Monday 3 July 2017

Crossbeak


This is Crossbeak.  He's my new little friend.  He was born this way and I'm not sure what happened to send his top beak in the wrong direction but he's a friendly little feller.  He struggles to eat off the ground so I hand feed him or let him eat out of a plastic container I use to throw seed around.  The other chooks don't seem to have much time for him (so judgemental) as he seems to be on his own for most of the time.  He follows me around a bit when I'm in the garden and he'll just pop up every now and again.  I was unpacking the groceries from the boot of the car the other day and I looked down and he was at my feet.  It's nice to be able to help out this little guy and we won't include him in any redeployments.  Minnie doesn't bother much with the chickens, or anything at all really, and will come out for a casual look for any mice under the hen house.  She'll tip toe around the chickens as she's a bit wary of some of some of the bigger ones.  Although she's got her work cut out for her right now with the current mouse plague.  The cold weather has brought them all out of their frozen apartments.  Don't they have heating?  Bennie and Minnie are doing their best to keep the numbers down but I'll consider a bird of prey if it gets much worse.  We've got a local neighbourhood hawk who conducts a low fly over every now and again but he's only a one bird operation and can only eat so much.  We might just have to cut back on the cat food for a little while, just to get Minnie a little more motivated.  Could take some doing!

4 comments:

  1. That's awful! Couldn't something be done for him in the way of a plastic beak replacement? It's amazing what can be done nowadays. I can't believe you would think of leaving his fate to a bird of prey or the cat! (if that's what you actually mean). Surely it would be better and less stressful for him to be euthanased by a vet? I had 2 of my sick chickens done that way rather than let them die naturally. (if it's case of money I'd be happy to stump up the cost....it cost $80 for each of my chickens but I don't regret it).

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  2. No, no, the bird of prey would be for the mice population. Crossbeak is a permanent family member now. His slightly skewed beak doesn't cause him many problems but we may consider plastic surgery when he gets a bit older, if he's really self conscious about it :)

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  3. Oh look at Minnie on the fence! so sweet but also looks like she's plotting world domination :) I have a soft spot for animals like Crossbeak - I once bought a fish that had only one gill because I knew no one else would buy him, he outlived them all!

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  4. Dani you are so right about Minnie. She would plot world domination...if she could just stay awake long enough!

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