R.I.P. Clyde

Clyde took a turn for the worst last night and didn't stand up on his own a single time.  Even when we got him out of the crate to give him his medicine, he wasn't opening his eyes for very long.  

This morning, his comb was nearly all black and he would only open one eye briefly.  His breathing was very labored and I knew he wasn't going to last very much longer.  Johnathon went outside to check on him and watched him take list last few breaths.

It was devastating and has taken a major toll on both of us.  I started to dig a grave for him but quickly realized I wouldn't be able to bury him the same way we had buried the other birds.  I found a place that would cremate him and we will be picking up his ashes in a wood box this weekend.

Clyde was an amazing bird and definitely was a very influential part of our family learning that chickens were more than just egg producers.  His personality was a delight to see each day from the way that he would call his girls over to get treats he had found to the way that he came running to us each time that we came outside.  

He is missed and will be missed every day both by the oldest son and I, as well as his girls.  

These pictures are in order from when we first got him at about 3 months old to the last picture we have of him when he was healthy.  I'm choosing to leave the pictures of him in his weakened state out of this post as that isn't how he deserves to be remembered.  He was a tough bird and a fierce protector of his girls, but was an amazing friend to my oldest son.

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Clyde with two of his daughters

Doing his manly duties

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Finishing Tomatoes

It's been a rough week and I rushed home tonight to finish canning the tomatoes.  There were about 50 pounds left.  The boys helped to peel them and get the seeds out and then I got to work.

I made a bunch of jars of stewed diced tomatoes, 3 jars of tomato paste, and then started another huge pot of spaghetti sauce following a different recipe.

Tomato paste

3 small jars of the tomato paste

A bunch of jars of stewed tomatoes

I'm hoping that Friday morning I can can the spaghetti sauce that is cooking now and then will be able to take a break from canning until we get into apples.


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Chick Freedom

Silkie Sue lead her chicks outside today.  We found them about 100 feet away from the coops.

They're small enough to slip through the fence

Thirsty little boogers

They weren't able to follow Silkie Sue back into the coop because it's too high, so after she went in and they wouldn't follow her, she came back out and nestled down with them in the corner of the chicken run.  We had to spend some time catching them to get them all back into the coop.

And now for a cute video of chicks learning to find bugs....

Treasure Hunt

As we were walking into the house this evening, the oldest said he saw a guinea egg on the path to the neighbor's house.  I told him to go get it and started heading in.  He called me back and said there were several eggs there.

Eleven eggs.  Stupid bird.

A little chick clip

Sorry for the choppy video.  I haven't looked at the settings to see how I can fix that issue, but in any case, you can see the cute little chicks eating.

SilkieSue isn't such a bad mom

This second time around, SilkieSue is actually doing very well with the job of mom to her five chicks.

Can you spot three chicks?

Teaching him how to eat

Two chicks

We actually watched her pick up feed from the bowl and then drop it on the ground in front of the chicks.