Life on the Farm-the Good, the Bad, and the Evil Roosters

Almost a year ago, we added to our brood-our chicken brood that is.  Sixteen new chickens (hopefully more laying hens than roosters) brought our coop population up to 24.  For about two weeks that is...The first chicken died because it, oddly enough, liked being at the bottom of the chicken pile.  I'd pull it out from under the ten chickens sitting on top it's head only to see it tunnel right back underneath.  Glutton for punishment that it was, I found the chicken dead one morning.  Apparently, it was the eleventh chicken that broke the dumb one's neck.  Over the course of the next six months, a territorial new momma dog and her exuberant offspring decimated the flock.  Once winter's chill set in, the flock decreased yet again.  Frost bite was the cause this time.

So by Spring's late arrival, we had gone from 24 chickens (the final tally was 6 roosters and 16 hens at the peak population) to 3.

And as soon as my hubby has the time to help me, that 3 will become 1.

The reign of the evil twin roosters is coming to an end.  About a month or so ago, they went after V.  Luckily, L was right there and got between the bullies and their quarry before much more was done than give V a bad scare.  Since then, they've left my kids alone.

Until last week...A and V were happily playing outside and I was hurriedly washing dishes before making supper when I heard an unearthly squawk followed by a terrified little girl scream.  I don't think I've ever clambered down my front steps that fast.  Truthfully, I'm amazed I didn't break a leg as it's entirely possible I vaulted the railing and landed like a cat eight feet below. (Okay, not really, but I was moving down those steps at an awfully fast rate and I certainly wasn't watching where I was going.)  The roosters had gotten to A.  I immediately got between her and the vengeful birds only to become the object of their malicious desires.  After a few well-placed offensive maneuvers on my part sent the birds into quick retreat, I turned to tend my wounded daughter.  Luckily, it turned out her frightening-at-first-glance wounds were minor forehead scratches that, while they bled copious amounts at first, quickly stopped bleeding with a damp washcloth and quick first aid.  I doctored her up and prescribed extra hugs which had an immediate effect on her disposition.  Then I went and locked the roosters in nearly solitary confinement. (I shut the door on the chicken coop and as there's only three chickens left, it's nearly solitary.)

Needless to say, we have two roosters who have a hot date with the stew pot. And soon... I'd do the butchering myself but the big bullies are cowards at heart and I simply can't get near them.  It's like they either know my intentions for them or they are afraid to pick on someone bigger than they are. 

Life with a Chicken Coop

In the last few days, the old adage "In springtime, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love" has come true in our chicken coop. Due to a territorial new momma dog in the fall and two marauding (and apparently hungry) puppies this winter, the population in our chicken coop has dwindled down to two quite large roosters and a lone laying hen. Ms. Hen was being 'wooed' quite vigorously by her two suitors the other day and V just happened to get in the way.  The more ardent of the two roosters took exception to the fact V was blocking his (the rooster's) view of his ladylove and proceeded to make his feeling known.  Luckily, L was only a few feet away and managed to get the rooster away from V before it could do more than flap it's wings a few times and try jumping on V's back. Aside from a slight scare, my little boy was unhurt although he did want to put 'that mean chicken in time-out'.

The rooster, on the other hand, was a tad worse for the wear.  L knocked it out when he grabbed it away from V.  The slightly bedraggled rooster was up and about in a few minutes but he spent the rest of the day in the coop. Sulking or recovering, I'm not sure...All I know is that rooster makes a wide path around my kids when they are playing outside now.

It's Not Easter

Yet, I'm on a daily egg hunt. Once summertime truly started, our laying hens decided the nesting boxes weren't cutting it. My egg count went from 6-8 eggs a day to 4...if I'm lucky... I've spent a few hours hunting for their hiding places. The most luck I'd have would be to find empty, crushed eggshells here and there. We figured the crows or the dogs were getting to the eggs, hence the random shell pieces everywhere. Until today. I got lucky after investigating a chicken chattering away in the weeds by the holding pen. The darn bird kept returning to the same spot despite my trompsing through the waist-high grass looking for a hidden nest. A lucky stumble showed a hidden chicken calmly perched on a small grass clump amidst a particularly tall weed patch. Now, out of all the places to lay eggs on our farm, the feathered fiends decided to make a nest in the middle of a rather large thistle patch. So, now I'm trying to figure out what to do. I don't really want them laying eggs there because it's not easily accessible to me, other animals have been getting the eggs before I do, and the cows are spooking when a chicken unexpectedly pokes it's head out of the weeds and begins clucking during chores. On the other hand, now that we know where the eggs are, it means less egg hunting for me. Guess I'll have to figure out what's worse.

New additions to our 'brood'

We recently 'inherited' a bunch of laying hens from a neighbor. They are moving and obviously couldn't take the chickens with them so we are the lucky recipients. It's been fun having these feathery ladies clucking around in the front yard. Just wish V would learn to stay out of the chicken coop and Mindy (the dog) would leave the eggs alone. Not so much when you go out to collect eggs and all that's left is a bunch of egg shells. Also hoping to see a decrease in the amount of ticks that come into the house. So far, not seeing any difference.

Puppies for FREE!

Yes, Mindy had her annual batch of pups several weeks ago. We currently need homes for five ADORABLE puppies. There are three girls and two boys, mostly black with white on the belly and paws. One female has brown markings similar to Mindy. They are weaned and ready to go anytime. Our camera has dead batteries otherwise I would post pictures.

Quantities are limited so reserve your pup TODAY!

Sorry, it's been a while...

Yeah, I know... It's been some time since I posted. Life just got in the way I guess. In fact, here is a little peek into the 'life' that's been keeping me busy of late.



This little man is 4 months old tomorrow! Ye gads!! Where did the time go?



My Mindy is going to be a Mommy again soon. Puppies are on the way! (anyone want one?)



This handsome Rascal is the most likely father, but no one knows for certain. I think I need to give Mindy a curfew or something...

Only On This Farm...

We were doing morning chores yesterday and Lanny came to interrupt for a few minutes. He had something to show me in the doghouse. The in-laws had two dogs, Rascal and Ruffin. For some reason, the black one (Ruffin) disappeared a few weeks ago. (Interestingly enough, the neighbors have also had a black dog disappear right around the same time.) Anyhoo, Rascal has been awfully lonesome since his buddy disappeared. Since he doesn't have a buddy to play with anymore, he makes do with the animals he can find. Lanny discovered that Rascal was sharing his doghouse with none other than a real live....pigeon. You could peek in and the bird would just look at you, fluff it's feathers and settle back into the straw. Rascal left it alone (amazing to me since Mindy would have devoured it in seconds) and it wouldn't bother him either. Guess he's a bird dog and we didn't even know it!

In other news, the baby is no longer breech according to the doctor. Yay! Had a checkup yesterday and everything looks good. Measuring right on schedule, weight gain around 16 pounds, all my baby clothes are washed and ready to go, and only 5 weeks left!

That's a BIG bunch of bull..

I really do mean that. Our bull is a big boy. The guys are pretty proud because 'Bulldy" is even college educated. (We bought him from a university that has a dairy research program.) Unfortunately, I don't know how much he learned while he was there... Yesterday, he couldn't figure out heads from tails when it came to the cows. Lanny claims it's actually a common occurance, but I just had to tease.

(If I can, later I will repost this with a picture of big bad Bulldy boy.)

Meet Mindy

This is my dog Mindy. She's a pretty good dog even though she doesn't chase cows like we hoped, is a shameless flirt, and thinks she is a lap dog. She eats June Bugs. I just saw her crunch one down like it was the greatest treat in the world. She also likes to 'play' with frogs. It's hilarious to watch her sniff the frog until it jumps and then she pounces on it (like a cat!). She will repeat this until the frog is either dead or playing dead, in which case she will carry it off to a semi-secluded area and eat it.

Oh Happy Day!

Yay! This came yesterday. We've been on the Organic Valley truck for a month but this just makes it seem 'official'.

I posted on FreeCycle and got two responses to my Free Puppy ad already! Hopefully these cute little girls will have homes sometime next week. I'm getting too attached and it's gonna be hard to give them away.

Puppies and Plants

You would think I don't feed my puppies. I walk outside in the morning and they start trying to eat my toes because they are so hungry. They do this three time a day. So, I've asked before, I'll ask again. Who wants a puppy? I have three left. Price: FREE!!!

I am experimenting this year. I am direct seeding everything in the garden. Last year, I killed all of my starts. The tomatoes and green peppers started pretty good but died before I could replant them. My pumpkins survived until I transplanted them. A week after I put them in the garden, all were shriveled up little dead plants. So, pumpkins and watermelon are already planted and we'll see if they make it. It's my hope that I will get at least one of each.

Little Momma

My dog Mindy Lou, as you know, just had her puppies this last week. She's a pretty good momma to her pups. She chased the cat away and has so thoroughly terrorized him that he won't come near the house even to eat. She is in the straw doghouse 95% of the day doing nothing but feeding her greedy little ones. She is constantly cleaning them, moving them to more comfortable spots, and just generally loving them. However, she also leaves them high and dry at a moments notice if anyone goes outside or comes down the driveway. The other night, Lanny came home from the farm and Mindy jumped up so fast that her nursing puppies all somersaulted sideways. Now, I went outside to feed her and found that she had been laying on top her straw doghouse. However, when she jumped on the straw bale that forms the roof, the twines holding it together snapped and the bale caved in. Somehow, she managed to get one puppy out (or else it crawled out on it's own) before I discovered it. Thankfully, the bale wasn't really heavy and the four puppies remaining inside were unharmed. I suppose she climbed on top the doghouse to get some peace and quiet for a few minutes (what mom wouldn't want that?) and the twines, frayed at the edges, just gave out. It just seems like Mindy is a bit scatterbrained at the moment and I found it humorous enough to write about.