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Time’s Up for Broody
My experiment with my hen who was determined to hatch a brood has ended. I did all I could for her, but it just wasn’t working out for me and she wasn’t getting anywhere. She had learned to move over … Continue reading
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Butterfly Weed Works!
We have scattered plantings of butterfly weed, (different from Butterfly Bush), in the fields, but one nice plant in our backyard perennial garden. Walking by it last night I saw this weird growth that I stopped to examine. It turned … Continue reading
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Mystery Hen
I have not much to say recently, as most of my farm experiences have become routine and not worth a big announcement on the blog. We’ve just returned from a week away, visiting for Christmas, and I am so grateful … Continue reading
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Who Are These Tufted Toddlers?
I’d posted a couple months ago about the many varieties of new chicks we’d brought home. They are now big enough that I opened the trap door on their playpen so they can learn to wander among the big grownup … Continue reading
Playing God with the Pond
The pond (Bluestem Pond, we call it), has taught me the need for an ongoing tussle with Mother Nature, who wishes to make it into a cattail garden. Last year, I used a long-handled cutting rake to break them off … Continue reading
Garlic
We purchased a big bag of garlic at Costco last month. It was way too much but you can’t buy a little of anything at that place. So, I tucked the bag away in the pantry and have been pulling … Continue reading
The Pond Awakens
(Enough of sadness, lets get back to wonder.) Our farm pond has been sleeping through the long winter. The fish and frogs have gone down deep to sleep through the cold season, and the only movement is from the dried cattails … Continue reading
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Signs of Spring 2017
We are having an early thaw and it’s fun to see all the harbingers of spring around the farm. We met this little guy in the driveway this morning and the dogs were thrilled. He “played possum” and waddled away as … Continue reading
My Poor Ely
Yesterday, I was mystified when I checked on the goats for the night because Ely kept his head down even when I reached out to scratch his head. It was raining and cold and I had things to do so … Continue reading
Spring Teaser
We are in a temporary thaw, with furious winds last night shaking the house and helping to evaporate off some of the excess moisture. The animals are taking this as a sign of spring and everyone is frisky. I opened the door … Continue reading
Building a Community
It seems to me that life in the barnyard must be pretty dull. Each day is pretty much like the last and visits from those at the house come only a couple times a day. And so, it is heartening … Continue reading
Pastoral Experiences
I looked up the word “Pastoral” to make sure I was not misusing it. No, it means, “having the simplicity, charm, serenity, or other characteristics generally attributed to rural areas.” Some days are just like that. My boys seem to look … Continue reading
One Down, One To Go
Yesterday, I took the plunge and sheared my first goat! When I took out my shearing machine for the first time, it was pretty intimidating – large, heavy, and with “sharp pointy teeth.” I read the tiny print in the … Continue reading
Don’t Count Your Chickens…
I was sad yesterday, when I went out to check on the chickens and found that two babies had gone missing. They are small enough to slip in and out of their cage so I chalked it up to natural … Continue reading
Heavy Rain on a Parched Farm
This has been an extremely dry summer on the farm, and any little rain has been met with smiles and dancing. Yesterday, however, we got a downpour like a faucet turned on full and it went on for hours and … Continue reading
The Younger Generation
We found a farm store with two-week-old chicks and I bought 6 of them, so now we have 16 chickens on the farm. A two week head start is better than nothing, although it would have been nice to start … Continue reading
The Mutant Jumbo Egg
My one Isa Brown hen lays a jumbo egg every single day. I have been mulling over trying to hatch a few of them to grow my own flock of Isa’s. I have noticed lately that her eggshells are getting … Continue reading
Making Friends with Goats
I think these guys are beginning to really like me! I came out to bring them their dinner and found them out in the middle of the field, munching on flowers. I called them and they came thundering through the underbrush … Continue reading
Veteran Chickens
I can hardly believe this is my flock’s third summer, and it’s already practically over. Caring for them is now old news and I only just got around to raking out and hosing down their run this week. They were … Continue reading
