <span style="color: black;">Arlene,
Emily, Courtney, Angitou, Buffy, Willow, Veronica, and Charlie - all of whom passed within the last 12 months.</span> It’s been a tough year for the flock—and for
me.</span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N8FmpIPQ0R4/WtVioNm5tTI/AAAAAAAACss/U6MydfLA9kU07POWpuEM2g-V575KN2vSQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Arlene%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N8FmpIPQ0R4/WtVioNm5tTI/AAAAAAAACss/U6MydfLA9kU07POWpuEM2g-V575KN2vSQCEwYBhgL/s640/Arlene%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Arlene</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was a hen who
lived in a coop in your backyard.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now
she’s gone.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her death surprised you, but
what surprised you even more is the sense of emptiness and sadness you feel after her passing.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There’s an
unpleasant fact about keeping chickens that you probably didn’t think about
when you first brought home your little peeping bundles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That someday they would die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody likes to talk about it, but it’s
something that you can’t ignore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
have chickens, you’ve no doubt become attached, and sooner or later you’ll have
to deal with their deaths.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nf6yK7n6d6g/WtVi-lLK22I/AAAAAAAACs0/apuPuPEdt9QpvgOXxG1k5ygGTxgN_7YewCEwYBhgL/s1600/Emily%2B-%2BBlack%252C%2Bfluffy%2Band%2Benigmatic%2B2017-05-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1600" height="490" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nf6yK7n6d6g/WtVi-lLK22I/AAAAAAAACs0/apuPuPEdt9QpvgOXxG1k5ygGTxgN_7YewCEwYBhgL/s640/Emily%2B-%2BBlack%252C%2Bfluffy%2Band%2Benigmatic%2B2017-05-28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Emily</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We get backyard
chickens for a variety of reasons.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It
usually starts with eggs and self-sufficiency and being responsible and
knowledgeable about the food we eat.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, inevitably, we discover that these birds we’ve acquired are
interesting, and amazing.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And each one
has its own distinct personality!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our
reasons for having them shifts to exactly the same reasons we own pets.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In fact, they </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">become</span></i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> pets in every sense of the word! They become part of our
lives and part of our daily routine.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As
soon as we get up in the morning, we know we have to get to the coop and let
the girls out.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We spend time thinking
about them and they become part of our conversations.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our friends, both chicken people and
non-chicken people, will ask us how the girls are doing.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We become the recipient of every single
chicken meme ever circulated on social media.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And our flock becomes our social icebreaker.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we meet new people, we know it will only
be a matter of time before we say, “I have chickens.”</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rtj3PZ1LKLE/WtViu4IvcpI/AAAAAAAACsw/PAicyO0vS_wO32wTRVQ_9ldRFm0ak9IuQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Courtney%2B3%2B2013-05-11%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1133" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rtj3PZ1LKLE/WtViu4IvcpI/AAAAAAAACsw/PAicyO0vS_wO32wTRVQ_9ldRFm0ak9IuQCEwYBhgL/s640/Courtney%2B3%2B2013-05-11%2B2.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Courtney</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And let’s face it,
it’s very satisfying to care for another living creature.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our kids grow up and leave home.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our careers end when we retire.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But we know that our chickens always need
us.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And sooner or later we realize we
need them as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then one of these
creatures that have become so ingrained in our lives and such a part of us passes
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The emptiness and sadness we feel
should not be surprising. When a person we love dies, our expectation, and the
expectation of society is that we will be sad, we will express grief, and that
our friends and family will offer condolences and comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our pet hen dies,
some don’t understand that she may have had just as central a role in our
lives as a person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not understand
it ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it was “just a
chicken,” right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, here’s the
deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You knew your hen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had a name and was unique from every
other chicken on the planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew
you, accepted you, relied on you, and in her own chicken way, she loved
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s okay to feel sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With your grief, you honor her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no room for the word “just” when you
talk about your chicken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFeMOZRQCHo/WtVipEOYMkI/AAAAAAAACs4/QzLa49W1CBcQ7GF86bR5_SHWgF7Ldap1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Buffy%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1600" height="626" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFeMOZRQCHo/WtVipEOYMkI/AAAAAAAACs4/QzLa49W1CBcQ7GF86bR5_SHWgF7Ldap1ACEwYBhgL/s640/Buffy%2B2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Buffy</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chickens,
unfortunately, are not endowed with a long lifespan.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The lucky and the hearty may live a
decade.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most will have much shorter
lives.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chickens get injured, suffer from
a wide range of diseases, and are considered a delicacy by absolutely every
predator.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then there’s the fact that
they lay all those eggs.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laying an egg
practically every day takes its toll.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It
is highly probable that eventually something will go wrong with a hen’s complex,
high production egg-laying machinery—the oviduct becomes infected; an egg
becomes impacted; the oviduct breaks and leaks yolk into the abdominal cavity
which becomes infected; tumors form—the list goes on.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBFFGOagL14/WtVjFQ1WrSI/AAAAAAAACs8/d6HYyit9zywFL7ssf31F7AoDO_-pDCCNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Willow%2B2017-05-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBFFGOagL14/WtVjFQ1WrSI/AAAAAAAACs8/d6HYyit9zywFL7ssf31F7AoDO_-pDCCNwCEwYBhgL/s640/Willow%2B2017-05-28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Willow</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes we open
the coop in the morning and find a dead hen.
And sometimes we figure out the cause of her death and other times it
remains a mystery. I once lost a hen due
to blunt force trauma from a board. Autumn
was moving toward winter and the coop temperature was dropping, so I’d
installed an electric convection heater.
Because I was concerned about the chickens roosting on the heater and
burning their feet, I’d put a roll of fencing around the heater. And because I was concerned about the
chickens roosting on the edge of the fencing, losing their balance, falling
inside and getting burned on the heater, I’d laid some boards across the top of
the fencing to cover the opening on top.
So then, one of the hens flew to the top of the fencing and roosted on
the boards. Then she managed to dislodge
one of the boards, which fell to the floor, striking the poor victim on the way
down. When I found the dead hen, I also
found the board and I reconstructed the scenario from the forensic
evidence. Her name was Angie, she was a
white crested black Polish hen and was the first hen I ever lost. Her death was a jarring experience for
me. So much so that the next spring, I
made a point of putting a baby Polish on my chick order and I named her Angitou
(Angie Two). Angitou lived her life and
now is also gone. And time moves on.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnNiOUC7pj4/WtVilFLJXsI/AAAAAAAACsw/0oDIsOeH-PE3bGKC7aocbQK0qfT8l9i0ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Angitou%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XnNiOUC7pj4/WtVilFLJXsI/AAAAAAAACsw/0oDIsOeH-PE3bGKC7aocbQK0qfT8l9i0ACEwYBhgL/s640/Angitou%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Angitou</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes a chicken gets ill, slowly goes downhill,
and there’s absolutely no remedy. Sometimes the financial considerations of an untreatable protracted illness or potential
quality-of-life issues dictate that it is time for a chicken’s life to come
to a humane end.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first time I had a
hen who was in severe and irreversible pain and I realized that it was up to me
to end her suffering, I was in a state of despair.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rhoda the Rhode Island Red had severe
peritonitis and her abdomen was hard and swollen like a football.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She was in agony and would never get better. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I did what I had to do, then I cried.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Veronica</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve lost many chickens since that day.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, by now I've come to recognize that the circle of
life is a real thing.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You get baby
chicks, nurture them to adulthood, give them the best life that they can
have—filled with </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">pecking and scratching in the run,
dust bathing, socializing with the other chickens, and hopping into the nest box
to lay eggs</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Along the way, as each
chicken enjoys its life, it in turn provides great happiness to your life.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then, ultimately, each chicken dies and you
grieve.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> That's the broad picture - a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">nd it is comforting to think about it. But still, the sadness I felt
upon losing Snowball was just as palpable as the
sadness I felt for Angie when she became my first loss.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each chicken is unique and while the sadness of each
loss is in no way diminished by the fact that others have died before, it is tempered by the the broad picture.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Charlie</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, if you’ve recently lost one of your sweet
feathered pets, I ask that you remember the broad perspective as well. And also, remember this: Your hen, regardless of how long she lived,
lived the best life any hen can live.
Each day was filled with as much pecking and scratching, dust bathing,
socializing, and egg laying as she could wish for. Your hen got to live her life fully and
completely as a chicken. And what more
could any chicken want?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3dZjE2Vqts/WtumNNibmrI/AAAAAAAACtI/Pb30rG-4jaw-fiOKcAnmc8Kp3mRCo69lQCLcBGAs/s1600/Snowball%2B4%2B2016-06-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1600" height="552" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3dZjE2Vqts/WtumNNibmrI/AAAAAAAACtI/Pb30rG-4jaw-fiOKcAnmc8Kp3mRCo69lQCLcBGAs/s640/Snowball%2B4%2B2016-06-26.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Snowball</span></b></td></tr>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-72133160391604360212018-04-09T16:52:00.000-05:002018-12-09T19:20:17.763-06:00A Short History of Organic Eggs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-52747453221620435142018-03-25T19:30:00.000-05:002018-03-25T20:24:14.808-05:00Randy’s Chicken Blog Celebrates Two Years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year as I
celebrated the first birthday of Randy’s Chicken Blog, I announced that the
blog had just achieved 10,000 views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, a year later I’m just shy of 30,000 views and am happy to have readers
all over the US, as well as a variety of other countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you are faithful followers of my
Facebook page, but many folks have read a single post on a single topic and
found that post through Google.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
my followers of course—each and every one of you, but I’m also happy to provide
information to those people trying to get an answer to one nagging question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There have been, if
you include this one, 132 posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them
are always available in the archives, and they have covered every aspect of a
chicken’s life from hatch to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
posts stray off topic a bit to talk about the woods around the coop and the
wild plants and animals that live there, or a few good books about chickens that
I’ve read, or the treatment of chickens on farms, or well…life, the universe,
and everything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The subjects of the
most popular posts cover that same wide range, from stories about specific
chickens to information about egg cartons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here are thumbnails of the ten most popular posts from the past year
with links to the actual posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks
for reading them and stay tuned for more!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTSu4x-7Gw0/WfT5gzw7UvI/AAAAAAAACXM/HTooyePIkdo7y_wN15vT9zrmcDFAauWcQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Title%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTSu4x-7Gw0/WfT5gzw7UvI/AAAAAAAACXM/HTooyePIkdo7y_wN15vT9zrmcDFAauWcQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Title%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/chickens-from-outer-space.html">10th: Chickens from Outer Space? The Strange Case of the South American Chickens</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Halloween Day
last year, I posted this article about the mystery of the unusual chickens in
South America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed to me that it
would fit with Halloween if I gave it an outer-space theme. Paulette the Cream
Legbar modeled as the alien chicken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Broiler Chickens (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9F%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_(cropped).JPG">Wikimedia Commons - </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9F%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_(cropped).JPG"><span style="color: #a55858; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250);">Naim Alel</span></span> - <span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250);">Птичник.JPG</span></span></a>)</b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2018/01/millions-of-mistreated-chickensthe.html">9th: Millions of Mistreated Chickens—The Truth About Meat Chickens</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m proud of my
readers for embracing this post even though the subject is an unhappy one. It’s
so important for all of us to educate ourselves about the food we eat. In this
case, it’s a matter of looking at the labels on the package so you know that
the chicken you’re buying was humanely raised!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akWSbDLPVgU/WnPlgppvQkI/AAAAAAAACjw/-i2OcbMS1Fw9VQmG5iBOyyg5p5lU_T1BACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Garlic%2BMustard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akWSbDLPVgU/WnPlgppvQkI/AAAAAAAACjw/-i2OcbMS1Fw9VQmG5iBOyyg5p5lU_T1BACPcBGAYYCw/s640/Garlic%2BMustard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/garlic-mustard-invading-alien-delicious.html">8th: Garlic Mustard: Invading Alien,Delicious Treat, Or Both?</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This one’s actually
not about chickens at all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It concerns
garlic mustard, a terribly invasive plant infesting the woods here at the ranch
as well as huge swaths of the US and Canada. While garlic mustard is crowding
out native woodland plants and destroying ecosystems around the country, it’s
also, as its name suggests, both edible and delicious. This post includes a
recipe!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Me_dvHANgjc/WSC5vIWeDBI/AAAAAAAAB-o/0BwY-HWHriAMfZjDZSJrLf6UzZVB_Ig8gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Title%2Bslide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Me_dvHANgjc/WSC5vIWeDBI/AAAAAAAAB-o/0BwY-HWHriAMfZjDZSJrLf6UzZVB_Ig8gCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Title%2Bslide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-carton-of-eggs-part-3-wild-harvest.html">7th: A Carton of Eggs, Part 3: Wild Harvest Cage Free Large Brown Eggs</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The 7th most popular
Randy’s Chicken Blog post from the past year was one of the posts from the
continuing “egg carton series” where I look at the text and art on a variety of
egg cartons and use that information to see what I can find out about the eggs
contained therein and the hens who laid them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3AQlKQ55RA/WoX6kkghxAI/AAAAAAAACmA/fXlG9w-BpIkQL3CQmog0GfE-4BWNADaPQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Battening%2BDown%2Bthe%2BChickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3AQlKQ55RA/WoX6kkghxAI/AAAAAAAACmA/fXlG9w-BpIkQL3CQmog0GfE-4BWNADaPQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Battening%2BDown%2Bthe%2BChickens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2016/12/battening-down-chickens.html">6th: Battening Down the Chickens</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This article was
actually posted originally way back in December of 2016 and didn’t generate
much fanfare at first. But it saw a lot of traffic over the past year and I’m
glad folks finally got interested because I think it contains some good info.
“Battening Down the Chickens” lists five important things you can do to prepare
your flock and your coop for winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAm4IwInRHw/Wcg0_SA2zoI/AAAAAAAACSE/ldWzhnOuNckdfRbazDUqLYcWp1SHJiieACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Betty%2Btitle%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAm4IwInRHw/Wcg0_SA2zoI/AAAAAAAACSE/ldWzhnOuNckdfRbazDUqLYcWp1SHJiieACPcBGAYYCw/s640/Betty%2Btitle%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-life-and-times-of-betty-transgender.html">5th: The Life and Times of Betty the Transgender Chicken</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“What in the world
is the deal with Betty?” I wondered. She developed walking problems, stopped
laying eggs and ultimately was cast out by the other members of the flock. Then
one day Betty started crowing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hImXwXms6yA/WrgZ73FChRI/AAAAAAAACqw/Nf_lVQiESOw6IuotZgnG5H2pd7e1e3yFACLcBGAs/s1600/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hImXwXms6yA/WrgZ73FChRI/AAAAAAAACqw/Nf_lVQiESOw6IuotZgnG5H2pd7e1e3yFACLcBGAs/s640/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/meet-flock-roundup-august-2017.html">4th: Meet the Flock Roundup—August 2017</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At least once a week
I post a picture of one of the Hipster Hens in a feature I label with the
hashtag “#Meettheflock”. Needless to say, all the chickens gather around and
plead “Pick me! Pick me!” prior to that posting. Eventually, of course,
everybody does get their turn. Every couple of months I compile all the most
recent pictures together into one blog post for a cornucopia of pretty chicken
pictures. For some reason the “Meet the Flock Roundup” from last August grew
wings and took off. Not only did it receive waaay more views than any other
“Meet the Flock Roundup” but it became Randy’s Chicken Blog’s 4th most popular
post this past year. Why was it so popular? Naturally, each chicken featured
that month nods knowingly and says, “Well, of course! It was me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKrTHfBz3AA/Wpzh84MxrRI/AAAAAAAACo4/7Lq06gqD5m4zNWrpmEh9hEjwkOG-deY9wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Little%2BRed%2BHen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKrTHfBz3AA/Wpzh84MxrRI/AAAAAAAACo4/7Lq06gqD5m4zNWrpmEh9hEjwkOG-deY9wCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Little%2BRed%2BHen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/sour-crop-and-flystrike-little-red-hen.html">3rd: Sour Crop and Flystrike: The Little Red Hen Gets Well</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the summer of
2016 Roxie the Rhode Island Red became infested with potentially fatal
flesh-eating maggots, a condition known as flystrike. As though this weren’t
enough this poor baby also was afflicted with sour crop. I chronicled my
efforts to treat Roxie in an October 2016 post that generated a fair amount of
interest from the get-go—perhaps from people Google-searching for ways to treat
their hens suffering from one of these conditions. That interest has never
really dropped off—this blog post gets viewed practically every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zalZ2lqZab8/WNg5M-ZHQ6I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/lUyWZHz2FcQ7fqqy1PJeyMLHuGLKnCNDACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Hipster%2BHen%2BEgg%2BCarton%2BTitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1507" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zalZ2lqZab8/WNg5M-ZHQ6I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/lUyWZHz2FcQ7fqqy1PJeyMLHuGLKnCNDACPcBGAYYCw/s640/Hipster%2BHen%2BEgg%2BCarton%2BTitle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-carton-of-eggs-part-1-hipster-hen.html">2nd: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Carton of Eggs, Part 1: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hipster Hen Wonder Eggs</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">About a year ago, I
started writing my blog series on egg cartons, the eggs they contain, and the
hens that laid those eggs. I thought it would be fair to start out by talking
about my own egg cartons. I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> in
the commercial egg business, but I do provide eggs to a few friends and family
members, and there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> Hipster Hen
Wonder Egg cartons. All of the posts in this series continue to be read and
continue to be popular. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASEg7lmuljw/Wq81ClqxxXI/AAAAAAAACpg/iCmMsA-tXOgKWu_eGdW03H36Q-kXlTWvwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Goldhen%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASEg7lmuljw/Wq81ClqxxXI/AAAAAAAACpg/iCmMsA-tXOgKWu_eGdW03H36Q-kXlTWvwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Goldhen%2BCover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/a-carton-of-eggs-part-2-aldis-goldhen.html">1st: A Carton of Eggs, Part 2: ALDI’sGold Hen Eggs</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is yet another
entry in the egg carton series. It is not only my most popular post of the past
year, it’s also the most popular post I’ve ever put up on my blog. It has had
been looked at more times than my next five most popular blog posts combined. When
you Google “ALDI Gold Hen Eggs”, my post actually comes up before the ALDI
website. Why? I wish I knew. But I’m really happy that people continue to read
it and learn about egg cartons, the information printed on them, the eggs they
contain, and the hens that laid those eggs!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-64832087872426469182018-03-04T23:59:00.000-06:002018-03-04T23:59:35.162-06:00Meet the Flock Roundup—January & February, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfCT-7IdxKA/WoZXPik-ZBI/AAAAAAAACmQ/bVurW2VcMNYjKQbJvMKISncy6QbB2qq4QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfCT-7IdxKA/WoZXPik-ZBI/AAAAAAAACmQ/bVurW2VcMNYjKQbJvMKISncy6QbB2qq4QCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s Squawky the
Speckled Sussex pullet. Not only is she pretty, but she’s got to be the world’s
friendliest chicken. She makes it hard for me to walk through the chicken run
because she’s always right there with me – right underfoot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's my
super-sweet little Golden Laced Wyandotte pullet, Valerie, who seems to
understand very well how to pose for a picture.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He’s cute! He’s
curly! He’s Cochin! He’s Paul, my frizzled bantam Cochin rooster!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s a pic of
Paula the Salmon Faverolles pullet late last fall, just before the first snow.
All of my current chicken photography is happening indoors since the Hipster
Hens think the whole idea of going out into the snow is insane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BoaG9G2flOU/Wpxhro9XbII/AAAAAAAACn4/IGw6gXPkhq0qLYt8iKNaFDFPrUq5emShwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paula%2B2017-10-22%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1600" height="564" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BoaG9G2flOU/Wpxhro9XbII/AAAAAAAACn4/IGw6gXPkhq0qLYt8iKNaFDFPrUq5emShwCEwYBhgL/s640/Paula%2B2017-10-22%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Moe the Salmon
Faverolles says, “Take the picture now! This is my good side!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yl1BHoLSyyc/WpxiGfcZbCI/AAAAAAAACoA/dtpKEJ3uOYswUOYOWXUYtd00QmwjAQa1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Moe%2B%25283%2529%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1379" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yl1BHoLSyyc/WpxiGfcZbCI/AAAAAAAACoA/dtpKEJ3uOYswUOYOWXUYtd00QmwjAQa1wCEwYBhgL/s640/Moe%2B%25283%2529%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="550" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A thick frozen
blanket of snow covers the chicken run right now, but every night on the roost
all the Hipster Hens dream about pecking and scratching in the warm soil. This
pic is Nicky (the Chicky) and Marissa Cream Legbar from last summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpFma4ZYc-A/WpxiZyakq_I/AAAAAAAACoU/FX6YdjciHZMNob2NmvH5nGRszbV25xKHQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Marissa%2B%2526%2BNicky%2B2017-09-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="1600" height="528" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpFma4ZYc-A/WpxiZyakq_I/AAAAAAAACoU/FX6YdjciHZMNob2NmvH5nGRszbV25xKHQCEwYBhgL/s640/Marissa%2B%2526%2BNicky%2B2017-09-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You know those types
who are intelligent AND attractive AND talented AND personable. You would love
to dislike them for their perfection but they’re so intelligent, attractive,
talented, and personable that you just automatically love them! Meet Pippi the
Speckled Sussex Pullet—she’s one of those!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J596dFXsuLA/WpximWIz6MI/AAAAAAAACoQ/Jz2GS8JAd5MXoC3T3ShhzENsbb7XoO93QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pippi%2B2017-10-22%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="1600" height="550" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J596dFXsuLA/WpximWIz6MI/AAAAAAAACoQ/Jz2GS8JAd5MXoC3T3ShhzENsbb7XoO93QCEwYBhgL/s640/Pippi%2B2017-10-22%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Emile the rooster
spent a night in the basement chicken infirmary at the end of last week. When I
opened the coop door to get the chickens settled in for the night on Friday, I
was horrified to see that Emile was drenched in blood. I immediately assumed
he’d been in some sort of awful rooster fight, but once I gave him a quick exam
it was obvious that wasn’t the problem at all. The very tip of his comb had
gotten frostbitten, and then the scab had gotten dislodged (pecked off by
another chicken?) Chicken combs are filled with capillaries and blood, and if
injured can bleed a LOT! Emile got a trip to the house for a bath and a blow
dry and an application of antiseptic and styptic powder to his wounded comb to
insure proper healing. Early Saturday morning, before sunup, I put him back on
the roost in the dark coop. He was sooo happy to be back home and I’m sure he
couldn’t imagine how the flock ever managed to cope while he was gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9dyfcQ9CGU/WpxkUV0Si0I/AAAAAAAACoc/XNIDTJpA2F8h_tukaliUBfP8oXjo6iwqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Emile%2Bin%2BInfirmary%2B2018-0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1244" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9dyfcQ9CGU/WpxkUV0Si0I/AAAAAAAACoc/XNIDTJpA2F8h_tukaliUBfP8oXjo6iwqQCEwYBhgL/s640/Emile%2Bin%2BInfirmary%2B2018-0225.JPG" width="496" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A shot from last
June: Snowball the Silkie rooster, and his pal, the sweet black Silkie hen,
Emily, who left us in August, but will be loved and remembered always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPtm9duPDwU/Wpxi2-uJH5I/AAAAAAAACoU/abOaAq8S__gShn3gABdR-2plNqFGSALrACEwYBhgL/s1600/19%2B-%2BSnowball%2B2%2B2016-06-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="1600" height="612" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPtm9duPDwU/Wpxi2-uJH5I/AAAAAAAACoU/abOaAq8S__gShn3gABdR-2plNqFGSALrACEwYBhgL/s640/19%2B-%2BSnowball%2B2%2B2016-06-26.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-76752164658891025232018-02-19T17:16:00.000-06:002018-02-19T17:31:17.529-06:00Coop - A Year of Poultry, Pigs and Parenting – A Book by Michael Perry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I picked up this gem
by Michael Perry eight years after its publication. Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention—I don’t
know how I missed this book for so long.
Not only is it a first-rate and compelling book, but I feel like Perry
is speaking directly to me. Needless to
say, his other books are now on my reading list. When I first cracked open the
cover, I was expecting a story about chickens.
That’s not what it’s about. To be sure, chickens are minor characters in
this book, but it’s a memoir—so it’s really about Michael Perry. Perry tells us the story of his first year in
an old house on a Wisconsin acreage with his new wife and daughter, with
frequent flashbacks to his childhood on a Wisconsin dairy farm amidst an
“obscure fundamentalist Christian sect”.
Along the way he discourses on home birth, milking cows, slaughtering
pigs, building a chicken coop, and even blowing one’s nose using a technique he
calls the “farmer snort”. And
ultimately, perhaps he offers us his perspective how one should live one’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the dairy
farm/fundamentalist childhood, Michael Perry worked on a Wyoming ranch in order
to generate the necessary funds to attend nursing school. Currently, in addition to maintaining his
acreage and writing, he’s the host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s <a href="http://tentshowradio.org/">“Tent Show
Radio”</a>, a variety show broadcast live
each week from the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, Wisconsin. On his website, he describes himself as a <a href="https://sneezingcow.com/">“<i>New York
Times</i> bestselling author,
humorist, singer/songwriter, [and] intermittent pig farmer.”</a> His is obviously a focused and interesting life worthy
of inspection. Serendipitously, he is the
sort of person that notices and reflects on the minutiae that each day
offers—thus is an interested and thoughtful observer of his own interesting
life. And that seems like the perfect
formula for a successful memoirist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xd9QsbrB0Ls/WooGk2qcGlI/AAAAAAAACmk/hyWhcIbULIAJ3vPXlGA37Ygnbdmt2VJwgCLcBGAs/s1600/Coop%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1126" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xd9QsbrB0Ls/WooGk2qcGlI/AAAAAAAACmk/hyWhcIbULIAJ3vPXlGA37Ygnbdmt2VJwgCLcBGAs/s640/Coop%2B3.jpg" width="449" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It makes sense that
I would relate to this book. Like Perry,
I grew up on a midwestern farm and understand innately the demands farm life
makes on a farmer and his entire family.
Perry’s father started his adult life as a scientist in the Twin Cities,
then in a strange twist, morphed into a Wisconsin dairy farmer. Perry writes, “I first perceived my father as
a farmer the night he drove home with a giant lactating Holstein tethered to
the bumper of his Ford Falcon. There was
no cart, just a rope. And Dad motoring
real slow… We went to fetch the cow after supper, from a farm some three miles
distant. Owning neither truck nor
trailer suitable for transporting the beast, Dad chose the Falcon—a station
wagon model with a nifty roll-up window and a naughtily noisy Hollywood
muffler…. The cow stubbed along reluctantly at first, all straight-necked and
flat eared, but eventually she calmed and found her road gear. For the balance of the journey she shambled
along easy, following her nose through a faint blue haze. That Falcon burned a little oil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“One does not become
a farmer simply by taking possession of a milk cow, but it does drag you in
that direction. The night Dad tied that
Holstein to the Falcon, he tied an anchor to his ankle. From that day forward, he would find his way
to the barn a minimum of twice a day, <i>every</i>
day, morning and night, seven days a week, with no break, year after year after
year. Whenever we went to Christmas
dinner, or visiting of a Sunday afternoon, Dad kept shooting looks at the
clock. Sometime around 4:00 p.m., he’d
say, ‘Weeelll, I s’pose them cows ain’t gonna milk themselves,’ and we headed
home.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I naturally connect
with Perry’s childhood memories, since I too am the son of a dairy farmer. And just like Perry, I left home for the city
where I pursued city-type stuff, then, like Perry, I eventually moved back to
the country to raise my family, and discovered that pursuing all that city-type
stuff, attempting to maintain an acreage, and raising a family all at the same
time requires more than the 24 hours that each day gives us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book begins
with Perry moving to a derelict acreage with his new wife, Anneliese, and
Anneliese’s six-year-old daughter, Amy.
They have big plans. There’s going to be a big pile of split wood to
heat the house, a vast garden, and pigs, and chickens. Plus, he’s going to build a coop for those
chickens from scratch. But here’s the
reality: Michael Perry is a radio host,
traveling lecturer, and writer, and <i>not</i>
a full-time farmer. One lesson life has
taught me is that how much time you spend on <i>anything </i>affects how much time you have left to spend on anything
else. Perry occupies the entire timeline
of this book learning that lesson over and over. Instead of using an automatic splitter and the
help of a few neighbors to get his wood split (his wife’s suggestion) he goes
it alone and by hand. “I want to split
wood by hand for the same reason I want to have pigs and chickens. You want to eat meat, you raise an animal and
kill it, or at the very least steal its eggs.
You want to stay warm, you knock the wood into little chunks… You take
that ax in hand and it frees your mind… I am regularly dramatic with my wife
about accumulated pending deadlines and backlogs and time spent on the road,
only to have her look out the window and see me there chopping when I should be
typing. In proposing the firewood bee,
she is being eminently sensible. And
that is where we part company. If she
brings it up again, I shall tell her I am freeing my mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When he eventually
gets chickens, it seems obvious to me that he hasn’t completely thought out the
logistics of caring for the birds. The
coop of the book title exists only in his mind when the chickens show up, an
elaborate vision based on a historic archive of poultry housing he found on the
web. The fits and starts involved in
getting an actual coop built form chunks of narrative that occur sporadically
throughout the remainder of the book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so it goes. Perry spends most of his time pursuing his
real paying job while Anneliese and Amy do much of the farmwork. Or the farmwork simply doesn’t get done. And then Anneliese gets pregnant, stops
sleeping, and becomes just sort of worn out.
And being possessed of the same tenacious impracticality as her husband,
she decides on a home birth. Perry is
not on board with “the idea of delivering babies old-style if it is simply in
service to some whole-grain earth mother sensibility picked up during a women’s
studies course in Colorado. As a former fundamentalist gone agnostic, I tend to
dig in my heels at the first whiff of evangelism, whether it be deployed in the
service of salvation, Girl Power, or the curative wonders of organic
yams.” But a home birth it is. Marriage is about compromise. He gets solo hand wood-splitting—she gets a
home birth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michael Perry is a
compelling story teller, and this entire book is infused with humor. But between the lines lurks a disheartening
message that resonates with me: Life is finite and you can’t do everything. I moved to my acreage and spent most of my
life thinking wistfully of the things I could be doing on that acreage if I
only had time. I built my first coop and
got my first chickens only after I retired.
Michael Perry is bound and determined to have it both ways, and is
lurching forward with his pigs and chickens and garden and hay-making and wood
splitting while maintaining a full-time career.
It’s a juggling act, and it is clear from his narrative that he knows
that it’s a juggling act. I can’t wait
to delve into the next memoir to find out how it all worked out.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-76583340974223168682018-02-05T22:43:00.000-06:002018-02-06T10:04:12.479-06:00Are Chickens Dinosaurs?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_trXLEl5z_M/WnfBpa0NaqI/AAAAAAAACkc/gB32GI5-1XUoaycTlqg6qY7QdCaaHRN1gCLcBGAs/s1600/Title%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_trXLEl5z_M/WnfBpa0NaqI/AAAAAAAACkc/gB32GI5-1XUoaycTlqg6qY7QdCaaHRN1gCLcBGAs/s640/Title%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Composite picture: T. rex courtesy of the ever generous <a href="http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=59219&picture=tyrannosaurus-rex">public domain</a> - Emile the rooster courtesy of Emile the rooster</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some
statements for your consideration:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Tyrannosaurus rex was
really just a big chicken.”</span></i></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">“Chickens are the
closest living relative to Tyrannosaurus rex.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk504940069">”</a></i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> “Chickens are
directly descended from T. rex.”</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> "Chickens are dinosaurs"</i></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Lately
I’ve been running into declarations like these </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">a lot</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">, and I’ve got to say that I wasn’t buying most of them. None of these statements, it seemed to me,
had the ring of truth. So, I decided it
was time to get to the bottom of the dino/chicken thing and find out if there
really is some sort of connection between dinosaurs and chickens and if so,
what it is. And, after some research, here we go:</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>“Tyrannosaurus rex was really just a big chicken.”</i></b><i> </i>Seriously? The most basic comparison shows us that <i>T. rex</i> had “arms” and chickens have
wings. <i>T. rex</i> had a great gaping mouth filled with teeth. Chickens have beaks. So just no.
<i>T. rex </i>was definitely not a
chicken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“<i>Chickens are the closest living relative to Tyrannosaurus rex.</i>”</b> Well, that’s not a false statement, but it’s
very misleading. Here’s an analogy: Chimps
and humans share 96% of the same DNA—there’s obviously a close
relationship. So, to say humans are the
closest relative to chimps is a true statement.
To say that all of the citizens of Keokuk, Iowa are the closest
relatives to chimps is also true since all those fine people in Keokuk are
humans—but it puts a misleading spin on the truth. It sounds as though people from Keokuk are somehow more closely to chimps than other people are. Birds and <i>T.
rex</i> share some of the same genetic information (nowhere close to 96%, though), so
it is true to say that birds and <i>T. rex</i>
are related. It's even true to say that birds are the closest living relative to <i>T. rex</i>, even though they aren't that closely related. Saying chickens (a subset
of birds) and <i>T. rex</i> are closely
related takes us back to that misleading spin. Are chickens closer to <i>T. rex</i> than all other birds? Absolutely not! Let me beat you over the head with one more analogy and then I’ll move
on. Think of birds as jellybeans. Robins are cherry jellybeans, eagles are
licorice jellybeans, and chickens are lemon jellybeans. While there are obvious differences, they all
share traits so you can see them as all being members of the same larger
group. <i>T. rex</i> is a Snickers bar. He
is candy but he’s not a jellybean. There's a relationship but <i>T. rex</i> is not a
bird and definitely is not a chicken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>“Chickens are directly descended from T. rex.”</i></b><i> </i>Are they descended from
<i>T. rex</i> at all? In a word, no. In the scheme of animal classification, <i>T. rex</i> and all other tyrannosaurs as
well as chickens and all other birds all fit into the suborder Theropoda. Theropods
are a large and diverse group of animals that have hollow bones and three-toed
limbs in common. One subgroup of
therapods is the clade coelurosauria, and all birds and all tyrannosaurs belong
to this smaller group as well. <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Coelurosaurs have feathers in
common. Yup, tyrannosaurs had feathers—feathers
have already been found in two species and scientists suspect they were present somewhere on the bodies of all tyrannosaurs for at least part of their
lives. Within the coelurosauria</span> there
are a number of subgroups—one is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosauroidea" title="Tyrannosauroidea">Tyrannosauroidea</a>
that includes <i>T. rex</i> and all of his
cousins, another is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniraptoriformes" title="Maniraptoriformes">Maniraptoriformes</a> that includes chickens and all
other birds. These two groups split apart
a long, long time ago; waaay back in the Jurassic Period. Let’s just say that birds and tyrannosaurs are
at the same family reunion but on opposite ends of the table, and so <i>T. rex, </i>it turns out<i>, </i>was not grandpaw to chickens—he was more like a shirt-tail
relative. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“Chickens are dinosaurs.”</b> Pretty much every evolutionary biologist and
paleontologist worth their salt long ago came to the conclusion that birds are
descended directly from dinosaurs. And
chickens, of course, are birds. Today it
has become generally accepted by scientists that birds are not <i>descended </i>from dinosaurs, but, in fact, <i>are</i> dinosaurs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Around
66 million years ago there was a catastrophe that affected the whole
world—scientists are fairly certain that the actual event was a huge asteroid
or comet, perhaps ten miles wide, smashing into the Gulf of Mexico. In a very short period of time, referred to
by scientists as the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, over three quarters
of the living species on Earth were wiped out—many insects, mammals, fish, plants,
and lizards were suddenly gone. Almost
every large animal disappeared, including <i>T.
rex</i> and every one of the other dinosaurs—except for one small group of smallish
therapods living on the southern continents—the birds. Afterwards, the few remaining birds and other
animals that survived spread across the world and evolved into the species we
have today. One bird that evolved in
Asia was the red junglefowl, and chickens are the domestic version of that
bird. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So,
there you have it. Next time you call
your chickens “little dinosaurs”, you can be sure that you’re being absolutely
correct. But calling your overly
aggressive rooster a <i>T. rex</i> is, well,
just taking it a bit too far.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-74864612025342057862018-01-23T10:56:00.000-06:002018-01-23T10:56:33.218-06:00Where Did Chickens Come From? The Domestication of the Chicken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Consider
this:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">You’re an ancient Egyptian pharaoh,
you want to let everybody know about your war exploits and plunder, and social
media hasn’t been invented yet—what should you do?</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Well, if you’re Thutmose III, the Napoleon of
ancient Egypt, you inscribe all of your immodest assertions right onto one of
the walls of the great Karnak temple for all people to see.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Fortunately for Thutmose III, inscribing
information into stone has given it a bit more permanency than a blog entry or
a Facebook post might have.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">People have
been looking at those inscriptions for over 3000 years,</span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and the “Annals of Thutmose III” are still
there on the ancient walls of the ruined Karnak temple in Luxor, Egypt</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">for all to read</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iS3hlIsyRCY/WmZiVk8jY4I/AAAAAAAACik/fg-5DE4E6mk-w_-3IeK2sB-rJtqIw-jBwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Karak%2BTemple%2B-%2BGreat%2BHall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="831" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iS3hlIsyRCY/WmZiVk8jY4I/AAAAAAAACik/fg-5DE4E6mk-w_-3IeK2sB-rJtqIw-jBwCEwYBhgL/s400/Karak%2BTemple%2B-%2BGreat%2BHall.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Great Hall - Karnak</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S03_06_01_018_image_2382.jpg">US Public Domain</a>)</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One
interesting entry in the annals discusses bringing “the bird that gives birth
every day” to Egypt from “the land between Syria and Shinar, Babylonia”.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the first known ancient Egyptian
mention of the chicken, and from the description we can deduce that chickens
were unknown in Egypt at that time and were just being brought into the kingdom
from Mesopotamia.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Sumerians, who
lived in Mesopotamia from 5000 to 1500 BCE, apparently had chickens, so
chickens came to Mesopotamia long before the Egyptians found them there and
carried them to Egypt.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Sumerians
referred to chickens as “the king's birds”, an indication of their importance.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They were also called “the bird from Meluhha”, which could be a big hint as to where the Sumerians
first came by them.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nobody knows exactly
where Meluhha was located, but it is generally assumed to be somewhere in the
Indus valley – in present day India.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It
is by studying exactly this sort of ancient information that scientists have
been able to track chickens as they moved from one civilization to another and
eventually spread across the world. And
by tracking that progress backwards, essentially rewinding the tape of history,
scientists can get a good handle on where chickens were first domesticated. The earliest known chicken remains were found
at the “Cishan site” in the Hebei province of northern China and have been
dated to 5400 BCE—over 7000 years ago.
The problem with digging up old chicken bones is that there’s no way to
know if those bones belonged to wild chickens that were hunted or if the
chickens were truly domestic—and without a doubt wild chickens were hunted long
before they were domesticated. The only
way to be sure the chicken bones at an archaeological site belonged to domestic
chickens is to also find some sort of archaeological evidence of chicken
enclosures or chicken keeping. The
earliest </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">definitive </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">evidence of
domestic chickens has been dated to over 5500 years ago, also in China. Archaeologists are also certain that there
were domestic chickens in the Indus Valley around 2000 BCE. Chickens moved from there to the Middle East,
Egypt and Europe, and the rest, as they say, is prehistory. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“OK,”
you are no doubt saying, “Exactly when and where did a wild chicken become that
first domestic chicken?” “Good question!”
I reply. But actually, there probably wasn’t
one specific event. All evidence points
toward multiple domestication events in a variety of locations in Asia where
wild chickens lived, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then
you’re probably thinking, “But what exactly were these wild chickens, anyway?” “<i>Excellent</i>
<i>question</i>!” I exclaim. There’s really
nothing called “the wild chicken.” But
there was and still is the red junglefowl that lived, <i>and still lives</i> in southern China, India, Southeast Asia, and the
islands of Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These birds live on
insects, seeds, and fruit. They are
essentially flightless, but do fly well enough to perch in the low branches of
trees and other high places at night to escape predators. The male of the species is slightly larger
than the female and has red fleshy tissue hanging from his beak, called “wattles”. Both males and females have fleshy red
protuberances projecting from the tops of their heads called “combs”, but the
male’s is larger. During mating season, the male makes his
presence known by calling “cock-a-doodle-doo”.
Does this bird sound like any other bird you know? In fact, scientists recognize the red
junglefowl as the direct ancestor of domestic chickens, with just a bit of grey
junglefowl, a closely related species, thrown in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJRqNP84m4E/WmZiVety1PI/AAAAAAAACik/NWd-tgmM5nYt__ivVAb_QpOJYdK0zxdewCEwYBhgL/s1600/Red_Junglefowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1199" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJRqNP84m4E/WmZiVety1PI/AAAAAAAACik/NWd-tgmM5nYt__ivVAb_QpOJYdK0zxdewCEwYBhgL/s640/Red_Junglefowl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Red Junglefowl Male (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Junglefowl.jpg">Jason Thompson - Flikr</a>)</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
that’s the story. In the dim past of the
Neolithic era, the history of some red junglefowl and humans became intertwined. Those birds were contributors to the Neolithic
Revolution that set us on the road to agriculture, metal tools, and the
beginnings of technology. That road has
brought us to our modern age of KFC’s on practically every American street corner,
and of some kind of chicken practically every day for practically everybody. At one point in history, it was proclaimed
that prosperity would be achieved when there was a chicken in every pot. With 7 billion people on the planet, and 19
billion chickens…well, you do the math! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some
people would say that today’s system of producing chicken meat and eggs has
reached a pinnacle of productivity and efficiency. Others would argue that huge buildings filled
with tiny cages filled with chickens creates environmental and human health risks,
and is unethical and inhumane. And what
do the chickens think? Maybe at night,
when all is quiet on the roosts and in all those tiny cages, they dream of running free through the Asian
jungles.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-54494940348012465022018-01-15T21:14:00.000-06:002018-02-15T22:01:07.139-06:00Meet the Flock—November & December 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfCT-7IdxKA/WoZXPik-ZBI/AAAAAAAACmM/3kR0Mu0WqwkWeK2rZ5Am9Rudup811y1EwCLcBGAs/s1600/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tfCT-7IdxKA/WoZXPik-ZBI/AAAAAAAACmM/3kR0Mu0WqwkWeK2rZ5Am9Rudup811y1EwCLcBGAs/s640/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s
a shot of Carmen Maranda the big Cuckoo Marans hen having a meditative moment
in the chicken run.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzua1wEK-JQ/Wlve8WfDStI/AAAAAAAACgM/jgIDCOEvRRcVmaSDZlT2JJ2Ssyw4z8vPQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Carmen%2BMaranda%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="474" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzua1wEK-JQ/Wlve8WfDStI/AAAAAAAACgM/jgIDCOEvRRcVmaSDZlT2JJ2Ssyw4z8vPQCEwYBhgL/s640/Carmen%2BMaranda%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s
my photogenic little bantam frizzled Cochin roo, Paul!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_V_qSdwswQw/Wlvgf46pt8I/AAAAAAAACgs/PdgBsllbTc0g_V0o08zot1AbfP1bWJKgwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paul%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_V_qSdwswQw/Wlvgf46pt8I/AAAAAAAACgs/PdgBsllbTc0g_V0o08zot1AbfP1bWJKgwCEwYBhgL/s640/Paul%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A
recent close-up of Sam the Easter Egger – in her fifth year, but still as
attractive as ever!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCBLihZKDxg/WlvgwEbnoLI/AAAAAAAACgs/gEbxDGlKbNQeZa8kFTypDDKu5aeVWLNIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Sam%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1600" height="574" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCBLihZKDxg/WlvgwEbnoLI/AAAAAAAACgs/gEbxDGlKbNQeZa8kFTypDDKu5aeVWLNIgCEwYBhgL/s640/Sam%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paula
and Moe the Faverolles pullets and their friend Rose the Wyandotte linger at
the gate connecting the Coop 1 hen pen with the big chicken run. This shot was
taken as the little girls were starting their 24th week, and still had not made
up their minds to lay any eggs. I did gather them all around to explain that it’s
important to have a purpose in life, and theirs was to lay eggs. I'm not sure
it sunk in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92xGK8ide5s/Wlvg1rE1UnI/AAAAAAAACgs/iKgvEj0gm20wFPAWNCvx6I859--HrV_rQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paula%252C%2BMoe%252C%2B%2526%2BRose%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1600" height="488" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92xGK8ide5s/Wlvg1rE1UnI/AAAAAAAACgs/iKgvEj0gm20wFPAWNCvx6I859--HrV_rQCEwYBhgL/s640/Paula%252C%2BMoe%252C%2B%2526%2BRose%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Winter
came and the egg situation became dire. Only two of the one-year-old Legbar
hens were laying in Coop 2. In Coop 1, the pullets’ egg spigot was still firmly
in the “off” position. As a matter of fact, the ONLY chicken in Coop 1 laying
eggs was this hen: Mary the four-year-old Campine. She deserved some sort of
medal, but all this little free-spirited hen really ever wants is plenty of
space to roam and a little time to scratch through the leaves in the run each
day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmOswORu6Pc/WlvgfneKBII/AAAAAAAACgs/lgAhVBRE-KQPLuivCN-F3gIbqMLx9Q0QQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Mary%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1600" height="600" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmOswORu6Pc/WlvgfneKBII/AAAAAAAACgs/lgAhVBRE-KQPLuivCN-F3gIbqMLx9Q0QQCEwYBhgL/s640/Mary%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here
Paula the Salmon Faverolles Hipster Pullet enjoys the day in the Coop 1 hen
pen. Carefree, and NOT laying eggs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yllvPNBRGlk/Wlvgf740WlI/AAAAAAAACgs/eTL6emuN5SwJDltqmJ7tiiaKtViG4DRrwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paula%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yllvPNBRGlk/Wlvgf740WlI/AAAAAAAACgs/eTL6emuN5SwJDltqmJ7tiiaKtViG4DRrwCEwYBhgL/s640/Paula%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paula
and Moe the Salmon Faverolles pullets are practically joined at the hip! When
you see Paula, you know that Moe is close by – and where ever you see Moe, you
can be sure Paula is there, too. PFF’s – Poultry Friends Forever! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not
only is Pippi the Speckled Sussex a pretty little pullet, she also has tons of
personality. She follows me around the chicken run and is usually right at my
feet pecking at my shoes. And every time I bend over or crouch down, she flies
to my lap or shoulder. Now…if she would just add egg laying to her list of
positive attributes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When
I reached the point of giving up on my pullets doing any egg laying until
spring, because they were soooo overdue, I found not one but TWO pullet eggs in
one of the nest boxes. Was this the work of two pullets, or was this two-day’s
worth of labor from one little hen? When I found Valerie the Wyandotte,
hunkered down in the very same nest box the next day, I was fairly sure I had my
answer. While she was ensconced there, a couple of the other pullets poked
their heads in – probably trying to figure out what in the world she was up to.
And when I went back later, there was another cute li’l brown egg! My fervent
hope was that the other pullets would learn from her example!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally,
most of the other pullets fell into line behind Valerie and commenced egg
laying. The last holdouts were Paula and
Moe, the Salmon Faverolles. Then, one
day in mid-December Paula, shown here, exclaimed “OH! Egg laying!
I can do that!” And promptly laid her first egg!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On
Christmas day it was -10 (yup, there's a minus sign in front of that 10!) in my
part of Minnesota. It was about 5 above inside the pole barn, and inside the
coops, which are insulated and have some supplemental heat, it was a balmy 20
degrees. That was the day that Moe the Salmon Faverolles pullet, my last
non-egg-laying holdout, hunkered down in a nest box for the very first time.
It's gotta be a little cozy to get all nestled down in the nesting material!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here’s
the pretty little Christmas present Moe left me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBSN1hqLqOQ/WlvjjBS5atI/AAAAAAAAChM/ldKBDblzCp8DTMPNSAqQbjbm5Azmnw3xgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Moe%2527s%2Bfirst%2Begg%2B2017-12-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1600" height="582" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBSN1hqLqOQ/WlvjjBS5atI/AAAAAAAAChM/ldKBDblzCp8DTMPNSAqQbjbm5Azmnw3xgCEwYBhgL/s640/Moe%2527s%2Bfirst%2Begg%2B2017-12-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2017
was not a good year for me or my flock. I
lost six hens over the course of the year to a variety of causes. Mostly,
because many of my hens are getting old. In addition to that, I had heart surgery in
early November, and had a slow recovery with a few complications. I’m looking forward to 2018 being a better
year in every way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
morning before my surgery, I was extremely surprised and extremely saddened to
discover that Courtney the Silkie had died during the night. Courtney showed no
sign of illness and the night before was right there with the rest of the Coop
2 flock pecking at their nightly scratch. Her death was a complete mystery. I
really like Silkies a lot—not only for their delicate prettiness, but also for
their sweet, docile, and unique personalities and I will miss this little girl
a lot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmUTlcgqINg/WlvjL1RYR1I/AAAAAAAAChM/rkyMiaSgX5EO7nQj-owIXiiWEM8hZpf0wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Courtney%2B2017-10-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1259" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmUTlcgqINg/WlvjL1RYR1I/AAAAAAAAChM/rkyMiaSgX5EO7nQj-owIXiiWEM8hZpf0wCEwYBhgL/s640/Courtney%2B2017-10-22.jpg" width="502" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More
sadness on Christmas eve day, when my loveable and beautiful Golden Laced
Polish hen, Angitou, passed away. I thought of this sweet hen with a lump in my
throat when reading this passage from Melissa Caughey’s new book, “How To Speak
Chicken”: “I never expected that I would be friends with a chicken, but that is
the wonderful thing about life’s journey…The most important part of the journey
is the people and animals we meet…Love is a universal language, and anyone who
loves chickens knows that they speak it, too.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVaOjo5LByU/WlvjPTqhKeI/AAAAAAAAChM/HLDlNPBMNJUl4kMt5Hvcyv-gBKyoxXauwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Angitou%2B2016-06-16%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1558" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVaOjo5LByU/WlvjPTqhKeI/AAAAAAAAChM/HLDlNPBMNJUl4kMt5Hvcyv-gBKyoxXauwCEwYBhgL/s640/Angitou%2B2016-06-16%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="622" /></a></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-91588595555198822622018-01-08T18:24:00.000-06:002018-04-13T10:19:21.208-05:00Millions of Mistreated Chickens—The Truth About Meat Chickens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You don’t have to be a vegan to wonder if it is right
to put another entire species in perpetual pain in order to satisfy a craving
for chicken salad and deviled eggs.” – Andrew Lawler, “Why Did the Chicken
Cross the World?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cH_RcgT8O8I/WlLyYLReI7I/AAAAAAAACf4/e3e3RdnU_oM3vchE8IsUkhKTS6a04f0lACEwYBhgL/s1600/Broiler%2BChickens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cH_RcgT8O8I/WlLyYLReI7I/AAAAAAAACf4/e3e3RdnU_oM3vchE8IsUkhKTS6a04f0lACEwYBhgL/s640/Broiler%2BChickens.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Broiler Chickens (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9F%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_(cropped).JPG">Wikimedia Commons - </a></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9F%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_(cropped).JPG"><span style="color: #a55858; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); font-size: 13.3px; text-align: start;">Naim Alel</span></span> - <span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); font-size: 13.3px;">Птичник.JPG</span></span></a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There have been a
few readers who have taken umbrage to my posts about the mistreatment of
chickens. And I get where they’re coming
from. It can be distressing to navigate
to my blog looking for pictures of cute Hipster Hens happily pecking and
playing in my coop, and instead get hit over the head with stories about
millions of chickens being mistreated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But here’s the deal—if
you scroll down to the bottom of this page you’ll find Randy’s Chicken Blog's mission statement. There you’ll find
these declarative sentences: “My chickens are really cool. All chickens
are really cool. The majority of chickens being raised for meat or egg
production, in spite of their inherent coolness, are treated cruelly. You can
help make changes by your purchasing habits. Educate yourself! Read labels!
Check company websites!” I think it
would be unethical to blog about chickens without also discussing the issues
surrounding the treatment of commercial chickens. While it’s great that we love
our backyard hens, we can’t lose sight of the fact that the majority of the
chickens alive in the world right now have miserable lives. It is important that we chicken appreciators stay
informed about the situation <i>because we
do appreciate chickens </i>and we recognize them to be intelligent, sentient
creatures who have the capacity for joy, but also the capacity to suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My earlier posts on this subject have been about egg-laying hens. I’ve written <a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2016/08/edging-away-from-cruel-eggs-californias.html">a series of posts about California’s Prop 2 and how
that has affected egg producing hens</a>. I’ve also addressed the welfare of laying
hens in <a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/a-carton-of-eggs-part-2-aldis-goldhen.html">my series on egg cartons</a>. In this post,
I’ll delve into the welfare of chickens being raised for meat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For almost the entire
history of domestic chickens, meat chickens and egg-laying chickens were one
and the same—young roosters were used for meat and the young hens laid eggs for
a couple of years and then became stew. That all changed about a hundred years ago when
chicken producers started cross-breeding experiments to improve feed efficiency
and growth. By the 1960’s a hybrid
chicken produced by crossing Cornish chickens with Plymouth Rocks had become
the dominant meat chicken and was so superior to other breeds in meat
production that the roosters of other chicken breeds were no longer competitive,
and the industry moved to a process of <a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/chicken-sexing-art-science-and-history.html">determining the sex of baby chicks as soon as they
hatched</a> and then euthanizing the
males, most typically by feeding them into a high-speed grinder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Developing chickens
that gain weight quickly and produce lots of desirable breast meat has
continued apace. Today’s breeder hatcheries
produce billions of meat chickens every year and today’s meat chickens are
grotesque. They eat voraciously and can reach a “slaughter weight” of five
pounds in a little over a month – their bodies become big while they’re still
chicks behaviorally. Their ungainly
meaty breast muscles become so large that their center of gravity shifts,
stressing their skeletal structure and causing constant pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">These hybrid meat
chickens are never referred to as a particular breed by the industry. Instead the newly developed types are often
designated with numbers. For example, Aviagen,
a large breeder hatchery, advertises the Ross 308 and the Ross 708 and
proclaims that <a href="http://en.aviagen.com/brands/ross/">“The Ross<b>
</b>product range provides customers all over the world with performance
that best suits their needs. “</a> It
would be easy, from this and other statements on the Aviagen website, to lose
track of the fact that the “product” being discussed, a 308 or a 708, is a
sentient creature. The Hubbard Company
announces that <a href="https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/products/conventional-females/7747-hubbard-f15.html">“When permitted the Hubbard F15 Female can be housed
at a density 20 to 25% higher per m² than a standard breeder.”</a> Translation: If the local laws allow this degree of animal
cruelty, you can pack F15 hens at an even higher density than the approximately
<i>.8 square feet per chicken</i> industry
standard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let’s take a look at
a day in the short life of a typical broiler chicken. We could identify this chicken with a number,
but I’m going to give him a name. I’ll
call him Ross. Ross never goes outdoors. He lives in a barn with thousands of other
chickens. Chickens are social animals
and are able to recognize a certain number of other chickens – but not
thousands. So, Ross spends his life
lost in a crowd. Ross gets, as I
mentioned before, around .8 square feet of living space. If you imagine a box about 10¾ inches on a
side, that’s how much space Ross gets. (In
some situations, chickens get less space than this—there’s a formula based on
the weight of the chicken. According to
one industry newsletter, if chickens were given more space, even one square
foot per chicken, “<a href="http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/322/broiler-production-systems-the-ideal-stocking-density/">Houses would not cash flow [and] growers would not
achieve a satisfactory return</a>.”
Translation: If chickens would be given
a humane amount of space, producers would make less money.) But Ross is not in
a box—the “sides” of his box are made of other chickens who bump him and jostle
him and perhaps peck him when he bumps and jostles them. Ross jostles and bumps a lot because of his
lameness and his awkward stride.
Bumping and jostling through the crowd stresses Ross and his heart,
which is too tiny for his ungainly body, often palpitates wildly. Because of this, Ross often just sits in one
spot and sleeps in the chicken poop that covers the floor. He has sores on his body from spending so much
time in the caustic manure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ross doesn’t see
very well because of the dim light in the barn.
His eyes also burn from the ammonia in the air produced by all that
chicken manure covering the floor. But he does dimly make out the form of the person
that grabs him and shoves him into a crate with lots of other chickens. Ross’s crate is packed on a truck, the truck
rumbles down the road, then his crate is taken off the truck and another person
pulls Ross out of the crate and hangs him by his feet from a hook on an
assembly line. The hook moves Ross
through an electrified tank of water to stun him. Then Ross is slaughtered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wonder what Ross
thought about life. Chickens can
experience happiness. Was he ever
happy? Should we care about such things,
or should we just dismiss his pain as our gain when we dig into that bag of
chicken nuggets?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know. This is really bleak. But Ross’s life represents the lives of
billions of chickens who are experiencing exactly what I described right now as
you read this. I repeat for
emphasis: Ross is <i>not </i>an aberration. This is
how most broiler chickens are treated. The good news is that in 2017 we made
some progress in finding our way out of this horror story. Things are not changing because of any major
changes in our federal laws. The factory
farm lobby is very strong and most attempts at legislative change have
fizzled. Changes have occurred because
millions of consumers, like you, have voted with their pocketbooks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many food companies
have responded to the demands of their customers and are now requiring their chicken
suppliers to make their animal husbandry practices more humane. In 2017, three of the largest companies to
make the change were Campbell Soup, <span lang="EN">Nestlé, and Kraft Heinz.
These companies have pledged to switch to healthier strains of chickens
instead of the quick-growing monster chickens.
They have also agreed to give chickens a less crowded and more enriched
living space, and to change to more humane practices in the slaughtering
process.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because many
consumers want to know that the chicken they’re eating was humanely treated,
and since the government labeling program for humanely raised meat is essentially
nonexistent, a number of certifying organizations have sprung up to fill that
void. There is, of course, a gradient in
the stringency of the certifications and differences in what they cover. All certifying agencies look at the
environment the chicken was raised in: Was the chicken given adequate space? Was
the light bright enough? Was night-time darkness provided? Was he allowed
outdoors? Was “enrichment” provided so
he could engage in natural chicken activities? Chickens confined indoors in
crowded conditions with nothing to do act out by becoming </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">aggressive and even cannibalistic.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> If you were deprived of any mental stimulation or opportunities
for activity and were forced to stand around in a crowd 24/7, how would you act? Bingo! Chickens are like that, too! “Enrichment” is the process of making the environment
more complex, and encouraging natural behavior.
It can be as simple as tossing some bales of straw or hay into the barn
for the chickens to peck and scratch at, providing roosts and raised platforms, hanging
ropes to peck at, and providing some sort of forage or scratch grain. Chickens who are lucky enough to be allowed
to spend their day foraging outdoors don’t need that indoor enrichment. Some agencies go beyond tracking these steps. Some delve into the physical makeup of the
bird and disallow the genetic freaks who live their lives in pain. Finally, some look at the part of the “farm-to-table”
pathway that nobody likes to think about—the slaughtering process. But to turn a living animal into meat, slaughter
has to happen and some agencies have standards to ensure that it is done
humanely. And some also examine how chickens
are transported from where they were raised to the slaughterhouse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ll end this post
with a chart I put together that shows the certifying labels you should look
for when you buy chicken. I’ve ranked
them from least to most stringent. Please note that the Global Animal Partnership has six different "steps". Their motive is to get companies to certify with them at a low level of stringency and then move to higher levels as they institute more humane practices. This
is a thumbnail. For a more thorough
discussion of these certifications, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://farmforward.com/2017/02/24/animal-welfare-certifications/">take a
look at this Farm Forward post.</a></span><a href="https://farmforward.com/2017/02/24/animal-welfare-certifications/"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tbody>
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<td colspan="2" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 539.75pt;" valign="top" width="720"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Least Stringent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">American Humane Certified<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkGv50yPT1I/WlLjEL7JxRI/AAAAAAAACfg/p5alrdOoX5Y9vgoN69H6gslOU9qfG1pWACEwYBhgL/s1600/American%2BHumane%2BCerrtified%2BLabel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkGv50yPT1I/WlLjEL7JxRI/AAAAAAAACfg/p5alrdOoX5Y9vgoN69H6gslOU9qfG1pWACEwYBhgL/s1600/American%2BHumane%2BCerrtified%2BLabel.png" /></a></span></b></div>
<br /></td>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Space:</b> 10.1 x 10.1 inches for a 5 lb. chicken<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels:</b> 25 ppm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> At least 4 hours of
darkness each day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment:</b> Encouraged but not required<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> Not required<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics</b> (limits on growth
rate, etc.): “No more than 10% of the
flock may show difficulty walking”
Growth rate not addressed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter: </b>An Animal Welfare Officer checks to make
sure chickens are stunned and insensible to pain prior to entering the
scalding tank and throughout the slaughter operation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Global Animal Partnership – Step 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor space:</b> 10.1
x 10.1 inches for a 5 lb. chicken<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels: </b>20 ppm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> 6 hours of darkness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment: </b>Not required<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> Not required<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics:</b> Genetic lines must be selected for good leg
health and for low levels of mortality. There is no limit on the rate of growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter:</b> No standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Global Animal Partnership – Step 2</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor space:</b> 10.5
by 10.5 inches for a 5-pound bird<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels: </b>20 ppm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> 6 hours of darkness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment: </b>At least one type of enrichment must be
provided<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> Not required<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics:</b> Genetic lines must be selected for good leg
health and for low levels of mortality. There is no limit on the rate of growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter:</b> No standards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Global Animal Partnership – Step 3</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor space:</b> 10.9
by 10.9 inches for a 5-pound bird<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels: </b>20 ppm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> At least 8 hours of darkness each day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment: </b>At least two types of enrichment must
be provided<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> Required access to an outdoor area that is equal
to or greater than 25 percent of the total indoor floor space. At least 25 percent of the outdoor area must
be covered in vegetation and/or forage.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics:</b> Genetic lines must be selected for good leg
health and for low levels of mortality. There is no limit on the rate of growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter:</b> No standards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Certified Humane<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YXOY0qX18Hc/WlLyG0-7dsI/AAAAAAAACf4/SDAzJ_hamsUtS8wV-bXcTUyDCbzERrp_wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Certified%2BHumane%2BLabel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YXOY0qX18Hc/WlLyG0-7dsI/AAAAAAAACf4/SDAzJ_hamsUtS8wV-bXcTUyDCbzERrp_wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Certified%2BHumane%2BLabel.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor space:</b> 11 x 11 inches for a 5 lb. chicken<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels:</b> “Less
than 10 ppm at bird height and must not exceed 25 ppm except during brief
periods of severe inclement weather”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> At least 6 hours of darkness each day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment: </b>Required<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> Not
required<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics</b> (limits on growth
rate, etc.): “Care must be taken to select birds for high welfare traits and
avoid genetic strains with undesirable traits.” No specific limits on growth rate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter:</b> An Animal
Welfare Officer checks to make sure chickens are stunned and insensible to
pain prior to entering the scalding tank and throughout the slaughter
operation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Global Animal Partnership – Step 4</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor space:</b> 11.4
by 11.4 inches for a 5-pound bird<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels: </b>20 ppm<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> At least 8 hours of darkness per day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment: </b>At least two types of enrichment must
be provided<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> Outdoor access is required during daylight
hours when weather is not inclement. “Outdoors”
is defined as pastures, rangelands, lots, cover crop areas, woodlands, and
harvested crop areas. At least 50 percent of the outdoor area must be
covered in vegetation and/or forage. When
weather is inclement, chickens must have access to an outdoor area that is equal
to or greater than 25 percent of the total indoor floor space.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics:</b> Genetic lines must be selected for good leg
health and for low levels of mortality. There is no limit on the rate of growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter:</b> No standards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Global Animal Partnership – Steps<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> 5 & 5+</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhEPY0J6NUY/WlLyHT5LhBI/AAAAAAAACf4/wKngrvXDNxkFmRSMBUtW5iq4iZ3Kmfq9gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Global%2BAnimal%2BPartnership.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor space:</b> 1
square foot per 5-pound bird <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels: </b>20 ppm<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> At least 8 hours of darkness per day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment: </b>Not required – chickens live outside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> Outdoor access is required during daylight
hours when weather is not inclement. “Outdoors”
is defined as pastures, rangelands, lots, cover crop areas, woodlands, and
harvested crop areas. At least 75 percent of the outdoor area must be
covered in vegetation and/or forage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics:</b> Genetic lines must be selected for good leg
health and for low levels of mortality. There is no limit on the rate of growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter:</b> No standards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Animal Welfare Approved<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xSe-NYFewjE/WlLyGk31i8I/AAAAAAAACf4/dc3r-ZDbppAWyCBugxgWifV0-wI3gq-ywCEwYBhgL/s1600/Animal%2BWelfare%2BApproved.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xSe-NYFewjE/WlLyGk31i8I/AAAAAAAACf4/dc3r-ZDbppAWyCBugxgWifV0-wI3gq-ywCEwYBhgL/s1600/Animal%2BWelfare%2BApproved.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor space:</b> 9.8 x 9.8 inches <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Air ammonia levels:</b> “<i>The
human nose can detect ammonia at levels of 5ppm upwards. If the farmer can
smell ammonia action must be taken to eliminate the source</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light:</b> At least 8 hours of darkness each day. Natural light must enter the barn and light
must average at least 20 lux during daylight hours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indoor Environmental Enrichment: </b>Not required – chickens live outside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Outdoor Access:</b> All chickens should<i> “have access to the
outdoor ranging and foraging area from as early on in life as possible. This
could be from two to three days old onwards if conditions allow.” </i>When
poultry are excluded from outdoor ranging and foraging areas due to extreme
weather, in addition to their indoor space, they must have 17 x 17 inches of
non-forage outdoor space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Genetics:</b> Cloned or genetically engineered birds are
prohibited and growth must not exceed 0.088 lbs (40 g) per day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Slaughter:</b> On farm slaughter is recommended (to avoid
transport) and Controlled Atmosphere Killing (a method generally
accepted as being humane) is recommended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most Stringent</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-71647308941542952552017-12-13T15:45:00.000-06:002018-06-03T21:13:54.796-05:00A Carton of Eggs - Part 4 - Locally Laid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuiDPxZ9D2E/WjGdIKANmUI/AAAAAAAACe4/2fmC7DuqgkQoi0B7LerXBdrXIULI2lyqQCLcBGAs/s1600/New%2BTitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuiDPxZ9D2E/WjGdIKANmUI/AAAAAAAACe4/2fmC7DuqgkQoi0B7LerXBdrXIULI2lyqQCLcBGAs/s640/New%2BTitle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An egg carton is great for keeping a dozen eggs grouped together, and for providing eggs stability and cushioning in transport. Beyond that, an egg carton is a very useful marketing tool. All that blank space can be filled up with information, promotional messages, and art. This is the fourth in a series of posts about the stuff printed on specific egg cartons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also in this series:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-carton-of-eggs-part-1-hipster-hen.html">Part 1 - Hipster Hen Wonder Eggs</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/a-carton-of-eggs-part-2-aldis-goldhen.html">Part 2 – ALDI’s Goldhen Farm Fresh Eggs</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-carton-of-eggs-part-3-wild-harvest.html">Part 3 - Wild Harvest Cage Free Large Brown Eggs</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-carton-of-eggs-part-5vital-farms.html">Part 5—Vital Farms Organic Pasture-Raised Eggs</a></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For this post, I went to a nearby supermarket and bought a carton of Locally Laid eggs. In my own coop, the Hipster Hens were in the midst of their autumnal molt and egg production was incredibly low. Given that we had some house guests who expected their morning scramble, I really did need to buy some eggs anyway. And in buying the eggs I also got a carton to blog about. So, I killed two birds with one stone, right? Please don’t tell the Hipster Hens I was talking about killing birds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Locally Laid is a Minnesota-based, family owned and run egg company that has recently expanded into Iowa and Indiana. Jason and Lucie Amundsen started Locally Laid Egg Company in 2012 to provide pasture-raised eggs to local markets and as proponents and practitioners of “Middle Ag”. My backyard flock of Hipster Hens currently tops out at 26 birds. Cal-Maine Foods<span style="background: white; color: #222222;">, </span>the nation's largest egg producer, the last time anybody counted, had around 26 million hens. Locally Laid has around 1800 laying hens. Middle Ag. Get it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you like to know as much as possible about where your food comes from, then you appreciate transparency from food companies about how their product was produced. Like nearly every egg producer, <a href="http://locallylaid.com/">Locally Laid Egg Company, provides a plethora of information about its eggs on its website. </a> But Locally Laid has taken one giant step beyond most egg companies: Lucie Amundsen has written an informational, humorous, and very personal book about how she and her husband created this unique egg company. The book, like the company, is called “Locally Laid”. It’s a good read—I <a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/locally-laid-how-we-built-plucky.html">reviewed it here about a year ago</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I contacted Locally Laid prior to writing this post and asked if they would be willing to answer a few questions. Disappointingly, they never responded to my query. I honestly expected to hear from this relatively small, local company that’s doing so many things right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nqHYDE1aqM/Wi_7xNLbOTI/AAAAAAAACcg/ZYe_6uR-C64G2695Qd3tx_YrpbAOYBo9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Locally%2BLaid%2BCarton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1600" height="264" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6nqHYDE1aqM/Wi_7xNLbOTI/AAAAAAAACcg/ZYe_6uR-C64G2695Qd3tx_YrpbAOYBo9wCEwYBhgL/s640/Locally%2BLaid%2BCarton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The carton is devoid of any sort of pictorial art except for an abstract picture of a chicken who has just laid an egg.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The logo chicken’s name is LoLa, and that’s also the name of every hen in the Locally Laid flock.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Locally Laid folks chose LoLa as the universal name because it’s short for “Locally Laid”.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, according to the website, they also like that Kink’s song. The words “Get Locally Laid!” appear in large font in the upper right corner of the carton.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first blush, this seems like an unintentional double entendre.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, in fact, </span><a href="http://locallylaid.com/open-letter-to-the-man-offended-by-locally-laid/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">the website makes it clear that the double entendre is completely intentional</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and is just one example of the humor this company employs as a mischievous and clever marketing strategy.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEWdBwLRGKM/Wi_7oAb0FBI/AAAAAAAACdI/9rMrlUXe7JU5igtddBu-Vq9wRwiQs8blQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Grade%2BAA%2BFree%2BRange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="1600" height="602" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEWdBwLRGKM/Wi_7oAb0FBI/AAAAAAAACdI/9rMrlUXe7JU5igtddBu-Vq9wRwiQs8blQCEwYBhgL/s640/Grade%2BAA%2BFree%2BRange.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The other large design element to appear on the top of the carton is an orange circle proclaiming the eggs to be one dozen large, grade AA, free range eggs.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eggs are sized based on a scale developed by the US Department of Agriculture.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Large eggs weigh 2 ounces.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The egg </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grading</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> system, </span><a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-carton-of-eggs-part-1-hipster-hen.html#more" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as I explained in a previous post in this series</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">was also created by the USDA and is essentially a measure of egg freshness. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The highest classification, Grade AA eggs, according to the USDA website, “have whites that are thick and firm; yolks that are high, round, and practically free from defects; and clean, unbroken shells.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Free Range” is also a term defined by the USDA and requires that the hens have “continuous access to the outdoors during their laying cycle. The outdoor area may be fenced and/or covered with netting-like material.” It’s a standard with a lot of leeway. Under the USDA definition, free range hens could spend their day foraging for bits of plants, bugs and worms in a pasture. Or they could be packed into a small outdoor pen with a concrete floor. So, what’s the story with the LoLa hens?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdJUCHQaOwQ/Wi_7klRdiOI/AAAAAAAACc8/6TpN8Ah-FsAFjMqsalbQk-r_4lweKtrBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Eggs%2Bfrom%2Bhens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="1600" height="94" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdJUCHQaOwQ/Wi_7klRdiOI/AAAAAAAACc8/6TpN8Ah-FsAFjMqsalbQk-r_4lweKtrBgCEwYBhgL/s640/Eggs%2Bfrom%2Bhens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This statement, also on the top of the carton, helps answer that question.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The question that this statement leaves open is exactly when and how long the “pasture season” is, and what sort of outdoor access the hens have in the “non-pasture” season.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Vp2zLuUklQ/Wi_7zn9wBpI/AAAAAAAACck/SThdjTycJWgPl-67APwLLxlJT_2sPTdPgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Fresh%2BPasture%2B%2526%2Bnon-gmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="1600" height="146" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Vp2zLuUklQ/Wi_7zn9wBpI/AAAAAAAACck/SThdjTycJWgPl-67APwLLxlJT_2sPTdPgCEwYBhgL/s640/Fresh%2BPasture%2B%2526%2Bnon-gmo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The “Minnesota Grown” program </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">is a statewide partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota farmers to get local agricultural products from local farmers to Minnesota consumers.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may ask, why is local food better? Well, logically, eggs, vegetables, or anything else that hasn’t been shipped halfway across the country will be fresher, thus will look better, taste better, and have more nutrients.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it’s better for the planet because it requires so much less energy to get it from the farm to your table.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plus, it supports the local economy and local communities.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Locally Laid website talks about how their hens are raised on local partner farms and those farms get their corn from their neighbors, and use a local mill to process the corn into chicken feed.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The mill hires local people as workers—thus the money from egg sales is recycled over and over within the local economy.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Within that context, they tell about one of their partner farmers who “was able to buy the farm he had been renting for years based on the strength of this Locally Laid contract. This will make a generational difference for his family.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67iGUgB9Pf4/Wi_8AJUH4UI/AAAAAAAACcw/8UZwq0yRIqIDcfzPqVRthjjxLzVb88TZwCEwYBhgL/s1600/non%2Bgmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="1600" height="140" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67iGUgB9Pf4/Wi_8AJUH4UI/AAAAAAAACcw/8UZwq0yRIqIDcfzPqVRthjjxLzVb88TZwCEwYBhgL/s640/non%2Bgmo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“GMO”, in case you don’t know, is the abbreviation for “genetically modified organism”.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It means exactly what it sounds like it means:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A GMO has undergone a genetic modification from its original form.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Locally Laid folks obviously think GMO’s are bad.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Others would vociferously argue that not only are GMO’s safe, they are actually good for us and good for the planet.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My perusal of this argument has led me to come down firmly on the side of “it depends”.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You need to bear in mind that regular old “non-GMO” corn has been genetically modified from it’s wild teosinte ancestor. And chickens have been genetically modified from their wild jungle fowl predecessors. In both of these examples, the genetic modification happened accidentally in nature, not purposefully by scientists. But while the process may be different, the logistics are exactly the same. Genes are composed of DNA and genetic change occurs when the order of the four chemical base pairs that make up the DNA molecule get switched around. This can occur either accidentally or purposefully—either way, genetic modification has taken place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some purposefully genetically modified organisms may be bad. That doesn’t make all GMO’s bad. It would be the same logic to say that poison ivy is bad, and since poison ivy is a plant, all plants are bad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, specifically, is GMO corn bad? There are a number of genetic modifications that have been made to GMO corn. One of them, “Roundup Ready” corn, has been altered so it can grow in the presence of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyphosate">glyphosate</a>, the active chemical in the herbicide <a href="http://www.roundupreadyplus.com/">Roundup</a>. Glyphosate is a chemical that kills almost all plants. Corn producers argue that spraying Roundup once during the growing season, compared to tilling the crop several times to kill weeds, reduces their carbon footprint and is also better for the soil. Roundup Ready corn also produces higher yields, allowing farmers to more easily produce food for a hungry planet. In addition, Roundup has been touted as less toxic and less carcinogenic than some of the herbicides that were being applied to corn prior to the advent of Roundup Ready corn. On the negative side, Roundup itself may be carcinogenic. One internationally respected organization, the <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/widely-used-herbicide-linked-to-cancer/">International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, has deemed glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. </a> Also, as more and more crops are genetically modified to a Roundup Ready version, more and more Roundup is applied to crops. As Roundup becomes ubiquitous in the environment, it is only a matter of time before weeds, through random genetic mutation, start producing Roundup tolerant versions of themselves. Once you have enough Roundup tolerant <a href="http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/roundup-ready-crops/">“superweeds”</a>, Roundup Ready crops become a moot point, and farmers will go back to their old pre-Roundup practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are other types of GMO corn that are drought-tolerant and that produce their own insecticides. As with Roundup Ready corn, there are promoters and detractors; good attributes and bad attributes. And the whole situation becomes so complex that it begs for (and will get) its own blog post. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the bottom line is that by implying that all GMO corn is bad, as is the case with the egg carton statement, all GMO’s get a bad reputation. And <i>that</i> they do not deserve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_ERun1DuoU/Wi_8FzM7mBI/AAAAAAAACc4/lNeQwghcgEUoMqPCmvZWSlMCePjY4FWnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Micro-brood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_ERun1DuoU/Wi_8FzM7mBI/AAAAAAAACc4/lNeQwghcgEUoMqPCmvZWSlMCePjY4FWnwCEwYBhgL/s640/Micro-brood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aside from the fact that “Micro-brood” is a clever use of words, it’s also an important concept. As the flock size and density go up, so does incidence of aggressive pecking behavior which can ultimately result in cannibalism – hens are literally pecked to death and eaten by their flock mates. Some flock owners try to control pecking by “beak trimming”, a painful procedure that may result in life-long chronic pain for the hen. Smaller flocks and more space solves the problem as well, and is the humane alternative to slicing into a hen’s beak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another problem with large flocks is the flock panic reaction. A loud noise or some other surprise can cause hens to panic. The entire flock can actually stampede. If the flock is in a crowded indoor situation, the hens can only run until they reach the nearest wall, then they pile up. Eventually the pile of chickens will untangle itself, but often the chickens at the bottom of the pile will have suffocated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A third problem with large flocks is the increased likelihood of disease and parasite transmission. In addition to maintaining small flocks, Locally Laid solves the disease and parasite problem by frequently rotating their hens onto fresh pasture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwluQJF23i4/Wi_7ldq5pHI/AAAAAAAACdE/d63vgYHRrHUdS_99PRMNbQVrNm7UXOLAACEwYBhgL/s1600/Don%2527t%2Beat%2Banything.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="107" data-original-width="1600" height="42" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwluQJF23i4/Wi_7ldq5pHI/AAAAAAAACdE/d63vgYHRrHUdS_99PRMNbQVrNm7UXOLAACEwYBhgL/s640/Don%2527t%2Beat%2Banything.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, we find this quote from food writer Michael Pollan. His point is that eating real, fresh, whole, local food is better than eating the stuff you find in a can or in the freezer section that’s been pumped up with guar gum, carrageenan, hydrolyzed vegetable protein or some other manufactured chemical substance. Does this quote over-simplify the dilemma of modern processed food and the effect it has on our bodies and on our planet? Of course! It’s the printed version of a sound bite! But you have to bear in mind that this is an egg carton, not a book—there’s only so much room to write stuff! Michael Pollan also said, “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.” I have absolutely no problem pronouncing “Locally Laid”. </span>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-74035544256352805572017-12-03T19:59:00.002-06:002017-12-28T20:57:37.697-06:00Winter Non-Chickens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not all of our feathered friends are chickens. We’ve got a collection of birdfeeders by our house that draw in birds both winter and summer. Last spring I posted pictures of the spring migrators that stop by our feeders on their way north in a post I called <a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/07/spring-non-chickens.html#more" target="_blank">"Spring Non-Chickens"</a>. In this post I'm sharing some pictures of some of the year-round residents that show up at our feeders in the wintertime. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course in the winter, we don't have the variety of bird species showing up for their sunflower seed or suet snacks that we see in the spring, but quantity perhaps makes up for diversity. The feeders are busy from sunup to sundown, so we don't have to wait to be entertained - all we have to do is look out the window anytime we want!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are a few examples of what we see:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a female purple finch enjoying a sunflower seed. We get both purple and gold finches in huge flocks in the winter. The purple finch is, of course, really hard to tell from the house finch. Is the bird in this picture really a purple finch or is it a house finch? I'm going with purple, but I could be wrong!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkcvSBKYLtQ/WiSCTEtYFjI/AAAAAAAACbY/LNiKly5KjkQCY_HIQFP_DojhGJSxM2VBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Female%2BRed%2BFinch%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1600" height="582" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkcvSBKYLtQ/WiSCTEtYFjI/AAAAAAAACbY/LNiKly5KjkQCY_HIQFP_DojhGJSxM2VBgCEwYBhgL/s640/Female%2BRed%2BFinch%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's another purple finch shot. That's the female in front and her boyfriend in the back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eg2_lkvEH_k/WiSCL7riV5I/AAAAAAAACbY/kZFZXplF_w4vdBfmyP6i8K4YocztmivGwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Female%2B%2526%2BMale%2BRed%2BFinches%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1600" height="624" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eg2_lkvEH_k/WiSCL7riV5I/AAAAAAAACbY/kZFZXplF_w4vdBfmyP6i8K4YocztmivGwCEwYBhgL/s640/Female%2B%2526%2BMale%2BRed%2BFinches%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a cute li'l brown creeper sitting on the deck rail waiting for his turn at the suet feeder. These little guys spend a lot of time climbing up tree trunks and make tree climbing look easy as pie. Here's a bit of bird trivia: Brown creepers always start near the bottom and climb up tree trunks while nuthatches start at the top and work their way down. Both are foraging for dormant insects in the tree bark.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dP84EdAEDO0/WiSCXV0bczI/AAAAAAAACbY/PYUCseDr-vUnQgml60d_icWCe-bZdJbkgCEwYBhgL/s1600/brown%2Bcreeper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1335" height="562" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dP84EdAEDO0/WiSCXV0bczI/AAAAAAAACbY/PYUCseDr-vUnQgml60d_icWCe-bZdJbkgCEwYBhgL/s640/brown%2Bcreeper.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a nuthatch enjoying his turn on the suet feeder.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kw1MRFh9_hA/WiSDG8X75yI/AAAAAAAACcA/YVfM5X308hk3cxHehizKiO1zpRHVdDmqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Nuthatch%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1547" height="512" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kw1MRFh9_hA/WiSDG8X75yI/AAAAAAAACcA/YVfM5X308hk3cxHehizKiO1zpRHVdDmqQCEwYBhgL/s640/Nuthatch%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's another suet loving bird - a male downy woodpecker. Downy and hairy woodpeckers are very similar in appearance, but it's easy to tell them apart because downys are smaller. In both species, you can tell the males from the females by the red spot on their heads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All woodpeckers have a taste for suet. This large, prehistoric looking creature is a pileated woodpecker. They're about the size of a crow and are very shy--they will only come to the feeders if they think nobody's around. Even moving around inside the house is enough to send them off!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tvNLzYfHLXQ/WiSDPaHu9cI/AAAAAAAACcA/Z6pA_sPgB-0ecE61cdFPPONyDy8_Jf6MQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Piliated%2B2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tvNLzYfHLXQ/WiSDPaHu9cI/AAAAAAAACcA/Z6pA_sPgB-0ecE61cdFPPONyDy8_Jf6MQCEwYBhgL/s640/Piliated%2B2009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a flicker - yet another woodpecker. It's a little unusual for us to see flickers in the wintertime since we're in the northern part of their winter range, but this intrepid little bird was with us all winter long.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7sSYrJ-qX8/WiSCVab0DWI/AAAAAAAACbY/Z7W0Mx3qsYIZgohSi26w3UGOuYtuRQFeQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Flicker%2BJan%2B12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7sSYrJ-qX8/WiSCVab0DWI/AAAAAAAACbY/Z7W0Mx3qsYIZgohSi26w3UGOuYtuRQFeQCEwYBhgL/s640/Flicker%2BJan%2B12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The chickadee, with it's black cap and bib, and petite size, has to be one of the cutest birds in the universe. While finches fill up every available perch on the feeders all day long, and just sit there in a marathon pig-out session, chickadees looks for a finch-free opening, then fly in, snag a seed, and fly off to a nearby branch to enjoy it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbcsZkeBPtM/WiSCcm4oyOI/AAAAAAAACbY/XzNFpt419j8CNSqduJZRRIgbxBgriSfsACEwYBhgL/s1600/chickadee%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1600" height="510" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CbcsZkeBPtM/WiSCcm4oyOI/AAAAAAAACbY/XzNFpt419j8CNSqduJZRRIgbxBgriSfsACEwYBhgL/s640/chickadee%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cardinals are hard to miss. They've got all that beautiful red plumage, and unlike finches and other birds who molt to a duller plumage in the winter, cardinals keep their bright red color year round. This male cardinal hangs out on the feeder while a goldfinch comes in for a nearby landing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i6O05AJiqIQ/WiSCHiG0AAI/AAAAAAAACbY/Pi4xvJF3vpc4LBM6i_lUNElu-9icgQTkgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Cardinal%2B%2526%2Bgoldfinch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i6O05AJiqIQ/WiSCHiG0AAI/AAAAAAAACbY/Pi4xvJF3vpc4LBM6i_lUNElu-9icgQTkgCEwYBhgL/s640/Cardinal%2B%2526%2Bgoldfinch.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition to feeders, we also attract birds in the winter with a heated birdbath. In the winter all available water is locked up as snow or ice. And while birds can get by on snow, heating all that frozen water takes a lot of body heat! The birdbath maintains between 35 and 45 degrees - not warm water by any means, but not frozen. Here a goldfinch enjoys some unfrozen water.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qTl0NBr3lBU/WiSCagjPWDI/AAAAAAAACbY/vXWkxLglKRQd89q0T_XY9j9JkFsgV1ffwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Finch%2Bon%2Bbirdbath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qTl0NBr3lBU/WiSCagjPWDI/AAAAAAAACbY/vXWkxLglKRQd89q0T_XY9j9JkFsgV1ffwCEwYBhgL/s640/Finch%2Bon%2Bbirdbath.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here a couple of goldfinches share the Nyjer feeder with a common redpoll, another bird in the finch family. Redpolls have a handy stretchable esophagus - they can fill up their esophagus with so many seeds that it is pouched way out, then fly away to a more private spot to actually eat them. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy_lr-hKO_c/WiSCgLewO-I/AAAAAAAACbY/xcruRayyPUoPdUH7dG_V1t45HaM1ENtQgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Goldfinches%2B%2526%2BRedpoll.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy_lr-hKO_c/WiSCgLewO-I/AAAAAAAACbY/xcruRayyPUoPdUH7dG_V1t45HaM1ENtQgCEwYBhgL/s640/Goldfinches%2B%2526%2BRedpoll.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gentle and sweet sounding mourning doves form strong pair bonds, so you usually see two of them together. We're on the very edge of their winter range, but occasionally a pair will show up at our feeder in the winter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnF9fp7GhWs/WiSDcCvxUuI/AAAAAAAACcA/MnvCFVVmhXcrL8X0xPE0Ev0HruI-BY40QCEwYBhgL/s1600/mourning%2Bdoves%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1600" height="548" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnF9fp7GhWs/WiSDcCvxUuI/AAAAAAAACcA/MnvCFVVmhXcrL8X0xPE0Ev0HruI-BY40QCEwYBhgL/s640/mourning%2Bdoves%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think the birds are in collusion with the other woods dwellers around our house. The birds knock a lot of food to the ground, then the other animals come in and clean it up. Here a flock of wild turkeys are doing just that. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pih4j10d-wA/WiSDZgqN45I/AAAAAAAACcA/q6Z6XDYryKcnbjG8vaRtBK18ce0gYrSFQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Wild%2BTurkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1600" height="468" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pih4j10d-wA/WiSDZgqN45I/AAAAAAAACcA/q6Z6XDYryKcnbjG8vaRtBK18ce0gYrSFQCEwYBhgL/s640/Wild%2BTurkeys.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We've got baffles on all of our feeders to keep the squirrels at bay, but any seeds that fall to the ground are fair game. Here a gray squirrel enjoys a sunflower seed snack on our deck.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THPIxOzPpZ8/WiSDTK7plRI/AAAAAAAACcA/7cOg-SODH8A10ydg4T3YvVNxPFUXtR-HACEwYBhgL/s1600/Squirrel%2BDec%2B07%2B-%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1600" height="500" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THPIxOzPpZ8/WiSDTK7plRI/AAAAAAAACcA/7cOg-SODH8A10ydg4T3YvVNxPFUXtR-HACEwYBhgL/s640/Squirrel%2BDec%2B07%2B-%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red squirrels don't hibernate per se, but they're much less active in the winter. Nevertheless, we often see them on nice winter days scavenging for seeds on the ground under the feeders. This little guy is sharing a meal with three of his large gray cousins.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-It_9sYq_NBY/WiSDdCzgp-I/AAAAAAAACcA/JrVR1DAEhxEYpgM9TPJSWxWvOUSpQXuYwCEwYBhgL/s1600/red%2B%2526%2Bgray%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1160" height="568" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-It_9sYq_NBY/WiSDdCzgp-I/AAAAAAAACcA/JrVR1DAEhxEYpgM9TPJSWxWvOUSpQXuYwCEwYBhgL/s640/red%2B%2526%2Bgray%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If there's anything left after the squirrels and turkeys get done, the rabbits are all over it! </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJS05Y_q0f0/WiSDUw2QTFI/AAAAAAAACcA/cCYu7uvJke8gTZsgNp8b8BhnZ48Jv6wWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Rabbit%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJS05Y_q0f0/WiSDUw2QTFI/AAAAAAAACcA/cCYu7uvJke8gTZsgNp8b8BhnZ48Jv6wWQCEwYBhgL/s640/Rabbit%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the deer get in on the action. Sunflower seeds are probably not their favorite food, but when forage gets covered by snow in the winter, they'll take whatever they can get.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWNh_5LL2CU/WiSCRLWW_wI/AAAAAAAACbY/77URTAdKPnk40pHXR9CcJG7pT4EGyFDHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Deer%2Bunder%2Bfeeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWNh_5LL2CU/WiSCRLWW_wI/AAAAAAAACbY/77URTAdKPnk40pHXR9CcJG7pT4EGyFDHgCEwYBhgL/s640/Deer%2Bunder%2Bfeeder.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Raccoons reduce their activity and their food consumption in the winter, but they do need to eat. As omnivores and opportunists, they'll quite happily eat any spilled seeds they can lay their paws on.</span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-13761157733587219962017-11-14T10:01:00.000-06:002018-02-15T22:02:40.342-06:00Meet the Flock - September & October 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfCT-7IdxKA/WoZXPik-ZBI/AAAAAAAACmM/DID4v3k82DY2s4mDxyYMS4RkkgWK4FOFgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfCT-7IdxKA/WoZXPik-ZBI/AAAAAAAACmM/DID4v3k82DY2s4mDxyYMS4RkkgWK4FOFgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Meet%2Bthe%2BFlock%2BHeader.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marissa the Cream Legbar sez “Braaaaak! Don’t
take that shot! If you hold the camera that close I’ll look RIDICULOUS!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XE70wj0PjR0/WfqN7OsKpKI/AAAAAAAACY4/HlSRID2yDsU-UfOKshGlJPZSffFCaRH9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Marissa%2B-%2Bself%2Bportrait%2Bwith%2BMarissa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="720" height="472" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XE70wj0PjR0/WfqN7OsKpKI/AAAAAAAACY4/HlSRID2yDsU-UfOKshGlJPZSffFCaRH9wCEwYBhgL/s640/Marissa%2B-%2Bself%2Bportrait%2Bwith%2BMarissa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s a nice shot of Paulette and Marissa the
Cream Legbar hens from about a year ago – they were just starting to lay eggs!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ER89XRhDiBg/WfqOWLLg4RI/AAAAAAAACZE/mrLQpf3NzOYiI5IV6suSoXvqwFodqdejQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paulette%2Band%2BMarissa%2B2016-08-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1600" height="466" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ER89XRhDiBg/WfqOWLLg4RI/AAAAAAAACZE/mrLQpf3NzOYiI5IV6suSoXvqwFodqdejQCEwYBhgL/s640/Paulette%2Band%2BMarissa%2B2016-08-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paulette could be the world’s most molty chicken
in this shot! She only has two tail feathers left, but she’s really, really
proud of them!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMBgSVwxbHw/WfqPpwrhdoI/AAAAAAAACZU/0fwS8LiSUBY9sQgzQSctZeqIymWTp1m6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Paulette%2Bmolty%2B2017-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="960" height="634" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMBgSVwxbHw/WfqPpwrhdoI/AAAAAAAACZU/0fwS8LiSUBY9sQgzQSctZeqIymWTp1m6ACEwYBhgL/s640/Paulette%2Bmolty%2B2017-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s a prettier shot from early September of
Paulette in almost the exact same spot in the hen pen as the previous shot. She’s does look about a
bazillion times better when she has feathers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uRIzvRF6BsU/WfqOjFMcpDI/AAAAAAAACZE/zi_DBhnCcuM7_2JuRwJ0xQZunOym3__SwCEwYBhgL/s1600/2%2B-%2BPaulette%2B2017-09-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1600" height="534" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uRIzvRF6BsU/WfqOjFMcpDI/AAAAAAAACZE/zi_DBhnCcuM7_2JuRwJ0xQZunOym3__SwCEwYBhgL/s640/2%2B-%2BPaulette%2B2017-09-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s a picture from just a few weeks ago of
Paulette and Bonnie the Cream Legbar hens dust bathing. Now, everybody’s sad
because the ground is covered with snow. There are sand-filled dust baths
inside the coop, but it’s just not the same as going outside, digging your own
hole, and having a good ol’ dust bath in the great outdoors!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VM5ihUaYc7o/WfqOhX5ilbI/AAAAAAAACZE/tiXtiES3TbcptzTY778LWPXMPockP5g0gCEwYBhgL/s1600/1%2B-%2BPaulette%2B%2526%2BBonnie%2BDust%2BBathe%2B2017-09-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VM5ihUaYc7o/WfqOhX5ilbI/AAAAAAAACZE/tiXtiES3TbcptzTY778LWPXMPockP5g0gCEwYBhgL/s640/1%2B-%2BPaulette%2B%2526%2BBonnie%2BDust%2BBathe%2B2017-09-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bonnie stands pensively outside the coop on an
overcast fall day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVINZKZHYGk/WfqPyWt5xxI/AAAAAAAACZU/bLumC5fAyA04IebYUajjvoCstGDYUR43ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Bonnie%2B2016-08-02%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVINZKZHYGk/WfqPyWt5xxI/AAAAAAAACZU/bLumC5fAyA04IebYUajjvoCstGDYUR43ACEwYBhgL/s640/Bonnie%2B2016-08-02%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Here’s Snowball the white Silkie roo out for
his morning walk.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-InS4Wdc9OlU/WfqQw_ICB-I/AAAAAAAACZw/RvHE6zW6DwQOK3UfL1cV1IlaAxVvwNHsQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Snowball%2B2016-08-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1600" height="586" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-InS4Wdc9OlU/WfqQw_ICB-I/AAAAAAAACZw/RvHE6zW6DwQOK3UfL1cV1IlaAxVvwNHsQCEwYBhgL/s640/Snowball%2B2016-08-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a
picture I took in May of Willow the Buff Orpington. Willow is old and lame and
has some underlying health issues, but she is sweet-tempered and social, and
just keeps clucking along. She should be an inspiration to us all!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CvHzIgc1VTY/WfqQxH6ziXI/AAAAAAAACZw/1VeGL0S90zEpmQXkElmtpK_awwphhPmSwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Willow%2B2017-05-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CvHzIgc1VTY/WfqQxH6ziXI/AAAAAAAACZw/1VeGL0S90zEpmQXkElmtpK_awwphhPmSwCEwYBhgL/s640/Willow%2B2017-05-28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Willow spots
a cricket on the coop door frame and sez, “Yay! Snax!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kD-g4BpGCBM/WfqQ509NoYI/AAAAAAAACZw/tjyEnCcLnxcaTOYDLDfAIgD04yPGsFNtwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Willow%2Beyes%2Bcricket%2B2017-10-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1600" height="518" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kD-g4BpGCBM/WfqQ509NoYI/AAAAAAAACZw/tjyEnCcLnxcaTOYDLDfAIgD04yPGsFNtwCEwYBhgL/s640/Willow%2Beyes%2Bcricket%2B2017-10-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rosa the
Rhode Island Red is in her 5th year, and is the last of my original four Reds.
She would view any discussion of her demise to be premature. She's a happy,
active hen, and still making those nice big brown eggs!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-npfCV7f1Pzw/WfqQficY21I/AAAAAAAACZw/OvCyv5XwV6YCuPt9ZmPmPYHfQ9JN2AgCQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Rosa%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="1600" height="580" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-npfCV7f1Pzw/WfqQficY21I/AAAAAAAACZw/OvCyv5XwV6YCuPt9ZmPmPYHfQ9JN2AgCQCEwYBhgL/s640/Rosa%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sam the
Easter Egger poses for the camera and asks “Is this an attractive angle to show
off my beautiful ear tufts?” No worries, Sam, no worries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbK36QpKVDQ/WfqQzFzZeVI/AAAAAAAACZw/JpEZqSJLfDklq0BMModIx5itrcx4rQoMwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Sam%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="1600" height="484" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbK36QpKVDQ/WfqQzFzZeVI/AAAAAAAACZw/JpEZqSJLfDklq0BMModIx5itrcx4rQoMwCEwYBhgL/s640/Sam%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jennifer
the White Crested Polish Hen pauses just outside the coop door to take in the
fall day.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s5jCk_b5VQI/WfqQg-BKoII/AAAAAAAACZw/1CQUvJy6i485008FMfr1inxE-AaXw792ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Jennifer%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1600" height="544" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s5jCk_b5VQI/WfqQg-BKoII/AAAAAAAACZw/1CQUvJy6i485008FMfr1inxE-AaXw792ACEwYBhgL/s640/Jennifer%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-61713394562901081762017-10-31T10:12:00.000-05:002017-10-31T10:12:11.309-05:00Chickens from Outer Space?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OinjCdga53M/WfdYf3Xm2OI/AAAAAAAACYg/2j53npcVjesHQ3gof68Dc8VrNHUOJTDSwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Title%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1600" height="350" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OinjCdga53M/WfdYf3Xm2OI/AAAAAAAACYg/2j53npcVjesHQ3gof68Dc8VrNHUOJTDSwCEwYBhgL/s640/Title%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve
always been interested in ancient sites and have been fortunate to be able to
visit a few of them over the course of my life. Not unsurprisingly, I often meet others who
share my interest in timeworn architecture and ancient civilizations when I
visit these sites. I also bump into another
whole subset at these old places—those searching for sites imbued with “secret,
ancient power”. Visit Stonehenge, Delphi
in Greece, or Machu Picchu and you’ll run into them, alone and in groups, in
shorts and hiking boots or robes and beads, seeking healing, omens, visions, or
doorways into other dimensions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And
sorry, but I’m very skeptical. I think
these nice people are earnestly looking for something that is just not
there. So, when the wide-eyed “seeker”
at Machu Picchu announces “When I stretch out my hand over the Intihuatana I
can feel <i>energy</i>!” I respond, “Um,
yeah, The Intihuatana is a massive rock that‘s been sitting in the sun all day. Why wouldn’t you feel energy? It’s called ‘radiated heat’.” Or they say “When I put my head in the niches
of the Sun Temple and hum, I hear the other-worldly reverberations!” And I reply, “Have you tried humming with
your head in a garbage can?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK,
so maybe my feet are planted just a little too firmly on the ground, but I will
admit that even I was very much in awe of the grandeur, and yes, the <i>mystery</i> of Machu Picchu. There’s a lot of really mysterious stuff
going on in South America. In Ollantaytambo,
an old site not far from Machu Picchu, I could not imagine how ancient South
Americans who didn’t have the wheel were able to move a bunch of monoliths
weighing 50 tons each to the top of a mountain from a quarry site over two
miles away. And I continue to wonder how
and why ancient South Americans drew lines in the Nazca desert 250 miles south
of Machu Picchu that from the air are obviously giant pictures of animals,
birds, and fish, but from the ground are meaningless. Because ancient South Americans couldn’t fly.
<i>Right</i>? And I wonder about South American
chickens. “Wait…what?”, you ask, “Did
you say <i>chickens?</i>” Yes.
Chickens. This is a chicken blog,
you know. And there’s something
reeeaaalllly weird going on with South American chickens.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPW3DAfctQ8/WfT-qFRBPkI/AAAAAAAACXY/tvGHQuFhIGIXbNoOKIjHHWUz_7cv2WhbACLcBGAs/s1600/Ancient%2BPeru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPW3DAfctQ8/WfT-qFRBPkI/AAAAAAAACXY/tvGHQuFhIGIXbNoOKIjHHWUz_7cv2WhbACLcBGAs/s640/Ancient%2BPeru.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>(lt) An aerial view of one of the giant drawings in the Nazca Desert. Is this a human, or is it a chicken? Or is it an alien? (Credit: Diego Delso, <a href="http://delso.photo/">delso.photo</a>, License <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode" target="_blank">CC-BY-SA</a>)</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> (rt) </b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The</span></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Intihuatana at Machu Picchu - ancient sundial - and also a source of energy? Who knows?</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not
only are South American chickens very strange birds, but they’ve been in South
America <i>way</i> too long. When the Spanish first arrived in South
America they noted the fact that there were already chickens there! People were keeping domestic chickens! Chickens, like cows, pigs, and sheep, are
supposedly Old-World animals. So how in
the world were they in South America? How
did they get there? <i>Flying saucers,
anybody?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now
that I’ve got your attention, let’s back up and look at the South American
chicken conundrum point by point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">About
9000 years ago, somebody in East Asia figured out that if they kept wild jungle
fowl tethered or in cages, they could have eggs and fried jungle fowl any time
they wanted without having to go hunting in the jungle. And with that, the chicken became domesticated. Every chicken alive today is descended from
these East Asian jungle fowl, and like every other domestic animal, they have
changed from their wild ancestors and developed a wide variety of forms. Today there are hundreds of breeds of
chickens, each with its own characteristics—different sizes, feathers in an assortment
of patterns and colors, and even eggs in a range of sizes and colors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov-9Wqf8CAU/WfUC9TRtSfI/AAAAAAAACXk/Z94dqU7Ik3I6B2IF_NeaMEvujTwghksggCLcBGAs/s1600/485px-Poultry_of_the_world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="485" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ov-9Wqf8CAU/WfUC9TRtSfI/AAAAAAAACXk/Z94dqU7Ik3I6B2IF_NeaMEvujTwghksggCLcBGAs/s640/485px-Poultry_of_the_world.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>A variety of chicken breeds (and Guinea fowl for some reason) - <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poultry_of_the_world.jpg" target="_blank">Public Domain - Library of Congress</a></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some
of the most unique chickens in the world come from South America.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Araucana chickens, whose bloodlines are all
South American, are tailless chickens that have interestingly tufted ears and
lay blue eggs.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Araucana breed was
developed from chickens acquired from the Mapuche people of western South
America (a group whom the Spanish originally referred to as the </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Araucanos</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">). </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taillessness,
or rumplessness, has arisen several times and in several chicken populations
around the world as a spontaneous mutation – all rumpless chickens alive today
are descended from these mutations. The blue egg mutation has only occurred
twice – once in China and once in South America – thus all blue-egg-laying
chickens are descended from one of these two original populations.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The e</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ar tufts mutation </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>only</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i>occurred in South
America so all chickens with ear tufts have South American ancestry.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The tufted ear trait is not an easy one to
pass on since it is caused by a “homozygous lethal gene”.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If a chick gets genes for ear tufts from both
parents it will die in the egg prior to hatching due to a malformation of its
throat and ear channel.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So tufted
chickens are carrying the tuft genes from only one parent and if they mate with
another tufted chicken, only half their offspring will be tufted.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One quarter will be non-tufted, and one
quarter will die before hatching.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
rumpless gene, by the way, is also a “homozygous lethal gene” resulting in a
25% pre-hatch mortality.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems
unlikely that chickens with this lethal combination of traits can even exist.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7qNdGuv0s0/WfUJ9EFqvhI/AAAAAAAACX0/5xh0T3Iu6HAUVaLd0vFksZTCpkyI5uRzwCLcBGAs/s1600/Traits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i7qNdGuv0s0/WfUJ9EFqvhI/AAAAAAAACX0/5xh0T3Iu6HAUVaLd0vFksZTCpkyI5uRzwCLcBGAs/s640/Traits.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(l) Bonnie demonstrates rumplessness (m) Blue egg courtesy of Veronica (r) Sam demonstrates ear tufts</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Then there’s the matter of these improbable birds
existing in a place they shouldn’t be. There’s an enormous problem with the first
Spanish explorers finding domestic chickens in South America: The first humans came to the Americas about
15,000 years ago. Scientists are
continually gaining a clearer picture of the populating of the Americas through
the study of geology, ancient climates, carbon-dating of archaeological relics,
and the analysis of Native American DNA and languages. All of this scientific work points to human
migrations from Siberia to Beringia around 24,000 years ago. Beringia was an area about the size of Texas
that connected Siberia with Alaska. It
was mostly surrounded by glaciers and was dry land because the ocean levels
were much lower since so much water was locked up in glacier ice. The human migrants lived in Beringia for
thousands of years and became genetically distinct from their Siberian cousins.
As the last ice age began to end and gaps opened up in the glacial wall to the
south, the Beringians traveled south and populated the Americas. The largest migration started 15,000 years
ago and there were a few smaller ones after that. Thus, the Beringians were the ancestors of
all of today’s Native Americans. By
10,000 years ago, the glaciers had melted so much that Beringia flooded and
Siberia and Alaska became separated by water.
From that point forward Beringia has existed only beneath the ocean
waves and there has been no land connection between Siberia and the Americas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">“But what about the chickens?” you ask. “You said this was a chicken blog, so what
about the chickens in South America?”
Well, here’s the deal – if you scroll back up to 6<sup>th</sup>
paragraph, you’ll note that chickens were domesticated 9000 years ago. Beringia disappeared under the ocean 10,000
years ago, cutting off Asia from the Americas.
The timelines don’t mesh. The
hunter-gatherers heading south from Beringia 10,000 years ago, ancestors to
today’s Navaho and Dakota, as well as the Aztecs, the Incas and all other
Native Americans were <i>not </i>carrying chickens. Yet when the Pizarro arrived in Peru in 1532,
he found chickens happily clucking, pecking, and scratching in the American
soil!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWHThwt5NcI/WfUPVB8QmUI/AAAAAAAACYE/EMgf766EZV83GdyRYE_DnIP7dXEpYklfwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Chronology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWHThwt5NcI/WfUPVB8QmUI/AAAAAAAACYE/EMgf766EZV83GdyRYE_DnIP7dXEpYklfwCEwYBhgL/s640/Chronology.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Well
that’s pretty weird,” you probably say. “But
we all know that in 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue and landed
at the Bahamas and then made a few more trips after that. Isn’t it possible that he introduced chickens
on one of his voyages and they found their way to the Inca settlements for the
Spanish to make note of 40 years later in 1532?” “Logical point,” I say. But then there’s this. There are numerous early references to the
use of chickens in Incan religious practices.
Would the Incas have been able to get chickens through some sort of
trading network with others who had already been in contact with the Spanish
and then so thoroughly incorporate them into their culture that they were being
used for religious ceremonies in span of a mere 40 years?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
there’s this. Father José de Acosta, a
Jesuit priest spent time living among Quechua-speaking Indians in Peru in the
late 1500’s. (Quechua is the language of
the Incas – it is still spoken today in many areas of Peru.) In 1590 Father Acosta published a book
entitled “Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias” and in that book he lists the
Quechua words for a variety of animals.
It is natural the Inca would have used the Spanish name for animals
introduced by the Spanish since they had never seen those animals before and
had no name for them. So, in Quechua,
horse is <i>kawella</i> (Spanish for horse
is <i>caballo</i>); cow is <i>waca</i> (Spanish for cow is <i>vaca</i>); and sheep is <i>oweja</i> (Spanish for sheep is <i>oveja</i>). See the similarity? Then we look at chicken related words –
Quechua words for hen, rooster, and egg are <i>achawal</i>,
<i>alkaachawal</i>, and <i>runtu</i>, respectively. Which
are nothing at all like the Spanish words naming the same things, <i>gallina, gallo</i>, and <i>huevo</i>. Which suggests that
hens, roosters, and eggs were already known to the Inca before the Spanish
arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">And
then there’s this: In 2007, Alice A.
Storey, an anthropologist at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, published
a paper about an archaeological dig at a place called “El Arenal” in south
central Chile. They found pottery shards
at the site that they radio-carbon dated to 1304-1424. And they found chicken bones as well dating
to the same time period – </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">long before
Columbus sailed the ocean blue!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Needless
to say, this got the attention of the entire scientific press, and it also
generated tons of controversy. Another
researcher tested the bones and found them not to be that old. Then others tested them as well, and by today
it is fairly accepted across the scientific community that the bones really are
that old. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr.
Storey was able to extract DNA from those old bones and when she compared that
DNA with the DNA of other chickens she found a match with the DNA of Polynesian
chickens. Suddenly it all made
sense! Polynesians are known have
populated islands across the Pacific by navigating huge swaths of oceans in
their canoes. It was very plausible that
they would have found their way to South America’s west coast, and that they
would have brought their chickens with them.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then
there was more controversy. In 2008 and
again in 2014, other studies showed that there was absolutely no real
similarity between the Polynesian chicken DNA pattern and that of the El Arenal
DNA or DNA of modern South American chickens.
And that’s where we are today. We
have South American chickens that are genetically unique and also genetically implausible
because of two sets of lethal genes. And
many indicators point to them being in South America for a long, long time –
long before the Spanish arrived. So,
where did they come from and how did they get there?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flying saucers,
anybody?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP60a-VRxVE/WfUQ-CQpwVI/AAAAAAAACYQ/_ZaYBAkMdfMAJahS_raJ5ua67Mgec6w_wCLcBGAs/s1600/Planet%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP60a-VRxVE/WfUQ-CQpwVI/AAAAAAAACYQ/_ZaYBAkMdfMAJahS_raJ5ua67Mgec6w_wCLcBGAs/s400/Planet%2B9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>From "Plan 9 from Outer Space - <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:UFO#/media/File:Plan9SaucerShadow.jpg" target="_blank">Public Domain - Wikimedia Commons</a></b></span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-65777003027713545122017-10-22T21:14:00.001-05:002023-10-26T10:54:06.809-05:00Betty the Transgender Chicken – What Happened Next<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-23339173598730748592017-10-17T10:13:00.000-05:002017-10-19T20:31:39.231-05:00Sexing Chickens: The Art, Science, and History of Hen vs. Rooster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aFrsGyTTgPI/WePiU1lApgI/AAAAAAAACUA/HfuyqoaHZisEBAZ80Z7co4ZDKuB-MwCoACEwYBhgL/s1600/What%2Bare%2Byou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aFrsGyTTgPI/WePiU1lApgI/AAAAAAAACUA/HfuyqoaHZisEBAZ80Z7co4ZDKuB-MwCoACEwYBhgL/s640/What%2Bare%2Byou.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A farmer wanted to be able to tell which of his
baby chicks were boys and which were girls so he enlisted the aid of a
scientist. “Well!” said the scientist, “It’s really quite
easy! You simply scatter some crickets
in the coop. The boy chicks will only
eat boy crickets and the girl chicks will only eat girl crickets.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“That’s great!”
said the farmer. “But how do you tell the boy crickets from the girl
crickets?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Why are you asking me about crickets?” the
scientist retorted. “I’m a chicken
expert!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And for the bulk of history after the
domestication of chickens, sexing baby chicks wasn’t too far from that mark. The bad news is that baby chicks are pretty
much small, cute, fluffy, and indistinguishable, with their boy and girl parts mostly
inside their bodies and out of sight. The
good news is that for a long time, it really didn’t matter a whole lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chicken husbandry back in the day went
something like this: In the spring, hens
would make a nest, lay eggs, and brood them.
The farm wife (and it was almost always women taking care of the
chickens) would risk the ire of the broody hen to collect some of the eggs and then
everybody got fried eggs. Other hens
either got left alone, or hid their nests in places where nobody could find
them. After about three weeks they would
show up with a string of peeping baby chicks behind them. These babies – maybe a couple dozen of them
on the typical farmstead—would follow their mom around, eat bugs and spilled
grain, and grow. By late summer the
pullets would look like pullets and would be laying their first little eggs
while the cockerels would look like cockerels and would be making some practice
runs at crowing. Then the cockerels
would start showing up on the dinner table.
The pullets would be kept over the winter and would become the broody
hens the next spring. Most likely before
their second winter, they would wind up in the stew pot since their egg
production would tail off the second year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a pretty good system and there wasn’t a
lot of need to differentiate the baby hens from the baby roosters. Things began to change in the early part of
the 20<sup>th</sup> century with the advent of chicken breeds that were
specifically designed as meat birds.
Suddenly, the roosters of the egg-laying breeds had no purpose and
keeping them around until they started to crow was a waste of feed and
resources. Somebody needed to develop a
way to tell baby roosters from baby hens.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That
somebody was Professor Reginald Punnett a geneticist at the University of
Cambridge. Punnett developed the first
of a series of “autosexing” chicken breeds in the 1920’s. Autosexing baby roosters have different color
patterns from baby hens when they hatch.
Dr. Punnett exhibited the Cambar at the World Poultry Congress in 1930—the
world’s first autosexing chicken. While
the Cambar and subsequent autosexing breeds, the Gold, Silver, and Cream
Legbars were not particularly good egg or meat producers, everyone was sure
that autosexing breeds would ultimately revolutionize the poultry industry once
better egg and meat production was bred into their lines. As it turned out, everyone was wrong. Cambars and Legbars turned out to be a mere
sidebar in the history of the poultry industry due to a development that
occurred around the same time on the other side of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In
1925, Dr. Kiyoshi Masui at Tokyo Imperial University reported on certain anatomical
differences he found between male and female chicks. This work eventually resulted in the scientific
paper “The Rudimentary Copulatory Organs of the Male Domestic Fowl and the
Difference of the Sexes of Chickens”.
The gist of the report, in laymen’s terms, was that to tell the
difference between little boy and little girl chicks, you just had to do what
you did with every other baby animal—pick them up, turn them upside down, and
look at their private parts. It was just
that the differences between boy and girl chicks were reeeaaallly subtle. While the report generated interest around
the world, the general consensus was that sexing baby chicks by this method
would never be commercially viable because the difference was so very subtle
that it would take too long to examine each chick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZuLjPdVUpY/WePiU9u_e8I/AAAAAAAACUI/J9rFDxcMyjMEDM98ysuEE_B1cda1PKkjQCEwYBhgL/s1600/What%2Bam%2BI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1105" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZuLjPdVUpY/WePiU9u_e8I/AAAAAAAACUI/J9rFDxcMyjMEDM98ysuEE_B1cda1PKkjQCEwYBhgL/s640/What%2Bam%2BI.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It
was two Japanese poultrymen, Kojima and Sakajiyama, who turned Dr. Masui’s
discoveries into a practical application that soon became widespread on the
farms and in the hatcheries of Japan.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A skilled
chicken sexer could sex baby chicks in rapid fashion with an accuracy of 95% or
greater.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What
do chicken sexers look for? Most baby
roosters will have an “eminence” that looks like a small pimple in the middle
of the lower rim of their vent. Most
baby hens will not. Please note that I
used the word “most” in both of the previous sentences. That’s because a certain percentage of both
hens and roosters will have confusing bits in their vents—not pimples but sort of tiny pimple-like things. Being able to sex
these chickens is very, very difficult, and both teaching and learning how to
discern all the subtleties is almost impossible. This knowledge can’t be transmitted through a
book, requires in-person tutoring, lots of practice, and is as much art as
science. Consequently, chicken sexers
are in high demand, and are paid well.
Interestingly enough, a large number of chicken sexers today, worldwide,
are Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While
vent sexing has revolutionized the poultry industry, it has not been good news
for roosters. Baby chicks are sexed
shortly after hatching, in a production line sort of setting (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhKYBK4PcJ0">see a video of baby chick
sexing here</a>) and immediately after being sexed the baby roosters are
euthanized, usually by being tossed into a grinder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hence, we catch sight
of the dark underbelly of modern poultry in all of its forms. Regardless, of whether we enjoy our chickens
through cracking open a dozen fresh pasture raised eggs, by digging into a box
of fast-food fried chicken, or by tending our backyard pet chickens, we are in
collusion with an industry that kills half of the baby chicks as soon as they
hatch because they’re roosters.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The good
news: There may be a way out of this
inhumane dilemma. In 2016, a German
scientist named Roberta Galli and her colleagues published a paper entitled “<a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b01868">In Ovo Sexing of Domestic Chicken Eggs by
Raman Spectroscopy</a>”, which describes a technique for determining the
sex of a chick while it is still in the egg and after a mere 3.5 days of
incubation. The procedure doesn’t
contact the chick embryo at all beyond the creation of a small hole in the
egg. A special light is beamed into the
hole and is then analyzed. A sexing accuracy
of 90% was obtained using this method. If
this technique becomes commercially viable, hatcheries could remove eggs containing male embryos four
days into incubation (it is generally accepted that chicks gain sensitivity
around day 7) and the need for killing male baby chicks would be
eliminated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This promising technique has garnered attention from
around the world. PETA announced "Reports
that countless male chicks could potentially be spared the horrors of being
thrown into high-speed grinders…would be celebrated by animal campaigners…” The United Egg Producers, the egg industry
trade group in the US has pledged to eliminate the culling of day-old male
chicks by 2020 “or as soon as economically feasible alternatives are available.” Shortly after the scientific report was
published in 2016, Germany's food and agricultural minister, Christian Schmidt,
promoted having the new method operating nationwide by 2017
so Germany could be a "pioneer for better animal welfare in egg production
in Europe." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over a year has passed since the initial scientific
paper and things have been fairly quiet about this new technique. It’s safe to say that nobody is using it
commercially. But Dr. Galli is quietly
continuing her research. In a paper
published in February, 2017, she reported on replacing pricey Raman analysis with
cheaper fluorescence and suggests that this cheaper methodology may make the
technique more appealing. She concludes
her paper with the hope and wish that “the availability of a cheap[er] and easier approach... might contribute to a broader diffusion of
optical sexing in the hatchery practice. On an international scale, development
of a practicable technique for in ovo sex determination has the potential to
contribute to the prevention of annual culling of 7 billion male layer hybrids,
whose female siblings produce the current global demand of about 68.3 million
tons of eggs per year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For chickens everywhere, and for the humanity of
chicken keeping, I hope that this new method of chicken sexing will be put in
place everywhere as soon as possible.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-73637153979703282872017-10-10T10:40:00.000-05:002017-10-10T19:42:29.536-05:00Six Things to Do When Introducing New Chickens to Your Flock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Remember
your first day at your new job? You
walked in carrying your little file box containing not much more than your
coffee cup and your potted plant and found your way to your new office. Everybody’s stared at you and you didn’t know
<i>any</i> of them. You didn’t know where the break room or the
bathroom was—you didn’t know where <i>anything</i>
was, and you weren’t sure what you were supposed to do next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now,
imagine that all your new co-workers had beaks and were crowding around to
maliciously peck at you and you’ll be pretty close to what it must be like to
be that new chicken you’re introducing to your flock. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Which
is why you can’t just open the coop door, toss in a few new chickens and hope
for the best. It will be a stressful
time for you and your flock, but with a little planning and strategy you can
make it a little less stressful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s
a list of six planning and strategy tips with a little commentary. I’ll follow that with the blow by blow from this
past week, when I introduced my six little pullets to the twelve old chickens
in Coop 1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1 - Quarantine
the new chickens:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Any new chickens should start out in a
totally separate area from your flock for several weeks. This gives you time to check out and treat the
new birds for any diseases, lice or mites that you may discover they’re
carrying. These new chickens will be
stressed by their move, which makes them more susceptible to disease. If you’re starting with baby chicks, they’ll
need their own area because they’re tiny and vulnerable. Babies need to grow to at least
four-months-old before they can be integrated into your flock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>2 - Allow
them to introduce themselves:</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> After you’re sure you have healthy new
chickens, allow your new and old chickens to see each other. You can either build a separate coop within
your old coop, or put a new one up right next to the old one. Separate the two spaces with fencing—this way
the new and old chickens can see each other and perhaps even start working on
the pecking order with visual cues but they won’t be able to fight. This stage should take a couple of weeks.</span><br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>3 - Check
your space and equipment:</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Before your chickens actually start living
together, make sure that you have adequate space in your coop for the
additional birds. Crowding is the best
recipe for fighting and bullying. Add
extra feeders and water founts for a while—it’s an easy thing to transfer the
feeders and founts your new chickens are using when you transfer the
chickens. The new chickens will spend a
lot of time the first few weeks avoiding the old hens. This could mean not being able to get near
the feeders and founts if there are too few.
Also, add some roosts. Even if
you think there is adequate roosting space, an extra roost is a great place to go
to escape the mean girls. You may also
want to consider a few obstacles for the new hens to hide in or behind. Something as simple as a pile of big branches
or a roll of wire fencing on its side will work—it doesn’t have to be fancy.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4 - Get
the party started:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Open the door and let them mingle! Some flock keepers recommend putting the new
chickens on the roost in the middle of the night. I’ve tried this and my experience has been that
it just delays the inevitable drama to the morning when they all wake up. There
<i>will </i>be drama! You can expect pecking, chasing, and
aggressive behavior but don’t intervene.
If a bunch of old hens get a newbie cornered and she can’t escape, that’s
when you step in, but otherwise let them do their thing. They have to work this out! </span><br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5 - Keep
them busy and entertained:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> This is a perfect time to introduce a chicken
swing or coop toy—and give them extra treats and scratch. Too many treats over the long haul is not a
good idea, but this is a special occasion, so splurge! Chickens who are eating scratch are not chasing
other chickens!</span><br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6 - Keep
an eye out:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Spend extra time with your flock to make sure
nobody’s getting bullied and everybody’s settling in. The first week is the worst! You’ll all get through it, though, and
someday you’ll all laugh about it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
six steps outlined above is advice any experienced flock keeper will give
you. I followed pretty much all of this
advice when I introduced this year’s babies to the Coop 1 flock.</span><br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>1 - Quarantine:</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> I brought
the little pullets home as chicks on June 6 and they spent the next two months
in the woodshed. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J2kx2Rryie4/WdqP0QOx4kI/AAAAAAAACTY/Rks3isZ1C6E8GSrjDMR2OmoJivtZ2qUHACEwYBhgL/s1600/Pullet%2BBaby%2BPics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="1600" height="174" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J2kx2Rryie4/WdqP0QOx4kI/AAAAAAAACTY/Rks3isZ1C6E8GSrjDMR2OmoJivtZ2qUHACEwYBhgL/s640/Pullet%2BBaby%2BPics.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Baby pics of the six pullets (l to r) Moe & Paula the Salmon Faverolles, Pippi & Squawky the Speckled Sussexes, Rose & Valerie the Gold Laced Wyandottes</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2 - Introductions:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> On August 12, the teen-aged chicks moved into a
temporary coop in the pole barn. Half of
their new coop was right next to Coop 1, and the other half was actually a
fenced off area inside Coop 1. (You can
read the story of their move at</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/08/leaving-chickhood-behind-hipster-chicks.html">“<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Leaving Chickhood Behind – The Hipster
Chicks Move Out of the Woodshed”</span></a>)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> With
just a fence separating the pullet coop from Coop 1, the little girls and the
old hens could see each other and interact.
I built a door into the fence separating the coops so when the time came
to join the two groups together I could just swing the door open. Eventually the fence would come down, but if
anything went awry at first, I could simply shut the door to separate the two
spaces.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3 - Space:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Coop 1, at 240 square feet is almost cavernous for
the twelve birds living there and still quite commodious for an additional six
pullets. At one point there were 24 hens
in that coop, but steady attrition is a sad reality of chicken keeping. The most recent hen to depart Coop 1 was
Betty the Easter Egger, who moved out when the rest of the flock started inflicting mob
violence on her (read Betty’s story at <a href="https://randyschickenblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-life-and-times-of-betty-transgender.html">“The Life and Times of Betty the
Transgender Chicken”</a>). Betty,
after spending time on her own, was now living very happily with the
pullets. The question was, when I
introduced the pullets could I also reintroduce Betty?</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4 - Party
Time:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">
On Oct 4, when the pullets were just two days shy of their four-month
birthday, I opened the door separating the coops. The pullets seemed oblivious. The birds who noticed it were
Barbara, Charlie, and Darcy, the ruling junta of Barred Rocks in Coop 1. It was only when swaggered through the door
into the pullet coop that the pullets realized that <i>there was a hole in the wall!</i>
They crowed into a corner in shock and surprise. I imagine the Barred
Rock hens were saying something like, “Heeeeyyy. Pretty nice place you’ve got here. Hmmmm – nice feeder. Guess we’ll have a little feed. You don’t mind, do you? Because if you do, you can come over here and
we’ll discuss it.” Emile the rooster
showed up then, and danced around saying, “Let’s keep it calm, ladies. We don’t want any violence, ladies!” And then, Betty jumped up, let out a chicken
scream, and jumped feet first at Darcy, the nearest Barred Rock. Feathers flew. I intervened.
Betty would have been mauled if had I not picked her up. Her legs are so weak that it’s probably a
matter of time before she loses complete use of them – she can’t fight. I realized right then that my plan to
reintegrate Betty into the Coop 1 flock was a pipe-dream. I had hoped that the Coop 1 hens had
forgotten their animosity toward Betty – it didn’t occur to me that Betty might
be carrying a grudge. I gently put her
out of the coop. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">All </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">six pullets, terror-stricken, chose that moment to dash through the open door
into the heart of Coop 1. And that took
the rest of the Coop 1 flock by surprise.
Everybody shouted, “Braaaakkkk!
Strange hens in our coop! We’re
outta here!” And they all ran outside
into the hen pen. And for the next three
or four hours that’s where things remained:
Emile and the Barred Rocks in the pullet pen, the pullets in Coop 1, and
everybody else outside—three groups with no interaction. Eventually, the hens filtered in from
outside. The pullets kept their
distance. I’m sure that distance will
shorten as time passes. Right now, we’re
still only a few days into this process.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4WIun5-MKs/WdqPxRS-6bI/AAAAAAAACTY/93tnwuiwA_AihjBA5p69lcEIb5nka6peACEwYBhgL/s1600/Chicken%2BStandoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="1600" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4WIun5-MKs/WdqPxRS-6bI/AAAAAAAACTY/93tnwuiwA_AihjBA5p69lcEIb5nka6peACEwYBhgL/s640/Chicken%2BStandoff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The Initial Standoff: The Barred Rock Ruling Junta take over the pullet coop, the pullets flee into Coop 1, and the rest of the Coop 1 flock beelines outside.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5 - Entertainment:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> At present, the combined flock has complete access
to both coops. The pullet coop has an
old workbench and the pullets spend a lot of their time on it. There’s also a plethora of roosts in the coop
and the outdoor hen pen, and a few pieces of coop furniture to hide
behind. So, given that the pullets run
faster and fly better than the old hens, nobody’s getting mauled. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BWthoolHwA/WdqP2GvoNhI/AAAAAAAACTY/RkS5mJ5dFJg0EVgcPyHQ_35RbyzAaB7tQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pippi%252C%2BSquawky%252C%2B%2526%2BValerie%2Bon%2Bhen%2Bpen%2Broost%2B2017-10-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BWthoolHwA/WdqP2GvoNhI/AAAAAAAACTY/RkS5mJ5dFJg0EVgcPyHQ_35RbyzAaB7tQCEwYBhgL/s400/Pippi%252C%2BSquawky%252C%2B%2526%2BValerie%2Bon%2Bhen%2Bpen%2Broost%2B2017-10-08.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Pippi, Squawky, and Valerie the pullets check <br />out the outdoor roost in the hen pen.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">I bought one of those hollow plastic balls with a small opening that you’re
supposed to fill with catnip and give to your cat to roll around – I fill it
with scratch and give it to the chickens.
It keeps them entertained for a long time as they roll it around to work
the scratch out. Unfortunately, the old
birds tend to monopolize it while the pullets look on wistfully from a
distance. But it does break the coop
monotony and keeps the old hens too busy to think up any hazing activities for
the new girls. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pfAe3KXjLg/WdqPzBBo-pI/AAAAAAAACTY/GmNw2oLVQ8IFNPM5pOat84URa0xQT3meACEwYBhgL/s1600/Emile%2Bwatched%2BPaul%2B%2526%2BCharlie%2Bplay%2Bwith%2Btreats%2Bball%2B2017-10-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pfAe3KXjLg/WdqPzBBo-pI/AAAAAAAACTY/GmNw2oLVQ8IFNPM5pOat84URa0xQT3meACEwYBhgL/s400/Emile%2Bwatched%2BPaul%2B%2526%2BCharlie%2Bplay%2Bwith%2Btreats%2Bball%2B2017-10-08.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Emile watches Paul the roo and Charlie Barred Rock<br />play with the treats ball.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">6 - Eyeballing:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> On day one
of the merger, I was in the coop most of the day. Since then I’ve spent a lot of time in the
coop so see how everybody’s getting along.
There’s always something going on.
Like when Valerie the Golden Wyandotte pullet flew onto the roost and
sat down next to Carmen Maranda the old Marans hen. She was probably saying something like, “Hi! I’m Valerie!
I’m one of the new hens, and I’m so glad to meet you!” In way of reply, Carmen reached over with her
beak and pulled two feathers from Valerie’s tail. Valerie screamed in shock and pain and bolted
off the roost. That particular roost is
the exclusive property of Sam the Easter Egger, and Carmen and Maran the Marans
hens and they don’t take kindly to interlopers.
Valerie, of course, didn’t know that, but I assume she won’t try to
roost there again. It is really hard
being the new hen, but these girls will figure it out! I’ll post an update in a couple of weeks, and
I’m optimistic that it will be good news.
Betty, meanwhile, is once again living on her own. I’m going to try to see if she’ll fit in with
the hens in Coop 2. Stay tune for that
report as well. The ongoing coop saga
will continue to be told. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGFIEgBk1dg/WdqPzEAg70I/AAAAAAAACTY/Ix7zaM-U8YYhPekwBhCHrEOS32WZvgjUgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Betty%2Bon%2Bher%2Bown%2B2017-10-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGFIEgBk1dg/WdqPzEAg70I/AAAAAAAACTY/Ix7zaM-U8YYhPekwBhCHrEOS32WZvgjUgCEwYBhgL/s400/Betty%2Bon%2Bher%2Bown%2B2017-10-08.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Betty is once again out of the coop and on her own.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-87033971049452375122017-09-24T17:58:00.002-05:002023-10-26T10:58:43.298-05:00The Life and Times of Betty the Transgender Chicken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAm4IwInRHw/Wcg0_SA2zoI/AAAAAAAACR8/D1oAM2jhn3Qj2A9R1741KG60jbMHrArgACEwYBhgL/s1600/Betty%2Btitle%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAm4IwInRHw/Wcg0_SA2zoI/AAAAAAAACR8/D1oAM2jhn3Qj2A9R1741KG60jbMHrArgACEwYBhgL/s640/Betty%2Btitle%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Randy's Chicken Blog has moved to a new platform - you can find this story plus all sorts of other chicken info and tales of the Hipster Hens <a href="https://randyschickenblog.squarespace.com/home/2019/7/7/the-life-and-times-of-betty-the-transgender-chicken">right here!</a></span></div></div>
</div>
Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-81734936030425124622017-09-19T14:22:00.000-05:002017-09-19T14:45:07.884-05:00A Chicken Feeder, A Waterer, and Other Odds and Ends <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVPJpgyPY94/WbXAHXMscHI/AAAAAAAACRQ/5XEL7xhW27A0kGbfd7ATqN7RRH7u3yrAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Title%2BSlide%2B-%2BOdss%2Band%2BEnds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVPJpgyPY94/WbXAHXMscHI/AAAAAAAACRQ/5XEL7xhW27A0kGbfd7ATqN7RRH7u3yrAgCEwYBhgL/s640/Title%2BSlide%2B-%2BOdss%2Band%2BEnds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Feeder<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've had a lot of problems with feed billing.
I'm not talking about getting annoying notices in the mail from the feed store
that my payment is overdue. "Billing" is a kind of confusing term
poultry people have given to a behavior chickens engage in - they use their
beaks to scoop a lot of chicken feed out of the feeder and onto the floor. I
reached a point where I would have chicken feed an inch deep on the floor
around the feeder whenever I would clean the coop. I kept telling the Hipster
Hens that chicken feed is NOT chicken litter. It costs a lot more than pine
shavings, and it's makes me really grouchy when I have to shovel all that feed
mixed with litter and poop onto the compost pile. I turned to the internet for
help and found lots of advice - some of it not so good. For instance, starving
your hens to alter their behavior seems both cruel and sort of dumb. Chickens
are chickens and will act like chickens. Scratching at and billing their food,
is just what chickens do. I did find a number of recommendations for commercial
and homemade feeders that would make billing food out of the feeder difficult -
which seems like a good logical approach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The one that made the most sense was a recommendation
by Jason at <a href="http://locallylaid.com/blog/">"Locally
Laid"</a>.
He waxed ecstatic about a plastic gravity feeder made by <a href="http://www.kuhlcorp.com/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?usr=51J4607372&rnd=3593027&rrc=N&affl=&cip=174.30.223.52&act=&aff=&pg=cat&ref=poultry-feeders&catstr=HOME:poultry">Kuhl Corp</a> and sold by <a href="https://www.strombergschickens.com/category/Poultry-Equipment-Books-and-More">Stromberg's Poultry Supply</a>. (It's worth
mentioning that neither Jason nor I have any sort of relationship with either
company.) Without any further deliberation, I ordered one and installed it in
my coop. It has been a miracle. The amount of feed the chickens manage to bill
onto the floor is a fraction of what it used to be with my old feeder. The
secret is the extra-deep feed pan and the inward curve at the edge of the pan.
The chickens still noodle around in the feed with their beaks, but the feed
stays in the feeder. I'm saving so much at the feed store that maybe I should
go out and buy the large screen TV for the coop that all the Hipster Hens have
been asking for!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQr9OEf2zIA/WbW_-sBfMtI/AAAAAAAACRQ/7OYAWm9C1UoFdhoBy27F4Ug5U7dSVCDWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Feeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="784" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQr9OEf2zIA/WbW_-sBfMtI/AAAAAAAACRQ/7OYAWm9C1UoFdhoBy27F4Ug5U7dSVCDWQCEwYBhgL/s640/Feeder.jpg" width="446" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Kuhl feeder. Inset - feed pan with curved edge.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Waterer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many flock owners tout nipple drinkers as being
better than standard water founts because there’s no standing water for the
chickens to foul or scratch litter into, so the water stays clean and there's
never any mess to clean up. But the Hipster Hens have never gotten terribly
enthused about them. Drinking from a nipple is a learned behavior and is
definitely not as intuitive as sticking one's beak into a container of water.
But chickens <i>can</i> learn how to drink
from these things, and I decided that it was time to get serious about it,
starting with this year's chicks.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've tried my hand at making poultry nipple
drinkers in the past by drilling holes in the bottom of buckets and inserting
poultry nipples (<a href="http://amzn.to/2eYen9G">which are available on Amazon</a>
and also at most farm stores), but last week I actually ordered one of those fancy
<a href="http://amzn.to/2eWTyvq">Farm Innovators nipple drinkers</a> that comes
with its own lid and a built a in heater from Amazon. (<i>Total transparency: I
participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, so if you would be
inspired to buy this or any other product from Amazon through my blog, it wouldn’t
cost you any additional buckos but Amazon would pay me and the Hipster Hens a
small fee</i>.) As soon as the package arrived, I tore it open and with great
excitement and hope, hung it up for the chicks to use. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The manufacturer suggests taking away all other
sources of water so that your birds will explore for water and eventually find
the drinker. I don't know how depriving chickens of water will suddenly make
them smart enough to realize that if they poke at these little metal buttons
with their beaks water will come out, but I crossed my fingers and removed
their old water fount when I installed the nipple drinker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By mid-afternoon none of the six chicks had
shown the least interest in the nipple drinker and were no doubt very thirsty.
So, I sat by the drinker and for about a half hour pecked at the nipples with
my finger to make water dribble out. The three shy chicks hid in a corner. The
three friendly chicks watched with great interest. Finally, Squawky the Sussex
had her eureka moment and exclaimed, "When you peck your finger at the
nipple, water appears! Now I get it! There's water coming out of your
finger!" And then proceeded to peck at my finger. I sighed and filled
their old fount with water. They all gathered around and drank thirstily. The
next day, I started the whole process all over again. Both Sussex chicks figured
it out (that's Squawky in the picture, demonstrating to Valerie - who is not a
convert to this crazy new way of doing things). The others STILL didn’t get it,
even with me and the Sussexes showing them over and over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_n4I1dPxZE/WbXARX9ZnkI/AAAAAAAACRM/TSTNGjJgaigR3I9XQ26Gw7_MiXeDR4owwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Squawky%2Bdrinks%2Bwhile%2BValerie%2Blooks%2Bon%2B2017-08-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="1600" height="612" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_n4I1dPxZE/WbXARX9ZnkI/AAAAAAAACRM/TSTNGjJgaigR3I9XQ26Gw7_MiXeDR4owwCEwYBhgL/s640/Squawky%2Bdrinks%2Bwhile%2BValerie%2Blooks%2Bon%2B2017-08-07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Squawky the Speckled Sussex sez, "See! This is how you do it!"</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the next several days I continued offer
the nipple drinker as the only water source for most of the day and to give
them their old water fount at the end of the day. This method was an absolute failure—except for
the Sussexes, the chicks just didn’t’ get it.
Then I moved them out of the chick nursery in the woodshed and into
their new coop in the pole barn. The
nipple drinker went with them, but I also gave them a standard water
fount. I decided that the move was
causing enough stress all by itself without adding the additional stress of
figuring out a new drinker. In the two
weeks that have passed since the chicks moved to their new coop, the chicks
haven’t touched the nipple drinker.
We’ll get back to the training process and I’ll keep you posted. I believe in this watering system even if
most of the chicks are not yet converts!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7WKAWeZ9_8/WbW_8Z2uYpI/AAAAAAAACRM/ytUidIacv6Y0esTvw8Wc4Cw2kyL5Yoo6gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Chicks%2BDrink%2BThirstily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7WKAWeZ9_8/WbW_8Z2uYpI/AAAAAAAACRM/ytUidIacv6Y0esTvw8Wc4Cw2kyL5Yoo6gCEwYBhgL/s640/Chicks%2BDrink%2BThirstily.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The chicks drink thirstily from a chick water fount while the nipple drinker sits neglected in the background</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Bag</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My neighbor, Linda, brings over so many
vegetable parings and peelings, bread scraps, and other treats, that the Hipster
Hens have dubbed her "Saint Linda". She's also very creative. See
what she's done with one of my empty chicken feed bags - a fabric handle and a
few stitches and this feedbag, instead of going into the garbage, has become a
shopping bag! Who wouldn't want to take this to the grocery store? It holds a
lot of groceries, is very sturdy, and has a cool chicken picture to boot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKwMPxaWilI/WbXAIgZjkTI/AAAAAAAACRM/CprS_fh6U0Q8f5zho8I9d2tlcxx4OJBAACEwYBhgL/s1600/tote%2Bbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="693" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKwMPxaWilI/WbXAIgZjkTI/AAAAAAAACRM/CprS_fh6U0Q8f5zho8I9d2tlcxx4OJBAACEwYBhgL/s640/tote%2Bbag.jpg" width="462" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Would you like to try your hand at making a
useful tote bag from a feed bag? I found
some easy-to-follow instructions on the wonderful <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Feed-Bag-Tote-Bag/">Instructables</a> web
site. (Follow the link!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Chicken
Tunnel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PSMWQogfOiw/WbW_xf5CK9I/AAAAAAAACRY/dXbNdfqDuqQLe4RdKR28EZ81Hg1Z7hsHACEwYBhgL/s1600/Chick%2BTunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="960" height="418" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PSMWQogfOiw/WbW_xf5CK9I/AAAAAAAACRY/dXbNdfqDuqQLe4RdKR28EZ81Hg1Z7hsHACEwYBhgL/s640/Chick%2BTunnel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
problem: I wanted the chicks to have
some outdoor time in the chicken gazebo and I needed a way for them to get to the
gazebo from the chick nursery in the woodshed.
The solution: A chicken tunnel –
a quick and easy project! I used five eight-foot-long 2x2’s and a roll of
four-foot wide hardware cloth for this project and spent a couple of hours, max,
putting it together. Here’s what I did:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>I
made triangle frames for both ends of the tunnel. The two top sides of the triangle were two
feet long and joined together at a right angle.
The bottom was 2 ft 10 inches long.
I used my miter saw make the angle cuts where the bottom piece joined
the two top pieces of the triangle but it would have been easier just to cut
the bottom piece a little long and fasten it to the side of the two top pieces. I used one wood screw at each joint to hold
the triangles together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. I
fastened an eight-foot 2x2 to each corner of one triangle frame with wood
screws, then I fastened the other end of each of the 2x2’s to the other
triangle frame. There! The frame was done! Since I wanted an 8-foot-long tunnel, there
was no cutting for this step.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>All
that was left for me to do was to add the hardware cloth. I cut an eight-foot length of the hardware
cloth, folded it in the middle to make an eight-foot long “tent”, then put it
over the frame and fastened it with a few staples. Since the hardware cloth was four feet wide,
it fit the frame perfectly and I didn’t have to do any additional
trimming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. The
chicks got great use out of this tunnel!
Every morning I would open the woodshed door and they would scoot down
the tunnel to the gazebo. And on sunny
afternoons, they would just hang out in the tunnel to bask in the sun! The tunnel was light enough that I could
easily move it around and reposition it.
When the chicks moved out of the woodshed, it was an easy thing to
dismantle it. The two triangle frames
are stored for the next time I need them and the hardware cloth and 2x2’s, were
put to use in building the temporary coop in the pole barn where the chicks are
living right now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p47olc9QZ-U/WbXADuFhmUI/AAAAAAAACRQ/eSUT4Ajte54suHrFdVqCvC3rxfhKAK9eACEwYBhgL/s1600/Chick%2BGazebo%2B%2526%2Btunnel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p47olc9QZ-U/WbXADuFhmUI/AAAAAAAACRQ/eSUT4Ajte54suHrFdVqCvC3rxfhKAK9eACEwYBhgL/s640/Chick%2BGazebo%2B%2526%2Btunnel.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>The chicks roost in the gazebo - chick tunnel to woodshed is in background</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coop Enrichment
“Furniture”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I added some new "furniture" in the
Coop 1 hen pen. Maybe I should call this furniture “art” and see if I can get a
gallery interested. My art is simply a
roll of wire fencing with a wooden frame held in place with a couple of steel
posts—incredibly artistic, wouldn’t you say?. It's good to have some objects in
the coop for lower ranked chickens to duck behind or run around so they can
escape the wrath of chickens that are higher in the pecking order. This will be
really important this fall when this year's babies get introduced to the coop
and the old pecking order goes out the window. Beyond that, changing things up
once in a while, even something so simple as moving the feeder location, provides
an enriched environment for the chickens – it gives them something to think
about and keeps them from getting bored. Chickens are just like kids – if they are
cooped up and bored for too long, they just start picking at each other. As you
can see, the hens were intrigued by this new object that showed up in their hen
pen. Emile the Roo thought it was
something to crow about!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-1818862707396261252017-09-12T12:37:00.000-05:002017-09-12T22:16:09.311-05:00Meet the Flock Roundup – August 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Snowball the Silkie Rooster:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Feeling very modern and sophisticated in his
fancy new hen pen.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL4xqw2GxLs/Wacyv41GL5I/AAAAAAAACOg/LF2sBqgrp_8LqrU2HcxyULylWOlBdoP-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Snowball%2Bin%2Bnew%2Bhen%2Bpen%2B2017-05-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YL4xqw2GxLs/Wacyv41GL5I/AAAAAAAACOg/LF2sBqgrp_8LqrU2HcxyULylWOlBdoP-QCEwYBhgL/s640/Snowball%2Bin%2Bnew%2Bhen%2Bpen%2B2017-05-28.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Emile the Bantam Cochin Roo: "You conniving
scoundrel! Here you are in my coop with that menacing camera contraption again!
You've been warned! If you harm my hens in any way you will feel the wrath of
my fierce spurs!"</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-4NbZyc3o0/WacygYDq8uI/AAAAAAAACOg/zX1tPCWxfqoDLplu56IAhyqPsWa27Cx-wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Emile%2B2017-07-16%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1414" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-4NbZyc3o0/WacygYDq8uI/AAAAAAAACOg/zX1tPCWxfqoDLplu56IAhyqPsWa27Cx-wCEwYBhgL/s640/Emile%2B2017-07-16%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="564" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul, the frizzled bantam Cochin: My handsome, small auxiliary rooster.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xjegA8G9btQ/Wacyt0wgyuI/AAAAAAAACOg/mqJfX1IxyZYu8nbJu1RjospbJVWcBHwXgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paul%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="1600" height="562" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xjegA8G9btQ/Wacyt0wgyuI/AAAAAAAACOg/mqJfX1IxyZYu8nbJu1RjospbJVWcBHwXgCEwYBhgL/s640/Paul%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Paulette, one of my pretty Cream Legbar hens:
This is a shot from the summer of 2016. She
was about two months old in this picture - about age this year's chicks are
right now.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x34nRPxd7jY/Waczrj-Db8I/AAAAAAAACOw/f1DUtnwa8IUn1yM-oFwN9QMhipb0ZyS0wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paulette%2B4%2B2016-06-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1600" height="566" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x34nRPxd7jY/Waczrj-Db8I/AAAAAAAACOw/f1DUtnwa8IUn1yM-oFwN9QMhipb0ZyS0wCEwYBhgL/s640/Paulette%2B4%2B2016-06-26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jennifer the White Crested Polish hen: She’s looking quite proud of her gorgeous
crest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXvAGL_cLro/WaczlI9-u6I/AAAAAAAACO0/2f_2KNJaGyIzNqsKSMOoze548zhzMXO5ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Jennifer%2B2017-07-16%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1600" height="560" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXvAGL_cLro/WaczlI9-u6I/AAAAAAAACO0/2f_2KNJaGyIzNqsKSMOoze548zhzMXO5ACEwYBhgL/s640/Jennifer%2B2017-07-16%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Squawky the Sussex chick: Sitting on the roost in the chicken gazebo
thinking deep thoughts. This shot was from the chicks’ last day in the woodshed
and gazebo. The next day I moved the
chicks into their new coop in the pole barn.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JLGoQALM6iY/Wacx9n9u9qI/AAAAAAAACOI/l2-PU0WbFSEEBwbq4yOMkNbmqT_FkSKeACEwYBhgL/s1600/Squawky%2Bon%2Bgazebo%2Bperch%2B2017-08-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JLGoQALM6iY/Wacx9n9u9qI/AAAAAAAACOI/l2-PU0WbFSEEBwbq4yOMkNbmqT_FkSKeACEwYBhgL/s640/Squawky%2Bon%2Bgazebo%2Bperch%2B2017-08-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mary the free-spirited and petite Golden
Campine: Since Mary's in her fifth year,
I have no great expectations from her for egg production - but she's been
rocking and rolling this summer. She gives me a pretty little white egg almost
every day!</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9lBgm5ZwB3A/WacziIH5ILI/AAAAAAAACO0/AswU3b6CsrQP7p7cVz5X7734eToQkg2VgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Mary%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9lBgm5ZwB3A/WacziIH5ILI/AAAAAAAACO0/AswU3b6CsrQP7p7cVz5X7734eToQkg2VgCEwYBhgL/s640/Mary%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pippi the Speckled Sussex pullet: How could anybody not love this face!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nrjt22gWPYk/Wacx41mwJYI/AAAAAAAACOI/AugUdpnVO48XdUIcyFDiLWV-4hac2-ioQCEwYBhgL/s1600/5%2BPippi%2B2017-08-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nrjt22gWPYk/Wacx41mwJYI/AAAAAAAACOI/AugUdpnVO48XdUIcyFDiLWV-4hac2-ioQCEwYBhgL/s640/5%2BPippi%2B2017-08-07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Emile, my alpha rooster, developed an eye
problem. There was no swelling and no discharge, but he kept his eye closed all
of the time and it obviously bothered him a lot. My suspicion was that he had been poked
or pecked in the eye and my hope was that after a few days this good little
rooster’s eye would be back to normal. His eyes are the eyes of the flock – he always
sounds the alarm and moves the flock to the safety of the coop whenever there
is any danger be it real (a dangerous hawk) or perceived (me pushing the scary
garden cart down the hill). With Emile
on the sidelines, Paul, the small substitute rooster stepped up to the
leadership challenge by strutting around the coop and crowing a lot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8_5luykMCIk/Wacyd5BifTI/AAAAAAAACOg/eWGQmQAYvm81vfPWGBNn7Hw76FOPAnz0QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Emile%2Bhas%2Beye%2Bproblems%2B2017-08-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="1600" height="614" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8_5luykMCIk/Wacyd5BifTI/AAAAAAAACOg/eWGQmQAYvm81vfPWGBNn7Hw76FOPAnz0QCEwYBhgL/s640/Emile%2Bhas%2Beye%2Bproblems%2B2017-08-07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The good news was that after about a week, Emile's problem eye was completely back to
normal and he once again had two eyes to be the watchful guardian of the
Hipster Hens.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Up0aGhzZTsg/WacynK-KZ8I/AAAAAAAACOg/4DByQOk6aRYn7GLGPPAv3njNrzhto3LVQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Emile%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1600" height="466" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Up0aGhzZTsg/WacynK-KZ8I/AAAAAAAACOg/4DByQOk6aRYn7GLGPPAv3njNrzhto3LVQCEwYBhgL/s640/Emile%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Angitou the Golden Polish hen: Contemplating
the universe from somewhere beneath her bountiful crest.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbnYUKyuGSk/WaczpdQEazI/AAAAAAAACO0/ozYolpWtbXI0OxsNv19EogbrhfCcKNiZQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Angitou%2B-%2Btruly%2Bbeautiful%2B-%2B2017-05-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbnYUKyuGSk/WaczpdQEazI/AAAAAAAACO0/ozYolpWtbXI0OxsNv19EogbrhfCcKNiZQCEwYBhgL/s640/Angitou%2B-%2Btruly%2Bbeautiful%2B-%2B2017-05-28.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The majority of the chickens in my flock are in
their fifth year, so it isn’t surprising that some of the girls are showing
their age, nor is it surprising that I continue to lose some of them. But it’s
still dispiriting each time a hen dies. Buffy the Buff Orpington passed away at
the end of August. Kathy and I were out of town on vacation, and Ashley, our
fantastic chicken sitter, was providing care. When she noticed Buffy was under
the weather, she turned her over to Heidi and Grant, neighbors who are not only
wonderful people, but also very competent flock keepers and are both vets to
boot. So I know that Buffy was in good hands, but sadly, she passed away before
we returned home. I’ll miss this little girl, but as is the case with all my
chickens, I am comforted by the fact that she had a good life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grABRnwYg9w/V9DOe9miBZI/AAAAAAAABfI/giaZUCvNG9Mw6jVtJ3QHLgzkwsTdtELmQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Buffy%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1600" height="626" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grABRnwYg9w/V9DOe9miBZI/AAAAAAAABfI/giaZUCvNG9Mw6jVtJ3QHLgzkwsTdtELmQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Buffy%2B2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-18661415728632816772017-09-05T10:18:00.000-05:002018-03-15T20:18:56.790-05:00When the Rooster Crows at the Break of Dawn - Why Roosters Crow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RpaZoci414Q/Wax-kpxhzFI/AAAAAAAACQM/LfrlBBb6lospVhybH9gj37iuO1bHtFcNgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Title%2BSlide%2BRooster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1600" height="340" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RpaZoci414Q/Wax-kpxhzFI/AAAAAAAACQM/LfrlBBb6lospVhybH9gj37iuO1bHtFcNgCEwYBhgL/s640/Title%2BSlide%2BRooster.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When your rooster crows at the break of dawn</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Look out your window and I’ll be gone</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You’re the reason I’m trav’lin’ on</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t think twice, it’s all right</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Bob Dylan</div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It is a warm and humid morning in mid-August
and not yet light.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Wakefulness is coming
to me this morning before the sun, and I open my eyes to look around the room,
lit only by alarm clock glow.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A slight
breeze blows through the open windows and all is quiet.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The nights sounds of owls and coyotes have
ceased and the birds have not yet started their songs of daybreak.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then I hear the first morning sound floating up
the hill, “Err-err-eeeeeerrrrr!”
Emile is awake. “Err-err-eeeerrrrr!” In a bit Emile’s call is joined by another
one, a bit flatter and raspier, “Err-err-Rup!
Err-err-Rup!” Snowball has added
his morning commentary. This duet continues for a while and then is joined by
another voice, more shrill and abrupt, “Errrrr-errrrrr!” Now Paul is chiming in. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and
start my day—the sun is just beginning to lighten the eastern horizon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By the time I get to the coop, the sun is peaking
over the eastern edge of the world. Some
of the hens are off the roost and scratching around the coop. The boys are all still on the roost and are
continuing their song. I open the coop
doors and everybody hurries outside, and the roosters carry their message to
the great, wide world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everybody knows that roosters crow in the
morning and most people also realize that roosters also crow other times during
the day. But not very many people wonder
why. What is their motivation? Here’s the good news: There are real scientists out there who wonder why
roosters crow. They think about that as
well as other chicken behavior and study chickens in controlled scientific
experiments. One such scientist is Tsuyoshi
Shimmura at Nagoya University in Japan.
Dr. Shimmura and his colleagues have tackled interesting topics such as “Do
chickens raised by a broody hen behave differently than chickens raised without
a mom?” (Short answer: “Yes!”) and “Do chickens in small cages peck more
than free-range chickens?” (Long answer:
The amount of “beak related activity” (<i>e.g. grazing, eating, drinking, preening, aggressive pecking, gentle
feather pecking, severe feather pecking, litter pecking, and object pecking</i>)
stayed about the same regardless of how chickens were housed, but which <i>type</i> of beak related activity is
influenced by their housing).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, what about crowing? It turns out that “Err err errrrrr” means a
bunch of different things in rooster lingo.
(And let’s face reality! “Err err
errrrr” is what roosters really say. Has
anybody, <i>anywhere</i>, ever heard a
rooster say, “Cock-a-doodle-doo? Come on,
people!) According to Dr. Shimmura,
Emile’s “Err err errrrr” can mean any of the following: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Territory:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> “Good
morning, everybody! I’m Emile, you are
my flock, and I’m in charge!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Warning:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> “Here comes Randy with the scary garden
cart! Have no fear girls! Gather round and I shall protect you!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Pecking Order: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">“Hey, Paul, little
buddy! You stay in line, or you’ll feel
the wrath of my spurs, Okay?” And,
Snowball? Just sayin’, you’re lucky
there’s a fence between us!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Food Availability:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Look,
everybody! Here’s Randy with the bucket
of scratch grain! Feel free to thank me
now!”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rT6zNraUq5Q/Wax-j-AJzTI/AAAAAAAACQI/V1TZWqF_3t4ZFzuCCzRa0gS9gQzER4f7wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Yo%2BPaul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rT6zNraUq5Q/Wax-j-AJzTI/AAAAAAAACQI/V1TZWqF_3t4ZFzuCCzRa0gS9gQzER4f7wCEwYBhgL/s640/Yo%2BPaul.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In other words, roosters crow for pretty much
any reason imaginable. But they do seem
to crow <i>more</i> in the morning. Scientists always assumed that the rising sun
somehow stimulated roosters to crow. But
there are a lot of people who have spent time around chickens and are aware
that roosters usually crow <i>before</i>
dawn. So what’s up with that? Are roosters responding to the increased
levels of light, or do they have some sort of internal biological clock? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To find out, the Nagoya University scientists put
roosters in an artificially lighted environment that was light for twelve hours
and dark for twelve hours each day. As I
could have predicted, the roosters started crowing two hours <i>before</i> the lights switched on each day. The timing of their morning crowing was
regulated by their own biorhythms! To
further confirm the presence of internal biological clocks, the researchers put
roosters into a completely dark environment for a period of days. They soon settled into a pattern of a 23.8-hour-day—and
would crow at exactly the same time each day on that cycle. When the roosters were subjected to scary
lights and sounds, they did respond to them by crowing, but they would always
crow more if these stimuli were presented at their “dawn”. The researchers concluded that “internal clocks take precedence over
external cues.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In another study, Dr. Shimmura’s team
determined the pecking order in a group of roosters and then observed the order
of their crowing. Consistently, the
dominant rooster would start crowing shortly before dawn. Then and only then, the second ranked rooster
would crow. After he crowed, the third
ranked rooster would crow, and like dominoes the other subordinate roosters
would commence crowing, one after the other in descending order of rank. When the dominant rooster was removed, the
second-ranked rooster jumped right in and started crowing before dawn to start
the cascade of the subordinate rooster crowing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So now we know!
Isn’t science great?! Next, I’m
hoping this group of scientists will get to work solving that age-old
conundrum: “Why did the chicken cross
the road?”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363227331039320425.post-3000263190389693642017-08-31T10:56:00.000-05:002017-09-12T22:15:51.502-05:00Meet the Flock Roundup – July 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Suddenly, after celebrating her one-month
birthday, Paula the Salmon Faverolles chick is starting to look like a teenage
chicken. Look at the feathers sprouting all over her legs & her pretty
salmon colored wing feathers!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h0RHCBRemPw/Wacns-ZzazI/AAAAAAAACM0/zReQVDbQh4UUoLuFU1OLlkyH6fEeIwRCgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paula%2B2017-07-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="1600" height="618" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h0RHCBRemPw/Wacns-ZzazI/AAAAAAAACM0/zReQVDbQh4UUoLuFU1OLlkyH6fEeIwRCgCEwYBhgL/s640/Paula%2B2017-07-01.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Squawky the Speckled Sussex chick looks longingly
out the window at the great wide world. A week after this shot, the chicks had
their first opportunity to go outside! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5SCZuHSnLE/Wacn2dzwaJI/AAAAAAAACNk/f3Y7mOwSGTAYy45K-TXAIpReQDX3jlEBACEwYBhgL/s1600/Squawky%2B2017-07-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="1600" height="536" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5SCZuHSnLE/Wacn2dzwaJI/AAAAAAAACNk/f3Y7mOwSGTAYy45K-TXAIpReQDX3jlEBACEwYBhgL/s640/Squawky%2B2017-07-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here's the sweet-faced Valerie the Golden Laced
Wyandotte at a tad over a month old. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl5ZtTiuuDs/WacqB17UaPI/AAAAAAAACNo/ocf7qQ-4gXs-o1_QF9eD7Q9RJHczl4jkQCLcBGAs/s1600/Valerie%2B2017-07-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="1600" height="580" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl5ZtTiuuDs/WacqB17UaPI/AAAAAAAACNo/ocf7qQ-4gXs-o1_QF9eD7Q9RJHczl4jkQCLcBGAs/s640/Valerie%2B2017-07-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here's a recent close-up of Marissa the Cream
Legbar. Marissa's crest is brown rather than the expected dark grey, and
because of that, she doesn't meet the Standard of Perfection for her breed and
would not place well at a show. I think that Marissa herself doesn't care a bit
about this "flaw" and probably even thinks that it's attractive. I
totally agree!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1VwLIamPQT4/WacoLg1FD3I/AAAAAAAACNk/BDfhhIkwrAIqaQ5kKgv_60VGE9uQLvUXgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Marissa%2B2017-05-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1VwLIamPQT4/WacoLg1FD3I/AAAAAAAACNk/BDfhhIkwrAIqaQ5kKgv_60VGE9uQLvUXgCEwYBhgL/s640/Marissa%2B2017-05-28.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">What's better than an afternoon snooze on a hot
July day? "Nothing at all," says Darcy Barred Rock, "Nothing at
all!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AroUO9jm4Qs/WacoZFrr7VI/AAAAAAAACNk/x9J95eI1EJ0qtD3-kZdGX-D5kABljN8sACEwYBhgL/s1600/Darcy%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AroUO9jm4Qs/WacoZFrr7VI/AAAAAAAACNk/x9J95eI1EJ0qtD3-kZdGX-D5kABljN8sACEwYBhgL/s640/Darcy%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Moe the Salmon Faverolles chick hangs out
outdoors like a pro – a mere week after the chicks first ventured outside. "Let
me pose with my back facing the camera!" she suggests, "That way
everybody can see my brand new, pretty salmon colored feathers!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUClvhAJgyY/WacnsSywheI/AAAAAAAACNk/WK4syBQH81UsyX_-XaJQN1xz551dj-7KwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Moe%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1408" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUClvhAJgyY/WacnsSywheI/AAAAAAAACNk/WK4syBQH81UsyX_-XaJQN1xz551dj-7KwCEwYBhgL/s640/Moe%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="562" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Valerie the Golden Laced Wyandotte likes to
spend her day outdoors in the chicken gazebo. She says, "Look at how
grown-up I look! My baby fuzz is all gone!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VTjf6Cc-EO0/WacqlHnz2vI/AAAAAAAACNw/NoYFB_YapUEBgL4PlcelI9GJ8tOiXn1BACLcBGAs/s1600/Valerie%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1600" height="534" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VTjf6Cc-EO0/WacqlHnz2vI/AAAAAAAACNw/NoYFB_YapUEBgL4PlcelI9GJ8tOiXn1BACLcBGAs/s640/Valerie%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Courtney the Silkie sez: "Ha ha! Watch
this! If I look up long enough I'll make Willow look up!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b83AxAhNBPc/WacosyLcx_I/AAAAAAAACNk/0pllenJ8CVkYxA3_DOQIEbNTMKCmR3x7wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Courtney%2Blooks%2Bup%2Bwith%2BWillow%2B2017-07-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b83AxAhNBPc/WacosyLcx_I/AAAAAAAACNk/0pllenJ8CVkYxA3_DOQIEbNTMKCmR3x7wCEwYBhgL/s640/Courtney%2Blooks%2Bup%2Bwith%2BWillow%2B2017-07-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Courtney adds "Now watch me make Willow
look down! Haw! Braaak!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZFkUnGHmEk/Wacos-3R3PI/AAAAAAAACNk/QZnKm5AQ7E81Y025oKOvt9VKU5a00dOigCEwYBhgL/s1600/Courtney%2Blooks%2Bdown%2Bwith%2BWillow%2B2017-07-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZFkUnGHmEk/Wacos-3R3PI/AAAAAAAACNk/QZnKm5AQ7E81Y025oKOvt9VKU5a00dOigCEwYBhgL/s640/Courtney%2Blooks%2Bdown%2Bwith%2BWillow%2B2017-07-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here's Paula the Salmon Faverolles chick posing
at the end of the chick tunnel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GxskeWcusw/WacnyYu6b8I/AAAAAAAACNk/8rrdnGUF2fM4sXVcxBG35saGn-B4jlL3wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Paula%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1600" height="370" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7GxskeWcusw/WacnyYu6b8I/AAAAAAAACNk/8rrdnGUF2fM4sXVcxBG35saGn-B4jlL3wCEwYBhgL/s640/Paula%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Valerie the Golden Laced Wyandotte "helps
me do my morning chores".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUPz_VcJYZI/Wacn0zqI41I/AAAAAAAACNk/zjEU7jdZlNg5yRdbibkon7EgldFfW5TWACEwYBhgL/s1600/Valerie%2Bhelps%2Bdo%2Bchores%2B-%2B2017-07-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1600" height="576" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUPz_VcJYZI/Wacn0zqI41I/AAAAAAAACNk/zjEU7jdZlNg5yRdbibkon7EgldFfW5TWACEwYBhgL/s640/Valerie%2Bhelps%2Bdo%2Bchores%2B-%2B2017-07-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">No, I didn’t say I had a chip on my
shoulder. That was “chick”. I have a chick on my shoulder. (Valerie
again.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kka4VbUaJRE/WacnvXj4F7I/AAAAAAAACNk/shERS5-4aCkkucrSxPH0NdWlIkD98P43gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Valerie%2B-%2BSemi%2Bselfie%2B-%2B2017-07-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="847" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kka4VbUaJRE/WacnvXj4F7I/AAAAAAAACNk/shERS5-4aCkkucrSxPH0NdWlIkD98P43gCEwYBhgL/s640/Valerie%2B-%2BSemi%2Bselfie%2B-%2B2017-07-22.jpg" width="626" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty the Easter Egger sez, "They tell me
my fancy new John Deere roost can also be used as a mower! Who knew?!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-atxMLhm-V28/Wacoo48OUjI/AAAAAAAACNk/k1wtLXpYtcI1paRVRtOLh3tgE8auAE_qwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Betty%2Bon%2BMower%2B2017-07-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1600" height="506" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-atxMLhm-V28/Wacoo48OUjI/AAAAAAAACNk/k1wtLXpYtcI1paRVRtOLh3tgE8auAE_qwCEwYBhgL/s640/Betty%2Bon%2BMower%2B2017-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sadly, Emily the Silkie hen has passed on after
being struck down in her prime by a sudden and vicious case of flystrike. Emily
was as personable and adorable as Silkie hens can be. While many chickens are
not comfortable being handled, Emily actually enjoyed being snuggled and would
make noises that I swear were her version of purring. She was one chicken that
I knew I could pick up and place into the eager arms of young children--she
seemed to understand that these small humans were not experienced with handling
chickens, and she was OK with that. Emily was and will continue to be one of
the four chickens whose likenesses appear in the chicken portrait that serves
as the profile picture for this blog's Facebook page. She was a special hen and I will
miss her always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14428531478283627693noreply@blogger.com0