Sassy died of old age. I love and spoil all my chickens, but a special bond with that one. None will ever compare, but all have unique personalities that I enjoy. I'm glad her passing didn't stop me from enjoying other chickens.
Would your silkie have been happy if she had been kept in? Would she have understood why she wasn't allowed to do what she loved? Forgive me if these questions seem harsh, but its coming from someone still grieving the loss of Heathers flock mate Sassy. Its been over a year now, and I still tear...
I know, we want our chickens to be happy. My opinion, for what its worth, is your chicken would not have been living her happy life if you had kept her indoors all the time for fear of what could get her outside. She was old, and as someone who is also really old, I can tell you our immune...
No, she is healthy but has mobility issues. She walks slowly as if it takes great effort, but she was a great grandma to the new chicks this spring. She enjoys going out in the sunshine and visiting the babies in the coop, but only if she's in my lap. Think she knows how vulnerable she is.
When you're ready, think about a cochin. Don't know about bantam, but my full size cochin is 13 years old, gentle and a lap chicken. She's currently living in a playpen in my spare room, cleaned and fed every hour cuz I bought gold sex links and they're just too aggressive for an old lady like...
I miss being able to free range my girls! The neighbors dogs have ruined my joy of sitting on the deck and watching the girls peck and scratch. They're still spoiled rotten, but from the confinement of the German shepherd proof coop/run.
Frost coming tonight, so all the peppers were picked and ready to go in the dehydrator. Removed the insect netting and put row covers over all the veggie beds and frost blankets over the houseplants that I haven't sprayed yet for moving in the house yet. So much to do for end of season! Oh well...
Sliced extra onions that i harvested from the garden earlier in the year and got the in the dehydrator this morning. My goodness the house is pungent right now, it was a good day to work outside while they're drying, lol
finally got around to that gallon bag of huckleberries I put in the freezer. Cooked them down and mixed them up to a barbecue sauce. Put up four pints and it came out amazingly good. Definitely those huckleberries have earned a permanent place in the garden. Like experimenting around with new...
All the fall crops are growing well, harvesting plenty for me and the chickens. All of the garlic that I planted on the 1st is up between 2-4 inches, coming along perfectly and ready for heavy mulching. Won't do that til we get our first frost though. Best news of all, not a single vole hole or...
Waiting for the afternoon to cool off enough so I can put on long sleeves, hat, gloves, boots, etc. Trying to sift out the compost for around the fruit trees, but the mosquitoes are in huge swarms and relentless! I need layers of protection from these killer mosquitoes. Maybe a hazmat suit...
Yes, I clean the whole coop every day. That's why I have sand, no bedding to stir, flip over or through or remove ever. And it only takes 10 -15 minutes to clean a 12x14 coop. The run? That's deep bedding except for right under the roost, and its a nightmare to keep clean. Both sides permanently...