How funny (about your geese)! And I had no idea that chickens are mousers!!! Wow. I thought chickens were vegetarians. And how can they sneak up on a mouse??? Thanks for the advice about the push open door for the food. I started putting the lid on the goose food when it gets dark, since the unauthorized eaters get into it at night. I don't think there's a way for me to find out what's eating the food unless I install an infrared camera out there. The times that he honks at night (rarely), I go out to see what's going on, and don't see anyone else out there. I did find some poop in the food before I started covering it up at night (it's in a plastic box that's about 18" x 36") but it doesn't look like rat poop. Seems like a coon or possum would be too big to poop in the food. His scratches are healing up and he doesn't have any new ones, so I think covering up the food did the trick. Although his food is visible during the day, at night there's no light out there, so I bet that's when he got scratched. Carol

Hello there, gardenerme, thanks for the feedback. Yours turns yellow and the needles drop, as I described? Yellow close to the roots? Mine may also be close to rootbound, but I have to say that I haven't watered it for a couple of days now and the pot is still feeling pretty heavy. I think I will just pay better attention to the soil condition from now on, and water just a little each day. Previously I just assumed after a hot sunny day that it would need a good soak, given what I had been told, and I was so busy with a new house that I just didn't pay attention. I have bought another basket to match, but it is much smaller at this point. Can you tell me if it is a fast grower? Thanks!

I spotted a hummer with a distinctively curved bill this afternoon at my feeder in Northern Utah. This summer I had at least two pair of ruby throats, black chinned and for the first time rufous. I now seem to be hosting only the migrators. This bird's bill was as curved as the caribbean hummingbird - much more curved than the Lucifer. It caught my attention because it was so distinct. I suppose it could be a deformity. Has anyone else seen curved bills in Utah recently?

Well if you saw something that looked like a chipmunk it could very well have been a flying squirrel. How are your boxes mounted? If they are on slick metal poles with predator baffles then a chipmunk shouldn't be able to get into them but a flying squirrel would and may end up back in there again. If you haven't already check out sialis.org for loads of helpful information on how to offer housing and how to id problems for bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. Good luck! Donna