The Storm That Wasn’t –February 6, 2014

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Dayphoto

I had everything buttoned down and latched tight, three loads of wood sitting under the carport where it would stay dry, and nothing happened.

I’m not complaining. I’m also glad to be ready than to not be ready.

It is snowing in the mountains, which is hand-clapping/jig-dancing good!

Terry talked to one of the water guys yesterday and he said there is enough snow at Taylor Reservoir to fill the reservoir when spring comes WITH 7 more feet besides. WONDERFUL!! The next trick is for Mother Nature to dump enough snow in the Gunnison area to help bring up the Blue Mesa Reservoir to decent levels.

(While we are talking about water I really hope and pray that California starts to get water! I read where there is huge talk about not allowing farmers to have water to farm this coming year–instead sending all the water to the metropolis areas. What a mess that is going to be…drinking water, but no food. The price of food will skyrocket, farmers will go out of business, and land will sit idle allowing the soil to blow away! I really hope that moisture comes soon for all of them!)

We are progressing here in the health department, the little goat is to have 8 shots, we are closing down on that number. She always enjoys coming to me because I have the graham crackers so giving the shot isn’t hard. The little hen’s head is looking somewhat better. Her eye is starting to de-puff. I saw a tiny crack of chicken eyeball looking at me as I applied her medicine today. I was very concerned that the eye had been pecked out, but NO! She still has her eye!

So slowly, slowly we are wending our way to health and toward spring. I’m into the count down for March-twenty-two days left in February. February always seems like a loooooooong month to me. Thank Heaven’s its a short month!

Your farming friend,

Linda

Now There is a Sick Goat February 5, 2014

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Dayphoto

Now Misty has a sick goat, which means, now I have another patient. She’s a sweet old goat, but no matter how sweet she is she will not be coming into my house at night. 🙂 It’s okay as she has a really nice goat house and her sister/friend.

But every morning I go down to administer a shot to the soft furry old lady. She and her sister each get some yummy graham crackers before I give the shot, then lots of pets and rubs on the back bone where it gets itchy and is hard to scratch.

The hurt hen is doing better. She sleeps inside every night and then goes out to the hen house during the day.

When I get up at night to put wood in the fire I always stop and talk to her in her little laundry basket night nest. She coos and purrs at me in a sleepy in hen voice. Then I wish her a sweet goodnight and go on back to bed myself.

It’s a good thing I’m an early riser because she IS a chicken after all, and does love to get up early. Soon after breakfast I take her back to the hen house, turn on the red heat lamp so she can adjust to not being in the big house.

She is eating and drinking and healing very well. I must wait now until her pen feathers start to come back in, which will be a long ways out yet, before I can bring the little black hen over for company. Until then we will continue this new little routine.

We had lots of snow yesterday, colder temperatures last night, then tonight (by 5 o’clock) the weatherman says another snow storm will make it’s way in here and be here for a length of time.

The storm leaving our area was just beautiful. Most of our storms arrive from the west (southwest, west, or northwest) and head off toward the east or northeast area.

This is the storm as it pushes itself over Cedaredge and Grand Mesa heading to some other part of the county.

Well, I must be off now and go take care of the goat, haul in more firewood and in general just get busy!

Your farm friend,

Linda

Moving Forward-February 3, 2014

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Dayphoto

Well, the Bronco’s lost. What more can be said. Now we move forward to next year. There really is nothing else to do.

The chickens have all been sorted out and deposited at Shannon’s. The poor little hen is now out of the house and in the hen house all by her little lonesome. I feel better with her out there…she has lots of room to move around in, food and water as she wants it and lots of lovely alfalfa to peck at.

When I placed her in the hen house she walked around with the most pathetic little clucking sound–I know she was looking for the others. But not for a while little girl. Not for some time really. Your whole head has to heal and the feathers starting to emerge before I bring back Little Bear (her best friend). Chickens (fowl) will peck on anyone and anything that has blood on them. Once started they get that ‘Mean Girl’ or ‘Bully’ or ‘Mafia’ look in there eyes and only death will please.

(Don’t look at the following photo if blood makes you sick)

As I told the Big Black Hen (of course the best egg layer in the house) as I reached down and grabbed her, peeling her off Little Buff Hen…”YOU STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!! I’m the biggest chicken in this house and I don’t put up with this kind of attitude!”

Some of you have asked if I know why this started…not really, but maybe…boredom! The whole flock loves to be outside running and flapping and dusting. But we had a huge snow storm Friday, which has left nothing uncovered. The next day we had a small melt, but that is all.

Although, I have a nice coop, with enough space (chickens need ten square feet per chicken) and a lovely covered run —I even cover it in plastic for winter time use such as this–they have refused to leave around the feeder and the water, except to lay their eggs.

This made them largely bunched up. Crowded and bored…I tried to push them out into the covered pen, but they squalled and squawked until they could get back in and make sure they had all the rights to the feeder. I put the feeder/water out with them…no they wanted the inside feeder/water.

It’s been a struggle and the result was bloody.

Shannon’s pens are larger and covered and empty. They won’t have electricity out there but they will have room. As time passes and everything calms back down I must bring another hen over to help with the loneliness and to help her bond back with the hens.

At night I will bring her into the house so she is warm. Not having other warm feathered bodies to huddle up too would be too much.

So that is where we are now. Everything starting to settle down and another snow storm due in here any minute. We have a 60% chance of snow by noon.

A chicken having room to ‘do stuff’ is good for healing. The other chickens (and Tommy) back at their original home. (Shannon decided if she was going to take the hens she might has well take her turkey home too.)

You friend on a farm in western Colorado,

Linda

Ground Hog Day (without photos) February 2, 2014

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

The sun is shining here and it’s cold, cold, cold! Guess that means we will be having 6 more weeks of winter. (I’m not surprised, are you?)

On the news front–

No calves yet
We had a wee melt yesterday so that helps
I have a hurt chicken in the house

I would take a photo of this poor little hen, but you really don’t want to see. One of the other chickens (maybe all of the other chickens) ganged up oh her and ripped her comb off, bloodied her head and the side of her face and, possibly, damaged her eye.

I was out in the hen house when she came running to me and the big black hen ran just as fast and jumped right on her back and started pecking. I grabbed the black hen and got her off the little buff hen. Picked up the little buff hen and brought her to the house.

Inside I put her in the cat carrier, added water and food, but she just didn’t care. So I wrapped her in a towel and sat her on my lap. Gradually, gradually, I was able to get the blood all cleaned off and some water down her throat. It was a long haul.

She liked my lap. I talked to her, she talked back; little coo’s and chuckles of love. I wish I could understand hen. Off and on throughout the night I would check on her in her little cat carrier…”Are you okay, Little Hen?” I would whisper. “coo, coo, peep, chuckle”, she would reply back.

She is doing better today. We had a wee sit on my lap while I checked her over, petted her feathers and talked to her about how to take care of the pickle she is in. She and I decided that there is no way she can go back into the pen with the other girls. She thinks staying in the house would be just fine, although the cat carrier is rather uncomfortable. I could just let her out; she would enjoy the house.

Hummmm, I don’t think so, my fine little hen. I must do some sorting out there so you can go back and have lots of room to do things.

I called Shannon and asked her to come get the other hens, but to leave Tommy. This little hen will be able to stay with Tommy when I get all of the other sorted out. Tommy will be company and help with the body heat in the chicken house. We got down to 7* last night; I’m thinking another cold front must be moving in again.

On a brighter note I am going to take your advice and suggestions and writing a proper book about the dogs Everyday Life on the farm. It will be an eBook when I’m finished. I’ve talked to a knowledgeable lady who is willing to help me once I get everything in the proper format and length for publication.

Here is part of what she told me: The market for eBooks for children is rapidly evolving. As more and more school systems buy tablets for their children, more children have their own tablets and computers at a younger age, we think this is going to be the next huge market.”

I’m rather excited and a bit over-whelmed, but I’ve been working on this for sometime so I do have some ideas to begin with. I’m not sure if the Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer will be just for children or for everyone. I guess I will let them help me decided.

Anyway, I thank each and every one of your for your comments and private emails that have continued to encourage me to give this a go. Like one of you said, it never hurts to try.

Your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — It’s Mine

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Dayphoto

It snowed last night. Little tiny drops of snow that pelted your hide as you walked to and fro behind Mom while she worked.

Mom had to put up Tommy and the hens they were stupidly staying outside getting pelted on…and wet…and wetter. Fuzzy and I tried to help.

Ummm Fuzzy tried to help, me not so much. Well, yes I did— I see my job as staying right behind Mom wherever she is. Fuzzy tries to help herd the poultry to the poultry house, but he can’t sometimes see where they are going so he just stands there in crouch mood.

Oh, well, works for me. It must work for Mom because she doesn’t get upset at Fuzzy. I guess that means we are a good working team—Mom, Fuzzy and ME! J

Today is the last day of January 2014. The 31^st day! Even if it’s snowing outside and the day is all one color—- a grayish whitish color it is still 10 hours and 12 minutes long!! The first day of January the day was only 9 hours and 30 minutes long…THINGS ARE IMPROVING!!!

Now what I wanted to tell you about is this: Mom brought us some bones from the grocery store when she went to town yesterday morning. Yummy bones with some meat and sweet rich fat on them!

Fuzzy and I chomped down as fast as we could so nothing or no one else could get ‘OUR BONES”!

We were about done eating when Mom came out and asked us to go for a walk with her to check on the cows…I still had a little bit left to go so I took it with me.

Fuzzy left his back in his dog house.

Not me. No sireee. I’ve had Shannon turn up with all the dog cousins, or Hank walk over, or even Fuzzy sneak around and GET MY BONE!

So I took it with me!

Slurp, slobber, drool.

But, while Mom was getting the gate, I, well, decided a really long walk with a super nice bone wouldn’t be a good idea. I might lay it down somewhere then forget where I put it and some coyote, wild dog, or that fox will get my bone.