Mother Clucker's Microsanctuary

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Leicester, NC
Mother Clucker's Microsanctuary

We are a vegan sanctuary who believes that animals are here with us, not for us.
(5)

11/27/2024

When I knew Louise was dying today, I wrapped her in a blanket and carried her outside. I sat and held her against me. I comforted her and did everything in my power to let her know how very loved she is.

I asked Zola, Mica and Arty to please come and greet her when she was ready to pass.

That's when a breeze came through.

I kept picturing that the breeze was created by Zola, Mica and Arty's wings.

Like their spirits were flying in to prepare to comfort, guide and embrace Louise.

As I knew she was closer and closer to passing it got windy.

I pictured the spirits of chickens, who have passed, flying in from all over to greet her. To comfort her. To support her. To let her know that it was ok. To let her know that they were arriving to guide her home.

I keep thinking about it.

It was a powerful image, as I pictured billions and billions of chicken spirits arriving to embrace Louise.

And it was also sad as I thought about how, of all those spirits, that most of them weren't as lucky and blessed as Louise was.

Louise was rescued from the system.

Most are not.

After Louise passed the wind calmed.

I kept picturing Louise's spirit embraced by love and flying away with those who came for her.

With Zola, Mica, Arty and Louise leading the spirit flight.

It may sound silly to some.

And to some it may not.

I wish I could capture, in a painting, the image I saw in my mind.

I wish I held the key that could open hearts and minds when it comes to these amazing birds.

I wish I held the key that would make the world understand that chickens are sentient beings who are no different from the animals our society calls friends, companions and family.

I wish I held the key that would stop the suffering these birds endure from the hands of humans.

I wish I held the key that would stop people from consuming them and from consuming their eggs.

I wish I held the key that would stop the exploitation of sentient beings and the world would become a sanctuary.

I wish.

I wish this every single day.

Louise is one of the reasons that I wish for this so deeply.

You will forever be in our hearts Louise.

You will forever be a piece of who we are.

You will forever be missed.

And you, our sweet girl, will forever be so very loved.

11/26/2024

Louise passed away today.

We are absolutely heart shattered.

I don't have many words. All I know is we miss her terribly already and our eyes, hearts and souls can't stop crying.

Louise was a truck jumper. I saw a post about her in 2020. She was living in a McDonald's parking lot. I jumped in the car to go catch her. After giving me a run for my money, I caught her and brought her home to our little sanctuary.

She came home and lived her best sanctuary life ever since.

She was the happiest, sweetest, most gentle, loving and soft spoken hen.

We loved her with all of our heart.

We will still love her with all of our heart because love never dies.

I knew she was dying, so I wrapped her up in a blanket and carried her outside. We're still surrounded by unpacked boxes and there was no way I was going to let her pass away in house full of boxes and an indoor space that isn't home yet.

I sat outside in a chair while holding her tight, stroking her and telling her how very loved she is and how she will always will be so loved.

I thanked her for coming into our lives, told her what a blessing it has been to care for her and how proud I was of her for escaping the truck that was heading to slaughter.

I couldn't stop telling her how loved she is.

I told her it was ok to let go.

She was waiting for Mike.

As soon as Mike came out and told her that he loves her, she passed.

Our hearts feel shredded.

Absolutely shredded into a million pieces.

This is not how our relocation was supposed to go.

Louise was supposed to be here as we rebuild their homes for them.

I'm hurting really deep. Mike is too.

I'm probably not in the best FB state of mind, but I want to say thank you for loving Louise with us over the years.

Most chickens only get to dream about being so loved. Louise had her dreams come true. Thank you for loving her, caring about her and being there for her over the last few years.

11/25/2024

As soon as the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital opened this morning, I called to see if they had any cancellations today, with the hopes of having Louise seen before her appointment tomorrow.

They did. They had a 10:30 cancellation. I raced to get everyone up and put Louise in a crate. Donna came over, picked us up and off to Raleigh we went.

Louise is very sick. Her prognosis is not good, but the vet started her on supportive care.

Louise had a lot done today. She had radiographs, an ultrasound and blood drawn. She also had a f***l done.

The x-rays showed that her intestines are pushed up by either a mass or enlarged liver. She did an ultrasound but couldn't read them well enough to determine the exact cause, but she believes it's Louise's liver that is what is making her so ill. They couldn't do her bloodwork in house because Louise's blood contained fat and bile. It has been sent off to an avian lab in Ohio.

There was another diagnostic imaging option, that could possibly provide more answers, but it requires anesthesia. Louise is too sick to survive with anesthesia so it was not an option.

The reason her crop is not emptying is because the inflammation of her liver is affecting her digestive tract. There's the chance that it could be a tumor, but with Louise's symptoms the vet believes it's her liver.

Louise received an antibiotic injection at her appointment and we were sent home with more injectable metaclopramide and injectable meloxicam (an anti-inflammatory). The vet gave her sub q fluids at her appointment and we were sent home with instructions to continue with the sub q fluids 2-3 times a day. We are starting milk thistle extract too, but unfortunately there's not an injection form of that. With her crop and digestive system not functioning properly, it's a struggle to get the supplements into her system. If things don't move, whatever we give her orally will not get in her system.

After we did her her fluids, metaclopramide and meloxicam this evening, I gave her three small food balls that contained her milk thistle and a dose of vitamin b complex with the hopes that somehow, at least some of it, can get into her little body.

She had a really tough day today. She's not feeling well and the vet appointment left her completely exhausted. When we got home, and went to take her crate out of the car, both Donna and I thought she had passed away.

She was alive. She was just so exhausted and sound to sleep.

I thought the sun and fresh air would do her good today. It was a nice warm day.

She wanted to be in her sleeping crate instead. She stayed in her crate today sleeping and resting.

This photo is from a couple of days ago.

She didn't feel well, but she felt better than she did today.

We're pretty scared that she is not going to make it, but we're holding onto hope and hoping that the injectable meloxicam, that she received this evening, will kick in and help get some of her inflammation down overnight so her crop can start emptying and we can get liver supportive supplements in her.

I'm also hoping if somehow this is caused by an infection that the antibiotic she received at her appointment will help her.

11/24/2024

It was a busy day today.

Mike finished putting the roofing on Mason, Sally, Sam and Patsy's run.

That's two runs that are up!!! 🎉

While Mike finished their roof, Donna and I insulated the walls in the Chicken Barn.

After we finished with the insulation, Jackson and I enjoyed a nice walk and some time together.

He even did several dances for me, which is the sweetest thing and something I absolutely adore.

Tomorrow the Mason Crew can spend the day in their run. ❤️

Jackson will be moving into the catio that Mason, Sally, Sam and Patsy have been using.

I'm really excited about that because he'll have much more space.

The hardware cloth should be here on Wednesday. Once it's here we can start predator proofing along the bottom of their runs.

The plastic for winterizing their runs was delivered yesterday. Once the predator proofing is done, then their runs can be wrapped in plastic to keep out rain, snow, wind and to help trap heat with the sun.

Once that's done, I need to put the insulation in the Mason Crew's coop, move it out to their run, run their coop heater out to it and they will be set.

Once their coop is out of the Chicken Barn, I can start setting up the Myles Crew space in their barn so they have their space to hang out in during cold mornings and days.

We're one week in and we're trying to get as much done as we can to get everyone situated.

It feels like we're racing against the weather (and the time change 😔) because we have some majorly dropping temps moving in next weekend.

Moving with chickens is a challenge.

Moving with chickens during the cold season is extra challenging.

We're determined though.

Beat, but determined.

11/24/2024

I got some boxes unpacked today!

I started unpacking in the bedroom.

I still need to decorate, but for now just feeling a little more organized in our sleeping area is good with me.

Frank and Hank helped me, but all the unpacking commotion was too much for Boone. She didn't come out from under the box springs until it was all over.

Boone, Frank and Hank have their TV and DVD player. Today their cat TV videos arrived and they seem to enjoy them. Especially Frank.

I set them up a cat corner. It's everything cats and they really like it.

I put batteries in an old cat toy I had. It's a toy that shoots a string in and out. Frank and Hank stared at it for a bit and then they were all in with trying to catch the string. This evening, when Boone came out of hiding, she enjoyed it too.

In the mornings, before I get the chickens up and after we put the chickens to bed, Boone, Frank and Hank have access to the rest of the house. In between though they stay in the bedroom because we go in and out all day long and it's too high risk for them getting out.

They've been integrating with Moji, JuJu and Gabby and it's surprisingly gone very well. You can see Moji in one of the Boone photos. Moji likes the cat corner too.

As we drove away last Saturday morning to head here, I had moments of pure anxiety. I had to do my best to not let it move into panic attacks. I was so petrified about Boone, Frank and Hank. I kept thinking that they wouldn't handle the move well.

That fear was a waste of energy.

They've done so well! They've settled in like pros! I'm pretty blown away at how well they've done and I'm extremely proud of them. ❤️

11/23/2024

Louise had her vet appointment scheduled for this past Tuesday.

Once we got here she started doing better.

Sunday and Monday morning her crop had gone down and was just about empty. We took lots of walks together and she scritched, scratched, ran around, ate worms and chased bugs. She was fired up and went out of her way to argue with Patsy and even had an "I don't have to listen to you" attitude towards me.

Mike and I talked about it and we believed that it was stress that had contributed to her slow crop. The week had been really tough on not just Louise, but on everyone. They watched their runs being taken down. It was a lot for them.

On top of that stress, Louise was molting.

With her crop moving and her energy, we believed that stress was the culprit. We thought that, since she was better, that the two hour ride in the car and new vet office would trigger her back into stress mode. She had already been through so much.

Thursday Louise's crop started acting up again and today she didn't feel well. She spent today inside with me.

The earliest appt I could get with the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital is this Tuesday.

Tuesday we'll be taking her to Raleigh.

Thursday we started sub q fluids for her.

I'm pretty scared and I will forever regret not keeping her appointment earlier this week.

I can't stop kicking myself and cannot forgive myself even though I thought, at the time, that we were making the right decision.

I should have known better.

I should have never made such a big decision in the middle of this move. I should have never trusted my brain.

I keep apologizing to her, telling her to stay strong and that her appointment is only 2.5 days away.

11/22/2024

Insert drum roll please...

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

We assembled the Myles Crew's run today!!!

Woohoo!!!

It is a beautiful sight! 😍

Yesterday I ordered hardware cloth so we can add a skirt around the bottom to protect from digging predators. Unfortunately it won't be here for a few days, unless of course I get a surprise and it ships early.

For now we put pavers and bricks around the base and will need to keep an eye on them.

Next up will be the greenhouse plastic, to wrap their run with, so we can winterize their space.

We need to put a few more screws on the roof and then next up is the Mason Crew's run!

Once their run is up, we're going to move Jackson into the catio space, until we can get his run put up. Jackson's run had some rotting wood areas on the base of his run, so we need to replace the wood before we start assembling it.

We have a run up!!!

It was a good day. We're tired, but it was a good day!

It's a start with getting this sanctuary rebuilt and everyone getting back in the spaces they love.

It's the start of a place called home. ❤️ 🐓

11/21/2024

I put the baby camera in the chicken barn today.

Now I can't stop looking at Jackson while he sleeps. ❤️

11/20/2024

When we were packing Hank was a wreck.

I always thought Hank was dumped. His behavior, while we were packing, made me start to think that someone moved and left him behind to fend for himself.

This kid has settled in just fine.

He's so relieved that he wasn't left behind.

I can't imagine how people do that to cats (or any animal). Move and leave them behind.

I kept thinking about it when we pulled out and left on Saturday.

It was painful to think about.

Animals deserve so much better.

Hank deserved better, but he will never be left behind again. I think this move has made him realize that.

11/19/2024

Ok human! Time to get to work and get this sanctuary put back together! Let's go!

~ Jackson

Mike and I started measuring today and trying to decide where would be best to put the runs.

Yesterday morning when I got up, I put together gazebos in the back yard for everyone. I call it chicken town.

It's not ideal, but everyone has some space outside to do their chicken business.

The catio is awesome! For now it is being used by Mason, Sam, Sally and Mason.

I took Hank and Frank out to the catio yesterday and it didn't go well. They were stressed about it and Frank almost got out by digging underneath the pen. We need to do some modifications before we attempt the cats out there again. I learned cats are very fast diggers when they're in a panic. It was quite the experience and I'm glad my gut told me to not leave them out there alone. Hank did get out, but thankfully he came to me and I was able to carry him back inside. I pulled Frank from under the pen and was able to put him in his carrier and get him back inside. They were both relieved to be back inside.

This morning Cyana and Myles were grumpy and stressed about not having the amount of space that they're used to. I had to do some quick rearranging with their flock to stop arguments. Myles and Lucy stayed together. Cyana got moved to her own gazebo. And I expanded a gazebo so Lucky and Louise could stay in a gazebo together.

The backyard is fenced in. It's not cat or chicken proof, but it's perfect for Sebastian.

My highlight today was taking a walk with Jackson.

He went to the gate and said "let's go exploring human!"

So that's what we did.

He was so excited and it was sooooo nice to spend one on one time with my buddy.

I've missed hanging out and walking with my buddy boy.

I look forward to us having our routines back and everyone having their big spaces back again.

11/18/2024

And there she is. ❤️

Hank and Frank have been doing pretty well with all these changes that have been going on. Boone though. It's been a lot. It's been stressful for all of us, but it's been the most stressful for Boone.

When she ate the Meloxicam last winter and I needed to get her to the vet, the first attempt to crate her didn't go well. She scratched me up pretty good, got loose and went under the bed.

She tore open the fabric under the box springs. She climbed in and that was her hiding spot.

It's been her hiding spot now too. She hasn't come out during the day, only at night while I'm trying to sleep. She sits and meows at me. Along with Frank. I didn't get any sleep Friday or Saturday night.

Last night though Boone, Hank and Frank let me get some sleep. Which I am so grateful for. I couldn't get through another day without some sleep.

This morning Boone got up with me. She meowed and meowed and even got bossy with Frank and Hank. She didn't like me being in the shower and stood outside of the tub meowing for me to hurry up and get out of the weird thing I disappeared into to. She's never seen a shower before.

It's only day two, but it feels like months. Boone coming out this morning was a huge relief for me. And her eating breakfast was also a huge relief.

I didn't see Boone at all yesterday. After we tucked the chickens into bed last night, I sat down and cried. Mostly from exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed, but also because I didn't know if Boone was even ok. With her hiding all day I was worried. I couldn't get under the bed and check in the box springs to make sure she was ok.

She's ok and having her out and about this morning, bossing Frank, Hank and me and eating breakfast was a wonderful thing.

This girl has been through so much as she left the feral world. She's a very brave cat and I keep telling her that she's going to get through this massive change. Just like she's gotten through all the other changes that she's been through.

11/17/2024

We made it!

I'm so tired that's just about all I can say.

What a day!

I am counting my blessings as I head to bed. That's all I know.

We unexpectedly had a crew when we arrived!

Everyone jumped into action and started unloading.

It was not an easy unload, but it got done thanks to Donna, Sena, Mark, Brian and Erin. I honestly just couldn't believe it!

And thanks to John, the chickens even had their own personal chicken sitter.

Deb drove all the way here to help with animal transport and then made the trip back to Asheville.

The runs are unloaded, the coops, the pavers, our stuff, all the animals stuff and the animals. The pavers (used for predator proofing) were quite the project, thankfully Donna came over with her tractor and that was a huge help.

Hank and Frank have been relieved and exploring their new bedroom. JuJu has been exploring. Gabby gets up to eat, does some exploring and then goes back into her carrier and naps. Moji is hiding and my poor Boone has been hiding.

Sebastian is just glad this move is over.

The chickens are all tucked into their new barn.

Donna gave us a digital thermometer so I can monitor the temps in their sleeping quarters.

She had their heater plugged in and ready to go.

She also made us food and stocked the fridge for us.

I've stuffed myself on black beans and rice and some broccoli and cheese quiche (vegan) that is one of the best dishes I've ever had. So good!

I can't find the nanny cams for the chickens. We have boxes all over. I'll find it tomorrow as we start unpacking. Needless to say I've checked the chickens many times tonight.

That's a lot for someone who said their too tired to have much to say.

But we made it!

Everyone is safe and sound.

We're together.

I can honestly say that this could have never have happened as smoothly as it did without the help of a village.

I am heading to bed with many, many thank yous. ❤️

11/16/2024

The truck is loaded and we are packed.

Every muscle and bone in our bodies hurts. We are exhausted, but we did it. We will be heading out in the morning.

The chickens are crated in the kitchen. Boone, Frank and Hank are locked in the bedroom with no access to the catio. They are worried about what's going on. They will be sleeping on the floor with me and I've sprayed the blankets with feliway. Gabby, JuJu, Moji and Sebastian have finally stopped pacing and are settling in for the night.

It's been extremely stressful this week, but something has sent my stress over the edge this week.

Louise's crop has been slow for the last couple of days. Now her urates have been creamy and at times light yellowish in color. I've had her separated so I can monitor her p**p. She hasn't been totally separated. Myles, Cyana, Lucky and Lucy have been right there with her in the kitchen. They haven't had a run (it's loaded in the truck with everyone's runs) so they've been spending their days in the kitchen, while Mason, Sally, Sam, Patsy and Jackson have the gazebos outside.

We haven't even moved yet, but Louise has a veterinarian appointment at Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital in Raleigh on Tuesday.

Please send her good energy, better yet tell her to get everything moving normally. I'm pretty nervous and hoping she has nothing serious that is going on.
I've been worried like crazy about her.

Please also send us safe travels tomorrow. We've been nervous and I've been worrying like crazy about our move tomorrow. I need Louise to be ok and I need all of us to arrive safe and sound.

11/13/2024

Jackson turned 1 year old today!

Because everything is hectic right now, I didn't have time to make him a chicken birthday cake.

I did cut him a nice slice of watermelon though. I poked it with holes and filled the holes with blueberries that made a cute design. I put it on a nice plate and carried it out to serve it to him.

When I took it out to him, I got emotional and teary as I told him happy birthday. I told him how much I love him, how grateful I am that we found each other and how I wish Bodhi was here to celebrate with us.

I sat down on the ground, with his plate in my hand, and got out "hap".

That's when Jackson grabbed his blueberry watermelon off of the plate, at full speed, and took off running with it, while the blueberries fell off behind him all over the ground.

He said "nobody got time for all your emotional mush human!!!" And then proceeded to eat his watermelon, on the dirt. When he was finished he retraced his steps to get the blueberries that fell behind him.

This kid.

I love him so much.

And even though he is 1 year old, he will always be my big baby boy.

He didn't escape the mush though.

He got lots of kisses when I carried him to bed tonight.

No matter what Jackson tells you, Jackson loves the mush, just not when there's watermelon involved.

He's a total mama's boy. ❤️

11/13/2024

Today was Jackson's turn to move to a pet gazebo.

His run started getting taken apart today. 😔

We're out of gazebos, so the Myles Crew is staying in the kitchen.

I kept telling everyone today that it's almost over and we're getting closer to life getting back to normal.

At least closer to normal.

Hopefully this time next week we'll have runs close to being put up.

Their attached run spaces, that is their favorite, won't happen for a while longer though.

But we'll get there.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the fundraiser our friends did for us and who have made PayPal and Venmo donations.

I'll be ordering the plastic to winterize their runs, the extra hardware cloth needed to predator proof their runs and hardware cloth, and other supplies that are needed, to build their new attached spaces, along with new netting to cover their space. We couldn't save their netting as we disassembled their spaces. I'll also be getting insulation for the new shed and will need to get metal trash cans to store their chicken food in. There's not enough space, at our new place, to store their food inside.

There's so much to do. I try so hard to take it day by day. The to-do list is so long that Mike and I get extremely overwhelmed by it. Every day we keep reminding each other "one step at a time".

Your donations have also helped with the truck rentals and gas. I was also able to order a baby monitor for the shed so I will know if the Myles Crew and if Jackson needs me during the night. Jackson will have a sleeping crate in the shed with them. It came with two cameras. I can put one in The Mason Crew's coop so I'll also know if they need me overnight. They were delivered to the rental and Donna already gave them a test run to make sure they work. 😊 I've also ordered extension cords and extra power extensions (too tired to know if that's the right word) to run the heaters for them. I also ordered them some aspen hardwood shavings bedding. I still need to get a few more bags.

Thank you for your help and support. You may not know it, but I thank you everyday. We couldn't do this without your support. Thank you for being here for us through this move. It means the world to the chickens and means the world to us too. ❤️

11/12/2024

Mason, Sally, Sam and Patsy's run was taken down today.

We put two gazebos together so they can have a daytime outdoor space to hang out in.

They're tucked in for the night in the bedroom.

They'll be sleeping at the foot of the bed until we move.

The girls were ok with it, but little Mason wasn't happy about the new sleeping arrangements.

He is extremely sensitive and worries more than I do. I feel badly for him with all these changes.

I can't wait for life to feel normal again. For the chickens and for us. I miss our normal days together.

Tomorrow Mike will start disassembling Jackson's run.

We reserved a U-Haul truck for Thursday. We'll spend Thursday and Friday loading it up and will be heading out of here Saturday morning.

When I took Smokey (the cat who would travel 2 miles to hang out at our house) to his neuter appointment with FurEver Friends Animal Rescue, est 2002 back in March, I met Deb. She is helping us transport everyone.

She came over today to make sure the larger carriers will fit in her car. They fit!

Our plan was to rent a van to transport everyone in. I was going to drive the van and we were going tow the car on the back of the U-Haul.

Because of Helene there are no vans available to rent anywhere in our area. They are all being used locally to help our community and those around us.

We are so very grateful for your help Debby Chatterton! And no you can't drive away with Myles. 😊

11/10/2024

The Myles Crew's run is disassembled. Tomorrow we'll start on the Mason Crew's run. Then next up is Jackson's run.

While we're here doing big things, big things have been happening at the rental.

The owner approved a shed and thanks to Donna and Ira, it has arrived at the rental.

This will be for the Myles Crew. It will be where they sleep. Even more importantly it will be their heated indoor space for cold days. We don't need to worry about little Myles being cold!

It will also be a safe, predator proofed space for all the chickens to sleep in, until we get their spaces set up.

Donna and Ira have even added rafters and created a flat ceiling to help with heating the shed.

They've been doing all of that for us while we're here breaking down the runs. I really have no words for how grateful I am that they have done this for us. ❤️

Today not only were they at the rental finishing up the shed, but our friend Sena and her friend Lauren, were at the rental attaching fencing to the cat pen. It's a 10' x 10' dog pen that will now be cat and chicken safe.

Until we get the chicken runs put up at the rental, the cats and chickens will need to take turns in the catio.

I wish I knew how to express the gratitude we feel for their help. I really can't imagine Mike and I doing all of this ourselves. I am honestly not even sure how we'd be able to pull it off. We can't be in two places at once trying to get things moved and ready for everyone.

Having the shed ready for us when we arrive, gives a safe place for the chickens to be and having the catio ready gives the former ferals an outside space they can be in. That's a big deal because they don't do well being confined indoors.

Our goal was to be heading to Burlington on Tuesday, but we needed to add on a couple extra days to get the runs disassembled. We're hoping that moving day is Friday. Saturday at the latest.

Thank you Donna, Ira, Sena and Lauren for being there for us, when we can't. I don't even know how to express how grateful I am for each of you.
❤️🐓🐈‍⬛

11/08/2024

Mike's worked by headlamp this evening to start disassembling the Myles Crew's run. He wanted to take the roof off.

The chickens are all tucked into bed and when Mike removed the roof it was loud.

Jackson, who is sleeping in the kitchen, started crowing and then Mason started crowing back to Jackson from his coop outside.

It's not like Jackson to start crowing when he goes to bed. He's not a night time crower and neither is Mason.

It startled me.

Jackson and Mason crowed back and forth to each other, for a few minutes, communicating with each other.

Then it hit me.

They were checking in on each other.

Jackson was concerned when he heard the loud noise outside and he was checking in on Mason and his family to make sure they were ok.

Mason let him know they're ok.

Myles would have communicated with them, but he couldn't hear the commotion outside, from inside the house where him and the girls sleep. Plus they sleep with their sound machine.

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I wanted to paint this morning, so I was a little late for our walk. Jackson was so sweet. When I let him out of his run, I stepped in to do the morning poop scooping. Jackson came running back over to the run and stood in front of the door saying "come on human! We've got chicken stuff to do!" So out I went and chicken stuff we did! We pecked at the ground and got our breaks nice and dirty, ate grass, dined on some clover, did laps around the yard, visited with the neighbors, hung out with Boone, visited the Boone Saloon with Frank, ate what mock strawberries we could find, made a trip to the watering hole and took time to stop and smell the marigolds. It was a good chicken time. Jackson didn't even complain that I was running late this morning. He said "better late than never human!" Where he picks up these sayings, I have no idea.

Thank you for your donations to the girls fundraiser! You are literally their life saver. ❤️ Thank you for knowing that their lives matter, thank you for your support and thank you for being a part of our village. ❤️

You know me with my updates. I often hesitate to post them. Not because I'm not thrilled when I see improvements, but because after years of caring for chickens I've become a cautiously optimistic person. I didn't want to share until I could observe Myles for most of the day. I wanted to let you know that this morning Myles woke up with improvement. He still slept with his head rolled underneath him, but once I got him up, and took him out to the yard, he was able to get his bearings much more quickly than he has been over the last three days. Myles spent the morning crowing his little heart out, which is always a good sign for roosters. He tidbitted to the girls and even did a little wing dance for Lucy. He's been outside with the girls all day and so far he hasn't needed to come inside to nap and rest. Myles still has moments of his head getting twisted underneath him, but they have been less frequent so far today and his recovery time as been quicker. He's having a hard time drinking from the water bowl though. It triggers him into his head spins. I've been making small puddles on the ground for him to drink from, it seems easier for him to drink from puddles for some reason. He doesn't want watermelon, so I've been soaking blueberries in water and hand feeding them to him. I went to check on him a little bit ago and he was standing on the edge of the little step down that goes into their roofed run area. I said "no Myles! I'll come help you get in there!" He has a hard time with step downs because it triggers head spins. I didn't get to him fast enough and he went to step down to get in that part of their run. He fell over and did a flip flop roll, but got himself up pretty quickly. I brought dirt in and leveled that step down spot. Hopefully that won't be an issue again. I took him out a little bit ago for some yard time. He's ALL into the grass seed in the yard. He found a nice patch of dried out grass seed in front of the catio and he mowed it

This was Myles after I got him up this morning. I was hesitant to share this video because I think it's upsetting. But I also think it's also important to share what he's going through. My heart ached so much seeing him like this this morning. He actually did well today outside in the run. Once I took him outside, to see how he'd do, he was able to hold his head up. It was tilted, but he could hold it up and walk without circling. It reminded me of my Zola. She always did better with her neurological issue when she was outside. She had a tougher time inside. Myles did not go in their roofed run today. He would stand at the doorway, but not go in. I'm pretty sure it's because there is a 3" or so step down. He didn't want to attempt it because it would it would cause him to loose his balance. At one point I checked on him and he was standing on a piece of a broken log that was maybe just 1" or so high. I could tell he was stuck. I helped him down and that sent him into his head spinning and it getting stuck upside down. I held his head and talked to him. That helped him to calm him down and get his bearings. He got his head back up and went back to doing his Myles chicken things. I was out with Jackson. Jackson and Cyana were talking smack to each other (through the fencing). Cyana turned to walk away and accidentally bumped Myles. That bump sent Myles into his head issue and balance issue. I started to head into the run to help him, but fortunately he was able to get his bearings on his own and got his head up. His head has had a subtle tilt to the right this week, but today it was much more obvious. He's tucked in for the night. When Mike carried him to bed, he had to hold up Myles head for him. I went to check on him and his head is upside down. 😔 I'm so grateful he has is appointment in the morning. It's at 8:30 am. It's a little bit of a drive, so I'm heading to bed because I need to get up extra early to get everyone up in the morning, fed and sit

Well my little flower child Jackson is a flower child no more. He trampled down the marigolds!

Catio time with Mason. ❤️ I hope one day soon he'll be as comfortable with me in their run as he is during our catio time.

One thing I've noticed with Mason, since he arrived, is he's scared of rain. I've never had a chicken who is scared of the rain before. Even though he has an entire roofed run, to be under when it's raining, rain still upsets him. During our catio time this morning it started pouring rain. He was extremely nervous, but we toughed it out with talking and blueberry treats. After a little time passed he finally let out a stress shake. This is the shake that I talk about on my posts. It's called a dry shake and it's how animals release stress. This is what I encourage Mason to do more of. He's really good at holding on to his stress and I'm wanting him to learn that it's ok to shake his stress off. We've been working on learning the word shake.

Myles decided a few weeks ago that he's a big boy and that he doesn't need to be held like a baby when I take him outside in the mornings. He perches on my arm and crows during his ride outside. This is my view during our trip and it gets me every single morning. 😄 He's such a floof ball!

Jackson's new morning routine is to run over and see Mason as we head out to his run for breakfast. Let's go Jackson! Time for breakfast! "I'm coming human! I'm coming!"