Harmonious Hens

 In addition to our teeny tiny farm I have a teeny tiny (post-retirement) job.  The job summer schedule means  an adjustment in the blog schedule.  I've been consistent with Mondays for quite a while but looks like posts will be published on Wednesdays now after today).

As I look out the window (I always have my computer at a window) it's pouring and it's been hot hot hot.  Fans are whirring in the barn and coop, although I think the barn fan is about to poop out.

Speaking of fans, every summer I put a small one on the floor for the dogs.  I may have started this with Gunner.  Nowadays Faith and Phinny park themselves in front of it often.  Even when it's not on...

So far I've not seen heat distress in the chonkeys, knock on wood.  Donks like their casual amble in the morning when it's (sometimes) cooler.

And here they lined up perfectly for the paparazzi.

Let's end with the morning chorus from the hens.  This is their harmonious (?) song before I open the coop for the morning.

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.