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!

Be Free

Monday night Mark decided that the boys could be free.  Meaning that they could go in and out of the pen whenever they chose.  They chose to sleep by the backdoor.  I slept on the couch to keep an eye on them.  Boogie got into the little trash can (that had a tight lid on it) and ate whatever he could find.  I don't even remember what was in it.  Then he used the can on its side as a pillow.  Crack me up.

Boogie figured out that all the fun was happening in the family room and wanted in.

They drank from the chicken waterer.  Ate most of the leave and mowed down all the weeds on the left side of the backyard.  I should have let them out years ago to eat the weeds.  Next fall they will earn their keep.  I'll never have to pull another weed!

This is the very first time that I have noticed Scoot has a heart on his side.

They love the freshly fallen oak leaves.

I am totally serious about the weed eating thing in the fall!  Might even rent them out if I could just figure out how to load them in the truck without them running down the street!

Silly Girl

We read this book today a few times.  This silly chicken reminded me of Inez.  Speaking of my lone chicken, she can't figure out where she wants to roost at night.  One night it is in the coop.  One night in with the goats.  And then there is always on top of the pergola.  We have both traps baited tonight in two different places in the yard.  I can hardly wait to see if we have a new friend tomorrow morning.

Getting my DVM

DMV...doctor of veterinarian medicine...ha, ha, just kidding.

I got a call from a friend at church.  She has a friend that is a new chickie-ma.  One of her chickens was attacked by a hawk.  They asked me to help.  So I go grab all my chicken books and start to research.

I love how this book lays it right out simply so this is what I went with.

Just in case you ever have this problem or someone you know...this is what would do.

The vet told me to get this when Boogie lost a horn.  But I read on the back and you aren't to use it on an animal that you eat or get food from.  I asked if the hen was laying yet and the answer was no.  If it were me I would go to Tractor Supply and ask what they would do.  Or call our farm vet...Dr. Patechell at Rolling Hills Veterinary Services..513-734-9400.

I'll let you know what I hear.

Book 'Em Dan-O

Caught you, you dirty rat!

So maybe it wasn't a raccoon after all.

A little story about our friend.  I love sharing nature with the yahoos in Wammyville.  Little creatures, big creatures, friendly creatures and not so friendly creatures.  This one is a not so friendly creature.  I set the cage out by the sliding doors in the family room.  Our spot for watching the animals that frequent the back patio.  After lunch I let them all have a look.  They loved it.  Adi was even able to share some of what she had learned in preschool about nocturnal animals.  Pappy told them about marsupials.  I just watched and listened. 

Ava was concerned about how he was going to find is mommy,  G-Ma, and his family.  She named him Thomas.  She also wanted to feed him some crackers that she found in her car.  Then she decided that a better name would be Ava.

Tonight the last bit of cat food goes in the trap to see what else is coming to visit.

Not Fans Of The Cold or Snow

This chicken is going to be the death of me.  It's cold.  She has a perfectly awesome cook but refuses to go in at night.  I'm beginning to think she has been traumatized by whatever that is stalking the chickens.  Maybe she knows her days are numbered if she goes in there at night.  But I think it is pretty safe.  I have set traps and caught nothing.  I still climb the ladder at night and put her to bed.  One night she tried to trick me.  She snuck in with the goats and though she would roost there.  No way sister, this is not a sleepover occasion.

The boys are ready to move to anywhere sunny. 

Please, mom, make the cold go away!

I'm Going To Get Them

They better not show up.