Slop Soup

 April is exactly the right time to clean out a straw filled chicken porch.  So much straw from the winter.

Exactly one and a half wheelbarrow loads.

Somehow I always get helpers during the clean up tasks.  Wanted or not.

Spice lent a hand, or head, just to ensure proper procedure.  Apparently.

And yesterday I discovered, after all this time, that Gabariella is a prima donna.  Sunday is always hot slop day, although in these temps it's more like warm slop.  Rain the night before had filled feed bowls with a bit of water. I was lazy and didn't dump the water, instead slopping the slop into the bowls.   So we had something on the order of slop soup.  Well, Miss Gabby said that was just a bit too sloppy for her and moved on to the second course of hay at the manger.  Sugar and Spice did not share her hoity toity sensibilities and worked hard at cleaning out the bowls.

     Meanwhile, the clucks swooned with delight at their oatmeal treat.

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Say Yes

Today's topic:  Smoothies :)

What is your favorite ingredient list?

I always add baby spinach just to make sure all the vitamins and minerals of leafy greens are hitting my system.  Most recently I tried a blend of frozen organic cherries, spinach, banana, and a pinch of spirulina.  Pretty darn good.  In the peak of summer, watermelon and blueberries are my favorites  Deeelightful.

Share yours, please, so I can get some new ideas. 

Windmills, Ladders and Hotdogs

 One of the manmade signs of spring at our house -- the windmill.  It goes up in spring and gets put to bed for the winter.  We've ended up having many of them over several years; the fabric deteriorates over time.  Rick has patched them, but there comes a point I say no, it's time.  Because the price has gone way up, last year I had to settle for a smaller version, but it still makes me smile every time I come down the driveway.

  Yes, at the end you were witness to three crazy donkeys claiming starvation.  Here they go into their posturing antics further.

Drama queens for sure

I asked Sugar for a nice close-up and she said, sure.  One of the few photos of that pretty girl without those wild eyes.

And then there's Helen, who almost daily insists she needs to make a nest in the straw bales.  Each time I have to pluck her out and put her in a coop nest.  I know she's not happy with me.

I can hear you asking, "Janet, why can't you leave her there".  Because of the dogs.  She tends to do this in the mornings and when morning chores are completed and I return to the house, two stinky dogs are allowed out.  I don't trust the dogs and Helen in mixed company.

By the way, I put an old wooden ladder in the run yesterday to try to provide some entertainment for the clucks.  They all scattered into the coop, absolutely sure that monster was going to eat them.  Today they weren't as skiddish so I put some seed on the bottom two rungs.  No one hopped up to snack off the upper rung.  I'm debating whether to put a hen on it and see what happens.

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Say Yes

I've tried all manner of vegetarian and vegan hots dogs and sausages.  In my humble opinion, these are most like a conventional hotdog.  No spices or flavor enhancements.  I'm not saying spicy, flavored versions aren't good (I particularly enjoy Field Roast), but if you're trying to emulate the meat version, I'd suggest these.  

 

Nifty Neighbors

 Not everyone is lucky enough to have neighbors like ours.  Quite outgoing, chatty, and good lookin' to boot.  Oh yea.

In the background - Blackie

In the foreground Matilda and Baby

These are the names I have assigned to the neighbors.  And Blackie knows his name.  You betcha.  With the snow gone, this is prime season to offer them carrots.  Blackie was familiar with the drill from years past, and Matilda is now getting the hang.  Baby finds the process quite curious.

 Long time readers will remember I get big bags of #2 carrots from a particular vendor at the county farmer's market; at our house they're designated "donkey carrots".  Donkeys do not get a vote about sharing with the cows and when they get a glimpse of me tossing treats over the fence they do express their displeasure.

I've yet to catch a good shot of Baby; he's getting more accustomed to me but still is not completely confident.

All three are a delight.

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I'm going to start a mini section of the weekly post with the thought of offering delectable vegan products, recipes, or other miscellaneous tidbits.  It will be called --

Say Yes

This week's featured item -- Kale, cashew, basil pesto sold at Trader Joe.

A few years ago I started making my own pesto with basil from the garden, but I'll admit it's not vegan.  This is a very tasty alternative and it is vegan.  I did add a bit of olive oil to the sauce as it was a bit dry for our taste.  Over some bowtie pasta -- easy, quick, and tasty.

Passive Aggressive Donkeys

The girls are obsessed about the Equine Senior.  The vet had advised to keep the donks on the extra feed until the pasture comes in.  Which will be toward the end of May.  So for now, the girls get extra rations on a daily basis and they L-O-V-E it.  In fact when I've provided hay and straw, but have not yet gotten to the Senior, they take matters into their own hands.  I get blockaded.

On this occasion, Spice planted herself directly in front of me, while Sugar had me blocked on my right.  The barn door was on my left so I could not move.  At all.  

Usually when I'm told what to do by the donkeys I dig my heels in and say "you're not the boss of me".  But, clearly...

Here I had tried to ignore the donkey directives but Gabby made sure to keep an eye on me while I was in the chicken coop.  And that right ear is fine tuned in my direction.  Clearly I could not escape.

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My intention for this post was to provide some close ups.  How anyone gets clear, in focus close-up shots of their clucks is beyond me.

a group shot pose (7 of the 9 girls).

Aha, gotcha!  Now the problem is I don't know if that's Lu(lu) or Joannie

Goldie paused briefly 

While Pegs demonstrates how climbing in the treat bowl guarantees success 

And my lovely girl Gabby willingly paused in mid bite for a glamour shot

As always we conclude with a shot of Luigi

Hope you're grazing happily, my boy

 

  

Smiles All Around as Weather Improves

 Last Monday, as I kvetched about in my post, I was still using cleats to traverse the driveway.  By Wednesday the ice had predominantly disappeared and cleats weren't necessary.  By Friday the mud had dried up significantly.  Isn't that amazing?

Although the chickens would only venture out on snow or ice very occasionally, the mud was another matter.  Mud didn't slow them down at all in investigating the donkey yard, after a winter of being cooped up.

In fact Marigold illustrates the fine art of mud puddle drinking.

Not to be outdone, Fluffy demonstrates ice water sipping.

Because the weather is conducive, the girls can now enjoy their afternoon exploration jaunts.  Getting everyone back in the coop has proved problematic the past few days, though.  Here the escapees investigate wild shrubbery.

While Sugar enjoys a sun nap.

Sometimes the girls rush into the coop after their afternoon exploration and rush to a nesting box.  Apparently my girls don't like to lay eggs out and about and prefer the comfort of home.

Turn your sound up for this one.  Here is the unique sound a hen makes as she makes herself comfortable in a nesting box, preparing to lay.  The only visual is flashes of her comb.

   

Typical Chonkey Shenanigans

 Most mornings follow a pretty standard routine.

Throw hay for the donks.  Let the hens out.  Clean up manure. Clean out the coop.  Throw straw for the donks and then give them Equine Senior.

Saturday morning things went on as usual.  Chickens played in the hay aisle while I cleaned.

But then --  there was a mild revolt!

Hay had been thrown in the pasture, but was abandoned.  Straw was abandoned as well.

(Although one of the hens wanted to investigate the straw.)

It seems the donkeys sent Sugar to the Boss Lady to negotiate for Equine Senior now.

Gabby was trying to appear aloof in the background to see how the talks were going.  Let me say we stuck to the boss' schedule.

But finally donkeys got what they wanted and hard feelings flew out the window.

As an aside, yes we still have ice on the driveway which means I still have to wear cleats (!!!)
I am not too proud to say I drive my vehicle out to the donks when I don't have to haul water, just to avoid the cleats.  Rick thinks it's silly, but I hardly let that deter me.

Today temps rose to the lower 60's.  So while we're experiencing a mudfest in the donkey yard, with areas of small lakes, there is still ice in the driveway.  If my prayers go answered, it will melt enough to allow a clear path all the way up the driveway.  

As yet another aside, those who have been with me for a couple of years know we established a Little Free Library in the summer of 2019.  Although many LFL stewards put their's outside their homes, ours is about 10 minutes away.  I hadn't been in a bit because of snow and weather considerations.  Today I drove over and this is what greeted me.

Books stuffed in every which way to the extent the door on the right would not close.  This is pretty typical.  And it drives me c-r-a-z-y.

The positive note is that users are indeed sharing books, but I just wish they'd figure out how to do it neatly.  Every time this happens I have to literally pull out every book and start re-arranging.

One can always hope.

Fabulous Luigi

Tidbits From the Teeny Tiny Farm

 The good news -- 

Do you hear the clock ticking?  Yea, not much good news.

Donkey blankets came off about a week ago and the girls were greatly relieved.

We've had some gloriously sunny days recently (although not today) and the hen girls are drawn to those sunny patches in the porch.

I thought Marigold was in a bad way not long ago.  She was lethargic, first sign of trouble.  Then Rick found an empty egg membrane hanging from her derriere.  Based on advice from a local chicken group she got the spa soak in Epsom salts and a blow dry.

  I don't think she was raving to her friends about the services...  Nor did she leave a tip.

I was worried about her, but after a couple of days she seemed to bound back, running around with the rest of her cohorts.

As for the bad news --

 Half of the driveway leading to the chonkeys is walkable.  We've experienced warming temps and freezing at night.  The cycle has again made the driveway treacherous, and I don't use that term loosely.  Even with cleats.  It's some scary stuff.

And what I could not bring myself to tell you last week -- we lost Lily.  Exactly one week after Luigi.  She had been in the basement for several days, to make sure she was warm and not being harassed.  The last few days we were hand feeding her with applesauce, yogurt and blended oatmeal.  And finally it became clear we had to let her go.

When Marigold showed signs of distress, I honestly did not think I could face it.

And I need not mention, sweet Luigi is missed every...single...day.