The mail-order layer chicks we got while the kids were here from Germany are growing like weeds. They are now out in the hen house, in a big dog kennel that Greg modified for them. He has it mounted on top of the layer boxes. One of the wheaten-colored Marans keeps laying her eggs on top of it!
I have found the coolest little bird's nests around the horse corral. They are made out of horse hair! I can see Skipper's hair and Gabby's hair all mixed up in them. They were both just laying out there on the ground, in two different spots. I stuck them in a baggie and put them in the freezer for a couple weeks to kill any bugs. I'm going to add them to the dried-flower arrangements I made from the field flowers I have collected around the property.
Greg has been getting things ready for the horses' and sheep's winter maintenance. He added field fencing to the twisted wire horse fencing that was already there, out around the pasture behind the red barn so that the sheep will have some free-range grazing over winter (these sheep will forage under the snow for any bit of grass they can find). He has also pulled out the old wooden feeding troughs and fitted cattle panels to the stall walls, at an angle, to function as hay feeders. I think it is ingenious of him to come up with this system.
The old ones he took down were made of really nice, sturdy oak which he plans to build some furniure out of in the future.
Here is some he piled up in the horse barn for feeding to the equines.
Our little farm is really coming together.
Brenda, your baby chicks are so cute! Looking like you are ready for winter too. How are the sheep? Angie and Wayne went home and I took down electric fences and played with the sheep and dogs today.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Sarita
Thanks, Sarita. The sheep are doing well. My next post will be all about them. I really need to get out there and take their pictures.
ReplyDeleteWinter is coming!
Brenda, when I had horses I also found those tiny little nest and someone told me they were hummingbird nest...I can not say that for sure. I also thought they were little wren nest.
ReplyDeleteThe lady who has been teaching me to spin told me what they were, but I can't remember now. She has a bunch of them that have her hair in them. I will ask her again. I like to tease her that she knows everything! She has certainly been a plethora of information for me! I just wish she knew about Icelandic sheep! She raises angora rabbits and used to raise angora goats.
ReplyDeleteThe baby chicks are precious. I wanted to raise some Icelandic chicks but figured I'd better wait till spring before I got myself into any more trouble LOL! Can't wait to see more pictures.
ReplyDeleteSandy, I hadn't heard of Icelandic chickens. We have a variety, but really like the French Marans. They are a dual purpose bird and very hardy. They lay lovely, dark brown eggs. They are usually very large eggs and sometimes they are so dark they look almost maroon. I think in the spring we will get some more maran chicks, plus a rooster, then start incubating the fertilized eggs to raise for ourselves, and maybe to sell.
ReplyDeleteBrenda - thanks for sending me here for a look from the ISBONA board. VERY clever hay feeding system! Your blog is quite nice! All the best, and thanks again!
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