Simply Sunday 2/9/2020

Changing birds around. This section all ready for new occupants. 

And here they are checking out their new space. 

And I caught this girl laying an egg. 

I finished cleaning up this pile. 

The silkies were not impressed. 

Sort of level and kind of square. 

Now take this coop apart and move it over there. 

Putting it back together. 

Oops need a little repair. 

Halfway done. I did get finished but forgot to take a picture. Time to do evening chores. 

Checking out this cockerel. He stands a bit funny because one of his legs is crooked. But it doesn’t stop him from breeding hens. 

#100daysofappreciation

Today I really appreciated the warm sunshine. It was so satisfying to get some of that junk moved and another coop set up. 

Saturday 2/8/2020

I was sad to find Mr Miracle down this morning. Unfortunately he didn’t make it this time. I’m thinking he had some hidden defect in his nervous system.  

So I’m evaluating his 2 half brothers as potential breeders. This one has several flaws. I’ll look closer at the other one tomorrow. 

A friend came over and we processed 10 old hens and one really mean rooster. The hens were all very fat and hadn’t laid in months. One was beginning to show signs of ascites also known as water belly.  Kind of like congestive heart failure in people. It was good to put he out of her misery. 

It was a very nice warm afternoon so I spent some time picking up trash and getting  this pile of old wood moved. It’s almost gone. 

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#100daysofappreciation

Today I really appreciated the warm sun and getting some things accomplished. 

Farmer Friday 2/7/2020

Cleaning a coop this morning. I do deep bedding with shavings and sawdust. First step, rake the cleaner shavings off to one side. 

Then shovel up the more broken down material underneath. 

Just to give you an idea of how deep it is. Realize this is just the lower layers. Where it’s a little damp IG smells like earth. 

Then take the loose shavings back over. Later I’ll add some fresh bedding to the top. 

I got part of this trash wood moved out of the way. 

I added a few more sticks to the wind break. I also delivered veggies and eggs to Superior. Did the usual chores. Now it’s time for bed. 

Silkie House 2/5/2020

Finally getting back to putting this coop together. A little crooked as some parts had warped while it was sitting in pieces. And I realized these two side panels were in the wrong places. 

But I finally got it altogether.  

I zip tied some foam board signs from work on the end and one side to help block the wind. 

Added bedding pellets topped with shavings because it’s supposed to rain and snow next week. 

Cut up some trash wood for the stove. Delivered eggs. And at dark rounded up all the Silkies and put them in their new house. 

#100daysofappreciation

Today I’m appreciating my accumulated resources and my toasty fire. 

Peaceful Sunday 2/2/2020

Getting tons of eggs! 

Mostly today I just piddled along. Put out grit and oyster shell, turned some compost, unloaded feed. I spent most of the morning sorting through my Black Copper Marans hens and pullets. I marked some to cull soon, they are so old and fat they aren’t likely to lay at all. There are others that I will check again in March. If they aren’t laying by then they probably won’t. I spent some time leveling these pavers out and some time working on organizing my breeding records. Not done with that yet but almost have it finished. 

A traffic jam when I went out to feed. 

And a lovely ending to a lovely day. 

#100daysofappreciation

Today I just really appreciated the sun shining, the birds singing and the peacefulness of my little corner of the universe. 

It’s a MIRACLE!

I told you about this Black Copper Marans cockerel the other day.  I brought him in because he was having seizures. He has spent about a week just standing or sitting in one spot. If I held water or mushy food to his beak he would eat and drink but he wouldn’t  move to reach food or water. A couple days ago he did start reacting to noise and motion near him. Then it looked like he might have had another seizure. I was afraid I would have to cull him. 

Then this morning he jumped out of his box and was walking around pecking at things!  When I put his food and water dishes on the floor in front of him he ate normally. When I left the front door open he went outside to explore.  I put in back in his pen with his hatchmates and he seems perfectly fine!  I can only think that he was stung by or ate a scorpion. I can only imagine that if I hadn’t caught things when I did he probably would have died. 

#100daysofappreciation

Today I appreciate the timing of the Universe. My day has unfolded beautifully with perfect timing 

Farmer Friday 1/31/2020

Wowza! I think that’s the darkest egg I’ve ever had here! Newest laying Black Copper Marans pullet. 

Picked turnips, mustard greens, arugula and herbs. 

Fixed a broken nest box. 

Delivered eggs and veggies to Superior. 

Came home and did chores. Collected a nice basket of eggs. 

#100daysofappreciation

Today I’m appreciating all the people I’ve met doing what I do.  

Throwback Thursday 1/30/2020

Eggs from 1/28/2019   I have similar colors fro the new layers

Some of this years colors. 

I was a little sore from yesterday so took it easy today.  Did some laundry, dishes, a run for groceries and feed and to drop off a package. I scored a couple bags of coffee grounds for the compost. Visited with friends at the feed store. 

Can you see the hawk?  It’s a big one. Giotto barked at it until it flew off over the hill. 

I spent some time trying to level the pavers for the little coop but got frustrated and walked away at this point. 

#100daysofappreciation

Today I appreciate my inner self. That voice in the back of my mind that guides me to all good things. Today it was good news about a personal matter, an urge to procrastinate while shopping which put me at the feed store at the perfect moment my friends were checking out as I walked in the door. 

Wednesday 1/29/2020

Well I tried to put the coop door on a different side but things weren’t going together very well. So I took it apart. 

I realized that the ground sloped more than I thought it did and that I needed to level the pavers up. I worked all day Monday but got some done on Tuesday. 

On Tuesday night Loki caught a big pack rat. Good job Loki! And on Wednesday a friend came and helped me harvest all the cockerels that needed to go. It was a nice day chatting and working. And the pen with 6 pullets laid 6 eggs. 

And this guy, that I usually call butt head because he is, is now Fancy Feet. He jumped me when I went to feed and I picked him up to discover that he had multiple ingrown foot feathers. I soaked his feet in warm water for a few minutes then spent about 30 minutes squeezing out ingrown feathers. Some of them were bleeding so I sprayed his feet with blue kote. 

#100daysofappreciation

Once again I’m appreciating the generosity and kindness of friends. 

The Weekend 1//26/2020

Sorting through the cockerels because I’m hoping to get the extras processed this coming week. This boy was 2nd place at the show last weekend. 

Cleaning up junk

Hauling debris,  since it’s mostly rotted wood and pack rat nests it’s going to the compost. 

Picking up metal junk to add to the recycle pile. 

Moved the pallets around over here.  This way Giotto can’t get in the garden. Almost ready to start on a shed. 

Part of this pile is a good sized coop that’s going to go over there where I’ve been cleaning up. 

Getting started. 

Making some progress. 

Really getting there now. Might be done today. 

Or maybe not. That is certainly an issue. 

So I added a brace to pull that gable end into line. Now I need to do the other end. So maybe I’ll be done tomorrow.  Time to do chores now. 

Egg production is coming up. The darker brown ones are from the Black Copper Marans pullets that just started laying. 

This cockerel had been fine until a couple days ago when he had a seizure. So he’s been in the house. I think he might have been stung by a scorpion. He’s been a little more alert today and beginning to eat and drink with help. 

And then this happened 

#100daysofappreciation

Today I’m just appreciating the pretty, calm, quiet day. The sun was shining and warm and I didn’t have to go any where.