It’s been a very stressful few weeks.
But I can always count on my Mom to find ridiculous chicken related things at flea markets to brighten my day.
I got this in the mail from her along with some of our family heirloom glass chicken decorations….
I hadn’t opened it until today.
Realized I can squeeze it- and now I can’t stop 😂😂😂🤦🏻♀️
🤡🤡🤡
Thanks Mom. I love it 💕😘
Relocation of a rat snake
Derpy rat snekkie finding a better suited super snekkie condo called the woodpile. He was found wrapped around my rain gutter. Hopefully ole boy here finds some mice for us.
Rat snakes- also known as chicken snakes play a key role on our farm in rodent control. We keep them around. They are non venomous- and don’t look for human contact. Yes. They are more afraid of us than we are of them.
We have a pretty healthy population here. Thus- we encounter very few field mice in our feed rooms or in our chicken coops.
The Rat snakes have never bothered our chickens- and from time to time we find one keeping warm under a sitting hen- having an egg for a snack. That’s ok too. We move them out carefully to the wood pile- where they are occasionally given an egg in the hopes that my feable attempts at bribery will keep them on the property.
This little fella was about 4 feet long. He did bite me as I untangled him from the rain gutter- but only because he was scared.
#letsnakeslive
#louisianasnakes
#EcosystemSupport
Silly cows
So the gals across the street decided to push down the gate and have some snacks in the lawn across the road.
We knew it was coming. We’ve sat and watched them test the gate for a few days. Just glad we were home when they did it. The hwy is full of grain trucks and they’d be in danger if they wonder too far.
LB and I wrangled them back in. It’s pretty easy really. Just a lot of “Hup hup move it along ladies” and -they know they aren’t supposed to be out so they go back the way they came….
Some were piping hot mad- like that grass is gourmet or something 😂
Anyhoot- my girl Bessssaaaaayyyyy #28 came to say Hi. She’s my best girl and loves her some chicken feed. She’s the only one that didn’t want to take my life for making her go back in.
#cowlife
Broody egg check time!
Springtime is Broody Hen time at The Roo. We have 5 hens sitting. Electa lives in a different coop.
Some- like Lilith are old pros- Lilith hatches like a machine every ten weeks. She’s used to me sticking my hand under her to ensure she only has her designated eggs.
Lil Orphan Annie- still learning the ropes. She’s been brooding for two days with no eggs under her. So I gave her two today. She’s a screamer….😂🤦🏻♀️
Silla and Sh!tbrick are learning. Silla lets me do my thing- Sh!tbrick still pecks me.
Each have two. All went broody within a week of each other. First hatch is due May 1st.
Be fun to see how each Mamma hatches out organically with the others and see if they co raise or see if someone abandons and if someone else picks up the slack…..
Managing 5 broody hens is a full time job. Normally I collect once a day- but these girls will switch boxes and steal eggs when no one’s watching- so I spend a lot of time “watching”
Making the brine for our Bourbon and Molasses Pickled Eggs.
The bourbon spontaneously ignites each time we bring it to a boil and add a splash of Balsamic Vinegar. Like a Jack in the Box it makes me jump each time it happens 🤭
Maker’s Mark is some gooooood stuff
😂😂😂😂
These eggs are going to be Fiyah!
I mean……can you get any cuter?
I think not.
Welp. It’s wet.
Seems like we can’t catch a break and dry out.
Chester’s new family sent an update and I’m crying…..again lol
His adoptive Mamma accepted him and he’s on her like white on rice
My heart sings!!!!!!!
Just one week ago Chester was on deaths doorstep. With a lot of love- snuggles- sleepless nights- and soooooo much milk replacer- just look at him go!
Rooster intro
Cash meeting the boys.
Cash came to us thru the rescue with his brother Maverick.
Both are gigantic Barred Rock Roosters about 15 months old.
My boys are about 10 months old.
Allllll are in the sweet throws of rooberty where hormones rule and reason is out the window.
They (Cash and Maverick) didn’t fight with eachother but Cash would keep Maverick pinned on a roosting bar so we had to hang feeders up high.
We thought we would try to integrate Cash into one of our bachelor pads with four clutch mate boys.
We kept Cash in a huge crate for two weeks inside their space.
Today was introduction day and I must say - I am over the moon with how peaceful and smooth this is going.
After several hours we’ve had not a single sparring or squabble.
More proof that roosters make fabulous companions- are worthy of love and respect- and do not have to be flipped upside down or terrorized to be gentle and well mannered.
#roosterescue
#respecttheroosters
#ItCanBeDone
Barney has learned to not attack me- now he just stalks me with his Sucio Gringo Gang 😂😂🤦🏼♀️
Baby!
My favorite Mamma #28 had her baby today while I got to look on. She was in the front pasture for about three hours- and finally her baby was born.
It was so amazing to witness and she’s a good Mamma. She calfed twice last year.
She’s my best girl and loves scratches and notches from the fence line- and she’s always ready for a handful of feed.
These girls don’t belong to our farm- but we are tasked with keeping count of calfs- safety concerns with predators that we report back to the ranch owner and general eyes on his remote herd. In exchange for our ever diligent eyes we often receive gifts of bales of hay or bale rings.
It’s a fair trade. I love these girls and they’ve been my herd of his cows for over a year.
Such a joy to watch today.
This little stinker will be the death of me.
The girls are having their second introduction to Annie. Annie just wants to play. Jinny isn’t so sure yet but little Jambalaya is all in.
Fred has been behaving his bucky ass and is standing guard at the divider gate- not letting the horses thru 😂
Pete and Penny did have their intro as well. Penny got very playful and vocal. Pete was more stoic- as he always is- and had some soft whinnys and nudges.
Looks like it is a success!
Breakfast time at the Rooooo!
Fred is our buck. He stinks. He makes weird noises. He snorts a lot. He drinks his own pee…..
But he’s a sweet gentle boy who has never reared up on us.
He is always down for some horn rubbin.
Sweet Fred.
