Good Footing

14 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Chickens, Farm Improvements, Weather

≈ Leave a comment

Chicken Husbandry 101: Best West Coast Wet Winter Pen Footing
The free range flocks spend more time under cover in rainy weather. With the heavy traffic, the bark mulch I spread last fall gets packed and slick. This year, I started forking over the ground inside each covered pen weekly, when I clean the coops. The heavy work warms me up nicely in this clammy cold weather. It also keeps the footing loose and absorbent and exposes lots of delicious grubs for the birds. They follow my progress so closely, I have to be careful not to stab my chickens!

IMG_5830

Late Hatcher

11 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Chickens, Farm Produce

≈ Leave a comment

Cleaning out the incubator post-hatch and found a half hatched Black Copper Marans egg. This little one was very late, but so determined to catch up she hatched right in my hand. Back into the incubator she went, to dry off and learn to use her legs, and she is now reunited with her hatch mates.
Her life force is strong. ❤

A New Rooster Joins the Flock

03 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by in Chickens

≈ Leave a comment

IMG_5518After several weeks in quarantine in the barn with the ponies, bantam Polish rooster has joined the flock. He is a feisty little bugger, spending much of his time chasing poor Earl, who is twice his size, around the run.
This was the scene last night at bed time when I went to lock up. It is pretty obvious what the hens think of new guy’s behaviour. Earl is on the far left, sheltered by his ladies. New guy is on the right, plotting his next move.

Garlic

01 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Farm Produce, Gardening, Weather

≈ Leave a comment

Our hard winter has stunted the garlic, will a gentle spring soothe it back to health?
The rhubarb sprouted in January, then gave up in February. A bit of green is peeking out now, wondering if it is safe to come out yet. Who knows?
The last two days have been warm and soft rainy, March has come in like a lamb. So I’m hoping.

Winter

12 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by in Weather

≈ Leave a comment

A springlike day today, after a taste of the winter our fellow-Canadians know far better than us west coasters. Kudos to them, winter in Canada isn’t a walk in the park.
I am also happy to report the three people, two dogs, one cat, one horse, two donkeys, sixty-odd chickens, thirty-odd chicks, three sets of hens with babies, and three incubators-full of eggs have been as snug as bugs in our little muddy valley.

Hoppy Lays an Egg

08 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Chickens

≈ Leave a comment

Yesterday as I was scattering hen scratch, Hoppy caught my eye. I always aim a handful her way, since with one leg she can’t compete with her voracious flock mates. Hens react to hen scratch like kids to a just-burst piñata.
As I watched her peck, hop, peck, one of those unbidden little thoughts came. Poor Hoppy, she can’t scratch. And scratching is one of a chicken’s greatest pleasures. I wonder if I should have culled her. Did I make the wrong decision? What is her quality of life if she can’t scratch? Maybe I am prolonging her suffering. Sigh.
Today at lunch I was out gathering eggs and filling feeders. Hoppy was in the nest box where she sleeps, and gave me the stink eye, but let me grab the eggs the other hens had laid. A few minutes later I was filling the feeder when I heard a thump, thump coming from the coop. It was Hoppy hurrying out to see what I was pouring. When I peeked into the nest box she had just left, there was an egg, still very warm. She had obviously just laid it.
Well, she gave me her answer, didn’t she. Unhappy chickens don’t lay eggs. 😊

Winter Morning Chores

19 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in Chickens, Weather

≈ Leave a comment

Winter morning chores start quietly at dawn. Rattling buckets bring the dogs piling downstairs, eager for morning rounds. The slamming screen door as we head to the barnyard cues the inhabitants, and a rising tide of uptalk rolls out to meet us. By the time I heave the big barn door open and Chance rushes in to greet the cat, the rooster crescendo is peaking.
George eats first, and Chance acts as butler while I toss hay flakes into each stall and give the donkeys their carrots. A good chin scratch and handful of feed to Callie the barn cat and we’re off to the coops.
Youngest first is the golden rule, fresh warm water and warm mixed crumbles, oats, corn and barley with a bit of molasses, topped by black oil sunflower and flax seed. The chicks go for the water first, then the food, while the hens do the opposite.
Everybody is very happy to see me, and quiets down immediately, with only a sneezy cough here and there, as some bird eats too fast.
And then it’s back to the house, to pour a coffee and start my work day.

Winter on the Tiny Farm

08 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by in Chickens, Equipment, Weather

≈ Leave a comment

The best thing about the cold is the lack of mud, here in our muddy valley. The standing water in the Tarzan Tree field is ice, the pond is a rink (no, I haven’t), and the ground is hard and dry. And the Polish birds have clean crests!
The worst thing about the cold is managing the water situation. Breaking ice, defrosting water founts and hauling hot water out to the barnyard several times a day.
We really aren’t set up for this weather, but there is no point in a climate that does this for two weeks once every ten years. So we cope.
I turn the chicken waterers upside down at night, then dip them in hot water in the mornings to give the birds a warm drink to go with their warm mash. I can take a five gallon bucket in the wheelbarrow, plus a two gallon bucket in each hand, at the same time, if I walk slowly.
It is nice working out in the cold crisp air, especially when it is sunny. And cozy sitting by the warm fireplace in the evening. Despite the extra work, I’m enjoying this winter weather.