Those Darn Hens!

 I've got some trouble makers.  Not really.  But they are testing my patience.

Let's start with Mitzi.  In the morning, when the girls get a bit of free range time during chores, Mitzi likes to wander the pasture, all by herself.  Everyone else responds to the "treats are ready" call and runs back to the run.  Except Mitzi.  Trying to herd her back to the donkey yard is a test of back and forth, back and forth, etc.  Yesterday morning I lucked out and got her in one try.  Huzzah!

Peggy Sue, who has a painfully naked back from the roos, will not keep her saddle pad on.  Her friend of the same size (and color) has kept hers on for weeks.  But not Peggy.  If it stays on a week, we're lucky.

One time I found it hanging from her neck.  How she accomplished that I can't fathom.  She had to slip  it off both wings.  Clever girl.  (heavy sigh...)

The list goes on but let's conclude with the darn boys.

That first day I let the new girls free range with the gang, all hell broke loose.  At the end of free range.

Sharone and Pippi flew into a fight that scared the you-know-what out of me.  I was sure it was going to be to the death.  Thank goodness Rick was able to catch Pippi with the use of a towel and we put him in isolation time out (aka the porch) until bedtime.  When he joined the group to go to bed, there was no further fighting nor has there been any since.  Had to be territorial behavior over the new girls.

And then we have three relatively passive, though noisy, donks.  A morning casual amble.

 

New Beauties Arrive

 In this time of everyone with two square feet of land deciding they need hens, chicken life gets a bit complicated.

Because our two roos have favorite girls to romance, and back feathers are disappearing, I decided it was time to add to the flock.  Give the boys some new pretty ladies to cozy up to.  I asked three people with chickens if they wanted to re-home any of the older girls, no older than three years.

Nope.

Step 2, put a post out on a local chicken FB group.  One woman I'm familiar with said she had some 1-yr olds, barnyard mix, that would cost $25 per bird.  Are you out of your mind, lady??  I've never paid close to that and I have to believe it's all due to the cost of eggs and the world becoming chicken farmers.

Received a couple more responses and I was on the verge of getting more details on one when a woman piped up and said she had three 2-3 year olds she'd part with - for free.  Now we're talking!

Let me introduce you to the beauties.

 Tentative names:  the Rhode Island Red is a drama queen so she's Queenie.  The Black Australorp is Joelle and the Plymouth Blue Rock is Mitzi.  

They've been segregated since they arrived on Thursday the 22nd but everyone needs more room so tomorrow the yellow door is flung open and they'll intermingle for the first time during free range.  Gives the new girls space to flee when they get harassed and it's a sure thing they will be.

And Pippi, the sex fiend will probably be the first to introduce himself.  Lordy...

Here they vocalize with the song of their people.

Oh, and we finally got the saddle pad adjusted for the little white girl so it stays on.  She was not happy with it initially, but I have to believe that little back that's now protected is happier.

Habits Are Hard To Break

 This year was a bit amazing.  I let the donkeys out on pasture the end of April.  That has never happened before.  The norm is mid to late May.  Wow...
Of course the donks think this is as it should be.

Every time I open the pasture gate, their heads go down immediately.  They feel compelled to start munching at the same spot every day.  Of course in a bit they spread out, but those first minutes follow the unwritten rule.

Same goes for the clucks.  They know I usually open the porch door first so it is the gathering place.  Yes, they know when it's around free range time.  

This group of girls don't seem to spend afternoon nap time (after free range) in the run.  Quite interesting.  Previously the girls would nest in the dirt or on the ladder and take a siesta.  I'm not seeing it now.

 You may have noticed one of the little white girls has on her saddle pad but the other has a bald patch.  We've tried twice to get a saddle pad on that sorry looking back and it comes off.  I need to figure out how to adjust the elastic without causing it to rub on her back.

Another routine -- hauling a few bales from the trailer to the barn.  We've done it so many times we have our roles sorted.

This is still last year's hay and it's a bit sorry looking.  The donkeys will be thrilled when new first cutting comes in.

Donks Gone Wild

 When I originally gave thought to today's blog post, I imagined showing you signs of spring at our teeny tiny farm with the putting up of the windmill -- added bonus a donkey chewing me out --

and telling you Pippi is a sex fiend,

and showing you the Olympic mountain climbers.

But then yesterday happened.  As you will guess as I tell the tale, there are no photos or video.

One of the next door horses managed to find his way into our driveway, twice.  The second time he was right next to the donkey fence, munching grass.

culprit in the foreground -- on the correct side of the fence

After the horse was taken back home, I decided to sit out on the driveway with the donka beasts since it's too early to open the pasture -- I want the grass a bit taller.  On the other hand, the driveway grass is halfway to lush.

My best guess is the donkeys were riled up by the visitor so as soon as I opened the small gate to the driveway, they took off.

Let me explain we have a strict pattern to be followed for this routine.  First I open the gate to allow donkeys into the driveway, I follow with a chair and lunge whip.  They start grazing within a few feet of the gate and I trundle down the drive where I park my chair and stand guard.

Well, that sure didn't happen.

All three took off down the driveway, kicking with excitement.  I was sure they were headed for the road but thankfully they veered off into the wild field between the pasture and the road.  

Without dragging out the details, I'll say I was able to get Rick, by then the donks had calmed down and we drove them back to the gate.  Let me add it was during the hullabaloo I discovered a dead spot in my phone service - right where I was standing by the donks in the field.  Of course!

Perhaps I'll try again in a few days when I have time to sit with them.

And everyone remains calm...

Scenes From a Teeny Tiny Farm

 No need to set the scene.

On a  dry morning.

                                                            Three wooly beauties

* * * * * * Vegan Delights * * * * * *

I've seen and tried recipes that are meant to substitute for tuna fish, using chick peas, but I was never impressed.  Until now.  I think I found the keeper.  Makes enough for three sandwiches so once you make a batch you're covered.

Vegan Tuna

I think the only changes I made were omitting the capers, because I didn't have any, and using some (old) dulse flakes in place of the nori sheet.  I'll make sure I use the nori next time - my dulse was flat.  The key for me is also the texture.  I really mashed up the chick peas to get a smooth texture.

Hot Slop Reappears On the Menu

 Those readers who are Michiganders have experienced first hand the ups and downs of recent March weather.  Last week a day topped out at close to 70, the next day it was 40.  Typical.  I don't think the chonkeys are crazy about the fluctuations either.

Anyhoo, I made the executive decision to reinstate Sunday morning hot slop as the temps had dipped... again.  Little did the donks know their favorite breakfast was on the way.

  And when the wagon rolled in, and yes they recognize the bucket and smell of tasty treats, they were beside themselves with joy.

Yum, yum, yum

In other news, the deer have been active.  Look carefully for the small group moving through the trees.

"Wait for me!"

* * * * * * Vegan Delights * * * * * *

I made this new recipe for dinner last evening and it was a hit.  

Broccoli Casserole

So easy to substitute vegan ingredients -- I used Earth Balance "butter", organic rice milk, Violife cheddar.  

I think we almost liked it as much as Sugar enjoyed her hot slop. 

You'd Think It Was Spring

 What a sense of relief!  No more (almost) ice and snow.  It's an extra bonus that the temps are warming, but I saw an internal attitude change even when the temps were still in the 30's.  And the turnaround, in both mood and ground conditions, was so quick.

Let me show you.

Total ice, Feb 25

 

Fooler ice, March 2

You walk out of the house thinking you've got clear sailing, but...

... this is what you encounter about halfway to the chonkeys

So treacherous trying to get to the donkey gate.  Shavings to the rescue.

And now it's gone!!  Pretty much.  I think it only took about 36 hours.  Amazing.

The donks have been enjoying luxurious sun baths in the pasture and the hens and boys have a snow-free run to frolic in.  Wait, do hens frolic?

Speaking of boys, Pippi and Sharone appeared to have a morning yodeling competition a couple of days ago.  I caught the tail end of it for you.

Kooky Rooster

 Not quite sure what Pippi was trying to accomplish.  Prepping a nest for himself, one of the girls, or just being uniquely Pippi?
I had just refreshed one of the rarely used nesting boxes with new shavings.  And then there was this. 

I saw him do the same thing again (different nesting box) but didn't bother to interrupt him -- what's the point.

Here he plays king of the mountain (of manure).  He's a nut, but what a good lookin' boy.

Michigan Winters = Ice

 The only thing to talk about this week is the weather.  Yuck.

As you all know, I can tolerate the snow, but the ice, no.  And of course, as is its nature, the driveway hard-packed snow turned into a lovely shade of ice when the temps warmed and promptly fell.

It was definitely cleat season.  And paths of shavings, particularly at the donkey gate.  That ever so teeny slope can be treacherous for humans and donkeys.

Since these photos, we had a touch of snow so I've put the cleats away for the moment, but they are at the ready!

To top it off, we have developed a manure garden.  Frozen solid to the ground.  Impossible to get up with the manure fork or a regular shovel.  Let the good times roll.

And this is only part of the manure scene...

Pippi and Peggy maneuver around the poop to help the donks with a meal.

The forecast for this week is more snow and maybe, if we're lucky, some freezing rain.

****** Vegan Delights ******

One of my favorite Costco musts are these gems.  Vegan, deelish and not too sugar-filled.  Lovely with a cuppa.

I'm so pleased that Costco is holding their ground against the current pressure.  Stand firm!

 

The Boys Are Growing Up

Today we're highlighting the two gentlemen of the flock.

Sharone, two years old this spring, continues to be the best boy.  Watches over the girls, breaks up squabbles (usually between Pippi and one of the girls) and is never (knock on wood) aggressive.  He knows his name and when I ask him to move while I'm cleaning up, he agreeably obliges.

 And, as we all know, he is such a handsome devil.

Any trepidations I had early on about having a first-time rooster have long dissipated.

And then there's Pippi.

I really can't complain.  His low level aggression has subsided.  Every once in a while I'll get a peck or two on my boot, but he doesn't have a power stand off with me as he once did.  And when I tell him to move, he usually obliges without incident.

His relationship with the girls is another story.  They're very accepting of Sharone's advances, but resist Pippi and when they verbally resist, Sharone comes running.  Yet the two boys have not tangled, at least that I've been witness to.

 

Sharone as a youngster

Pippi, last year at three months

Here's to the boys

Wintry Michigan Donks

 We're going to pause reality for a moment and pretend it's not -150 F outside right now.

Here is the loveliness of winter in Michigan.

Here is the loveliness of winter in Michigan with donkeys.

Here is the loveliness of winter in Michigan with snowy derrieres.

Rest assured the donks are blanketed with extra bedding.  And the clucks are tucked into a cozy coop. 

Grab Me A Poultice, Will You

 In the seven years Sugar and Spice have lived here, neither girl has had an abcess.  Until now.  Of course.

Apparently Spice saw all the attention Gabby got with her owwy foot so she decided to play along.
Poultice #1 went on yesterday.

Long time farrier, Koren, has a phrase to help remember which of the two is rambunctious during hoof trimming (Gabs is usually an angel).  So if we remember "Spice is nice" we know who to watch out for.  Except this week.  I tried to pick out her hooves to see if her gingerly walking mode was a simple matter of snow packed hooves.  She was feisty as could be.  I had to get help.  Now come on, that's donkey care 101.  During the poultice operation she was a beast two or three times, but it's on.

Of a bit lesser concern, but still on the list, was a malfunctioning bird bath heater.  An "official" heater was a bit pricey so Rick opted for one that he thought would do the trick.  But it ended up being too high.  So we stole the heater from the donkey trough for the bird bath and gave the donks the bigger version.

Perfect!

During the winter the girls tend not to crab at each other as much.  Particularly during meals.

You'd probably not see this often in the summer.