Using Sugar Cane Mulch in the Chook Pen.

Two of our chooks, Blondie and Atila!

So far so good and they all seem to love it.  It seems to be clean and easy to use. The original straw which was in their boxes I collected with much enthusiasm and breath holding.  I put this over onto the newly created garden space ready for Garlic planting when the time comes for this.  All of this Sugar Cane mulch used now in the boxes when used will be put there also and replaced with new straw. 

Ever since I spent time in hospital about nine years ago with as serious case of Pneumonia brought on by working with bird droppings in a laboring job, I hold my breath while inside of their house where they roost.  I do not want to breath into my lungs any of those harmful spores that cause so much trouble to humans.

I had hoped Sugar Cane mulching material was good nesting material because its all I had access to.  I had done some reading  online where others had a lot of success with this material. So I decided to press on and use this.

I am just feeling my way around with our four chickens and one rooster.  Its all new to Brice and myself.  Our first chooks... and they do seem to love us.  Brice calls them over and they come to him.  
They are well versed in escape artistry.  They are fly away chickens and the mischievous  rooster is often up in the trees above their pen area.  

I trimmed their flight feathers when they were younger but I would say they have all grown back again.   It will be fun trimming these feathers now they are bigger.  I will have to do this chore because of dogs in neighbouring properties and this also includes our dog who would think nothing of chasing these feathered members of our family.

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

A new Memorial Cross for Texsy .... R.I.P. my love.

 If someone can make you laugh when you're about to cry, don't give up on them. They're the true meaning of happiness.  
~ Nishan Panwar ~

Yesterday we traveled up to Bellingen out on Waterfall Way and parked the car and dug the hole and put in the most beautiful piece of love.  A cross for Texsy bearing a plaque with her name and the inscription "Ride the Lightening"

 

My facebook post about the day when I came back .....

Today . . at least the sun was shining and the flowers were pretty and a chook came down to say hello and have a look. Texsy most certainly was there when the chook turned up. A few months ago the original memorial cross was wiped out and busted up when someone else ran off the road in the same spot. A few months later.... a new one with the same plaque from the original one. ( we found the original in the long grass - tell me that wasn't meant to be). We laid some flowers and arranged some rocks around the base. The chooking turning up was such a bonus. ♥ I hope you all like it... Ride the Lightening ..Texsy ♥

When the hen turned up all ginger and looking really pretty I thought of Texsy's love of chooks and my memories of her and this brought a smile to my face while we were there memorializing her life on Earth.  

There are some other funny things about Texsy that make us smile,  if a bit too much boobie comes out of my bra or Montana's bra, this is known as chucking a Tex.  Texsy loved that we said this.  She used to laugh.  So,  if it happens we still refer to this now forever as "Chucking a Tex".  Oh Lord I miss her presence in this world.
Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr