Today I opened the net into the newest extension (Playground 3, by now?). The chickens couldn’t wait, so I opened it in a hurry, and through this tunnel everyone is pouring into an unknown land.
Adventures in the new space
In the confusion I also let out two or three roosters, and everyone is doing their best to pretend they don’t exist. The ducks’ water was clear a minute ago; now it’s mud, with a soaking-wet duck in it.
Through the bushes, chickens act as if they were wild. Mr. Flute, you slipped out in the confusion! Uh-oh, a fight. Othello, don’t be mean. Here’s little Boba, and the duck with no name, who had been under the weather. With this much grass, a pond and space, anyone would perk up.
Fire ants!
One of the roosters I’d let out got caught in the net and was being beaten up. When I went to rescue him, fire ants bit my hand. One bite is light, but this one got me hard. Ouch! It will stay swollen for about a week.
There are several kinds of fire ants in Hawaii, and we have lots of this slightly larger kind on our farm. They nest in shady spots, and I haven’t gotten rid of many. I’m honestly not sure how harmful they are, but I’ve heard they attack weak creatures, chickens, cows, cats, anything, so I keep weak birds away from the edges. So far the worst damage is me getting bitten; the chickens seem to know to stay away.
For now, when I find a nest outside the coop, I sprinkle a special poison bait an acquaintance recommended, wait for the ants to go, then spray water to neutralize it. I can’t tell if it’s working.
Meet Tamamushi
Today’s chicken got his name just a moment ago: Tamamushi (the Japanese name for a jewel beetle). His glossy black feathers are somehow both rainbow and black. His face says, “A name, just like that?” No changing it now!
He’s one of this year’s swarm of chicks, caught in town where we’d been asked to capture chickens. He was a bald-backed, underdeveloped chick, and we didn’t know if he’d grow up, but he survived and is doing well.
Lately he looks very rooster-like, a little scary. And then he crowed for the very first time! Congratulations! He was a chick just the other day. A name, a crow, a fine rooster: I think he’s out of danger now. He’s paired up with Hiyo-chan, a cool black-and-white duo. They come from different places, but they get along like brothers-in-law.
Thanks for watching Chicken Paradise Hawaii! See you next time.