SNAKE!!! TAKE THREE!!!

SUSAN: Why is it that when Nigel goes away for a Rugby weekend ... everything on the farm goes awry. BIG Thanks to Jimmy for talking me through the snake experience from his vacation in Chatanooga. And BIGGER Thanks to Josh, the "snake whisperer" who came at 10:00 pm with head lamp, gloves, and a special snake bucket to remove the snake from the coop. Unfortunately, the snake had already departed the coop before Josh arrived.

Here's the story .... (FYI, I've named this snake "Slim Shady" or just "Slim" for short). I came home on Friday afternoon and Slim was just lying underneath the laying boxes. I get a huge case of the hibby-jibbies. I walk over to my neighbor, Dan's, house, but he doesn't answer (perhaps Dan is NOT a snake whisperer). Then, I just gave in and decided that I had to remove Slim Shady from the coop. Well, this was easier said that done. I got the Magic Broom, crawled up on the laying boxes, and then had to contort my arms to get the Magic Broom in position underneath the laying boxes to push him out. Well, after eating an egg (or two), Mr. Slim Shady was pretty fat & happy and not interested in leaving the coop. HE DIDN'T MOVE! So, I had to use BOTH HANDS and the STRAW-SIDE of the broom to PUSH HIM OUT of the coop. He slowly moved along and down through the chicken wire to his lair. SUCCESS! I am snake charmer!

That night, about 9 pm, I went down to put the girls to bed, as usual, & Slim Shady was BACK! This time he was in the top two laying boxes all nestled into the pine shavings. Very big hibby-jibbies from me! I quickly ran upstairs and started calling Nigel (who suggested I pick Slim Shady up & put him in a bag and carry him across the street - yeah, right) and then my neighbors (starting with Jimmy and then Josh). You can imagine the things that I was saying to Josh at this point ....

"Nigel had a chance to get Slim Shady out a week ago; but, he just let him go back underneath the coop."

"I am definitely not the type of girl who picks up a snake. I'm just faking this farm thing."

"Nigel could have gotten Slim Shady out of the coop but he got scared."

Josh is definitely a Snake Whisperer -- so much so that Slim Shady has not returned to the coop since Josh visited. YEAH, JOSH! My New Hero!!!

Two Spot ... Growing UP!

SUSAN:

Two Spot is really growing! Take note of his new "comb" - just like #46 he has the punk-rocker 'do. And, like #46 he has a lot of other fun characteristics ... thinks he can beat anyone (even Buster, well, through the fence); ends up in really crazy places, like the Rooster's roost (no idea how he got there or why they allowed it) and at the very top of the inside of the coop just looking down at us); and basically he thinks he's the king of the world!

Because Two Spot is an "only child" he's been left alone for quite some time. Once his mom (#90) decided that she was ready to join the other hens (she started laying again), we let her out during the day and Two Spot was left alone in the Brooder. His chirps were just heart-breaking so we made some adjustments for him.

First we tore the original brooder apart. Then, we enclosed the middle section of the coop just for him. Now he could see through to the others because they are only separated by the plastic chicken wire. He has some perches in there. But, still he chirps and begs for socialization. So, Nigel started putting two of the meeker yutes in with Two Spot during the day. Now, though, Two Spot has joined the hens & yutes and tonight is spending his first night on their roost! It's a big day for Two Spot - he's so small compared to all of the others, but he's got a big heart (and ego!). Hmm... maybe it's just a big day for me, the Mother Chick!

I'm sure that Nigel will want to post more about the coop reconfiguration as it was quite the chore and he did most of the work!

SNAKE!!! TAKE TWO!!!

SUSAN: The other night I went down (a bit later than usual - after 9 PM) to put the chooks to sleep. I had the flashlight (which is a bit unusual, but very fortunate) and I took a look in the laying boxes to see if there were any eggs that Nigel had not picked up earlier in the day. SNAKE!!! There was a black rat snake extended into 3 of the laying boxes!!!

I quickly and carefully (after my fall last week) ran up to the house to grab Nige. I rushed into the basement and said (quite calmly): "Snake in the laying boxes!" and he quite calmly walked down to the coop ...

Bravely, Nige grabbed the snake and pulled him out of the laying boxes, while I shined the flashlight. Suddenly, Nige screamed out (a bit like a girl): "ooh! ooh!" and he dropped the snake on the coop floor. Then, I screamed "AAAHHHH!!!!" The snake slithered quickly out through the poop-shoot and underneath the coop.

Obviously, I was a bit "freaked" by the snake; but, Nigel explained why snakes are our friends and that it's good that our farm/garden attracts snakes ....

As you

The Magic Broom

SUSAN: What's "magic" about the Broom? Well, it doesn't allow me to fly (stop making the references that it should since I'm a ....), it doesn't grant me any wishes, and it doesn't clean the house itself.

This Magic Broom keeps the roosters away!!! After weeks of using the magic broom himself, Nigel FINALLY gave me the "secret to keeping the roosters from attacking" ... When I go into their area in the coop (mostly in the morning when they are eager to get outside), I simply grab the broom and place it just in front of my body. The roosters stay away, for the most part, and if they don't ... I just scare them a bit by flinging the broom their way!

The result: No more bruises, scratches, and bloody knees, legs, ankles and feet! This is a great discovery for me, and has changed my life!

Now, you're probably asking the questions that I have asked myself nearly every morning ... WHY didn't Nigel tell me the secret of the Magic Broom earlier? Why did he keep the magic to himself??