I feel odd writing today, so quickly after the last post. That’s what happens when the schedule gets yanked around. This is a long weekend for me – we actually get Columbus Day (AKA Indigenous Peoples Day – depending on which camp you’re in) off! I haven’t had that day off since I worked at a bank or brokerage. Something like 20 odd years ago.  So we have some plans for the weekend. Continue reading →

If you read our last post, you may have noticed a hint of our newest arrivals. Sue has adopted 9 Ringneck Doves, from an older couple in Bisbee who needed to find a home for them due to health issues. They came to live with us in the middle of this week and are temporarily housed in one of the dog crates. They are dainty, pretty little things, even though some of them are in the middle of molting. They are settling in to their new environment and are even, almost, getting used to the dogs barking. Ringneck doves, also known as Cape Turtle Doves, are a gentle species of bird that have been domesticated for over 1,000 years. Though their original plumage was a mixture of browns and grays, they come now in a variety of colors, including fawn, pied, tangerine, and white. Ring-necked doves sound similar to pigeons in their cooing, and though they are not loud, they can be persistent. Some people find the noise soothing, while others will be annoyed at their cooing diligence — it is said that they rarely cease, but ours are very quiet for long stretches. The ring-necked dove is the most commonly kept companion bird of the dove family. Originating in Africa, these hardy birds can be found living happily in the wild in most of the Southern states. Because they are so hardy, they make a good choice for someone who doesn’t have the time to devote to a more attention-demanding bird. Continue reading →

Home improvements are a constant thing for most of us, right? Well, around here many of the home improvements are for the chickens! They out number us, after all, and we want to keep them happy and laying.  Happy chickens are productive chickens! Here are a couple home improvements that went on today. Continue reading →

I know that you’ve been hearing a lot about hay movements lately, but just one more report today and we’ll move on. Today, Sue hauled all the goat hay from the previous cleaning over to this side of the fence. Some of it she used to give the newest plantings a bit of mulch. This will help keep them from drying out so quickly since the rain has started back up. The remainder of it she put in the chicken runs. The photo you see, to the left, is little Maeve who quite quickly scratched herself a hole in the hay and got to work. Later, both she and Imen were submerged to their heads in the hay. I was sure the hay walls they had made were going to topple and cover them at any moment. So far, the walls – and the chickens – are still standing. Continue reading →