busy spring days

I love spring … but I do wish it came with extra hours to get everything done! For the first time in a month, the brooder room is empty. The last chicks (for now) went to their new home this morning. There are ducks set to hatch on Sunday and Monday, as well as some [...]

babies, babies, everywhere!

We’ve received word from the vet that a form of sinusitis was at least partly to blame for our poultry losses last month. While relieved to know something, it’s hard not to feel impatient to learn what the missing pieces of the puzzle are. In any case, the chickens continue to recover, put on weight, [...]

some new faces

Brr! Time for a sunbath! It was in the low 20′s this morning, making chores a bit hard on my fingers and toes. Brrr. But in the house, some of our smaller friends were enjoying the extra warmth of their heat lamp – our “miracle Marans” are enjoying their first experience with chick starter, as [...]

the three Rs

We got our Christmas tree a little earlier than usual this holiday, and left it up a little longer … I was making jokes about turning it into a Valentine’s tree. But I knew all along where the tree would go when we were finished with it this year – out to the barnyard! The [...]

my morning in the barnyard

We’ve had a lot of rain – I should’ve taken a picture that shows how high up my boots the mud now reaches – and it’s been a busy time, so I haven’t spent as much time with the animals as I would like to. This morning, I could finally remedy that situation. When I [...]

love hurts

My opaline guineas seem to have bonded already – the two blue-headed ones have paired up, leaving my “pretty” pink-headed one as the odd woman out. Poor girl. Hopefully love will find her in the guise of one of the younger keets (they are still confined to the chick pen). Anyway, this morning I heard [...]

in which our farmer cleans house, sort of

As you probably know, Pinto Bean is due to kid almost any day now. Obviously, that necessitates a thorough cleaning of the barn, and I got busy with that a couple of days ago, just in case things happened earlier than expected, or in case it got too busy to do it later. First, I [...]

many hands make light the work

The Crowing Hen will be visited by some industrious Bees this afternoon – in exchange for four dozen eggs and lots of homemade bread, they’re going to enclose the underneath of the barn. Sneaky chickens have been laying eggs under there, and I can’t reach them so our egg production has been really low. As [...]

quack

I can’t believe how fast this summer has been flying past! With a probably-pregnant goat (who is bossy and moody, to boot!), I’ve been running all over the place trying to figure out how to do things perfectly for all four goats, plus all the other barnyard citizens. And of course, perfection in the barnyard [...]

coming up roses

It’s been a week for vet visits and guinea hatchings here at The Crowing Hen. When Annie’s bandages came off last week, I was horrified and promptly called the big animal vet in Perry, who has an excellent reputation. Until I could get in to see the vet, I was squirming with worry that Annie [...]