Rain and More Chicks

 Summer is here!  Every day we are getting rain.  Even when it looks like no rain, there is rain a minute later.  My guess is we are making up for the loss of rain in April.  That is creating a new problem.  I'm worried that some of the chicks will get washed away.  The brooding chickens have not stopped.  Yesterday, I found a chick lying in the run that a broody chicken is in.  I thought it was dead.  I opened the door to the run.  The chick jumped up.  I noticed another chick.  I hope they survive.  I have seen a bunch of dead chicks.  I am letting nature take the wheel.  Getting back to the rain, it is helping the garden that I am trying to grow.  I am really putting in the effort.  I tell you, starting from a seed is a real pain in the behind.  I would say I have had a 50% success rate.  

Rats!

 Recently, I went outside to move some boxes that was on our deck.  We can not burn anything right now due to the draught we are in.  When I did, I heard a scratching noise.  I move some boxes and all of a sudden 3 rats jump out and go over the side.  Later, for some reason, I went in one of the sheds that chickens stay in.  I kicked a plastic box.  All of a sudden, rats were running everywhere.  The next night, I grabbed a BB gun and tried to shoot some.  I found it is hard to accomplish this in the dark.  I did have a phone in one hand, but could not aim and shoot with one hand.  I did get a lucky shot, but I think it only grazed or scared it.  It still ran off.  I did manage to catch one in a live trap, but that was luck.  I have to wait a day or so for rat poison.  If they stay, they will multiply.  I can't have them getting into the food or even going after the chickens.  

More Chicks

 Every day I go out, I have to watch where I walk.  New chicks are roaming the grounds.  Of course, the mothers are usually with them.  As they grow older, they get more adventurous.  One chick was in a run with other chickens and ducks.  Mother was in another run.  I chased her back to her mother.  You never know when they will attack.  Guinea fowl have been chasing them.  I know that chickens will kill a baby Guinea.  I just hope that they make it to adulthood.  The more live chickens, the more eggs we will get.