Animals
Now, I could go on about Hubbs' attempts at training Hank, the viscious, flogging rooster.
But, if you have followed this blog....you know the result of that training!
(super soaker, bloody arm, lethal injection....need I say more?)
- Boarding School
Remember that early morning in May that I took a trip to the Post Office to pick up my 30 baby guineas?Well, those guineas are adolescents now.And are now attending Boarding School. (Here is Gus, Headmaster of the BeeHaven Birdbrain Academy.) Yes, that's...
- Bird Brains
So many times in any given week, I wish I knew more about animal behavior. You would think with as much time as I spend with them,I would understand them better. The dogs are no problem....I understand them perfectly. The horses and goats...don't...
- Another Sad Tale
It is a good thing that the happy tales way outnumber the sad tales....or this farm life would be unbearable. As a result of too many unhappy guinea tales, I have come to a critical decision.....no more guineas. This past weekend was just too sad. The...
- We Are Teenagers Now
Remember just 4 weeks ago when the guinea chicks arrived.....just hatched and so very tiny? Well, here they are one month later. They have grown like weeds and already have a youthful version of their "buckwheat" call. Two dozen of the original 30 remain....
- And Then There Were Five
It seems that so much of our life on the farm revolves around our feathered friends...and trying to keep them alive. This week I noticed that our guinea troup is dwindling. We now have only five of our lovely, tick-eating "farm alarms" remaining. This...
Animals
Bird Tales
If you follow my blog, you will know that Hubbs believes in the trainability of birds.
I might add to that "in spite of the untrainable guineas, he still believes!"
Last summer we started with 30 guinea keats.
We had three old guineas in addition to the new keats.
Hubbs tried his level best to train the guineas to return to their house each night.
Closing them in at night would keep them safe from predators.
We tried luring them in with their tasty treat...white millet.
Result of guinea training project: one year later, we have only 3 guineas.
Conclusion: Guineas are untrainable, stupid actually.
Our current project?
Training ducks to return to their house each night.
For the past week, our ducks have been going into their house
each night around 9 PM.....ALL BY THEMSELVES!!!
(clapping, cheers of congratulations....still holding breath, however)
Now, I could go on about Hubbs' attempts at training Hank, the viscious, flogging rooster.
But, if you have followed this blog....you know the result of that training!
(super soaker, bloody arm, lethal injection....need I say more?)
Training turkeys? Not on your life!
From what we hear, turkeys are rather short in intellect.
I did want to tell you, however, that we have two Tom turkeys
and one Thomasina.
These two fellows are really starting to look like turkeys now, aren't they?
So, let's talk about my chickens.
Aside from the heat being extremely hard on them,
chickens are the easiest bird to care for.
No training necessary.
They come home to roost each night.
Chickens are smart.
Sometimes too smart!
You see, yesterday afternoon, my Americauna chickens
decided to pick their lock and go for a little adventure in the woods.
Yes, they escaped right out the front door and headed for the shelter
of the woods.
I hate to admit this, but I must have left the latch unlocked (inadvertently).
Now, the door is open....waiting for them to return to roost for the night.
(which they did, thankfully)
Ah, the trials and tribulations of raising birds.
(almost as challenging as raising children!)
Check out this one....
"Hey Mom, I want my dinner!!!"
Hubbs took this picture.
His nest is in a hanging planter on our back deck.
So there you have it....
Bee Haven Acres....
has gone to the birds!!!
WaaaaaHooooooo!!
Quack!
Quack!
- Boarding School
Remember that early morning in May that I took a trip to the Post Office to pick up my 30 baby guineas?Well, those guineas are adolescents now.And are now attending Boarding School. (Here is Gus, Headmaster of the BeeHaven Birdbrain Academy.) Yes, that's...
- Bird Brains
So many times in any given week, I wish I knew more about animal behavior. You would think with as much time as I spend with them,I would understand them better. The dogs are no problem....I understand them perfectly. The horses and goats...don't...
- Another Sad Tale
It is a good thing that the happy tales way outnumber the sad tales....or this farm life would be unbearable. As a result of too many unhappy guinea tales, I have come to a critical decision.....no more guineas. This past weekend was just too sad. The...
- We Are Teenagers Now
Remember just 4 weeks ago when the guinea chicks arrived.....just hatched and so very tiny? Well, here they are one month later. They have grown like weeds and already have a youthful version of their "buckwheat" call. Two dozen of the original 30 remain....
- And Then There Were Five
It seems that so much of our life on the farm revolves around our feathered friends...and trying to keep them alive. This week I noticed that our guinea troup is dwindling. We now have only five of our lovely, tick-eating "farm alarms" remaining. This...