Last evening we found valentine with a broken rear leg. Fortunately we check on the sheep regularly (at least once a day often twice or more) so the fracture was closed and I quickly managed to catch him before further damage was done. The vet came straight away and in a few minutes the bones were set and a resin plaster applied.
Another walk with Sheri within our 10km radius of home, this time starting from the hamlet of Les Cloutets below Pares and climbing through forest to the open hill and Pic de Montcaud - a more modest 10km and 700m of ascent. No path through the conifer plantation but spectacular views thereafter and three encounters with a Capercaillie (Grand Tetras). As in Scotland they are very rare here and incredibly shy, but I was surprised by its size and the noise of its wings and feathers when taking to flight.
Golden Eagle
Rula one of red hens has developed water-belly not uncommon in old laying hens, but she's not that old. "Ascites" is usually a sign of hypertension or liver failure so it's a symptom of an underlying illness, but there's a slim chance it could be a liver infection, so we took her to the vet. They emptied much of the fluid (over 200ml) and gave her some anti biotics and a diuretic. A very sick hen we doubted she be alive in the morning, but she's still hanging on this afternoon and eating and drinking, though she's obviously very weak. Chickens are so difficult to save if they get sick...time will tell, but her chances are still 50/50 at best.
