So the photos I’d posted for my last episode did not get loaded on everyone’s computer/phone. What? looked perfectly fine from where I’m sitting, but apparently that’s not good enough. My apologies. Nope, little grey squares on your end were not the intention! A quick check with Lamplight and I learn that photos differ in digital strength — jpg or HEIC — and airdropping them from my phone to computer somehow confused both my machine yours. So, you’ll let me know if this post does load the photos? No, just let me know if it doesn’t.
What photos? Here we go: the new girls.
This one should be enough. Yes or no?
Anyway, here’s the story. Sometime last week, a predator, probably airborne, took off with one of our last two birds. Rhody was gone. But chickens are flock animals, and it seemed cruel to deprive the one remaining chicken, Lacy, of a companion. Or rather, a domestic servant for her to boss around, peck at. Plus, Lacy, busy at her management chores, has not been a dependable layer. The solution, check on Craig’s List for a couple of mature layers, and we discovered (as will happen on C L) the perfect answer.
Stopping at WilCo for a small wire crate, we followed the North Santiam river miles north and east out into Oregon’s Appalachia. I don’t know if that’s fair, but, you know. Beautiful country, small farms, cows, trailer homes, fencing, used cars and farm machinery, people on the margins.
I’ll try again:
Here’s what we found. Lots of chickens, friendly people, a couple of funny, cute little boys flapping their arms and squawking like “choose one of us” (I would have, I promise, they were adorable). The owner scooped up a random two birds, fed them into our crate, accepted the twenty dollars per, and advising us to watch for foxes, sent us on our way.
Larry is probably right, as he doesn’t want me to allow the chickens the run of the orchard. They are protected in the run, at least from hawks and/or eagles, and probably foxes and coyotes, but . . .
Oh well, now we have three birds again, and one of them has been laying, so we’re good.
As for the rest of the projects around here, it’s hurry up and wait. The biochar project was to have been here last week, may arrive on Monday, but of course, we’ll then be away for the rest of the week while they operate. I want to see that in action! Life doesn’t always provide according to my wishes.
So for right now, a happy Thanksgiving to you all, and here’s hoping you receive the photos today, and going forward.
Pictures work on my computer & phone! Well done.