April 18, 2020
Our little flock has done an amazing job of providing eggs. Most have been laying daily and even our oldest hen has provided a few eggs a week. We are pleasantly surprised. Only one is a first year layer (the other three first years were killed by the dogs over the winter). Our oldest one is about 5 years old!
This week the chickens were accidentally locked out of their coop at night. We had made errors with the door a few times in the past (forgetting to close it, locking out a hen...). Sadly we had tragic results and what appears to be a raccoon got to one of the hens. She lived for two days then died from her injuries. We were surprised she lived at all. She even layed one last egg. This hen was the last of our first years. The best we can hope for at this point is that her Mother will raise more chicks this year sometime to replenish our flock. With the COVID 19 scare many people are seeking hens and they are had to come by. We might have to consider raising our own chicks, but with 4 cats on the property, I am afraid they might get to the babies without a Mother hen to protect them...
It was a hard lesson for us all to be more careful.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Blessings
March 25, 2020
As many in the world and now country have struggled these past months this year, I have been blessed. As the Country asked for a 15 day shut down to slow the spread of Coronavirus/Covid 19, I have been able to spend more time at home with my family. I love my family. I love being at home. I feel blessed to have been warned by a Prophet to have food storage and been taught by parents to always keep food and supplies on hand. We have been able to go out and get a few things but really we have enough and more to spare or share. Meals might get a little interesting. We might have to get more creative, but no one should go hungry here.
I pray for those that are making decisions and find comfort in words of Peace from our Prophet, comments by Vice President Pence that he prays before he meets with others, and wise sounding decisions and efforts from our Governor.
I pray for those that are afraid or without right now. For those who are at risk of serious effects or even death. For those that mourn or celebrate mostly alone at times that others typically would gather to mourn or celebrate with them.
I don't know what the days and weeks ahead will bring but I know we can learn from these times and we can reach out and use the technology we have been blessed with to make connects and support each other.
We are blessed to live on this earth and to have opportunities each day to learn and grow and love.
As many in the world and now country have struggled these past months this year, I have been blessed. As the Country asked for a 15 day shut down to slow the spread of Coronavirus/Covid 19, I have been able to spend more time at home with my family. I love my family. I love being at home. I feel blessed to have been warned by a Prophet to have food storage and been taught by parents to always keep food and supplies on hand. We have been able to go out and get a few things but really we have enough and more to spare or share. Meals might get a little interesting. We might have to get more creative, but no one should go hungry here.
I pray for those that are making decisions and find comfort in words of Peace from our Prophet, comments by Vice President Pence that he prays before he meets with others, and wise sounding decisions and efforts from our Governor.
I pray for those that are afraid or without right now. For those who are at risk of serious effects or even death. For those that mourn or celebrate mostly alone at times that others typically would gather to mourn or celebrate with them.
I don't know what the days and weeks ahead will bring but I know we can learn from these times and we can reach out and use the technology we have been blessed with to make connects and support each other.
We are blessed to live on this earth and to have opportunities each day to learn and grow and love.
Friday, February 14, 2020
Happy Valentines Day
February 14, 2020
I tried to make Valentine cookies for a few people. The first two we tried did not answer so we left them on their door. Hopefully they will get them when they come home.
The third is on a road out of town, not too far. It was more icey and snowy but didn't seem too bad, well right up until I got stuck. I think there is a dip in the road there and the blowing snow collected and it looked about the same level as the rest of the road until you are in it. It turned out to be deeper than my wheels on my Suburban. Even my 4 wheel drive just couldn't pull me out of that.
Sadly for them, Thankfully for me, two teen boys got stuck in the same section at the same time and their Dad who lived just up the road came to pull them out. The boys tried to push me out at first, then their Dad pulled me out too. I am SOOOO grateful for their help! I ended up giving the boys the cookies to say thanks.
Oh well, We tried.
Happy Valentines Day ya'll!
I tried to make Valentine cookies for a few people. The first two we tried did not answer so we left them on their door. Hopefully they will get them when they come home.
The third is on a road out of town, not too far. It was more icey and snowy but didn't seem too bad, well right up until I got stuck. I think there is a dip in the road there and the blowing snow collected and it looked about the same level as the rest of the road until you are in it. It turned out to be deeper than my wheels on my Suburban. Even my 4 wheel drive just couldn't pull me out of that.
Sadly for them, Thankfully for me, two teen boys got stuck in the same section at the same time and their Dad who lived just up the road came to pull them out. The boys tried to push me out at first, then their Dad pulled me out too. I am SOOOO grateful for their help! I ended up giving the boys the cookies to say thanks.
Oh well, We tried.
Happy Valentines Day ya'll!
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
February 11, 2020
Down one more.
Goldie succumbed to her injuries. I am grateful she did not suffer for an extended time, though to her 24 hours may have felt like a long time. Our last white leghorn does not look like she is doing too well, but she was able to make it to a nesting bar so we are holding out hope.
Goldie succumbed to her injuries. I am grateful she did not suffer for an extended time, though to her 24 hours may have felt like a long time. Our last white leghorn does not look like she is doing too well, but she was able to make it to a nesting bar so we are holding out hope.
Monday, February 10, 2020
Tragedy
February 10, 2020
Our youngest was outside playing in the snow. She came in to tell me that two dogs were fighting Kylo, our rooster, and the dogs had killed one of our Nuggets (our name for our Buff Orphingtons), and that Goldie (our Golden Wyandott) was hurt.
I went out to find the dogs were gone but 6 chickens and the rabbit were dead, 2 chickens were injured, one seriously so, and 5 missing.
I followed tracks to find one. She seems fine, but 4 were still missing. I thought Kylo was one that I found dead but it turned out he was injured but ok. I was hoping that the missing 3 were in a hutch that connects to the coop, but the access is buried in the snow.
My husband came home and helped gather up bodies and dug out the hutch access. We found Kylo the rooster under the coop, injured but moving, The other three were in the hutch there. Two a little injured, one worse of than the others but not as bad as Goldie.
The dogs managed to kill 2 White leghorns, One Buff Orphington, One Rhode Island Red, One of our babies that our Hen hatched, that looked like a Black Sexlink, we named her Soy Sauce, and one white one we that was a White/Colubine Wyandotte, we called Ghost.
Stir Fry - The one who raised us babies last year, seems fine. She hid on the far side of the field.
Her daughter Honey Mustard is injured but I hope will be ok.
KFC one of the originals is alive and moving
One of the Buff Orphingtons/Nuggest is alive
One White Leghorn is more injured than some but is moving
Kyle our rooster is moving slow, but got himself into the coop
Goldie is really rough and I don't know that she will survive but we will see how she is.
For now they are locked up in the coop with food and water to give them a chance to recover.
Not a great day on the farm.
I could say this is another reason to not like dogs, but I know they were following their instincts, and sadly with the snow drifts, they were able to make it over the fence. It was just a tragedy.
Our youngest was outside playing in the snow. She came in to tell me that two dogs were fighting Kylo, our rooster, and the dogs had killed one of our Nuggets (our name for our Buff Orphingtons), and that Goldie (our Golden Wyandott) was hurt.
I went out to find the dogs were gone but 6 chickens and the rabbit were dead, 2 chickens were injured, one seriously so, and 5 missing.
I followed tracks to find one. She seems fine, but 4 were still missing. I thought Kylo was one that I found dead but it turned out he was injured but ok. I was hoping that the missing 3 were in a hutch that connects to the coop, but the access is buried in the snow.
My husband came home and helped gather up bodies and dug out the hutch access. We found Kylo the rooster under the coop, injured but moving, The other three were in the hutch there. Two a little injured, one worse of than the others but not as bad as Goldie.
The dogs managed to kill 2 White leghorns, One Buff Orphington, One Rhode Island Red, One of our babies that our Hen hatched, that looked like a Black Sexlink, we named her Soy Sauce, and one white one we that was a White/Colubine Wyandotte, we called Ghost.
Stir Fry - The one who raised us babies last year, seems fine. She hid on the far side of the field.
Her daughter Honey Mustard is injured but I hope will be ok.
KFC one of the originals is alive and moving
One of the Buff Orphingtons/Nuggest is alive
One White Leghorn is more injured than some but is moving
Kyle our rooster is moving slow, but got himself into the coop
Goldie is really rough and I don't know that she will survive but we will see how she is.
For now they are locked up in the coop with food and water to give them a chance to recover.
Not a great day on the farm.
I could say this is another reason to not like dogs, but I know they were following their instincts, and sadly with the snow drifts, they were able to make it over the fence. It was just a tragedy.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Ninja
January 12, 2020
We tried to find Ninja's owner - online posts, checked with the shelter, got her scanned for a chip...
We accepted she would live her and took her to be Spayed. She has been inside to recover. I am ready to move her outside again but it is storming, snowing, blowing, extra cold, so I feel a little bad. Given a choice I think I would keep our old cat inside and have the rest as outside only animals. Macaroni is funny sometimes as she plays, but overall 3 cats and 7 people in one house is too much for me.
I am grateful for the snow, as I know it means water for crops in the spring, but I wouldn't mind an early spring :)
We tried to find Ninja's owner - online posts, checked with the shelter, got her scanned for a chip...
We accepted she would live her and took her to be Spayed. She has been inside to recover. I am ready to move her outside again but it is storming, snowing, blowing, extra cold, so I feel a little bad. Given a choice I think I would keep our old cat inside and have the rest as outside only animals. Macaroni is funny sometimes as she plays, but overall 3 cats and 7 people in one house is too much for me.
I am grateful for the snow, as I know it means water for crops in the spring, but I wouldn't mind an early spring :)
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Ninja the Feral Kitten
December 4, 2019
Sunday afternoon Matt came in saying Panther (our outside cat was fighting with Macaroni our inside/outside kitten). When we went to look we realized that it was not Macaroni (who was currently inside) but a full black kitten. Monday the Black Kitten was back, and Tuesday. Tuesday it was up near the house, clearly under nourished. One of our College age daughters was visiting and went to check on it. It did not want to be picked up but would rub between and around her legs and cry. I know they say never to feed feral cats or they won't leave. I felt bad for it though and really I don't object to it, as long as it stays outside. I don't think Panther agrees, but I figure if the kitten and Panther have enough of an issue, Panther can run it off. I was chopping chicken for dinner and let the girls give the kitten a tiny bit of it, then as we watched it devour the chicken like a starving child, I let the girls give it a little dry cat food, and I brought out the pan the chicken was cooked in so it could drink out the warm juices from it. That seemed to satisfy her little tummy and she soon ran off.
The girls named her Ninja.
When we moved here we built an outside shelter for a cat, thinking our outside cat would live outside. When our first shelter cat disappeared and we feared a wild animal had gotten to it, we started locking up our 2nd Shelter cat at night in the shop. As winter approached we insulated the outside shelter that we had moved to the shop thinking the cat would like to be even warmer in the shop. She has rejected it, and instead has a variety of spots around the shop she prefers, including some old hay we got for the bunny we keep in a box and the cat likes to sleep on.
Our original plan was to keep the shelter under our back porch steps to make it easier to feed the outside cat.
I just moved the shelter and a tarp there. It is much drier under the porch and with the entrance facing the house, but plenty far away from it to enter, a cat could be mostly protected from the wind. I hope the tarp will help keep the house dry. It may not be needed, but hopefully won't hurt :) I may adjust it some the next time I go out with real snow gear, but it is also possible the tarp would freeze to the ground by then.
I don't know if the cat will accept it or not. We will see.
Sunday afternoon Matt came in saying Panther (our outside cat was fighting with Macaroni our inside/outside kitten). When we went to look we realized that it was not Macaroni (who was currently inside) but a full black kitten. Monday the Black Kitten was back, and Tuesday. Tuesday it was up near the house, clearly under nourished. One of our College age daughters was visiting and went to check on it. It did not want to be picked up but would rub between and around her legs and cry. I know they say never to feed feral cats or they won't leave. I felt bad for it though and really I don't object to it, as long as it stays outside. I don't think Panther agrees, but I figure if the kitten and Panther have enough of an issue, Panther can run it off. I was chopping chicken for dinner and let the girls give the kitten a tiny bit of it, then as we watched it devour the chicken like a starving child, I let the girls give it a little dry cat food, and I brought out the pan the chicken was cooked in so it could drink out the warm juices from it. That seemed to satisfy her little tummy and she soon ran off.
The girls named her Ninja.
When we moved here we built an outside shelter for a cat, thinking our outside cat would live outside. When our first shelter cat disappeared and we feared a wild animal had gotten to it, we started locking up our 2nd Shelter cat at night in the shop. As winter approached we insulated the outside shelter that we had moved to the shop thinking the cat would like to be even warmer in the shop. She has rejected it, and instead has a variety of spots around the shop she prefers, including some old hay we got for the bunny we keep in a box and the cat likes to sleep on.
Our original plan was to keep the shelter under our back porch steps to make it easier to feed the outside cat.
I just moved the shelter and a tarp there. It is much drier under the porch and with the entrance facing the house, but plenty far away from it to enter, a cat could be mostly protected from the wind. I hope the tarp will help keep the house dry. It may not be needed, but hopefully won't hurt :) I may adjust it some the next time I go out with real snow gear, but it is also possible the tarp would freeze to the ground by then.
I don't know if the cat will accept it or not. We will see.
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