The Boys Say Hello

For the ladies of Wyngate!

They love the lazy days when the sun is out.  They love a good tan!

A short story about Binker...David Kalonick found him in downtown Cincinnati some 9 years ago.  This rabbit just keeps on kicking!

We Are Selling The Red Coop

All our girls are gone. And I'm sad to say that we are no longer going to be chicken farmers.  I'm sad about it because the girls were such fun. Their eggs were beautiful. But Mark is ready to move on.  So we are selling everything we can find in the barn and that is chicken related.

There is a metal waterer that is used in the winter because it can be put on the two electric heaters (those two metal circles on the right).  There is at least one plastic waterer for the summer.  A feeding tube we made that fits in one corner of the run.  Two heat lamps for when your chicks are small and you need to keep them warm.  There are two wooden roosts that can be put in the run for rainy days.  A chicken swing!  An almost full bag of wood shavings for bedding when the chicks are little.

A ladder leading to the four nesting boxes.  The opening goes into the roost.

Easy access to the nesting boxes.

The door for easy clean-up from under the roost.

The side door into the roost.

The side door into the run.

The run.  And an added bonus.  A preditor protector.  It is a solar flashing red light that is supposed to keep predators away at night,

I also have a few chicken books in the library to help you get on your way. Along with 13 paper egg cartons and an egg skelter.

FOR SALE   $800

Goats, Taking Life Easy

Boogie being a little camera shy.

Someone has put on a few pounds over the winter or he might need a good brushing.

And there he is...

Sad News To Share

I have dreaded this day but I knew it was coming sooner than I expected.  Last week our days of being chicken farmers came to an end.  I am not sure how it happened.  Inez was way past her egg-laying days and the sole survivor of 26 chickens.  She had a great and more than full life and she was loved by young and old.  I am not sure if an ugly predator finally caught her or if her old little legs had become slow and she just couldn't make it to her safe spot in the roost or in the goat pen fence.  Good-bye sweet chicken, you will be missed.

Sleeping in with the goats.

Nothing Like a Good Tree Snack

Someone is excited about getting another tree.  This will be tree number three.

I can not get it over the fence fast enough.

See what is left of that tree on the bottom?  That was our tree a few days ago.

No More Chickens In Our Future

After the rescue that was made on Wednesday, there will be no more chickens in our future.  Gladys and Imogene love to chase the chicken.  So far she has been able to outwit them and go into the roost.  Well, not on Wednesday.  

Long story short...Mark was sitting in his chair and all of a sudden he shrieked that the dogs had the chicken.  Now if you know Mark like I know Mark you might have thought he was just yanking my chain.  But I knew when he jumped out of his chair and tore outside that something was seriously wrong. (I haven't seen him move that fast in years) By the time I got to the door all I could see was two dogs playing tug of war with my one and only chicken.  I just knew she was dead.  But no she was smart, just playing possum until Mark could get to her and put her in with the goats for safekeeping.

All of this was happening during dropoff so I couldn't really check her out.  It wasn't until much later that I was able to go out and count her toes and check her feathers.  She was good thank you Jesus!

So Maggie, if you seriously want to have chickens someday, we have a coop and small run for you!  But not until my sweet Inez is squawking and pecking with all her sisters that have gone on before her.

Treats For The Boys

The goats love a good Christmas tree.  It is such a great treat for them.

They saw it coming!

I think they like the needles in the center best.

There is a little back story to this shot.  Inez, my one and only chicken, is free-range during the day.  Meaning she is free to roam the yard during the day.  It was a good thing I was out trying to get some good pics of the dogs when I see then herding Inez.  I walk around the bushes to get some video and see Gladys with Inez's left-wing feathers in her mouth.  tugging and pulling.  YIKES!!!  I made my first of many rescues I can imagine and set her on the fence and explained to her that it was okay to fly to get out of their way.  We will see tomorrow if she learned her lesson.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Now look who shows up at the Cluck-Thru!  We don't even need to call them.  Somehow they hear when we sit down at the table.  The kids love it and so do the animals.  There is always a treat at the end for the four-legged ones.

They Are Sharing

Trying to fatten everyone up for the winter...especially Inez.

Another One Bites The Dust

Chicken killing critter number two.  Ava, the official critter namer, says his name is Bingo.  Bingo had a great meal of a turkey neck so he can't really complain too much.

Inez lives to see another day...hopefully many more days but if she doesn't start putting herself to bed in the coop I can't guarantee her safety.  Tonight she thought she was having a sleep-over with the goats again.  She is one silly chicken!