Animals
Yesterday afternoon, we headed out to the barn to feed the horses and goats. Jack continued on up the hill to the chicken house and yard. Usually, on our late afternoon rounds, the chickens are let out to run around the farm a bit. Even though they have a rather large yard outside their house, they seem to enjoy foraging through the woods for a bit each day. When he reached the place where the chicken yard came into sight, Jack saw a hawk sitting on the fence. Upon seeing Jack coming his way, the hawk took flight. Feeling concern about the hawk's close proximity to the chickens, Jack ran to the chicken yard to check on the girls...only to find the smallest of our red chickens
(a fancy one) decapitated and partially eaten. On the farm, this is a sure sign of winter. The small, wild animals have taken to their burrows and now the hawks hunt anything they can...which usually causes a sharp decrease in our chicken population.
In an attempt to prevent any further loss, we spent this morning covering the chicken yard with bird netting to keep the hawks out. No more exploring around the farm for our dear girls until Spring.
Oh, and by the way, have you ever seen an egg like this one?
- Wildlife Wednesday
Our neighbor calls this a Chicken Hawk, we couldn't find any info on Chicken Hawks so we do not know what it's proper name is? Mommy thinks it might eat me so I stays inside when it is outside. It seems to think Daddy built the Humming...
- Turkens
Meet IvankaAnd NatashaIt has been a while since I have shown you a picture of the turkens (Transylvanian naked neck chickens). They are almost full grown now and have their adult feathers. Surprisingly, turkens are very hardy chickens....and these gals...
- Smoochie's Fascination
For the past several days, when I am out for the morning feed, I have noticed that Smoochie (one of our fainting goat bucks) has been blubbering at the fence beside the chicken yard. "Blubbering" is a mating ritual for male goats. When they are desirous...
- Needed: Chicken Optometrist
Meet Helen. She is our extremely near-sighted chicken. Weeks ago we found that the other chickens had started to ostrasize her. Upon examination it seemed she had formed rather significant cataracts on her eyes. For her own safety we moved her to another...
- Growing Chickens
After hawks and other predators severely decreased our numbers of layers last year, we decided to cover the chicken yard with netting, order new chickens and place a second chicken coop at the other side of the yard. A few weeks ago, our day old chicks...
Animals
For the Birds
Yesterday afternoon, we headed out to the barn to feed the horses and goats. Jack continued on up the hill to the chicken house and yard. Usually, on our late afternoon rounds, the chickens are let out to run around the farm a bit. Even though they have a rather large yard outside their house, they seem to enjoy foraging through the woods for a bit each day. When he reached the place where the chicken yard came into sight, Jack saw a hawk sitting on the fence. Upon seeing Jack coming his way, the hawk took flight. Feeling concern about the hawk's close proximity to the chickens, Jack ran to the chicken yard to check on the girls...only to find the smallest of our red chickens
(a fancy one) decapitated and partially eaten. On the farm, this is a sure sign of winter. The small, wild animals have taken to their burrows and now the hawks hunt anything they can...which usually causes a sharp decrease in our chicken population.In an attempt to prevent any further loss, we spent this morning covering the chicken yard with bird netting to keep the hawks out. No more exploring around the farm for our dear girls until Spring.
Oh, and by the way, have you ever seen an egg like this one?
- Wildlife Wednesday
Our neighbor calls this a Chicken Hawk, we couldn't find any info on Chicken Hawks so we do not know what it's proper name is? Mommy thinks it might eat me so I stays inside when it is outside. It seems to think Daddy built the Humming...
- Turkens
Meet IvankaAnd NatashaIt has been a while since I have shown you a picture of the turkens (Transylvanian naked neck chickens). They are almost full grown now and have their adult feathers. Surprisingly, turkens are very hardy chickens....and these gals...
- Smoochie's Fascination
For the past several days, when I am out for the morning feed, I have noticed that Smoochie (one of our fainting goat bucks) has been blubbering at the fence beside the chicken yard. "Blubbering" is a mating ritual for male goats. When they are desirous...
- Needed: Chicken Optometrist
Meet Helen. She is our extremely near-sighted chicken. Weeks ago we found that the other chickens had started to ostrasize her. Upon examination it seemed she had formed rather significant cataracts on her eyes. For her own safety we moved her to another...
- Growing Chickens
After hawks and other predators severely decreased our numbers of layers last year, we decided to cover the chicken yard with netting, order new chickens and place a second chicken coop at the other side of the yard. A few weeks ago, our day old chicks...