Bird Talk

Bird Breath!You know, I like to think I have a pretty good grasp on science, and biology, and how the world works.  And then some little fact trots along and knocks me right on my butt, thereby pointing out that the world is far more strange and complicated than we sometimes give it credit for.

This is one such fact, which I stumbled over last week: birds breathe in only one direction.  Most animals, such as ourselves, have "bidirectional respiration."  We inhale, fresh air comes into our lungs, it gets exchanged for all the carbon dioxide and other waste products, and then the old air is exhaled.  Fresh air in; stale air out.  This is also called "tidal respiration," because it's similar to the way the tides move in and out.
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Sharp-shinned hawkToday I heard a mad squadawk-ing from the direction of the chickens.  I looked outside and saw a Sharp-shinned hawk swoop past the mobile chicken pen (also called a chicken tractor or chicken ark) and perch nearby.  My chicken tractor is completely raptor-proof, and for good reason!  But although I knew he couldn't get in to slaughter my chickens, the hens had no such confidence in my building design.
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Bird GritOne of the most common questions asked by new chicken owners is, what's the difference between grit and shell?  Do I need to feed my baby chicks grit?  Do baby chicks need supplemental oyster shell?

The difference between grit and shell is that grit is just fine gravel.  This has been milled such that it's the right size for your chickens to use in their gizzards.  Chickens don't have teeth to chew their food - it all goes into a pouch called the gizzard.  Chickens swallow small pebbles and bits of rock, which stay in the gizzard.  These help grind up the food inside the gizzard, so that it can be digested farther along the road.
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rather early youd think

Want to add some zippy bursts of color to your yard, wake up to melodic music, and drive your indoor cats psycho all at once? Behold, the bird feeder!

Installing bird feeders in your yard is one of the easiest things you can do to attract wildlife. Most bird feeders are super cheap (or free, if you’re into DIY projects) and birdseed itself isn’t going to break the bank, either. Here are some great bird feeding gear you can buy or create for well under ten bucks. Remember, a little time and effort will reward you with plenty of feathered friends to share your backyard with. Read more

Chaucer in Canterbury Tales, compares his Summoner's concupicity to sparrows. The summoner, we are told is "As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe" (General Prologue l. 628). It turns out Chaucer was on to something. Read more

They Were SO Cute Back Then!As February approaches, baby chicks will soon start being shipped to feed stores across the country.  When I stopped at my local feed store last week to pick up another bag of Layena, I saw the notice on the front door.  This feed store's chicks are in such high demand that they have a waiting list months in advance.

Chicks are cute, but they grow into chickens, and they're a big responsibility.  I'm going to assume you're not one of those awful people who would buy a chick as an Easter present, without a thought for its future!
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January 17 is Bald Eagle Appreciation Day. Did you know that our national bird is the only eagle that’s unique to North America? Here are some other facts about bald eagles you can use to celebrate the day or teach your children (or use at your next trivia contest). Read more

Ethel, a Buff OrpingtonI have been thinking a lot about heritage breeds, because the topic of heritage livestock seems to crop up a lot in articles about eating locally, sustainable living, that kind of thing.  Heritage breeds are valuable not just because they are old and interesting bits of living history (although they are).  Most heritage breeds were developed to be hardy, in keeping with the times in which they lived.
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The Common Loon is quite lovely to look at; one of the most geographically dispersed water birds. The loon's black and white markings, especially the black head and checker-board back, makes it easy to spot on lakes or coastal estuaries from the width of Canada to the northern United States. But, lovely as they are to watch, loons are best known for the eerie cry of the male. Loons are, however, declining rapidly. They have ceased to appear at all at lakes where they have been breeding for hundreds of years; we are not sure, exactly what has caused this decline. Read more