Camilla has Died

We discovered Camilla in her coop today. It seems something small, like a weasel, got in to her part of the coop and killed her. The coop is separated in to 6 parts, 1 bird in 5, two in the biggest. Mim is there sitting on a clutch of eggs. 5 other birds to choose, but the creature had to have my Milla, my favorite lady. Im very sad and angry. What am I to do against an animal so small? I feel utterly useless.

I will miss you forever my Milla.

Camilla had a very exciting time outside today! First I wrestled her harness on her, boy she didnt want it on! But I got her in to it and out we went. First thing she did was just stand there, amazed by all the greenery.

Then, after a few minutes of looking around and trying to get out of her harness, she went about her business eating everything in sight!

After some time out front by my teeny garden, I grabbed her up and we went out back to say hellow to the outside chickens. I wanted to see what she thought of them. Camilla hasnt been in with them in months and I thought she might like to see them. Well! SHe couldnt have cared less about them!! She just stood there, ignoring them. Then went pecking around for food. Meanwhile, all the other chickens went mad! Crying and screaming and all in a tither about this 'new bird' in their yard!

I then picked her up again and we went back out front. As we reached the front, I saw some birds flying about and screaming. I asked 'Whats going on?' and then my bf spotted one of our outside cats with a little bird. He chased her away and I scooped up the baby bird. Shes (or hes) a robin. Her parents stuck around all afternoon. But the little one is hurt and not old enough to fly.

We tried first putting her in a basket and hung it from a tree where her parents were sitting and hollering at us. She stayed in that all of maybe 5 minutes and then tried to fly away only to fall on the ground. She was hidden in the grass well, but with 20 something cats out there hunting and ready to pounce, we grabbed her up again and while trying to look at her, she got away from my bf. She flapped across the yard and down the driveway. Another outside cat, Kitten Meowing, jumped on her and after him I flew! I still had Camilla under my arm and was screaming at the cat and climbing over wood and junk in the yard and finally got him away from the little bird. I grabbed her and Camilla and I brought her back and I put the little thing under a basket on the ground. I dont think he hurt her any more than she already was.

I started thinking about everything Ive read about 'rescuing' injured birds and so after some major searching, found my old bird cage and put her in it with some water and hung her up in the tree. Her parents stuck by her all evening. But after reading a bit on line and worrying about her out there, I had my bf bring her in. She had been sitting in her water the whole time (we think) and I was afraid she would chill and die over night. So shes in here now.

So all and all, Camilla had quite an exciting time! She chased cats, ate everything she could find and even saved a little bird! *PHEW*

Back in March, Shane and I took 'Milla out for a walk in the yard. I had meant to post these then, but they got lost in my huge library of photos. But here they are now!

First we went out front and sat in the sun. Camilla enjoyed it though she didnt like the harness much that day. She kept trying to pick it off!

Eventually she figured out she wasnt able to take it off and noticed there were alot of nice things around to eat! She loves trying new things.

Yes, that is kitty bum you see there in the background. Camilla is a brave girl and quite unafraid of cats (or any ohter animal for that matter!). This little lady doesnt have a regular name, we call her Kitten Meowings Sister. Shes a beauty.

Camilla was so relaxed and happy in the warm sun that she snuggled down in the grass and bathed. I love it when she bathes, its the cutest thing ever!

After her bath, I picked her up and we walked around a bit. We went to look at the cows and guess what? They were afraid of her!! I set her on the ground outside of their fence and every cow stared in wonderment. "What IS that thing??!!" they seemed to be saying. She meanwhile, just pecked around and didnt even seem to notice them.

After that, we headed over to Loki, my horse, and the stream. I asked Shane to set her on this little island in the stream. I thought she would look pretty there in the grass that grows on it and wanted a picture. But Shane thought it would be funny to put my poor lady out on the dam!

I was yelling "NO!" but he did it anyway. So there is my poor 'Milla, stranded out there on a rock! She just stood there looking around. Not a feather out of place. She looked rather amused! Not afraid at all! I was more frightened that she was!

The tough, brave lady didnt even get wet. She just stood on that rock and looked at everything. Shane didnt let her stay there long. I was fussing and didnt want her getting cold or worse, falling in! So he scooped her up and I brought her back inside. I did get a beautiful photo of her, my favorite of the day!

Camilla and the Egg

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This is my lady laying an egg. She was in labor for about 20 minutes before she actually layed it. And, yes, her cage looks messy. But I keep it as clean as I can. Chickens arent known for their cleanliness in the toilet department!

Not too long ago, right after her beak breaking actually, Shane and I took Camilla out for a hike. Just a cross the road, really, but that was a hike for her! It was a cool day, but sunny and dry. She enjoyed it ALOT. She loves exploring and tasting different leaves and things.

She even was brave enough to go out on the frozen pond to skate!

But her little feet got cold pretty fast and she just HAD to get off the ice. She warmed up in the grass. She loved the spot she found so much that she had to dust bathe!

Poor camilla has lost her beak! A few days ago I had her out on the table where she loves to play. After a while I noticed that she had blood on her beack and thought that she had pecked Lucy (the welsummer hen who has her cage on the table). So I grabbed up Camilla and checked Lucy all over. There wasnt a wound anywhere. Well, I went back to Camilla and looked closer at her and caw that her top beak was shorter than her bottom. I also saw that there was a line where it looked like some of her beak had come off. So I looked around the table and sure enough, there was her beak! The top layers anyway. The poor lady is quite sore now and if she pecks hard at antying it bleeds again. but shes learning to be careful. Shes on a diet of soft food now with lots of love :)

If anyone wants to see a pic of her beak and what broke off I have a photo here - http://www.deviantart.com/view/27602006/ and here - http://www.deviantart.com/view/27617287/

My poor Milla :(

These are the bums on their first day with us. Camilla is in there some where on the right.  

This is Camilla on her first outing in her harness. She adored the walk. Everything was so interesting. I need to take her out again soon. I bet she would like to see the snow!