Stealth in the Night

Two nights ago, Chris, my grandson and I were hurriyng through chores in the face of a storm on it's way here.  

we were doing the water, and checking the fence, etc. HURRYING. 

I hurried too much, and the front henspa door came open behind me as we 

left. 

That very afternoon, we had moved the bin with the bird seed (wild bird) 

and the bin with the cat food out to the henhouse, to get it out 

of the contractor's way in the house. 

When we pulled up yesterday morning, the 

front door of the henspa was wide open. 

I groaned and looked at Chris, and asked 

him to please go look and see how many hens were dead. 

Imagine my surprise when he came out and said "ZERO".  

I was pleased, too.  Really pleased.  The darn coons 

had gotten in, knocked the top off the plastic 

"can" that the cat food is in, and had shredded one of the bags. 

I am not sure why they didn't get into the other bag that 

was in the can. 

Last night, I left the door shut, and locked it on the inside.  I went 

out the side door.  I have to be VERY careful, as I do not know what happened to the keys. 

I always block the pophole with three landscaping pavers. 

8:41, I'm double checking the door again. 

9:16, one of the babies comes calling. 

Oh, they tried.  

Someone else tried, too.  I do NOT think that's one of the babies, I think that is the 

cat abandoned by my previous tenant.  Poor little thing.  I have seen it crossing the road several times, but it has not found the food I leave out during the day for it.  (at least not so far).  

They all came back one more time, then gave up for the night. 

Speckles follows me around when I am out there.  She likes to lay her beautiful eggs in different places, there is a cat carrier inside the door and we found 4 eggs in it the other day. 

Today, she tried hard  to lay one in the contractor's truck! 

He is going to have to keep his doors closed, his bins holding tools and supplies look like nest boxes! 

Work is progressing on the farm house... I am picking out finishes, etc., and we are getting closer... closer ... 

And This Will Be Our New Playroom

If you have been following along with the saga of the Feral Kittens, either here or on Facebook,, you will know that ten days ago, the Raccoon Crew broke them out of the Little Red Henhouse in my old henyard. 

The game camera has proven that they are hanging around, and their litter box is still in the 

henhouse. 

However, three days ago, I saw one watching me outside the old henhouse (larger building) and 

when I stepped towards it, it literally ran UP the door, and into the henhouse through the torn screen. 

That night, I put a little food in there for them, and a water bowl. 

Because of this: 

The kittens couldn't even get near the food because of the 

wild birds.  I did get ONE large cat, the gray and white, 

coming into the henyard to check out what was going on. 

First sighting I have seen of any of the three ferals in my yard. 

The raccoons were still coming at night to check things out, though I am 

taking the food in at dark when I go shut the hens up. 

So, last night I decided to put the camera IN the old henhouse, and 

I left some food and a bowl of water for them. 

It was 101 here yesterday and heat index was about 114, at one point. 

I have water in numerous places around the yard. 

There are three of the four, I am not convinced that the fourth is still with them.  Remember, it had only been in with the others (it's siblings) for two days before they were released. 

And then, at 10:13, someone reared it's head. 

And at 10:14, it entered.  The camera was knocked over, shortly thereafter. 

NOTHING is raccoon proof. 

Well, maybe the henspa, so far. 

So tonight, there will be NO food left, there is Kitten Chow there in a bowl today. 

Fresh water, there and on the porch of the little red house. 

I also put the continuous feeder IN the little red henhouse, where it used to be... thinking that 

might make the birds go elsewhere instead of into the dark henhouse pophole. 

I'll pull both feeders tonight. 

So, this is also happening: 

This is Tim Vaughan, of Stranger Creek Fence Company.  We live in Stranger Township. 

Tim is fixing the support posts for the pasture gate, which were left broken off at the ground by our tenant ON BOTH SIDES, which I had not realized.  The gate was propped so that it appeared that it was okay.  As you can see behind him, Tim is re-doing the braces on both sides, and will hang the gate on a wheel so I can open and close it easily.  He is also welding the front gate's wheel so that I can open it easily... the wheel slipped down.  He is also measuring the front deck to bid for power-washing and then a water-seal finish.  

Tim is also a bull rider, and won the Leavenworth Fair bull-riding last year. 

I put a post  on "Next Door Stranger Creek"
 and was given Tim's contact info, and I'm glad to know him.  He is going to be helping clear some of the other fence lines. 

As of this morning after church, when I stopped by to do chores... the fence line behind him was completely cleared. 

You all know how scared I am of strong chemicals... but sometimes I have to use them. 

The kitchen floor is in, and Mike the Contractor stayed late and did a first 

sanding of the mud.  YAYYY. 

And this... this makes me inordinately happy, to see happy hens wandering around in the yard and eating bugs.  

I can't tell you how much. 

The Screamer (Cornish) confronts Emily (Production Red) . 

And...We're Off!

Those darn kittens!

Four days ago, the raccoons came in the night, and tore the hasp and hook holding the 

door to the little coop out, went in, rousted out the four kittens, and ate everything in sight, fouling the water like they usually do.  

There were the first three in the coop after they took up residence. 

Kitten Four was a curtain climber from the get-go. 

Lucky, because two nights later, the raccoons burst in. 

I got out there to find the door open, the rocks moved, and the hasp torn from the door.  I looked around... there were no kitten bodies or blood spots... so.... I crossed my fingers. 

I took the big feeder out of the coop, and cleaned the porch up a little and put it on the porch. 

I cleaned the fouled water out, and put the water on the porch, too, and propped the door open with the stones.  I left the litter box in the coop. 

I put the camera on the little free standing coop next to the red coop. 

It was a grow-out coop I used for babies. 

And... BOO... we see you!

I am happy to report that the kittens are coming in and out of the coop all day and evening. They are using their new, much larger litter box. 

Here is the new scheme: 

I leave the large water fountain and the large feeder on the porch of the coop 

during the day.  At night, when I go to lock the birds up, I remove it and actually take the food into the house.  I do leave the water fountain. 

I put a new bag of food into the fountain this morning.  As you can see, the water is befouled by the raccoons, but they only dropped by twice last night.  The kittens met them coming and going. 

That whole feeder goes to the kitchen at night. 

I cleaned the fountain out. 

So far, the raccoons have not come during the day. 

So, kittens are not the only thing that has been going on this last week. 

That's my right hand this morning. 

Last week was Wyandotte County Fair week, and I have battle scars from feeding birds. 

Such as these.  You see, the poultry superintendent does not provide cups for every cage, (and yes, the kids are supposed to bring them)  and some birds have to eat on their nasty bedding.  Yes, I'm pointing fingers.  In four days, I fed all cages and watered them, at 8:30 in the morning.  I saw only two sets of 4H kids.... they are not made to take care of their own birds.  I donated feed.  I physically fed and watered 8 times.  I am  not complaining, I am BLAMING.  I went back at 3 or 4 and fed and watered again.  I grew up in Wyandotte County, and loved this fair, but it has changed, and not for the better.  

At the Leavenworth County fair, (week after next) the poultry super requires the kids to come daily, feed and water their own birds, check cages frequently, and clean their cages.  They are not allowed to collect premiums or trophies until the cages are cleaned at the end of the show.  It is done strictly, and there are ALWAYS kids in the barn, going around checking.  

But what about the parents who work?  

The parents and kids are told "You will find a way to the fair".  

It is enforced.  It teaches responsibility. 

I got several excuses: 

They are showing horses too, they are at the horse barn. 

That does not mean you leave your chickens to starve and suffer in 100 degree heat. 

The parents work 

Ditto. 

I talked to several rabbit mothers (the poultry shares with the rabbits) and saw them every single morning, bringing their kids to take care of their rabbits.  I only saw a few groups of kids come in to check their birds.  When I know a water cup was full at 9, and come back at three and it is completely dry, I know no one has checked.  

However, there was a bright ray: 

The three birds entered by the kids from Camp Grow at the Ag Hall

won Grand Champion Open Hen, and two blues.  

I could not get a good picture of Princess, Speckles, and Brownie. 

At the end of fair, they came home with me, and now the coop at the Ag Hall is home to 24 new beauties: 

They are gorgeous Cochin babies from Stromberg's Hatchery, in buff, splash, partridge, black and blue. 

They now have the run of the coop at the Ag. 

While the big girls are living with me. 

Last Sunday night. 

Worth every penny I spent on the tickets.  If they have not come to your town yet, 

get tickets!

If I could convey my happiness at this point, I would. 

I was this happy. 

Lilly turns 12 this month.  We know she was about six to eight weeks old 

when we adopted her in September.  She is hurting more now, limps sometimes, and is having trouble getting in and out of the car, even using the steps.  I am praying she hangs on for the move, she loves her home in the country. 

I can't say enough good about this little guy, who loves his little bear. 

I am watching him, our dreadful hot weather is so very hard on him. 

My new kitchen counters will be this. 

I am looking at lighting now. 

I am going a little more sophisticated in my old age. 

Have a good week, everyone!

( I have hardly had the big cameras out lately.  I'll be more 

assiduous when I get closer to the move!)

(late August)

The Fourth

Batter swings, and the summer flies
As I look into my angel's eyes
The song plays on while the moon glows high
Over me, something comes over me...

(The Riddle)

Just because I don't talk about it doesn't mean I don't think about it.

Invasion!

Teaser: 

That's the teaser.  I can't show any more right now. 

I told you I would show you. 

So... this has been happening at the farm: 

He is not alone. 

There are scores. 

But this is what I was looking for, and am so glad to see. 

He has been missing lately. 

He is looking over his shoulder because of this. 

Do you see there in the left corner? 

Glad to see this one, too. 

And glad to see this one, because that means all three kitties got something to eat today. 

I have not seen the gray cat for days. 

The black cat was there just before the dogs and I pulled into the gate, in fact, it looks open 

in the picture.  I am sure it ran under the deck when we pulled up. 

So, this is why I was worried about the cats eating: 

Uh huh 

See the curtain climbers? 

If I were their mama, I would be tired, too!

I tried something different tonight, I put some food at 

the far edge of the porch.  I am confident that the cats had a chance to eat, though. 

I can tell the raccoons have been around the henhouse where the feral kittens are, too, but they cannot get into it.  I am going to make triply sure tomorrow. 

There were at least four other adults, the mama must have run them off. 

I haven't seen the opossums for a while, either. 

When I get moved, this will all have to change.  I will probably go back to a feeder in the pasture so that no one will come up on the deck or porch. 

My gosh, it is July 3rd, and the air is rumbling outside with 

fireworks.  

I hope you all are safe tomorrow, and have a great holiday! 

Remember your pets!