Racing The Clock

I just made my to do list for tomorrow, and all I can say is--no wonder there is no time for writing.

The only thing that is going to make me feel better about it at this point is to post a picture I took today of Ruby and one of her chicks.

Ruby with chick

I often see a small face peeking out over the top of her wing.  Sometimes all I can see is a small beak.  They're getting big quickly.  And that means I'll have to make other arrangements to house them, soon.  

But no time to think about that this week.  This week I am in a book binding marathon, which includes 6 different titles.  I'm hoping to have time left over to work on a financial report due by Monday.  Give me strength!

It's all part of the seasonal deadline that comes when Christmas coincides with a book release.  No complaints.  And I should be caught up, and even a little ahead of the game soon.

I've already told Mike, I'm taking two weeks off from press related activities during the Christmas holiday.  Hoping to get some serious writing done then.  

Or even some rest.

Thanksgiving

Since we work out of our home, it's hard to take a day off.  Thanksgiving is no exception.  But rather than spend it in overwhelm, I chose to multitask under more pleasant conditions.

At noon, I decided to take my stack of books to be sewn in preparation for binding, outside and work in the sunshine so I could allow the cats outdoors to bask in the sun, while at the same time letting Ruby and her chicks out into the yard to scratch and forage.  Maintaining a human presence as a moderator between species made me feel more secure, although I'm sure Ruby could handle it on her own.  (The cats usually steer clear of her anyway).

The chicks are developing new skills on a daily basis.  Yesterday I noticed they were all taking short flights around the yard, and today, I saw one fly up to the porch.  They also began scratching for themselves today, rather than following Ruby around.  They also took their first dust bath today.

Now I'm indoors with a chicken in the oven (turkey is too big for just the two of us), and putting the final touches on a simple supper.

I'll be covering slip cases after supper and gluing spines, on the freshly sewn books.

I would have taken the day off, but with no company, and family too far away this year, I decided to take the opportunity to get more work done.  I'm racing the clock to get all the Christmas orders filled for Pegana Press customers.

I still feel disappointed over not getting my Autumn zine out.  It was so close to being finished.  It doesn't look like I'll have time to release the Winter edition either.

Potentials

Ruby with chicks (3 days old)

The chicks are just over a week old now.  Their wings have gone from fuzz to fully feathered and they are growing their tail feathers.  They even have their little micro combs along their foreheads.

Two rose buds broke off in the storm we had, right after I posted my last post.  Six rose buds.  Six chicks hatched out.  One didn't live, after hatching out.  Interesting how Nature reflects the world around us.

Ruby with chicks (1 week)

I feel really lucky to have the five.  They're hale and hearty, and growing fast.  Ruby is a dream mama hen.  She is a hybrid (sex link) and I got her from a local organic egg farm, along with 3 other pullets, nearly 18 months ago.  I really wasn't sure if her broody instincts would remain intact due to her lineage, or even if she'd be a good mom.  But she proved herself to be an ace on both counts.

My rooster is a barred rock.  Getting chicks from him, has increased his stock considerably with me.  Before this, I pretty much thought of him as that crazy rooster, that keeps attacking me when ever I go near the hen house.  More a pain in the butt than anything else.  But now, I see him in a whole new light.  And perhaps he senses my new found appreciation for him.  He seems gentler and less inclined to show me his spurs. (Or maybe he's just cold.)

A little over a week ago the potential for 10 hatchlings existed.  Move forward in time, and 5 chicks have joined us in our world.  Now the potential is whether they will grow up to be hens or roosters...or whether they will grow up at all.  I know what I'd like to happen.  I'd like to have 5 more healthy hens, who in turn may become mamas themselves.  But only time will tell.

Welcome to the flock, Peepers.  I'm so glad you're here.

Natural Childbirth at its Best

With the wind blowing in from the North, the warmest place to be is with mom.  I'm glad, she chose a place to nest, with a Southern exposure.

Ruby with two chicks

I guess it must be getting crowded under there.  I've seen 5 chicks so far, but the rosebush right outside their enclosure tells me there will be 8.

8 rosebuds on this bush in mid November

I'm so glad I trusted Ruby and let nature take its course.  Her chicks will be hale and hearty because they weren't made weak by human intervention.  The only help I've given Ruby is by way of food and water, and building her enclosure around her.  I'm so glad, I didn't go with an incubator.  There is so much beauty in "staying out of the way".

Hear that?  That's the sound of contentment radiating from a mama hen and her human friend.

And to answer the question why they don't squash the chicks by sitting on them.  She props herself up using her wings.  Nature so Rocks!

Ruby, my girl, you're a good mom.

Monday is a Fine Day Too

And it is day two too.  Day two of chick hatching.

This morning when I went out to feed Ruby, she showed me that she had 4 babies.

When I took a little break from work around 11:15, I could hear her very plainly asking me for greens, and since she wouldn't come out to forage, I brought her handfuls of tender dandelion greens and clover.  She ate ravenously, while chicks hopped all around my hands to see what this new thing might be.  She hasn't been outside the enclosure to forage for three or four days now.  And yet, despite her obvious need for green nourishment, I noticed how careful she was around the chicks.  She would be eating in a frenzy, but when a curious chick would come between her and the food, she would check herself, go slower and more gently, eating around her offspring.

And yes, at 11:30 the count was 5 live chicks.  And one that didn't make it and had been carefully place away from the nest.  From that evidence I can see that she occasionally gets off the nest to move around her enclosure.  Mostly to clean house apparently, because the weeds in that area are untouched.

By my count there should be 4 more eggs left to hatch, but I will be jolly thrilled with any chicks I get, especially if they turn out to be hens.

I'll try to get pictures soon.

Well now, back to work.

One Fine Sunday

It's flippin' cold outside.  So my friend Ruby Hen has decided to go broody.  Through shorter daylight hours, stormy nights and cold temperatures, she has been on the nest.  And this morning, because I knew it was getting close...I peeped at her when I was feeding her.  And I was rewarded with an answering peep from underneath her fluffed up feathers.

I kept my distance, and gave her plenty of space.  But I'm sure she could hear my heart singing.  I'm sure it carried for miles.

This afternoon, as I was taking out the compost, I caught sight of two black fluffy chicks exploring the world around their mom.  As soon as she saw me she tucked them in under her.  And still, I kept my distance and cooed to her and told her what fine chicks they were, and what a good mother she was.

I guess she knows, I won't take them from her, because every time I call to her now, she stands up to show me a glimpse of her chicks.  And at the end of the day, she stood up to show me there were 3.

Oh to be brand new in the world.

They are already exploring, and tasting things and pecking at things, and it's only their first day. And even though they're so small, they look so sturdy, and independent.  I found myself saying a prayer to the angels who watch over brand new baby animals, and their moms.  Let me watch them grow.  Let me watch this Joy in the form of downy feathers, and soft peeps, and dancing feet.

And when the most confident one spread it's tiny little wings, I remembered the words of Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes talking about chicks.  "Don't you know the angels breath through their wings?"

I do now.  I've seen it first hand.