Category Chickens

The Free Range Flock

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These hens have been free ranging all winter.  As in they are loose in the barn so can come and go as they choose.  On Tuesday morning they collectively left the barn.  Done.  I don’t know how they decide this, but suddenly they are all done with staying in the barn.  Some went down to the field to visit the cows.  Some wandered up to the house to visit me.  They stay on my paths which are nicely dusted with hay.  We don’t plow the lawn so have to carry all the hay down to the barn, which clearly Hades and his ladies appreciate.

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Another eighth of The Center Garden

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The morning began with Odin making his escape into the pasture to be with Abba. They have been separated for weeks as I've assumed Abba was pregnant: Odin, (ahem) didn't make the same assumption so 'visited' Abba today to make, you know, to make sure the 'job' was in fact done. Add 'fix Odin's pen' to Kelly's to-do list.

The morning began with Odin making his escape into the pasture to be with Abba. They have been separated for weeks as I’ve assumed Abba was pregnant: Odin, (ahem) didn’t make the same assumption so ‘visited’ Abba today to make, you know, to make sure the ‘job’ was in fact done. Add ‘fix Odin’s pen’ to Kelly’s to-do list.

This morning I began construction (loosely speaking, verryyy loosely!) of another brick walk way and turned over another patch of grass.

This morning I began construction (loosely speaking, verryyy loosely!) of another brick walk walk and turned over another patch of grass.

My good friend Pecky helped me, standing close by to eat the tiny shiny beings I revealed. Fortunately she wasn't in the mood for earth worms.

My good friend Pecky helped me, standing close by to eat the tiny shiny beings I revealed. Fortunately she wasn’t in the mood for earth worms.

She has something in her mouth here, just can't see it! The Mean Barred Rock is The Mean Barred Rock because of the way she treats the other hens. Pecky is Pecky because she loves to peck around for food.

She has something in her mouth here, just can’t see it! The Mean Barred Rock is The Mean Barred Rock because of the way she treats the other hens. Pecky is Pecky because she loves to peck around for food.

The Center Garden

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This is a narrow glimpse of my newest project - making the large centre perennial garden into The Center Garden. A real garden - of veggies!

This is a narrow glimpse of my newest project – making the large center perennial garden into The Center Garden. A real garden –  veggies!

And here is that same corner of The Center Garden with its new arbor.

And here is that same corner photo taken from the opposite side of The Center Garden with its new arbor.

One of the Ploska Twins, a Barred Rock (sans name!) and Sweetie Hen - begging to get into The Center Garden so they can wreck it!

The Remaining Ploska Twin, The Mean Barred Rock! and Sweetie Hen – begging to get into The Center Garden so they can wreck it.  Note the row of emerging peonies, they frame The Center Garden.

Hades is roosting alone these days. It's taken me a few days to remember to take the camera down for evening milking. And a few shots to figure out the best nighttime settings on the camera. The Greek Ladies and Mary Penguin have moved to the rafters to roost, leaving Hades alone.

Hades is roosting alone these days. It’s taken me a few days to remember to take the camera down for evening milking. And a few shots to figure out the best nighttime settings on the camera. And it is still blurry because he kept moving.  Bear with me – as you’ll see the photos get better.   The Greek Ladies and Mary Penguin have moved to the rafters to roost, leaving Hades alone.

The Greek girls roosting with Mary Penguin, in the rafters.

The Greek girls roosting with Mary Penguin, in the rafters.

My son, William, came into the barn and felt bad for Hades, he picked up, a bit of a flurry there! and moved him to the rafters, Mary Penguin moved away! William's interpretation of this was that Mary Penguin moved so he could settle between herself and the girls and no one's feelings would be hurt. I gave up trying to photo all their roosting spots because Mary Penguin went out so far out of the frame.

My son, William, came into the barn and felt bad for Hades, he picked him up, a bit of a flurry there! and moved him to the rafters, Mary Penguin immediately moved away.  William’s interpretation of this was that Mary Penguin moved so he could settle himself  next to Hera, Hecate, and Hebe,  and no one’s feelings would be hurt. I gave up trying to photo all their roosting spots because Mary Penguin went so far out of the frame.  My interpretation – Mary Penguin does not want to roost near Hades at all!  And if you look carefully at the photos, you’ll see that Hades’ Ladies moved down the rafter as far as they could, I don’t think they want to roost with him either.  He may need to check his BO!

Hades and his Ladies

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