Friday, December 25, 2009

The best Christmas present ever!

Turns out Lisa was right. The hawk did come back a couple of weeks ago. This time it got my sweet, wonderful Calendula! We were upset about Dusty because he was fun and roamed the street. Even all the neighbors liked him because he would visit them. But he wasn't friendly. When I found Calendula's feathers, I was seriously pissed! She was MY chicken. She was devoted to me. I nursed her back to health. I picked maggots out of her 6 or 7 times. She ran to me whenever I went outside and rode around on my shoulder.

I decided right then that I wouldn't lose anymore chickens. Mark talked to the neighbor that day about building us a coop on the side of the run-in. He built our house and the run-in originally so he seemed like an obvious choice.

The coop got done Tuesday and it is beautiful! We had it built in a way that if we want in the future, we can wall it in and have another stall. The chickens are all safely tucked in. They aren't thrilled with being locked up, but they are safe. I let them out when I am out with them.

This coop is my Christmas present from everyone. They are all donating money towards it. It is the best Christmas present ever, but my rifle last year is a close second.




20 comments:

Danni said...

Glad your feathered babies are all protected now. Really sorry to hear about Calendula :-(

Merry Christmas to you and your family.
:-)danni

Anonymous said...

The coop looks great!

I hate to hear about Calendula.
The hawks really get a lot of our chickens and sometimes a guinea around here. But I think we have more trouble with possums.

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.
Pam

Gail said...

I think I would use the rifle on the hawk, if they are not protected by law, but that is me.

Beautiful coop and a Christmas present I want too.

Sorry for your loss, I know Calendula was very special to you both.

merry Christmas to you and yours

Linda Foley said...

Glad they are safe Christy, but I am saddened by your loss... {{{hug}}}

FarmHouse Style said...

Hi, Christy. So sorry to hear about Calendula.

The new coop looks great:-)

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Rhonda

Christy said...

Gail, if the hawk came around when I was out there, I would get him with the rifle. He comes in the morning usually before I go out there. So now they are locked up at night and in the morning. I'll let them out in the afternoon soon.

Losing Calendula was really hard.

Gayle said...

(So sorry about you loss. Something I understand well).

Totally awesome chicken run. I can't wait for mine. It snowed before we were finished, but it will be about 20X30. So pumped!! Your babies will get used to it and will learn to love the safety. Merry Christmas.

Randy said...

Nice big coop! We plan on free ranging our little guys when they're big enough - I know we're going to have issues because we are way out in the country. But we are in the process of building a huge covered outide chicken run attached to their coop for when we don't want to free range them... We'll see how it goes. It's interesting to hear your story!
Merry Christmas!
~Lynn

Wendy said...

That is one awesome coop! It's like the Taj Mahal of chicken housing ;).

DianeLynn said...

Soooo sorry. Your coop looks great though...I gotta get one like that for mine!

Wimberly Farms said...

I laughed out loud about the rifle comment! Great one!
Enjoy your new coop, I love it!
Tonya

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Good for you, Christy! I had such big dreams of having free-range chickens for years. But when I discovered we are on a Raptor Flyway, those dreams changed. Having your chickens safe is the most important thing and if you have a large coop, like you do now, they are living the good life and have fresh air, sunlight, good food, shelter.
That's a better life than any factory farmed chicken will ever have.

Congrats on that gorgeous coop. It looks light, bright and airy, and with the great roof, they'll have shelter to enjoy the outdoors in the rain and snow.
I would love to have a roof on my coop, too.

I'm sorry you lost Calendula.

(((HUGS)))
~Lisa

FarmHouse Style said...

I lost two of my hens to a coyte yesterday.... I understand how you feel. I spent the better part of last night sitting in the cold with a shotgun waiting for him to come back, no luck:-(

Today I am going to pick up my Dad's bear trap... that thing has got to GO!

Rhonda

Christy said...

Lisa, I hate to lock them up. They don't seem happy about it. But I know they will adjust.

Rhonda, we have coyotes here too. I've been more worried about them getting the goats. I guess a coyote could have gotten the chickens, but I've seen the hawk many times.

Karen Sue said...

Mom said she hasn't gone through too much birdseed yet this month..thinks there is a hawk around scarin' her little birds away. Very SPIFFY chicken palace. Next time that old hawk comes around they'll be shakin' their tail feathers...na.na.na!

Leslie said...

So sorry about Calendula, she was a very special chicken. Your coop is amazing, I love it! I am glad they are safe now.

linda m said...

That is a beautiful coop. At least now they are safe. Great Christmas present.

Carla said...

WooHoo!! It look fabulous. Mine is much more 'Beverly Hillbillies'.
Sorry to hear about Calendula. :(

Gone2theDawgs said...

What a beautiful coop!! Looks like the chickens got the best Christmas present ever too!!! Hope you have a great New Year!

warren said...

That's awesome...durn near as good as being free! Well done and Merry Christmas!