Pretty Pinecone

Backyard Poultry

Goodbye, Pinecone

Pinecone was a nearly-three-year-old Auracana, or 'Easter egg,' hen. It came in our second batch of chickens, a total of about twenty, in 2011. Pinecone's beautiful feather pattern was like none I had seen before: coal black framed a rich gold "mane" which cascaded down onto misty gray and finally black tail feathers. I treasured the opportunities to hold Pinecone since it was very shy and usually raced away from our hands. Its little beady eyes and rose comb always had a very suspicious look.

Hidden Nest

Last summer, we had major problems with our chickens escaping to lay their eggs outside our coop. It took nearly a week to discover Pinecone's stockpile, in the center of some dense brush and grasses. If only the eggs were fertile--and the hen had intentions of setting on them--I was almost tempted to let Pinecone raise its own clutch of baby Auracana chicks! Of course, Pinecone was soon forced to revert back to the nest boxes, where it faithfully laid us a blue egg almost every day for two years.

Auracana Friends

 Pinecone was best friends with both Birchie (above) and Walnut. In fact it acted like sort of a mother for "Baby Birchie." No matter what Auracanas I get in the future, I will always miss my beautiful Pinecone.

Henhouse Casualties

Backyard Poultry

Twin Chickens

The shock of that first look into your chicken coop after an unexpected visit from a predator is unforgettable. The feeling of helplessness and remorse can't even be described. Perhaps the best description is it's all over now. I know because I went through it last week.

 

During my nearly four years of raising chickens, I'd lost very few of them. Sure, a few natural deaths here and there, sad but to be expected, as well as one encounter with a hawk (see poor Birchie's story here). Certainly my painstaking precautions to protect my flock were a benefit, as we've spotted raccoons, skunks, possums, and dogs around the property repeatedly. But never did I imagine a predator small enough to get through a hole 1" in diameter, strong enough to grab a full-grown chicken, and mean enough demolish an entire flock before it was through.

 

It was a mink. A very skinny animal about two feet long with the tail, sharp teeth, and very sharp claws; an otter is the only thing I could compare it to. My chickens were confined to their coop and plastic-enclosed greenhouse that morning, a week ago from Monday. The mink ripped a 3" hole in the plastic wall and climbed in. I hate to imagine the scene from there on. Six chickens were killed, from my flock of sixteen. Honestly I don't know what saved the others. Minks usually won't stop til all are dead. Either I came out in time, or they found safety on the highest roosts of the coop.

 

For some reason, it always seems that your favorite chickens are the ones you lose. This was partly true for me -- most of my older hens of more unusual breeds were lost. On the other hand, all seven of my year-old Golden Buff pullets survived (which I was not as attached to as my older chickens, but is good on the economic side). I do still have two of my Buff Orpington favorites, for which I am very thankful.

Velvet and Pepper

The "twin" Auracanas in the top photo, Pinecone and Walnut, will always have a special place in my heart, as well as the Barred Rocks I lost in the bottom picture. To remember each of the six chickens, the unique lives they lived and the joy they brought to me as their keeper, I will be doing an individual post for each of them. I only wish for one last time to cuddle each hen.

Amethyst Geode

Ohio History

Purple Crystals

These beautiful purple crystals were also on display in the gift shop, except they had not been sliced into rings like the last pictures. In fact, this amethyst geode was still in its original form. Check out the bottom picture! The green "skin" on the outside is basalt, which formed a protective tube around the amazing amethyst crystals as they grew. You'd never guess there were such beautiful gems inside a drab green log like this, would you?

Amethyst Geode

This geode came from Brazil, and is really as big as it looks, measuring six and a half feet high and weighing almost 700 pounds. Now that's big! Also, according to the sign, it's worth $10,000 . . . and didn't seem to be for sale.

Colorful Geodes

Ohio History

Purple Kaleidoscope

Of course, we had to have a 'quick' stop in the gift shop to pick up some souvenirs. However, as soon as I spotted the display of these beautiful geode cross sections for sale, I had to stop and take pictures! The one above is my favorite.

Pink Sunburst

Of course, these colorful crystals did not come from the Ohio Caverns. They were imported, mostly from Brazil, I think. The beautiful kaleidoscope-like patterns are created by cutting cross-sections of large basalt 'tubes' in which the crystals grow. Check out my next post for more details . . .

Lavendar Geode Crystals

Gold Miner

Ohio History 

Crystal Digger

It now came time to leave the underground world. This involved climbing a straight 63 steps back to ground level! We stopped to catch our breath and learn a bit more about the Ohio Caverns' history. After being discovered accidentally by a farmhand in 1897, just over a quarter mile caverns was opened up for tours by the public (who promptly removed all the crystals and covered the walls with grafitti).

 

New owners came in 1922, and they hired excavators to remove the mud and open up almost       3 1/2 miles of tunnels. They strung electric lights and laid gravel walkways which were later paved with cement. This is the part of the Caverns we just saw on the Natural Wonders tour. To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Caverns' discovery, the Historical Tour was opened in 1997. It includes the area first toured by the public, but does not feature as many crystal formations.

 

I thought the picture above was appropriate for discussing the hours of underground labor that went into these Caverns. Actually, this and several other crystal geodes featuring miniature figures were for sale in the Ohio Caverns gift shop. This one only measured about 3" across. They were such intricate creations!

Crystal Cave

Ohio History

Who Lives Here?

This is my favorite picture from the Ohio Caverns. It's not hard to imagine that somebody must live in that cave! In fact, I'm not sure the opening is actually big enough for a person. This photo is looking down over the rock ledge beside the trail path, and I don't think it was as far down as it looks. However, I still love the visual effects of the shot - it seems to portray both beauty and mystery in the same scene.

Walls of Crystals

Ohio History

Side View

Here's another mesmerizing shot in - I believe - the third room of the Caverns. The rusty red streaks run diagonally up to meet the striking vertical white crystals. I could have stayed in there taking photos for hours! In fact it was quite comfortable compared to the outdoor chilly weather (so long as you didn't touch the cave walls or try to sit down), as the temperature was its typical 54 degrees. It was very humid though - the humidity is always 90 percent - and it seemed everything was dripping. They said the air is cleaner in the caves than above ground since it's filtered by the constantly dripping water flow.

Crystal Nursery

 This wall seemed like the crystal nursery. Tiny baby crystals hung in neat rows across its surface. I wonder what will happen when they get bigger and meet? It was amazing how they're all growing in such straight lines. According to the website, 95 percent of the caves' crystals are still active and growing. Do you think they'll gradually merge into larger crystals, or all grow very long and skinny?

Tunnel of Crystals

Ohio History

Looking Back

As we entered the fourth room, I turned back for this breath-taking snapshot. It was even more impressive in person than the photo (ok, I know the colors are a bit off...). I read some of the names for the underground chambers on the website - everything from "Fantasyland" (that sure fits) to the inventive title"Big Room." I wonder how hard that was to think up? The largest "room" covers almost a half acre, filled with hundreds of crystal formations, each so unique and complex in its design.

 

The Ohio Caverns currently have over 2 miles of surveyed passageways. The Natural Wonders Tour covers the mile most dense with crystals, while the Historic Tour takes visitors to the portion first discovered and opened decades ago. By the way, more about that history in a minute . . .