Cyndi's Crazy Chicks (C3)

 

Now that it's been established that C3 is a real thing, I'd just like to say that the word 'crazy' is used in the most kind and funnest way possible. It's not like cray cray.........more like, wow, that's crazy cool!

My peeps, Kaitlyn and Brooke are in cahoots to create merch for those "following" the Graves Farm and our human, fur and feathered family. And in particular, the chicken population. They have inspired me to name the world in which the chickens live. I'm going to call it Cluckingham. 

After much thought, I realized the world I enter everyday (the barn) has it's own soap opera stories going on. With almost 50 chickens, there's a whole 'nother universe of relationships, dislikes, likes and struggles. The hens live day in and day out with each other and some are leaders while others follow. Who are these chickens? Whose friends with who? Who is relegated to eating last? Who goes to bed first? Who sleeps where? 

Introductions

Interestingly, as humans tend to do, so do chickens: they hang with their own kind. It's not that the hens don't mingle with all the others or have any particular bias toward another, but they merely prefer those who are chicken-minded like themselves. Don't get me wrong, as a group, they do well together, getting along wonderfully much of the time. Yet, they still have their preferences in who they like to hang around with. It's not always apparent at first glance, but just as researchers and scientists study animals in the wild, I too, see the hens every day and get to know their distinct personalities and dispositions. And I name them. Yes, some look exactly like another, and even I have trouble telling them apart. But there are stand-outs, as I like to call them. Like the hens that need more from humans (touch or attention) or those that are more social, and even those that are bold and daring. They truly are individual animals that want love, touch and to feel safe. From the outliers to the shy ones to the ones begging to be picked up - they all have a special place in the flock. 

Let's get started with the introduction of the girlz by way of breed, shall we. 

Cinnamon Queen Castle

The cinnamon queen hens used to be the majority in Cluckingham. Not any more (that goes to the Orpingtons). Nonetheless, the cinnamon queens are a popular, friendly, sweet and gentle breed of chickens. They are inquisitive of visitors, have beautiful markings and are cold and heat hardy. And whenever I've had people over that want to buy chickens, they will usually pick some of these girlz. I've gifted them to friends, and unfortunately, I've lost a couple of them to predators like hawks. 

These girlz are easy-going and come from parents who are Rhode Island Red roosters and Silver Laced Wyandotte hens. They are wonderful egg layers and lay large brown eggs - approx 260 a year. I've also seen them called Golden Comets, and quite frankly, I can't be exactly sure which name fits the girls I have. They were sold to me a cinnamon queens, but others have called them comets. Comets are cross chickens as well, and either way, they are laid-back and always a great choice for beginner chicken people because they are very good-natured and nice girlz. 

Let's meet them 🐔

First up,

Poppy settling in for the night

Always up for a pet

This sweet thing is a flock leader, trend setter and Graves Farm Greeter. Poppy settles into her roosting place at night after all the others do. I sometimes catch her rustling the other chickens to their roosting spots, like an impatient mom trying to get the kids to bed. Often times, you will find her in the Tack Room roosting, and not with all the girlz in the main barn area. She loves settling down for bed separately away from the others, and is a bit of a loner. That, or she just needs some peace for a minute. Yet, she'll be one of the first to run up to greet you upon your arrival, or be right beside you while working on a project outside like painting or mending a fence. She's right there to judge my work, and nudge in for a close inspection. She's been known to have paint on her feathers from being too close to what I'm trying to paint. Poppy is certainly a farm favorite. 

Becca

Then, there's Rebecca. She's a gorgeous girl who blends well with the other girlz in the flock and quietly goes about her chicken business. She prefers to roost up high with a mixed group, and has beautiful blond markings with her rose colors. She's not a trouble-maker, and has many friends. She’s easy-going and loves life. She's not a cheer-leader yet not on the chess team. She's just an amazing girl floating along in life.

Sally 

Oh, Sally. She's the neighbor who always has a sour look on her face. I don't think she's displeased about anything in particular, she's just has more of a flat affect than others. She's quiet, and sometimes gets pecked on because she's in the wrong place at the wrong time. She'll move away quickly, and keep to her own set of friends who appreciate her and look past her diminished emotional expression. 

Lucy Lou

Lucy is lean and not mean. She kind of looks like the marathon runner of the girlz. She's trim, with her feathers always in place, and her run is more efficient and effective than the other girlz who spend alot of their energy running side to side all while trying to propel themselves forward. Lucy runs forward and fast. She is confident despite not having the larger stature of the others. She prefers the medium height roosting spot at night, and mixes nicely with all the girlz. She doesn't have to try and fit in, she just seems to belong. Her dark rose markings brings out the Rhode Island Red in her, while her light wyandotte markings shine through. 

JoAnn

I named her JoAnn because if you've ever been to JoAnn's Craft and Fabric store, that's where you'd likely find this girl, if only she could fly there. She just looks like a crafter. She's neat and tidy, and is one of the older cinnamon queens. She goes about her crafting business each day moving rocks around and digging deep to find the perfect bug. She's a busy girl, and the others look up to her with her experience and crafting feet. Need a makeshift dirt bath? She's your girl. Watch out though, when she ruffles her feathers - dirt flies. She does ask for pets here and there, and I'm always happy to oblige. She prefers to sleep up in the rafters inside the big girl coop. 

Sharing a meal together 

As with many of the girlz, you can often find the like-minded ones roaming the pasture together. Several of the cinnamon queens in this picture free-range together. I mean, sisters tend to do that, and since all of them except for JoAnn came from the same batch, they just feel comfortable staying near each other. They socialize, but not everyone is nice like a sister is nice.

Next week, we'll meet the Americana's and the Ideal 236's. 

What's the Scoopie Poop on DG

As we settle back home, David is finding his way. He still tends to hoard and over-analyze food, but as a by-stander watching him in action, I see him using these tools to deal with his no smell and no taste. He buys and buys and buys food (esp at the grocery store) in hopes of liking the texture of that or maybe being able to smell this, but yet.....no. Our fridge is packed tight, and what he tries once he may not want again. He looks at food like he's waiting for it to say something to him. But I really think he's just willing himself to be able to taste or smell it - maybe this time. And every now and again, he'll think he smelled or tasted something, but then will usually say it's his mind playing tricks on him. He really doesn't know for sure.

What he does know for sure is the pleasure of eating has become a chore. He needs to eat and drink, and the only thing I see him having consistently is iced tea. Unsweet iced tea. He tries all kinds of food, warm, cold or hot - all in an attempt to find some sort of satisfaction. And just like the Rolling Stones, he can't get no satisfaction. 

The nose knows

David's sinuses have been radiated to the end of the earth and back, and are now growing all new tissue lining back up inside there. It's crowed up in there. New growth, old ick, new lining, old pieces making their way out. He's sinus rinsing as much as Brooks get his diaper changed. Wait, not that much, but close. The sinus rinse keeps his nose moist to promote healing, as well as rinse out all the old ick up in there. His other best friend is his humidifier. All these elements bring about moisture which helps not only his nose heal, but also his mouth mucosa regenerate, his throat soothe, and his skin start to find its own shine again. Things like hearing aids, dental partials and contacts for his eyes are all better tolerated as everything from his neck up finds healing. And with time, he's hoping this also includes his salivary glands. He's still looking for that one worker who went on strike and shut down saliva production inside his mouth. If he finds them, they are fired.

Rooster Chatter

The chatter of the roosters (Carlos and Prince Charming) came to a close this past Friday. Carlos’ mom came and picked him up telling him his play date is over. We offered up Prince Charming, and she could not resist. He’s a beauty, for sure! But the rambunctious roosters have left and now gone home. We won’t miss them, really. They are kind of loud, and Carlos would peck at my legs. Yet! They did the job that roosters do. Guess whose sitting on eggs now.....

The Frizzle Family is sitting! I may actually have Frizzle babies! 💕
Of course, Dorothy and Chompchi
are in there, too, because broody is their middle name 

Faith and Hope 

It was just last week that I set about gathering Faith, Hope and Dora to halter and groom them all. Dora and Hope - check.

Love you Dora, and your wonky eye

Barn Cam gives perspective on her size

Hope and her wild hair

Easy greasy getting these mini's halter on and although grooming is not their favorite activity, it's much needed this time of year. The mares all have their winter coats of which they are trying to shed. I can help with this. I have brushes that take off layers and layers that they are trying to rub off. And so we did.

Well, all except Faith. It took literally everything I had to help her understand she's not the boss of me. Yes, the farrier who boarded all three mares (while we were in Houston) told me Faith behaved badly with her. All this after I worked hard for months to get her to a better place in her (and my) life. Now, we are back at square one. No, we are back at negative one. 

Why you gotta be so bossy

Fatih is not having any of my shenanigans. Haltering? Nope. Grooming? Nope. All she wants to do is tell me she's the boss of me by raising up or kicking back. There's no middle ground. 

Almost side-eye and not having this today or any day

What's weird is that she used to be my little sweetie that yes, I had to work hard for her trust. But she and I got it done. Now, after coming back home, her regression is beyond what I'm able to handle. She's wild, and even kicked me despite my best efforts using all the horse safety I've been taught. 

I'm okay from her kick, as it could have been much worse. I was sore and bruised, but it was my heart that hurt the most. She broke my heart, and all the trust I gained from her is now lost. We have both lost our trust with one another. How can I handle her? What has caused this new nonsense? She comes from an abused background, but I thought we were moving past some things and our therapy sessions had us moving into new territory with each other. Ugh. I'm so torn. I'm not a horse expert. I'm a horse lover. Even my farrier has no desire to invest in any training for her. What to do. It's even sad to say that I haven't been able to get her halter back off - that I barely got on her in the first place.

I'll keep you posted on this sad turn of events. Faith is a young mare whose only known abuse in her short life. And I now know extensive training is what is best for her. That's the bottom line. Training and time. More training. More time. Somehow her mama, Hope is accepting of my guidance in what we are going to do, despite a rough life. Yet, her baby, Faith is struggling with dominance issues. Esp over humans in general. I've got some decisions to make in regards to this. I'm just not sure what they are yet. 

Moving forward

We sprung forward this weekend, and lost an hour we will not get back for awhile. We did get rain, too, which was a blessing, esp since we had 7 pallets of grass put down this weekend on our property. We had a wonderful visit from Sheryl, my sister and her sweet family of hubby Gene, daughter Kristin with her 2 Sweet Littles, Savi and Declan. It was so wonderful to see them all! We also got to see Ed and Gina (pasture neighbor) along with their daughter, Jessica and her 4 kiddos whom we adore as well. And then we made a trek to Fort Worth to see Lauren and Ryan but mostly Brooks.

Big boy rolling over now

Where does the time go

What a wonderful week and weekend it was, and there's so much more to come. This milder weather has me planting onions and spaghetti squash in my garden, it has me mowing budding grass and weeds already, and it has me wanting to be outside 24/7. 

Welcome Spring,

Cyndi