I woke this morning to the rooster crowing...incessantly. I told my husband it was time for him to go and be replaced with one of the younger roos. Then I looked out the window. He was crowing because all the other chickens and the three bronze turkzillas were all out of their pasture. You have to picture this; Three huge bronzes and 16 misc. chickens all in the back yard mingling with 14 ducks, 4 Narragansett turkeys, one deer (wondering why I wasn't up and feeding him yet) and one peacock who was running around like mad trying to get everyone back where they belonged. The turkeys had never all been together before, so they were strutting and calling which seemed to really tickle the fawn as he would chase everybody whenever they fanned. The ducks were having fits every time someone walked by their food and water and EVERYBODY took turns stomping through my flowerbeds.
All this before coffee!
We went out and I started calling chickens and my husband walked behind herding stragglers. We got them all to their pasture and were in the process of sorting out who belonged where and the fawn decides to join in and scatter everybody. After shutting him and his partner in crime (Moose the dog) in the laundry room, we went back to herding chickens. The turkzillas are so fat that we had to stop and wait for them to catch up ever so often, but we got everyone back in with out much problem.
The peacock was never so relieved. He went around checking that everyone was back where they belonged and then discovered that the fawn was in the house. He stood in front of the sliding glass door and "tooted" till I let him out. (It's a good thing he did as I had forgotten him)
We had coffee and then took care of that obnoxious rooster and a few hens to make room for the new chickens to move into the coop as soon as they start to lay. I have picked out my new rooster and will try to get pictures of him. He is an absolutely beautiful Americaunna with lots of colors.
Then we figured while we were at it, we might as well do rabbits too. It's after midnight and I still have quarts of homemade chicken stock in the canner. We must have gotten 30 pounds of meat out of 12 rabbits. With this economy, I always feel better when the freezer is full.
Ahh, I just heard my timer ding. Night.
Mass Jail Break
Oh my stars! I can't imagine... and all before coffee too! What a way to start your day. You and your DH might want to take a nap this afternoon to make up for your animals' midnight "make a break for it" rendezvou! Thank heavens the rooster woke you all up. A predator would have had a smorgasbord with everyone running around in the dark Michigan night. Was it raining when all this happened? We left our cottage to come home yesterday afternoon and our area was still dry when we left. Hopefully you didn't have to do all this in the rain! …..I sure wish it had all been caught on video. LOL
~~ Glenda
Forgot to ask...
Did you figure out HOW they all got out?
That is quite an ordeal! Lol!
Do they come when you call them?
If not, you might want to start training them to do so, in case for more jailhouse rocking!
That peacock will keep everyone in line, I bet! Especially you!
Thank God it wasn't raining, Husband had his knickers in a bunch as it was.
I think a certain fawn broke them all out, or one of the stupid turkzillas walked through the fencing.
We have a pretty secure yard. we have about 2/3 of an acre fenced in and then that is broken into fenced garden, fenced "pasture" for the young turkeys and chickens and various pens. Then we have a small area by the back door that is also seperated by a low fence to keep small fawns in and ducks off my deck. Other than the eagle, we haven lost a bird all year.
They do come if I call them....if they think I have food. A lot like men, aren't they?
My MY My!!! Well now everyone knows what will happen to first Prison break Offenders!!! Hope fully there want be any more problems with the inmates!
Your Post made me tired reading your days activities! (Whewww!) It sounds as if you have a great alarm system though! You might have to watch the Turkeys and fawn felon, for further co-conspiracy!
It looks like your freezer is going to offer plenty for the upcoming months , Yummm! Now arent you relieved!! Its all done and over, thanks to Who ever the culprit was that got you on your toes and food on ice!