Playing Catch-Up

My to-do lists just keep getting longer, folks, so I do apologize for the lack of updates here of late! But I haven’t slacked on keeping a photo and video record of the days here on the farm, and so, here you go.

It made my day on Monday to watch the hens gobble up some leftover spaghetti noodles as an afternoon snack. I didn’t manage to capture anyone absconding with a strand (which trust me, is hilarious) but here’s some of our hens slurping some s’ghetti up, quick as can be! Listen to those excited chicken voices!

Sunday night, we went to work cleaning up the area surrounding the chicken coop. See, we were left a few little “landfill” gifts around the property by the previous owners. It’s taken some real effort to get rid of it, and we are still not done! Old fencing, wood, and even the carcass of a shopping cart were amongst the latest pieces of junk we have removed. We take it all up in the pickup truck bed to the garage area, where we break it down for trash or recycling. The latest batch is waiting for our attention this weekend (George is in an intensive training class for work this week – the sessions are 10 hours a day, so he is pretty tired when he arrives home.) But in the meantime, the chickens are really enjoying their new roosting options:

We’ve been getting up earlier than usual this week due to George’s class schedule, and frankly, I’ve been enjoying it. I’m hoping we can stick to the schedule moving forward – I just feel like I’ve gotten much more done in the day. The animals are happier too; the chickens have more time outside, and the goats get to go on an early morning walk during sunrise.

The goat girls have been helping us in our cleanup efforts around the coop, too, by eating some of the weeds and brush that have grown up around it. The chickens are still skeptical of those big furry four-legged oafs that have wandered into their territory, but they’ve tolerated the goats presence really well.

We still need to get the coop painted, and that is also on the agenda soon – we borrowed a power sprayer from my dad, which will help make quick work of the task! It’s going to be nice to have that done.

I was thrilled this morning to catch our little Picard Rooster (Silver Duckwing Bantam) crowing. Well, as much as a miniature chicken of his size crows. It is adorable. He doesn’t wind up until almost the end of this video, but it’s funny to see the progression – you’ll hear our rooster Sam crowing every few seconds, as if to egg him on, if you’ll pardon the expression. Then Picard decides to add his voice to the sunrise announcement crew.

Finally, I have to share with you one of Heidi’s most endearing (I think so, anyways) quirks. She likes to come and stand on my foot, so that I can’t get away, and I have to pet her. I enjoy petting her regardless, so she really doesn’t have to do this, but I find it hilarious and adorable at the same time.

Now, I’m off to continue with those to-do items – but I will be back soon, promise!

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