Egg-splosion!

The chickens (8 hens) have been laying eggs like crazy so when I opened the fridge Saturday morning I had almost 4 dozen eggs staring back at me. I needed to put the family on an egg eating regimen immediately. I started by hard boiling 15 eggs, they will be used for lunches, snacks, and deviled eggs.


Saturday morning breakfast was Quesadillas of two types. The first was salsa, feta and mozzarella cheese, and black olives. The second group was pico de gallo, sharp cheddar cheese, and black olives. The result was happy faces and 9 more eggs eaten.


I still had salsa and Pico left over so I decided to make a few quiches for freezing. One with salsa, sausage, sour cream and cheese, the second with the Pico, sausage, sour cream and cheese. This used up 6 more eggs.


Sunday morning we had pancakes and eggs, 6 eggs down for a total of 36 this weekend - whew!

What to do at -30F?

This morning it was -30F, what does one do when it is that cold? I took Sara outside and we listened to the sap explode inside the trees. The cracking and crackling was startlingly loud.


I decided to go visit the goats. Inside the barn I found them with frost on their eyelashes, around their mouths, and on their fur. I gave them all a good rub down and fed them their grain.


After they ate the goats came with me to visit the chickens. The coldest day of the year and all 8 hens decide to lay one egg each, amazing.


With the chickens fed and the goats tucked away I had to visit the boys (rams). They don't have a barn so their wool was encrusted in frost. This earned them a small bowl of grain and sunflower seeds, it was the best I could do.


Once back inside by the fire I took a nap and dreamed of Summer......

Copy Cat (Chicken)!

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, well today I'm a copy cat when it comes to feeding my chickens and guineas.





I accidentally left the coop door open last night when the temperature was dropping to below -10F, fortunately I remembered it was still open around 09:00 PM and the Commander ran out and closed it. I felt terrible and figured that I needed to make sure the birds got a warm breakfast, but what? I then remembered the "Spoiled Chickens from Critter Farm" and their Oatmeal breakfasts! This morning everyone got a heaping helping of oatmeal.





They devoured it so quickly that I didn't even have time to take a picture.



Not to be outdone the lunch feast consisted of their daily ration of warm pasta, courtesy of Razzberry Corner, mixed with yogurt and bread. Lynn there posted about it last year and I loved how much her chickens enjoyed it. I would swear that the pasta helps them to keep laying even in this horrible weather and cold.

When I brought them out a little scratch this evening I could swear they were giving me a look that said, "We're not eating that!"

Does this fur make me look fat?

Addison is due to kid on approximately April Fools Day. She is definitely starting to show.


From the side she looks "larger" than she used to, more bulky? Her tummy is starting to hang lower, but no udder as of yet. I don't expect the udder to develop until she gets closer to birthing as this is her first time. Addy is moody some days and quirky on others. I can't wait.

Someone is in Trouble!

Someone has been eating the bark off all the trees.


When I asked Killarney he told me the goats did it.


The goats denied it, they said that they couldn't even get into the sheep pen where the tree bark was missing. (Gidget refuses to take off her jacket, I think it is a fashion statement.)


Anyone know why the sheep would be eating the bark off all the trees?

Roof Snow

We have had a lot of snow this Winter so far and a period of freezing rain last week left all the roofs here heavily loaded. This is the back corner of the house, look at all the ice. We are concerned about ice dams on the house and garage, but not much we can do about it right now.


The garage, the front is like the edge of a glacier.


The chicken coop. I wonder if the layer of snow helps keep the chickens warm? The chickens haven't ventured outside for the past few days as the temperatures had dipped back to the vicinity of ten below.


Here is the woodshed, a nice snow hat to keep what is left of the wood warm.


The sheep house, not too bad.


The goat house.


The storage bin outside the goat house. I won't be getting anything out of this bin until Spring.


The ram shack(le). This has less snow than the others as we had to shovel off the top layer and remove an iceberg weighing around 300 pounds. I am amazed that the tarp didn't just tear away. It was close as the tarp was torn in several places and had severe stretch marks. It took the Commander and I several hours to remove the berg, we had to break it into several pieces before we could get it out.


Finally, the outdoor grill. I can't wait for Spring!

Card For A Friend

GHET.....


WHEL.......


SUENN..........


DEBBEE!

OFG's Debbie is feeling a little sick so my goats just wanted to send her a get well card!