Yeah, you I’m talking at.
The most famous is never get involved in a war of occupation in Afghanistan. But only slightly less well known is this: “Never forget that humans have thumbs, and can hold things!”
Like long-handled manure forks. Which they will turn around and swat you in the ass with if you try to nip them in the ass, no matter how fast you run.
Just sayin’.
Since it looks like more rain today, which will do God knows what to the roads and washes, I thought I’d do my animal rounds early. Got the shit-shoveling out of the way (to Comet’s chagrin) and checked on Landlady’s chickens. They’re fine, growing like little birdy weeds. Haven’t lost a one and none seem sickly or unusually stressed, which is good to hear because it does appear they’re getting some attention from the local coyotes. I’ve noticed the chickens are quite prone to stay inside their chicken house, which is the opposite behavior from my three hens. My three go inside to sleep and lay eggs and for no other purpose; they don’t even use the coop to escape the rain. So I cast around in circles around the Gitmo yard, and sure enough there’s plentiful coyote scat – though I didn’t find any laid down since Monday’s rain, and no sign that anything’s been attacking the fence.
I’m going to end up contributing chicken feed, because what Landlady left for them won’t last until her next scheduled visit. Did you know 21 birds eat more feed than 3 do? Approximately seven times as much, by my bootstrap calculations, which is truly an appalling amount. Other than that, and the need to haul water to Landlady’s ridge, they’ve been no trouble at all so far.
I just love to read about Comet. 🙂 He reminds me of my best saddle horse, back in the day. He was a very tall Quarter Horse, with a serious prankster personality. And yes, he could do an awful lot of things as long as they didn’t require a thumb. One of his favorite tricks was coming up behind me and goosing me. He never nipped or tried to kick, ever, but when a 1,200 pound gelding gives you the goose, you go flying. I’m sure he thought that was VERY funny and he took every opportunity to repeat it until I finally just tied him up when I went in to clean. Then he pouted and groused until I turned him loose again. But a chunk of carrot or a good nose rub made it all better. 🙂
As for chicken food, does your gray water flow onto the surface anywhere? If so, cast some of the waste hay there and see if you can’t get a stand of alfalfa/grass growing. Wheat would do too, but wouldn’t last as long. Cut that and give to the chickens a few times a week and they’ll be very happy, as well as healthy.