Tag: chickens

Summa Summa Summatime

denisemor 2 July 23, 2017July 23, 2017

Over a month without any measurable rain.
Grass is starting to dry out, but berries are still going strong!

Already harvested my small crop of black currants and made them into jam.
Raspberries just keep coming, and blueberries are just now starting to ripen.

Baby chickens are hardly babies anymore- about 12 weeks old now, and we’re starting to get a sense of how many roosters are among the brood.

They are still really cute, and I keep hoping that a couple especially pretty (handsome?) ones are hens.
It’s pretty certain that all new roos are going to have to go- either to new homes or to the freezer.

In sheep news, the downed poplar tree is still producing some new foliage, so the feasting continues (at least when I come out and pull down some branches for them).

Branches make the sheepers so happy.

And I’m pleased to report, I officially finished the Dottie Oregon Vest!

Zipper is in and, it’s a good fit. I’m so happy with it that I’m almost looking forward to Fall and the weather cooling off 🙂

Speaking of Oregon, I was just down in Portland last week for work, and found some lovely souvenirs at the local yarn shops.

The greens seemed to be calling to me this time.

I think that they are going to turn into a Zephyr Cove shawl,

perhaps with a twist of juicy tangerine thrown in to make it pop.

Pop!

Can You Spot the Chicken?

denisemor 2 April 28, 2017

in this photo?

How about now?

Yep. She’s hiding out under the deck.

I’m happy to see her, as I kind of assumed she was nabbed by an eagle about 3 weeks ago.

But I’m also worried about the spot she’s chosen to raise her babies.
There is no nesting material down there except some landscape cloth, and it’s far away from food.

I’d put some food out nearby, but I worry that it might attract rodents.

I’m thinking of possibly moving her, but I don’t have any experience with this. I imagine I should wait until all the viable eggs are hatched out?

There are still eggs beneath her, but I also heard peeping, so at least one chick is hatched.

Suggestions welcome.

Think Like a Chicken

denisemor 0 August 14, 2016August 14, 2016

Chickens are not known for their smarts.

But they can be fairly independent-minded and sneaky.
The new crop are pretty much fulltime “yard chickens” now, though they do go back to the shed at night.

(Stumpy the rooster is hiding in the shadows under the rhody)

There are probably 8-9 girls who should be laying regularly right now, and I’m only finding 3-4 eggs a day.
So it seems clear that some of these crafty girls are hiding eggs.

I’ve been hunting around, but there are countless places on our property that they could be tucked away.

Also, one of the new Speckled Sussex girls is currently unaccounted for.
It could be that she has fallen prey to some wild critter, but I haven’t seen any evidence of an attack (usually there would be feathers, or some other sign of a struggle).

I can’t help but wonder if the is hunkered down somewhere out of sight sitting on all those missing eggs.
I guess only time will tell.
Until then, I will continue to try and think like a chicken, and hope that it lead me to their secret stash.

And though it seems at times that chickens have overrun the wool blog, I am still actively engaged in “wool work”.
In fact, I finally got the rest of this years’ Frank/Felix fleece washed up today-

But I’ve been mostly focused on working up some new hats for the Bow Little Market Fiber Day, which is coming up fast!

If you’re in the area on the afternoon of Thursday the 18th, please stop by and say “hey”.
I’ll be there with knits, yarn, and carded fiber.

Hay Day!

denisemor 0 July 23, 2016

The hay is here!

Lovely 2nd cut local grass hay, stacked in the sheep shed.
And that makes me so happy 🙂

of course, the chickens think it is for them (think jungle gym)

Crazy chickens.

Oh- also wanted to mention that I’m planning to participate in the Bow Little Market Fiber Day on August 18.
I’m a little better organized this year, and even have a sign!

Should be lots of fun. I’ll have hats, yarn, and fiber- and a bit of a knitalong thing going!

So if you’re in the area, please stop by and say hi, and maybe knit a few rows-