Are You Kidding me???

 It's happened all over again.

We now have another roo!  And it's Pippi!

I said to Rick a couple of weeks ago, do you suppose Pippi is a boy?  Based on his large size (hardly a pipsqueak anymore) and his feather features. Sure enough about a week later after morning chores, Rick came in and said you could be right.   Pips had been exploring crowing sounds.

OK, I just got six more girls so Sharone wouldn't be picking on one or two girls and now we've got another rooster!  Plus he's minorly aggressive with his ankle/foot pecking.

I just sent the Michigan Humane Society a message today, explaining the situation.  I asked if he (weird to refer to him as a boy) gets more aggressive or becomes antagonistic to Sharone, can he be returned to them.  Someone asked today if I wanted to try to rehome him through FB and I replied with an emphatic "no!"  Roosters are a dime a dozen and although he's getting annoying I don't want harm to come to him.  I don't think she understood my point of view...

Gabby Gets Owwie

 The saga began last Tuesday.  Gabby looked a bit off at breakfast but I wasn't terribly concerned.
Until later that afternoon.  She was head-bobbing lame.  Of course I picked her hoof and felt for heat.

Damn!

I talked to my farrier.  She suggested epsom salt soaks for a few days before calling the vet. 
Not knowing how cooperative Gabs would be, I dragged Rick out with me for the first soak.  Afterwards he was  able to pick her hoof better and out popped a stone.

Aha!  Stone bruise, not an abscess?

Keep soaking the farrier advised.
I kept at it through Friday and thought Gabby was walking close to normal.

And then we went out of town for the weekend.

I forewarned the house sitter she might be a bit off, but I did not ask her to continue the soaks.  Perhaps a mistake.

Last night upon our return when feeding at dusk she looked pretty owwie.  Well great.  So today I resume the soaking and she looks better.

What the heck!

I'll continue the soaking for the week.