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Crumbs from the Coop by KaBob
Winter 2009
In case you haven’t stopped by lately … I am strutting like never before these days. I have six … I’m telling you no lie …. SIX new hens! Wow! Two gorgeous red hens (I think they’re from Ireland) and four teeny little white hens (they might be from Iceland or somewhere way up north because I mean they are white – ain’t never seen the sun!)
We’ve all adjusted to our fantastic winterized chicken house. That Keith guy is alright. I recommended to Janet and Randy that if that Keith guy was good enough to winterize our home inside … he was good enough for the Great House! Yep … we’re warm and snug these days with newly covered flooring, ceiling and walls. I understand these walls will come down during the warm months for a cooler breeze but the floor and ceiling are there to stay. Makes it lot safer for us chickens – no more worrying about wild animals getting in to get our eggs. Now only those itty bitty mice still squeeze in sometimes.
And best of all … now that everybody has introduced themselves and decided to get along, my girls are laying eggs again. And I mean some big whopping white eggs, too! I don’t want any more babies to take care of so yall get those eggs from the nest and take ‘em home for breakfast! Fine by me!
Crumbs from the Coop by KaBob
Spring 2009
Yep, I finally got those hens Janet promised me and I hear there’s a lot of questions about the variety of chicken breeds hanging out in the corn crib.
The four cute little white hens are a breed called “Ideal 236.” Ideal Poultry Farm in Cameron Texas is the home of the “Ideal 236.” This is from their website (yes, I may be an old rooster but I can still “peck on the keyboard” and read – I’m not stupid just because I’m a chicken!)
Ideal 236 is a breed cross layer developed by Ideal Poultry in the 1960's and is the most productive, efficient layer sold by Ideal. They are known for their production of large, smooth-shelled, white eggs. This breed cross has excellent hybrid vigor, and the specific combination of breeds has produced a bird with excellent livability and the ability to lay for a long period of time without molting. The mature weight of Ideal 236 hens is 4.5 lbs. which is heavier than most commercial layers.
The two black hens we believe are a breed known as Black Rock but they will neither confirm nor deny their breed. Silly girls – I just love mysterious females!
The two red hens … you guessed it! Rhode Island Reds just like me – now they are real whistle stoppers!
The triplets are Dominiques – they’re getting cranky in their old age and haven’t taken too well to the new younger chicks. I still like ‘em though – they got that 1960s psychedelic feather thing with black and white specs and that strange rose comb … I’d love to see them in a strobe light!
And me …. well I’m the Rhode Island Red Rooster like no other and all together we make an even dozen. Come on by with a few bread crumbs or unsalted crackers and I’ll introduce you to them all!
IMPORTANT BULLETIN: There is a new student program about Chickens!
Crumbs from the Coop by KaBob
Summer 2009
Ole’ KaBob here and still kicking up my … well, I don’t actually wear heels but I’m kicking up. Thanks to the extra care of Dr. Winters at the veterinarian’s office I’m getting along pretty good these days. My feet are much better and my feathers have thickened up nicely. The coop is in great shape since that nice carpenter guy, Keith, put in a new floor and side sections to keep it cleaner and drier for us. The guys are now putting down pine shavings which make a more absorbent material for the floor. Mike, Jon, and Brad as well as Randy and Janet take good care of our needs especially watering and feeding us, as well as cleaning our house. We are definitely living in high cotton around here!
There was a naming contest held in June for my hens. Thank goodness I can call them by name now. It was kinda embarrassing trying to introduce them to our visitors without specific names! The winners came up with: Pot Pie, Dumpling (the white hen with the real sexy floppy comb), Nugget, Quiche, Crispy, Pepper, Cordon Bleu, Barbie Que, Omelet, Nibbles, and Crisco.
Prizes of $50 were awarded to each winning name with three of the contestants having entered two winning names! I got Janet to call the winners (I just don’t like using my cell phone for long distance calls) and she said they were all so excited to find out they had won. According to Janet, one young fellow dropped the phone and she could hear him yelling in the background, “I won! I won! I won!” His mother picked up the phone and continued the conversation. He didn’t even find out what he had won! LaFawn packaged up nice gift boxes and sent them off on Monday, July 20.
On a more serious note, I’m sad to report the loss of one of my girls. One of the Dominiques passed away on Monday, July 13. We think it was from old age. We were all quite sad. She passed inside the coop in her sleep. Janet was away but was contacted immediately. Jon and Brad were quite kind and removed her little body for a proper burial including rosemary on her grave. We will all miss her and the rosemary is a reminder to her spirit that she will always be remembered. Her name was Nibbles. I think she hung in there until she got a name so she could pass on in dignity.
We have had a great spring despite our loss with lots of visitors and lots of school groups. I love the reaction that folks have to us being held. Most folks have never touched a chicken and didn’t have any idea just how entertaining and social we can be to those who treat us as equals. Treating others as equals with kindness and respect, I think, is something from which all people can learn.
Crumbs from the Coop by KaBob
Fall 2009
I have been quite fortunate again this summer! Not only did my group of hens increase in number but they even all got names as well. Staff have been spoiling them with treats of bread pieces and crackers. Jon is obviously quite fond of Dumpling .. He calls her “Flopsy” because of her sassy comb and even has her flying up to grab bits of bread from his hand … you could say “he really has her eating out of his hand!” (that’s chicken humor for ya!)
Let the party begin! We have lights inside our humble abode now! Can you imagine that! And music! YES! A radio has been added to the coop as well to keep away predators and relax us all for a romantic evening. It’s quite soothing. Only thing is, Quiche got to showing off one night and was trying to do ballet along the roosting stand and fell – had us all laughing hysterically.
And me? Well, I’ve had a rough time with my old legs and foot. After several trips to the vet, Brad took me in for the last visit … and can you believe what Dr. Winters told me? I have gout! Me? A Rooster with gout? Who ever heard of such a thing? Well, I’m on daily meds now and finally getting some relief from the pain. I didn’t know how to explain to Janet the discomfort I was feeling and I know she had a lot going on so I just tried to keep to myself and not worry anyone. But she noticed anyway and got worried. That Alison girl … she’s been real nice to me, too. Michael takes care of the waterers and landscaping for us as well as keeping the coop cleaned out.
I know we’re exceptionally spoiled and I tell my girls to “lay more eggs!” or we’ll be Sunday dinner! They all do their part and just recently I’ve been frisky enough to start courting them again, thanks to my medication. I’m a very lucky Chicken indeed and I want everyone to know how much I appreciate everything they do to keep us healthy and happy … after all, just like a “contented cow gives good milk” – a “spoiled (that’s spoiled – not boiled) chicken gives good eggs and lots of laughs!”
Crumbs from the Coop by KaBob
Winter 2010
Modifications to our coop are absolutely incredible. Despite the intense cold and wind this winter, we have had the best of all accommodations in which to get away from the winter’s chill and keep dry and warm. Thanks so much for making our home safe from predators (including that great box on the shelf with the variety of talk shows and music!)
Lighting has really helped out and the new roosting stands are working great for us. One of my older girls hasn’t been feeling too good lately so yall help me keep a watch on her. She’s hanging in there pretty well though.
Since I’ve been provided with those great daily medications administered by a variety of staff (I do LOVE the excuse for bread treats), my gout no longer bothers me! I feel like a real spring chick and have even been charming with the ladies lately. I’m thinking it’s time we get a few more hens if Janet says it’s okay. I can handle it and we’ve got plenty of room these days in that fabulous coop!
I am looking forward to the Chicken Whisperer program this spring season and hope I can help others get to know us Chickens a little better so they not only appreciate us but understand we have feelings, we have emotions, and we have our nice little family with all kinds of personalities. I’ve taken a liking to those ole’ boys, Brad, Jon, and Julian, and I no longer try to attack them. They’ve won my trust but you know that Randy guy … I still catch him staring at my thighs and it makes me a little uncomfortable. I’m going to keep a close beady eye on that one for sure.
Crumbs from the Coop by KaBob
Summer 2010
Who says chickens don’t have emotions? You’re kidding me, right? My feet have been bleeding off and on for weeks now with skin and scales just falling off. And I don’t have any hands to bandage or treat them! Emotions! Good Lord, I’ve been an emotional wreck! Do you know what it’s like to have all the girls scared to come around you because you have bloody ugly feet and these strangers are all coming up to the fence and saying crude things about my feet! I can’t even put on socks to hide them!
Well, the Chicken Whisperer figured out it was the gout medicine I’ve been taking for nearly a year now. Thank goodness she figured it out or else I’d have nothing but little twigs to try to walk on. I’ve heard of weight loss … but not in my skinny little chicken toes! So she took me to that nice Dr. Winters in Mechanicsville and he took real good care of me. I’m off the medication for now while he researches to see if there is something else I can take that doesn’t hurt my feet. My legs are healing up nicely after several leg massages with medication … oh, and by the way, I got a lot of real nice attention from that Alison lady. She even gave me a spa treatment in the bathtub a few weeks ago. I just practically melted in her arms. Whew, makes me warm all over just thinking about it again …
Oh yeah, where was I? Yeah, the chicken vet. Nice treatment he recommended, said Chicken Whisperer was doing the right things, and you’re all suppose to keep a close watch to make sure that ucky old gout doesn’t return to my feet and legs. If you see me stumbling or not able to walk much, be sure to let the Chicken Whisperer know immediately so she can take care of me. Meanwhile …
I’m feeling frisky now that the coop vents have been opened up, furniture rearranged and cleaned out, plenty of cool fresh water thanks to Brad and Julian these days … and we all got a fun dusting to get rid of any possible buggy things hanging around in our feathers. Yep, I’m a lucky fellow with all those good-looking girls hanging around me like I’m the only “Rooster in Town” … oh, wait a minute … I am the only “Rooster in Town.” I’m still the best Rooster that’s every strutted the grounds of Shirley! Keep cool and remember that old song … it’s summertime and the strutting is easy (or something like that.)
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The Chicken Whisperer gets her first Araucana in February 2010 – look at that incredible plumage!
Araucanas feather patterns and colors give them a great advantage to camouflage. Did you know they lay blue and green eggs?
“Where are we and who are you?” One of the new Rhode Island Reds questions her new home!
 Morning stretching … wow, that sun is bright! It’s too early! I need my beauty sleep.
Jump up on my back, ease up the lid … I know I saw them get cracked corn out of that can! Really!
Barred Rocks look similar to Dominques except for their combs.
Single file, girls! It’s our first outing in our new home! Look sharp!
You mean this is our new home? Wow, what a nice place that KaBob Rooster provides for his hens … new roosting stands. We really like this place!
KaBob ventures near the smokehouse building ... bacon and eggs anyone?
KaBob checks his foot ... "Oh, gross! I think I stepped into a rotten crabapple!"
Quiche shows off her beautiful rose comb at the coop door while Crisco struts past to get the photograph!
KaBob takes his hens on a guided tour to the goat pasture. Wonder what he is really thinking?
KaBob counts his hens as they all head into the coop for the night.
KaBob surveys his territory to protect his hens. "Hey, where did everybody go?"
"Pull yourself together, ladies, it's time to get out and start the day!" KaBob tries to motivate his hens for their morning wake-up call.
"Oh, no! I lost a contact! Pepper, help me look for it!" "I'm looking! I'm looking!"
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