Scenes From a Teeny Tiny Farm

 Living "in the country" means sometimes things are done a bit basically, down to earth.
But let me back up a step.

This morning I texted the next door neighbor to tell her one of the horses was down and struggling to get up.  She responded almost immediately so I knew the horse would be helped soon.  However, the next text said the mare was going to be euthanized for reasons I won't go into here.  About 2:00 in the afternoon, as I was feeding donks, I saw two big piles of earth in the neighboring pasture and knew what that meant - Suzie the horse was being buried on site. To be honest I'm not sure I would have had the stomach for it, even if we had the right equipment to consider it.  It's pretty heart wrenching, especially with a large animal.  At least that's been my personal experience.  

OK, let's move on.

We've had above freezing temps overnight for the past week which has meant some significant snow melting.  Just take a look at the driveway.

Yea, so what's the big deal about that you ask.
The temps are now just below freezing at night which means some icing.  But with this lovely clear area down the middle of the driveway I have a pretty clear shot all the way up to the chonkeys.  No need for cleats and no need to worry about each step with the fear of slipping.  Huzzah!

With that melting we have a clearer picture of the damage done by the weight of the snow.

You're looking at the poles supporting the netting over the chicken run and no they're not meant to be in a U-shape.  Yup, the netting is partially on the ground so I worry about the hens getting their feet caught, but they're so eager to be walking around  in the no-snow zone I've not shut them out of the area. Rick says it will need to be rebuilt in the spring.  Oh good.

Next, hang on to your hats, it's a tour of the hay aisle..

 And how could we not include a pic of the three princesses.  We had an interior breakfast as there was the smallest bit of snow swirling yesterday morning.

  Princesses indeed...

Chickens Secretly Plan to Unionize?

 When last we spoke I was more than a bit fed up with shoveling paths and eating areas for the donks.  Well, over the past week I've continued to expand eating areas just so they can have a bit of walking around room.  And the ingrates do not appreciate the efforts and poop willy nilly in each of those areas.  So it means cleaning manure each trip before hay can be thrown.  I really wish one of you would speak to them about this.  

I think I also mentioned the donks wanted to venture out of the darn barn to dine.  No sooner was that statement out in the open than they refused to leave the barn.

 Sometimes its not worth trying to figure out their seemingly irrational behavior.

Its also that time of year when the latch on the hay aisle door is useless and we turn to baling twine.

  The snow and ice collects at the door and its impossible to close.  Earlier this past week it wasn't wrapped securely and the donks succeeded in getting the door open and helped themselves to Equine Senior stored in a garbage can (with a lid).  Yup, those noses can do just about anything given enough time.  Fortunately they didn't consume a dangerous quantity or we would have needed emergency medical treatment.

Speaking of medical treatment (on a small scale), last Monday I was worried about Sweet Pea's comb.  I did not wait for the next morning but schlepped back out after dinner and schmeared her comb with an herbal salve from Fresh Eggs Daily.  And gooped her up a couple more times during the week when the temps were plummeting overnight.  This stuff has lemongrass oil, vitamin E oil and rosemary oil.  Her comb color improved markedly after the first application.

Each morning when I open the coop door, out pile the younger crew.  I walk in, turn the corner and there are Sweet Pea and JoannieLu in front of the heater.

 In this photo the heater looks threateningly red.  Please don't gasp and sputter.  The photo is deceiving.  It's not that red nor can they burn themselves.

But there is something afoot with the youngsters.  They seem to be innocently gathering but when I approach all conversation stops.  I'm suspicious and wonder what they're planning...

  

Snow Shoveling For the Darn Donks

 The two videos I'm going to show you illustrate what was happening two days ago.  Five inches of snow is not a big deal in Michigan, but this stuff was so wet and heavy.  One friend said it was heart attack snow.  Have to tell you, I was feeling my age.

This morning I fed the donks in the driveway so I could shovel an eating area - they were tired of eating in the barn and welcomed being outside in spite of the cold. (also being in the barn for extended periods means there's manure from one end to the other)

As for the chickens, we've been leaving the door to the porch open but leaving the radiant heater on (I've not seen anyone venture outside).  Many chicken keepers will rake you over the coals if they hear you're using a heater.  And yes, I do understand the risks, BUT, I've seen my two seniors stand in front of it when they felt the need.  I am a bit worried about Sweet Pea; her comb may be frostbitten so I'll doctor it tomorrow morning.  Nighttime temps have dipped down to subzero numbers twice and it looks like we've got a couple more frigid nights in the coming week (then we're back up to double digits).  Hay and more hay for the donks and protein and scratch with corn for the hens.  

I also discovered today the heater for the chicken water was dying so had to look for a replacement this afternoon.  Guess how much that sucker cost -- $58!  But what choice did I have.

And two tines of the manure fork broke so that will be Rick's job tonight.
No more problems please.

On a smling note, my African violets are blooming - a first in years.  

Loss, Mud, and Shenanigans

So much news from the teeny tiny farm.

I'll start with the bad news.  Marigold died on Christmas Eve.  She had been lethargic and we had just started a worming regime, but she died the next day.  I will forever find it difficult to diagnose chicken maladies.

She was the last of the four girls adopted from the Michigan Humane Society in 2019.  She used to roost on top of the yellow door separating the two coop areas and I still hesitate before moving the door thinking she's up there.

It's never easy losing one of the girls when they've been part of the chicken family for years.

Moving along to the weather and how it impacts the ground.

For two weeks we had too much rain which meant we had mud and nothing but mud in the donkey yard.  There were a couple of high ground areas where we could throw hay to get the donks out of the yuck.  Felt like it would never end.  And then it froze.  And in all the places in the mud where humans and donkeys had tread, there were/are divets.  Deep divets.  Walking in the yard feels like a balancing act.  The donkeys choose their footing very carefully too.     

As I write this the rain has returned.  Donks have stayed in the barn all day.  Can you see me shaking my head?

I continue to find Sharone's behavior fascinating.  For a brief period while a freshman in college I considered pursuing animal behavior/psych courses.  But interests seemed to change every semester...

Anyway, just a couple of days ago for the first time that I have witnessed Sharone sounded the alarm to the hens.  Everyone quickly scooted into the coop, although two girls were in the barn hay aisle.  I saw nothing -- no hawks, no ground predators, who knows.

He continued to sound the alarm on a more subdued level, but wouldn't you know it, he hid behind the yellow door mentioned earlier as his hiding spot.  That's him right behind the mesh.

And then, Sweet Pea assisted him with the call to alarm.  

Sharone on the right, Sweet Pea on the left.  The urgency had dissipated but you can get a feel for the sound.

This surprised me.  Is she the matriarch being the oldest?  That sweet girl will be nine years old next month.  Equines lose their standing as they become elderly (witnessed that with Natural, when he went from king of the herd to a lesser standing with age).  But chickens?  Don't know.

Speaking of equines, we'll end this post with me herding the three ruffians from a walkabout around the house back to the donkey yard.  Do I sound I bit vexed?  Yes, yet another trip back and forth.