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I hope everyone here is doing well. We have had some wretched storms lately but everyone is alive. Lots of hail, wind and rain. The chickens have been enclosed. They currently have access to the goat pastures and so far have not strayed from them. They are perfectly capable of escaping as they...

My birds are always the worst with their first major molt. Queen was my latest example of this. I thought she was going to die she looked so miserable and unwell. She barely ate anything, commercial feed or otherwise. I do believe she didn't consume enough protein to complete her molt as she...

They get along quite well here. The chickens enjoy cleaning up any spilled feed and will often hang out with the goats during the day. They enjoy perching on the goats and it's not uncommon to see a goat with a chicken catching a ride or napping with 3 or 4 chickens perched along it's back. I...

That reminds me. I had a small goat kid that free ranged with the chickens until he got too big to slip through the fence where it met the barn

Yes I've been trying to get this point across for two years but apparently it's less work to fence the chickens than to fence the plants. I have plenty of opinions on the matter which is why the decision was made outside my presence.

The homeowner decided she wants flower beds.

Magpie with one of last year's hatchery hens. Him and Jackdaw are going back and forth. Jackdaw broke one of his toes and has been a lot less active because of it. Magpie has taken the opportunity to put him back in his place. So far Jackdaw has been submissive. Not sure if he will stay that way...

I'd be a bit concerned regarding the amount of water needed to keep one. I hope they aren't nearly as messy as ducks. Maybe they would be content sharing with the geese.

Aw well that just sucks. I liked her as well. I hope that this is a one and done but if it really was a stoat I highly doubt it will be. Odd that Matilda should be having a hard time. Is she down before she lays her egg or sometime after?

I'm hoping that Magpie will roost in the broody coop if he is thrown out now that he has spent a night there. With 30 hens in the coop though, it is easy for him to slip in. Without putting up more coops, 3 males works well but with these two being the same age they don't have a clear hierarchy...

Yes Magpie previously was staying with Furio and the hens during the day. Jackdaw goes back to the barn after escorting a hen until all the hens rejoin the flock. After that he would lurk around the edges of the group, not allowed to totally rejoin the flock. Jackdaw still forces the hens to...

They are from the same hatch and are biologically half brothers related through their father. They hatched August 8th of last year.

I believe the issue is that Jackdaw has been taking on escorting duties and Magpie has not. For winter, I had one hen that would reliably travel to the barn to lay and one that would intermittently lay in the barn. Jackdaw escorted them both. There were recently two more hens that started laying...

I'll definitely be keeping a very close eye on them. So far, Magpie has deferred to Jackdaw and Furio separates them if Jackdaw continues to go after him. He separated them no less than 10 times when they were fighting but they kept going after each other. I will be moving Magpie into my broody...

Jackdaw picked a fight with Magpie today. Magpie has been his superior since day one. After ten minutes, Magpie retreated to the coop. He's a bloody mess and is missing half his comb. Jackdaw went on to challenge his dad and was promptly put in his place.

Goats and rabbits. I work on my mother's farm right now but have worked with ducks, cattle, horses, and sheep as well on my uncle's farm. Of them all the rabbits have drawn the most blood by far.

Yes the sheep are a real pain. The goats love to make a show out of getting pushy. Run backwards, rear up, dance around, hop after you on their back legs. Much easier to catch before they get you.

Tax from a few days ago. It's rainy and cold today.

I own one pair of open toe sandals and I don't think I've worn them in 4 years. Admittedly the goats are of more concern than the chickens. It hurts a lot more when they step on a foot.

It drives me nuts that so many don't consider this. I don't always wear long pants if I know that none of the chickens are going to be hormonal (broodies/young birds) but a majority of the time I have long pants on. I will add that I have had young pullets go after my legs and feet much the same...