Very unusual 2-headed Chicken.

150921 Very unusual 2-headed Chicken.
Actually, Sebrights are excellent mothers. This chick is 1 month old and very soon should be on it's own.
This breed is small, 1-1/3 pound, about the same as a good sized Pigeon.
Pic =
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Now I'm sure. Simon Pigeon can tell time.

Now I'm sure. Simon Pigeon can tell time.
For the last month or so, every night right around 10pm news time, Simon Pigeon comes looking for me so I can give him his good night hug and then put him to bed.
. . I always thought it was the TV news show that told him the time, but last night he came to find me several minutes before the 10pm news started.
. . . . . . . . . . . ??? How does he know?
Simon needs his hug. He pecks at my hands until I have both hands clasped over him, then he's happy. 
PIC - 140823d Pigeon Simon Les.jpg
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150902 SD cards on Post-it-Note

150902 SD cards on Post-it-Note

A handy way to keep track of WHAT'S ON SD
cards and what size they are..
1) Write on Post-it-Note with sticky on bottom with sticky side down
2) Place SD card on sticky as shown (Gold tabs NOT on sticky part)
Place SD slightly above top of note for easy removal
3) Fold bottom half up and slightly above sticky part for
easy removal and so no sticky is showing.
4) After folding, the SD information will be on top, readable.
5) File like an index card file?
(I have engraved date purchased on each card like a "Serial Number", easy to identify contents that way)
Pic = 150902b 2731 Helpful Hint SD card Post It Note.JPG
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Automatic Chicken coop/aviary door

1508531 Aviary coop auto door

I FINALLY did it (low priority). ... Fully automatic door on the Chicken/Pigeon aviary. Opens at 8:30am, closes at 9:30pm... also can open/close it from the internet while watching it on a net-cam.
. . This way, if gone overnight, the Chickens/Pigeons can still be outside during the day instead of being confined to the aviary until we get back.
IN THE video, I am manually operating it from the house with a remote.
. . Closing the door at night is only to protect the birds from predators.
comments -
Made entirely from scrap parts including a coat hanger, some aluminum strap, two 110v timers, some limit switches, and a gear reduction motor mechanism. It has a spring so no animal will get trapped if in the way of the door closing. - PIC =

150831a 2731 Aviary coop automatic door.JPG
... I've been meaning to do this for 9 years, finally got around to it. . . It will be nice when we're on vacation, I can monitor on cam, count chickens, open/close when appropriate OR let the timers take control. They ALWAYS go in 1/2 hour before dusk so it's very safe to assume they're all in when door closes ... but I can count them on cam to make sure
... Those are reflectors on the door so door position is very visible on net-cam or from the house. The rotation was important so there is never down-thrust on the bottom of the sliding door.
. . . There ARE auto doors on the market but they're $300.
VIDEO = 150831b 2731 Aviary coop automatic door.MOV
FB LINK = https://www.facebook.com/BertTheMensaChicken/videos/10153493512505295/

Cleaning up Simon Pigeons poop.

150829 Every morning when I clean up Simon's little corner of the family room, he tilts his head and looks at me confused, like he's thinking ... "I wonder why he wants to save that stuff?".
Pic = 150829 2731 Pigeon Family Room Pen Simon.JPG
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About once per week Simon gets a feather in his eye.

150826 Total trust. - - - About once per week Simon gets this same? irritating feather in his eye. Each time I gently push it down with my finger while he quietly and calmly lets me. ... Then he smiles at me. I love my bird.
. . (Too dangerous to try to remove the feather).
Pic = 150826 Pigeon feather in eye Simon.JPG
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Goose hit by car, 2nd baby Sebright Chick

Yesterday in the center of the driving lane we found a mature goose on it's back struggling to get up... hit by a car.  We stopped traffic as I scooped it up. I could find no physical signs of injury, no bleeding etc except there were many feathers on the road. It seemed to be mostly dazed. I held it on my lap as we headed for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center ... but... within minutes it died in my arms. It's not easy to have an animal looking into your eyes as it dies.  Very sad.

. . But the good news is  a 2nd Sebright baby chick, 24 hrs old. After it had a very bad start, looks like it will survive and thrive.
. . I discovered the baby yesterday morning, it was laying dying in the coop, not in the nest. At first I thought it was dead. I tucked it under Mom's wing. This morning it looked fairly healthy and seemed to be eating and drinking?
I think it will be ok?
Pic = 150819 2731 Chicken 2nd baby seabright chick
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