Tag: Chickens

Blanket Season

       Indeed, we were spoiled with a most beautiful Autumn.  Yesterday, Winter let us know she is not far behind and I blanketed the horses to fend off the chill.  She’s sprinkling flurries and whipping winds up on the hill as I type this.   
 The girls have a heat lamp in the coop, because I can’t stand the thought of their little combs and wattles frostbitten when the temps really dip.  Not all chicken tenders (no pun intended!) believe this is necessary, but it makes me feel better.. so.   Henrietta is very appreciative. 
     I’m supposed to be out shoveling sh*t right now, but I’m feeling under the weather today – a combination of stress over the election and it’s fallout, a cold – the first I’ve had in about 15 years,  and perhaps a stomach bug last night just to kick it up a notch.   Of course, fibromyalgia, not wanting to be left out, kicks it up another notch for good measure.
    I keep trying to -reset-  —  Put  the election results behind me and move on. My friends are still ranting and arguing on Facebook, even the “winners”, although we all lost in my opinion.  I’m trying not to get into the fray, but it’s so damn hard when you feel so damn concerned about what all this means.  I was hoping for some Presidential Behavior to arrive with the incoming President Elect, but no.. the 3 a.m. tweets continue.  Doesn’t he have more important things to worry about now??   The whining continues ( Please Donald.. you reap what you sow, simple concept, google it)  He’s taking liberties already with his children, with his business interests,  The Draining of the Swamp didn’t happen, he’s picking from it.   And I called this one months ago…. The First Lady isn’t moving into the White House…. for now.  Yes I know she found a believable excuse but I don’t think for one minute she wants to live in the Big House.    So another special exception will be made for  his wife and one of his children.  What that means for the Secret Service detail and other occupants of the Ivory Tower remains to be seen, but for sure, it’s “un-presidented”.   
   What’s a girl have to do to get out of her own way?  Create.  I’m starting a new painting, an oil of my horse underneath that glorious old pear tree (the giving tree) that still gives about 1,000 pears per season regardless of it’s almost completely hollowed out core.  This is going to be tricky and will take a while, but I’m hoping it will soothe my soul.  My “studio” is now my son’s bedroom – the one he vacated this past year to live with his GF.   They’re doing remarkably well, by the way.. so proud of their accomplishments as they build on their education and career, and learn what living together responsibly and selflessly means.  It’s a beautiful thing. 
  
  Are you getting ready for the big Thanksgiving Feast?  Most years I have cooked the meal here and various family have been invited. This year my SIL is hosting and I will be bringing a few desserts.. I plan to make an apple pie and a maple cheesecake, which is new in my repertoire… because SOMEONE ELSE IS BRINGING A STORE BOUGHT PUMPKIN!! – WHAT?? GAH!!…  The recipe can be found here if you’re interested.  For the cheesecake, not the store bought. 
    An update on my father and his  life at Apple Rehab- while there are things about him I will never understand or condone, I have to give him credit.  He has adjusted well to nursing home living, something I didn’t think would happen.  He’s made friends.  He has a “coffee clutch” – I call them the rat pack, who hang out in the front hall and watch people come and go.  They play cards, they order take out and have pizza delivered, they flirt with the nurses, they watch football and complain about the candidates.  My dad is one of the “winners”… we don’t go there because in his previous life he was a racist and a womanizer. I can’t tolerate his fist pumping over this one and so he has learned if he doesn’t shut up I’ll walk out.  Sounds harsh, right?  But it is the reality. 
      The one area that is still a struggle is  this –    He is supposed to share his room with another.  So far, he’s been through three room mates – He’s not very considerate, leaving the heat at greenhouse temps (uncomfortable for anyone but him) and never shutting off his TV, not even when he leaves the room for a while. His reason is he doesn’t like the inconvenience of having to turn it back on.   They’ve tried talking to him about being considerate of his roommates, but ultimately they’ve had to separate them.  The home has been very considerate up to this point, but there’s just so much shuffling they’re going to be willing to do.   He lies to me about the reasons for the squabbles so I no longer ask.  They gave me permission to -stay out of it- so that our visits can remain cordial.  for this holiday  I will pick him up and bring him to my SIL’s house, and bring him back home when he peters out.  It’s not the ideal, but it’s what we’ve got. 
  Not the ideal, but it’s what we’ve got.  Wash, Rinse, Repeat…
    There is much to be Thankful for, tis true.   I’ll be back with updates on Stella over at Once Upon a Tide soon enough..  Happy Thanksgiving! and  Peace be with us all. 

Chicks.. on several levels.

   Some girls grab a book and head to the beach to relax.  Me?  You can find me at the coop with another kind of Chicks and Buns….  This life I live ain’t always easy – it looks beautiful, but it’s also hard work and my aching neck tells that story well.  There are some real perks, though.  This is one of them.

 My mom is a breast cancer survivor, as are several of my friends, Pam Fox is one of them.  Pam is an amazing person – a true champion for the Underdog – canines and humans alike.

   She’s walking the Avon walk in NYC to help raise funds – Won’t you please consider a donation in any amount, even $5. gets them that much closer to a cure.  Link for donation below..

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/NewYork?px=8114340&pg=personal&fr_id=2486

Sending it up into the Universe – Why ever not

     I’m what some have referred to as a high-rev person.  Even my heart rate is higher than the average Joe, always has been – jeez, I hope I’m not wearing the old ticker out.  I’ve got a lot of energy, some of it -nervous- energy.  That’s not  the most awesome thing,  and because anxiety has seeped into my being at a few difficult points in my life, I’ve searched  for ways to alleviate it over the years.
     One of the benefits of being a fifty year old… and there are indeed benefits, ( who woulda thunk it!?)… is I am willing and able to slow down and appreciate all the little things in life so much more than I ever did when I was younger.    I actually sat down on the porch yesterday at around 2 pm and read a chapter out of the book I’m reading –  All the Light We Cannot See –    (Wow, great read.  Gives you a little unusual perspective on a time in history we are too young to have known.)   I hardly ever take that kind of time, and you know.. why ever not?

    Today I stepped out into a glorious early summer morning with the sun shining, dew on the grass, and gentle breezes from up over the hill that carried the slight scent of ocean.  We’re about five miles from it but we’re way up high, and occasionally the sea air makes it to us. The awareness of it always makes me stop, turn toward the water and breathe it in.

   

      The chickens love their morning treats – today it was left over hard boiled eggs (I know that sounds cannibalistic)..and sunflower seeds.  Then, because the manchild is out there mowing the lawn, I let them out for some free ranging . While he’s making noise on the mower, predators won’t feel comfortable attacking.

 
    Our bunnies, Harley and Cloud, love to get out too.

    After the chickens and rabbits are fed, watered and  pens cleaned up, I head up to the barn to feed, water, turn out and muck stalls.  Glamorous, it ain’t.. but there’s truly no place on earth I’d rather be.  I’ve had the office job, the factory job, the zoo job, another office job.  I’ve known the 8-4:30 deal in a windowless office.  I did it well while I had to… but I can’t express enough how grateful I am that I was able to get away from it and raise my kids myself, till soil and shovel sh*t and pluck eggs from nesting boxes and sweep isles and pull weeds etc. etc. etc.

   On the crappiest weather days I do have to remind myself that I really shouldn’t be complaining.  Well worth the slight discomfort or rain and cold and heat.

     This morning I stopped to watch the boys head up to their favorite grazing field, admiring the shine on their glossy coats from all that pasture grass.  They are lucky lucky horses, and I am a lucky girl to be able to provide this life for them. 

Sometimes, lately, my “barn” clothes consist of something like today’s ensemble…
an upcycled twirly skirt and my red  paisley floral sloggers. 
Why ever not. 

So glad I’ve learned to slow down enough to see and appreciate it all.
Especially the little things.
It’s also refreshing to not take one’s self too seriously, you know?  
I’m sending this up into the Universe….
THANK YOU to the powers that be…
for this life that I have and cherish. 

Spring Rain and too-smart horses

   After a particularly cold and snowy and dragged out winter, we’ve had a weird spring.  Right now, the grass is parched.  This morning, however, there is a light misty rain and I am so grateful. My gardens need the reprieve.

  This morning when I went out to feed the animals, I discovered Opie had let himself and Max out overnight.  I close my horses in at night so I know they aren’t getting into trouble out in the fields in the dark.  It’s not totally necessary, but it gives me peace of mind.  Any little bit of that I can get, I take.  In the warmer months I leave the top door of their stalls open so they have good ventilation.  Opie.. has discovered how to undo the latches with his mouth.  Last night he opened his own door, then sprung Max out of his stall as well, and the two had a grand old time grazing all night in the light rain.   This is how I was greeted this morning when I came out to feed –

   On mornings like this, when it’s peaceful out in the fields and the animals are happy to see you –  (oh it’s the FOOD, I know)  –  you don’t mind the work so much, you remember why you did all this in the first place.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Winterizing

 We had a lovely Thanksgiving day here at This Old House with the kids and my parents.  As most of you know… you cook and clean for two days and the entire meal is consumed in about 15 minutes. Permit me to brag for a minute?  My pies were divine and not hard to put together, so I’m going to share the recipes with you….

 
I’ve seen some awfully pretty pies… mine are not so fussy though. 
Their taste makes up for the lack of eye candy 🙂 
Kate the Country Girls Favorite Apple Pie recipe HERE
The only things I did different were.. I used four different kinds of apples..
Honeycrisp, Empire, Macoun and Pink Lady
And I used Pillsbury pie crust you simply roll out. 
It might be cheating, but boy it sure came out good regardless.
The most decadent chocolate pie EVER  recipe HERE

  One serious game of Uno

  My son announced during dinner last night that in just 16 hours or so our house was going to look
like Christmas threw up in it.   TSK!

 And.. I promised a Bunny Tale…

There once were two young bunnies….Their names were Cloud and Harley.  It was hoped that they were both the same sex so we wouldn’t have MORE bunnies shortly after.  I noticed a particular behavior not too long ago that meant they were either gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that).. or heterosexual.. but it was important to know WHICH.   So off to the vet we went.  Turns out Cloud is a girl and Harley is a boy.

 It’s much easier to neuter a boy than spay a girl bunny.
So Harley went under the knife, much to his chagrin. 
 
Meanwhile.. back at the Hutch… 
We’ve had some very cold nights already and I couldn’t
stand the thought of those bunnies out there with the wind coming down off 
the hill and into their hutch.  They use the side rooms as a bathroom only,
go figure.  So I clean that out daily and stuffed one of the outside compartments
with lots of hay, which they tunnel in to keep warm.  I also cover
the hutch at night with two old waterproof horse blankets.  
This seems to be keeping them comfortable. 

 Nextdoor in the coop, the girls have a water heater  and a red flood lamp that keeps the temps above freezing in their coop at night.  This seems to work better than an actual heat lamp, with not as intense a heat source, but enough to keep them comfortable.  Not everyone feels this is necessary, but it sure makes me feel better and the critters seem happy and look healthy.

 
 If you’ve got outdoor animals, what precautions do you take to keep them
safe and warm in winter months?  I have yet to figure out how to keep
the rabbits water from freezing during the day. 

 

It comes to this….

   Since the coyote drama I have not let my girls free roam and they dearly miss it. Whenever I walk over they crowd the coopyard door thinking I’m surely going to let them out THIS time…. 

   So  after weeks of this pathetic behavior I decided to bring a beach chair out there and for about a half hour on most days I let them out to dig and scratch and flutter and flap and run and jump for joy.. because that’s what they do after being cooped up for so long.   You always wondered where that expression came from, didn’t ya.    If a coyote wanders near I’ll beat him with my bare hands, I’m so mad at the losses he’s already inflicted.

 
The hens and bunnies have gotten used to each other
and now appear to be on friendly terms. Cloud and Harley are
also only allowed out in their “yard” while I’m sitting there
or cleaning the coop and hutch.
 
Below, Harley and Cloud with Luna and Lily.
 

 
This group below are my girls from the chick clutch I raised this spring.
They have just begun laying.

 

 I’m off to a sunflower festival to paint faces with sunflowers.
It’s so darn humid here, you know those skies that look like they could
sprout a tornado or hurricane?…. that I think the face paints
are going to slide right off the little faces.
 
We’ll see…. Have a good weekend all –
 


Rabbit Rabbit

  So a few weeks ago we brought Cloud and Harley home to the farm.  There is a lot to know about bunnies, even though they look like the simplest and cuddliest of creatures.  Harley is cuddly, Cloud would prefer not to be picked up , thank you very much.  That’s actually typical rabbit behavior.. they can be very friendly, but most prefer not to be held. 

  I have been pimping the hutch a bit… it sits right next to the chicken coop and thanks to my son it also has it’s own fenced play yard. The chickens don’t quite know what to make of the bunnies yet, and as they get a little older I might let them mingle.

  The bunnies, who are lop velveteen crosses, love to get out and make mad dashes around their yard, leaping for joy and nibbling at every.single.thing.  That includes the wire fencing meant to hold them in.  I’ve placed big and small rocks around their yard and they love jumping on them, sunning themselves, cleaning themselves too.  Rabbits clean themselves just as you see a cat do it…adorable when they pull their ears down between their paws and wash their faces too.   They are very curious.. inspecting and nibbling at everything in their reach.  I placed two pots with honeysuckle vines in them, hoping they will crawl up the coop walls and create more shade next summer.  They attrack hummingbirds too.  

   There are many lists on the internet regarding what is toxic to chickens and rabbits.  The list is incredibly long and I don’t know that I trust it because all these plants are wild, as are birds and rabbits. According to “the lists”…There are few things I can place with the rabbits unless I want to put a spruce or fir in those pots.   On some lists, honeysuckle is safe, on others, their berries aren’t great for the bunnies.  I’ve decided I can move the pots if I see any signs of tummy trouble.  We have rabbits in the fields and plenty of honeysuckle too.. I’m thinking it can’t be all that bad.

 
 

 
 
 


 

As you can see in the picture below.. bunnies poop A LOT!   I use pine shavings in their “rooms”.. and hay in one section of the outdoor wire “rooms”.   That is one day’s worth of bunny poop that you see in the picture below…which I clean daily.  Unsanitary conditions can make them very sick,  especially amonia if you have your rabbit living indoors where they don’t escape the fumes.

 
 
 
Right now while the rabbit yard has no actual cover, I only let the rabbits out
when I’m there to watch over them. Hawks circle often, and we’ve got coyote issues
again.

 
Sadly, my chickens are currently not free roaming and are a bit bored in their coop.
We’ve had two more casualties – Hermoine and Jenny were taken by a mangy
coyote a few days ago while I was in the house and the chickens were
out free ranging.  Broke my heart to see the feathers.  Took an hour to find
the other chickens, who were all hiding in shrubs in various places.
 
 

Luna and Lily were among the survivors and I hope that’s the end of
the coyote massacres, but it does present the dilemna of not letting
the girls free range, which is really the healthiest option minus the dangers.


 
Farm life isn’t all sunshine and light…
sometimes it’s coyote crap too.  🙁
 


Come see how they grow

 This is a busy time of year for anyone tending a farm, whether it’s a hobby farm or something on a much larger scale. There is always work to be done.. watering, weeding, tilling, fence mending, fertilizing…and then of course the harvesting.  My morning chores include all the animal tending, mucking, feeding, etc.. then over to the gardens to water.

We currently need rain, but everything is looking full and happy.

 
 
 

Let’s head over to the chicken coop.. currently overcrowded with the new chick population, now incorporated with the old.  It’s smart not to overcrowd your coop with too many chickens.. and I kinda fell in love with a few more chicks at the feed store than I had planned on. Then.. ALL of them lived, which doesn’t usually happen… and so, I have a few more than a real chicken knowledgable person would tell you is appropriate for this coop.  But.. I do let them free roam during the day, and so that will help the overcrowding.  I hope.

As I walk over to the coop, the older girls know I’m about to let them out and they are waiting impatiently for me to get there.  If I could give you a sound bite, you would hear them clucking.

Once they are let out of the coop yard, they usually head right over to the side of the house and rummage through my seaside real estate garden for bugs and worms. 

The youngsters aren’t old enough yet to free roam, and so they get the coop yard to themselves for a bit, something they like very much, because they are at the bottom of the pecking order right now as they are the new kids on the block.

Can you believe that just a few months ago they were fuzzy little chicks?

This is Bellatrix.. the little brown chick who sat on my son’s shoulder. She is a blue egg laying Auracana (Sp?) … and what an unusual feather color pattern she has!

This is Luna, a comet – very docile and curious hen.

 Up at the barn, Coady and Lacey sure wish they had more pasture time, but minis are hard to keep at a healthy body weight… they get fat on little more than air! and have to settle for the hay that is a little less rich than the green pasture grass just on the other side of the fence. 

 It seems unfair that the big boys get to spend their days coming and going…. and coming and going… and coming and going… from the barn to pasture as they please.   The constant in and out is because the flies drive them crazy after just so long and they come running back in for respite every hour or so.

  There is a lot of work involved in tending a farm, but it’s a good life and I feel so very blessed to be able to do this -for a living-.    For years my days were spent more often than not in an office punching numbers and letters into a computer. One of those offices had no exterior windows.  On the really cold or hot days when I’m outside working I remind myself of that windowless office and I thank the powers that be, once again, for letting me live this life with these animals and nature. 

For me.. that’s a beautiful thing.

Misty Morning on the Farm

 I am thankful every single day for the animals and farm that grace my life.  This morning I walked around with camera in hand and gratitude in my heart.   

… even for the  mouse family I discovered in a large bucket in the tack room, since relocated.



 
 
Opie looking for a peppermint treat

 
 
Lacey and Coady with morning hay

The Egg Plant
 
 
 
 
One of my originals and my favorite chicken, Rose.
She is the friendliest and lays light blue eggs –

 
The hens love to free roam and I allow it often.
Great bug control.
 


 
 
Andie is calling for her hen friend, Henrietta,  who is still in the nesting box
laying an egg… 
 
 
With Raven, apparently.
 
 
 
 
 
These are a few of the youngsters, not yet grown enough
to join the other hens.

 
Now that breakfast grain is finished, Opie and Max have gone out to pasture. 

 
 
At 27 years of age, Max is still in great shape.
Max is not a big fan of grain and hay… often not finishing his meals in winter.
He always fills out so much nicer in summer, when the pasture is rich.
 


Down at the house, the perennial gardens are in their forth year and are filling out nicely.
 
 

 
The vegetable gardens are planted and beginning to thrive.
It’s been a slow start. Weird weather, etc. 

Zinnia and Tomatoes in this bed.
 

 
Lettuce, onions, shallots, garlic, parsley and basil in the other.


 
 
My potted “Stuff” is very happy….
mostly begonias, which are so easy to keep happy.

 
 

 
 
The knockout roses suffered a blow from green worms…
thanks to Connie at Hartwood Roses I got info on how to treat it and they are gone.
But, the foliage is tattered.


 
Have a good weekend, all –  we’ve got another adoption event coming up.
More on that in the next post.  If you’re local and looking for a new family
member, have we got the dog for you! 


About the chick click

 The chicks are growing so incredibly fast! Yesterday I renovated their condo to include a third room. First two rooms were Weber grill boxs courtesy of the hardware store, and the new addition is a refrigerator box courtesy of the appliance store down town.

 Where I go from here with their living quarters is still a mystery, because they can’t live among my hens in the actual chicken coop until they are about 16 weeks old, lest they get henpecked and bullied. We certainly don’t want that.

 Video taken yesterday, they are almost all feathered out already at just five weeks!