Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for; loving family, full tummy, goats full of mischief, growing sheep, egg laying chickens, snuggling cats, boisterous dogs, warm fire, wonderful country, and a happy life.

It was 2 degrees last night and I am inside by the fire warm with my family, hope you are having as good a Thanksgiving as I am!

Second Eggs, Gladly

Hurray, the chickens rewarded me with one egg this morning and a second egg this afternoon! I am fairly sure that one of they layers is Lucy, my lone Rhode Island Red. The eggs are a little small but from what I have read that is to be expected.


The eggs didn't last long, my daughter wanted to be the first one to try them so she had fried eggs for dinner (with yogurt and mandarin oranges of course). She said they tasted great, better than those old store eggs - we'll see.


The rest of us had homemade chicken pot pie. I made it as a special request for the Commander, he says he loves it.

One note on Honey, the house chicken. To stop her from getting lonely I turn the TV to the Malt Shop Oldies channel to give her something to listen to, I think she likes it - the Commander does.

First Eggs, Sadly

Today while I was out feeding the chickens I made a bitter-sweet discovery in the coop, four eggs. These were the first eggs that our chickens have produced, but sadly, one was crushed, two were cracked, and the last one was frozen.

Neither myself nor the Commander have been checking the egg boxes for eggs, so I'm not exactly sure when the laying began. With winter here in full force I didn't think they would begin laying until next spring.

Once I discovered the eggs I went and got fresh straw for the egg boxes and plan to check on them twice daily from now on. The next egg will be a Kodak moment, I'm sorry the first four were wasted.

The house chicken, Honey, is continuing to mend. Just yesterday the Commander commented; "Wouldn't it be funny if the house chicken laid the first egg." Too late!

Before the Snow

Before the snow arrived we took the last of the leaves and placed them as bedding for the rams in their shelter. I hope it provides them with a little insulation.


To try and slow down the water freezing process I took an old tire and stiffed it with leaves. It works OK, but the bucket still ices over.

Frozen water buckets are the biggest problem we have right now and I have no answers. Ideas??? (no electricity)

The house chicken is now putting light pressure on her leg. I have decided to change her dressing every other day. Her favorite thing is to look at herself in the mirror! Oh, she has a name now, the Commander caught me calling her "Honey". She better live!

The Barn is Fine

The goats don't go outside much now that there is snow on the ground. I really like how shaggy their fur has gotten, isn't Becca Boo cute?


When I opened the door the other day the goats took off like they were on a mission.


It was strange because they ignored the snow even though at times it was up to their bellies. I was curious as to what they were up to, and it soon became obvious.


They wanted into the garage! They could have wanted the grain that was stored in there but I think they wanted in the garage because they think it may be warmer. "I'm not letting you in, the barn is fine!"

About Last Night

Last night Sara woke me up at 1230 and wanted to go outside, she always wants to go outside when there is snow. The problem was that no matter what I did she would not come back in! I tried calling her and bribing her with a dog bone but she would not leave the yard. I finally had to get dressed and go out in the 20 degree weather and drag her in. I was not happy with her, and I couldn't figure out why she was acting so strange.


This morning I went outside to take the kids to school and discovered that the 2 rams were out of their enclosure and loose in the yard. Apparently the Commander didn't secure the latch to their area after feeding them last night and they escaped.

Seems that Sara tried to tell me last night but I didn't understand her.


Thankfully the boys didn't wander into the road or off into the woods, they hung around trying to figure out how to get in with the girls.


I needed to get them back into their pen, but how? I used the "magic" green grain bucket of course.

Just add a handful of grain to the bucket and then shake it, the noise is guaranteed to get goats, sheep, chickens, and even guinea's to follow like you were the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

The boys followed the bucket back to their pen and were safely put away. The Commander is going to get a lesson in "closing the gate" later.

Sara has been giving me the "I tried to tell you" look all day.

What Did I Say?

"Mocha May, leave that chicken alone she has a broken leg."

Never in a million years would I ever have imagined that I would utter those words. When the Commander heard me say that he just laughed!

The chicken is doing better and is hopping around in the kennel, I have hopes that she will pull through.