And Then There Were Two.........Well, Four

This is one of my favorite times of the year. The weather is perfect in my opinion. Low to mid 60's, just right for a hoodie and shorts or jeans. I could live in my hoodies. They are big, warm, and cozy. Not to mention that front pocket, perfect for toting around baby bottles, burp rags, toys, craft supplies, and so much more! But, unfortunately, this is not about beautiful weather, or hoodies.

The day started off lovely as ever. Low 60's, little wind, and lots of sunshine. We were working on boredom busters for Miss M. We did a few crafts and coloring projects and decided to give the chickies a treat. I had a bag of old grapes in the fridge and we cut them up. The ladies prefer them cut up, what can I say?

The grapes were a big success. Noodle is seen here grabbing a grape as Strawberry Shortcake looks on. The ladies have finally started to get a little more comfortable with us. Sadly, they still don't like to be held or petted (give it time!) but they come up to us with little issue now a days.

So, after a busy morning of creating a visiting with the ladies we had doctors appointments and grocery shopping to do. When we finished all of that nonsense and Nick got home we went to my dads house for dinner. We visited until pretty late, then headed home, hoping the girlies would fall asleep on the drive home.

Luckily they were both out by the time we got home. Ah, a break? At last. Nick and I got them in the house and snuggled in pjs and in bed. Mission completed! Or so we thought.....

After a long, hectic day, we sat down to err.....watch a movie.Yeah, watch a movie. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. So...we were watching movie and M woke up. Nick went to take care of her while I waited. She needed to use the bathroom, so he took her and then put her back to bed. I heard him rustling around in there, then thought I heard him say something. He popped his head out of the bedroom after a minute and said "Was that the chickens?" Ummmmm, Well, I said, I didn't hear anything? Was it?! He listened again and frantically said "Yeah it was!"

He through on sweats and a hoodie, grabbed a bat and flash light, and ran outside. Just as that was happening Baby R was waking up and screaming. I ran to turn on all of our outdoor lights to help Nick see and threw on warm clothes (it was chilly out, in case you couldn't tell). I got Baby R up and away from Miss M so she wouldn't wake her up again and made up a bottle in record time.

I ran out to the chicken area and said - So, what was it?! Nick told me he saw feathers everywhere and was shining the light in the coop. I noticed only two chickens. "Um, Nick, is there another one in there?!" I don't see one, was his reply.

So, to recap. It's midnight, there were chicken noises, we are plus feathers and minus a bird. Are you coming to the same conclusion we were?

If not, let me help you get there. For the passed few days I have been so incredibly tired. Baby R has been having some issues and we are experimenting with medicines and formulas. She hasn't been sleeping at all. Up ever 2 hours, crying, the lot. So, trying to cut a few corners, I hadn't been locking up the ladies at night. I just couldn't get out there early enough in the morning to let them out, and boy did they raise hell if they weren't let out early enough for their liking. So, add in the factor of open coop. Ya there yet?

Yeah, I though so. We believe it was coon. Just a hand full of blocks away to about 1/2 mile away we have seen fox, coons, and coyotes in the area. But, we have never seen anything like that in our neighborhood. However, I knew better. I know how they are, I know they are around, I know I was basically advertising a free buffet. "Oops."

So, in vain, Nick searched with his little blue flashlight. He walked the perimeter of our fence and yard and even some of the neighbors yards. Of course he found nothing. Not even a stray feather. I'm not sure what we thought we could find. I think it was just the shock of it all. The chicken, completely gone, vanished into thin air.
And so, it would be, Strawberry Shortcake. The chick M so happily named after a favorite show, that was taken. I have to say though, besides the guilt I feel, I took it rather well. I have been doing my best not to get overly attached to the ladies, what with their impending main course future. So, I must say, that part was a success. However, if this were truly a self sustainable farm, or urban farm, or in a much more dire situation, this is not something that could be taken lighly. I slipped up, and out of pure laziness. So I am, the one and only person to blame. (ugh, hate when that happends lol) But, luckily, none of those situations are the reality as of present day. You live and learn. Always.

Well, of course, news traveled fast. Where I'm from (Small town, Big talk) this is big news. Dare I say exciting news even?

My mom, and her boyfriend (who the chickens came from in the first place) said they would replace the missing bird. Kind of cheating, I know. And they would even give me an extra. Lol, ok that sounds bad. Not an extra. I don't plan on loosing anymore. But, an additional bird I should say. And so, the excitement was over.

The next evening, after M was in bed, Nick was feeding Baby R while I was working in the kitchen. He said "Babe, come here!" in a half whisper, half yell. I dropped the apples I was cutting (to dehydrate) and went into the living room. He asked if I had heard "that." Oh jeez, not again. "No." I hadn't heard anything, but then, a clatter. Ok, my mind started racing. Locked up the coop? Check. So, if there was indeed another coon, it was digging its way in. I stuck my head out the screen door and heard some kind of rustling again. Alright, it's on. So I ran to the bedroom, looked in the closet at my (borrowed, from my brother for these exact situations) pellet gun and my Daisy. Pellet gun- not loaded! Daisy- wouldn't do the trick. Ugh, so I scanned the room for the bat. No luck, no time. I ran for the door, flipped the outdoor light switch and flung the sliding glass door open. As soon as the motion sensor lights kicked on I saw a silhouette of a person. Wait, a person? It was one of those What?! moments. But, with the light switch came a  "Don't shoot!" In a familiar voice I must add. Oh, mom. You know me so well.

My mom, her boyfriend, and my brother were in the chicken area. With kennel in hand. They were trying to sneak in some new chickens. lol Creeps. Man, were they lucky that pellet gun wasn't loaded.

They all came in. Apparently they parked down the road and were going to surprise us with new chickens in the morning. They said Nick even looked right out the window at them, but obviously didn't see them. Anyway, long story short, they came in and visited and I went out and checked out the new girlies. A beautiful all white/ off white chicken, about the same size a Noodle and a replacement Strawberry Shortcake. She looks almost identical, except for her bald head......She had been in sitting mode and the rest of the chickens, at her old home, must have been pecking her little head. Poor girl.

Ah, yes. But, lets not forget- breaking the news to Miss M about her Strawberry Shortcake. Nick told her the morning after. I was still in bed (my lovely husband lets me sleep in a little later on the weekends) and she came running in. She got right in my face and excitedly said "Mom! Strawberry Shortcake got took!" Well, that went better than expected. Almost as amusing as her first reaction was her reaction to the new birds. That next morning she came running into me and said "Mom! Mom! Theres a white chicken! AND another one!" Then nonchalantly stated "I think the white one ate the other ones head." Well, that my M for ya.

I will have to post pictures later. They are cooped up for a few days until they get used to their new home. Plus their wings aren't yet clipped. I plan on posting a tute on clipping wings if I can find a camera man while I do it!

We also have a live trap set up in the chicken area to try and get the lil chicken napper. Don't worry, it will be let free some place far away from our little urban homestead.