Funny Story

My silly husband, Allan!

Last Friday night, February 4th, Allan and I decided to go to the Rock Hill small animal auction, just for something to do together that wouldn’t cost us a lot of money.  We both love going to auctions (I just love the atmosphere) and of course, I love anything that involves animals.

Well, the barn was pretty full of people and animals.  They have stadium seating and we decided to sit up top, right in the middle, in front of the auctioneer.  It was really the best spot.  You could see over everyone and see everything.  So, we had been there about an hour and I’m watching the crowd bid on chickens.  I’m watching the auctioneer as he’s changing prices, just enjoying how different people bid.  I noticed him look our way and I look over at Allan, and he’s bidding!  Without even thinking, I said,

“What the hell are you doing bidding on a cage full of roosters?”

The auctioneer says, “Ma’am,”

I look up.

“Ma’am,”

I look around, (surely he’s not talking to me,)

“Yes ma’am, I’m talking to you”

I’m looking at him now.

“Ma’am, are we having a family meeting?”

Everyone is staring at me.

“Ma’am, do me a favor and go sit over there,” he points across the room, “so your husband can spend some money.”

Everyone is looking at me and laughing!

From that point on the auctioneer wouldn’t quit picking on me!

(I thought it was hilarious!)

Feather Children

My Feather Children just arrived Wednesday, February 10th from Texas.

I've ordered all bantams.  I've got some Blue Cochins that will hopefully be great little egg setters for my 1st love, the Old English.

And some Self Blue Old English:

Some Blue Wheaten Old English (these in the photo are Wheatens, not the Blue ones):

And some Mille Fleur Old English.  I think the hens are beautiful!

Update on Joe

I have seen Joe!  He has joined a big flock of crows (about 10 or so) and they live near my house.  They come by late morning and pretty much hang around all day.  I will start putting out food to attract them, but make it more accessible to the wild crows, to encourage them to come by.  Joe talked to me the other morning – and that made me feel so much better – knowing he’s happy and free. 

The Last Joe Story?

So...

Sunday, February 6th was a pretty day and since Allan and I were home and working outside I decided to turn Joe out.  I was watching him to see what he'd do and Trinity was hanging out with me.  Joe was hopping in and out of his pen picking up stuff he liked and putting it in his cage.  

Trinity (my wonderful German Shepherd) decided to inspect him closer and walked over to him.  When he saw her coming, he started toward her. Well, that freaked her out and she turned tail and tried to saunter off casually - but he started hopping faster toward her. She started running, and he decided to chase her (hop-hop-hop).  It was funny.  My big Shepherd is running, looking back over her shoulder, being chased by a little crow!

Anyway, Joe hooked up with two other crows.  He came back for dinner (and brought company) Monday nite and ate all the food I put out for him.  I put some Vienna sausages in there Tuesday (one of his favorites), but he didn't come back.  Allan saw him a couple of times between Monday and Tuesday, but I haven't seen him since Sunday.  It's driving me crazy.  I'm having Empty Nest Syndrome or something.  Allan says Joe comes by in the late morning and hangs out at the house with his crow buddies almost all day.  I asked how he knew it was Joe (he has one white wing feather) and he said because when he calls to Joe, Joe starts coming toward him and the other two crows fly away.  

When I get home it's about 30 minutes before dark.  I can't stay inside the house.  I'm out scanning the treetops, straining my ears (listening for him) until it's dark outside.  If I could just see him with his friends, I'd be fine.  It's the only way Joe can survive on his own - to be adopted by other crows so they can show him what to be afraid of.  Crows are very social birds and juveniles often stay with their parents, helping raise new babies, for three years or more before mating.  It's what I wanted for him.  Since they can live 30 years or more, I figured his years would be better spent doing what he was meant to do.  I didn't mind taking care of him at all - in fact, I really enjoyed it. It's just that part of me hurts to see a wild animal (especially a smart one) kept in captivity for its entire life.  Like at the zoo.  It's what I wanted for Joe, so why am I so sad?  

Joe the Crow

This was Joe a day or two after I found him standing in the middle of a busy road near my house.  I made my husband stop so I could rescue him from the center line.  There were no other crows around and he was very weak.  He was just a fledgling and couldn’t feed himself or fly.  I had to hand feed him.  This photo was taken in my office.  He had to be fed every hour or so or he’d die, and I couldn’t leave him at home.  So I carried him back and forth to work until he started eating on his own.  My boss is a softie when it comes to animals, and has had to deal with several different kinds over the past 7 years I’ve been employed here.  It’s just a given when it comes to me.

Anyway, Joe recognized me as his “mother” and would “dance” coo, and “talk” to me.  I eventually moved him outdoors into a very large pen (6 feet tall by about 12’ long, about 8 feet wide) so he could fly.  I was prepping him for his eventual freedom.  I got him used to all kinds of foods (including grub worms and crickets – and I DON’T like bugs – so this was a huge sacrifice on my part).  I researched his dietary needs, and got him used to eating out of paper wrappings – like from McDonalds, and out of Styrofoam containers too – since Crows are scavengers and opportunists.

I began turning him out of the cage while I was home to protect him.  He had no fear of anything, not even his natural predators (like humans, dogs, cats).  So I had to keep rescuing him.  Even when turned out, he would fly up to me, perch on my hand, and allow me to walk him back to his pen (which he really loved).  I also brought him “toys” since crows love shiny objects.  He had a big hollowed out stump that he hid his toys in.  He’d fly up to me, take the toy, admire it, drop it in his stump, and then fly back for another toy.  He liked me to scratch his neck and would close his eyes and mimic me, saying “ahhhhhh…”  It was pretty funny to see and hear!

Anyway, I guess I’ve had him about a year or so.  Crows are illegal to keep because they are considered migratory birds.  But, I figured I would get away with a fine if someone ever turned me in, because it was clear that Joe was well taken care of.  Hell, he had a fountain in his pen during the summer so he could bathe in the spray.  You can sell crows on the black market, especially tame ones like Joe for about $1500.  But I could never do that to him.  At the local feed store there is a crow named Annie who was rescued about 20 years ago.  She sits in a large parrot cage all day.  Crows are highly intelligent birds; can you imagine a worse fate for a wild creature with intelligence?  Even well fed and cared for – to lose your freedom and stagnate inside a cramped cage where you can’t even fly… well I feel sorry for her.  I never wanted that for my Joe, and I’ve had several people try to buy him from me.

So, that’s the basic Joe story.  Here’s a photo of him I took during our snow in January.  It’s not a great pic – he was “talking”.