Tag: rural living

Chicken Secrets

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The girls can often be found out on the yard, head to head, telling secrets.  Perhaps they were discussing where to find the best morsels and treats to peck, or more likely, Henrietta was whispering the latest gossip into Little Red’s ear?

Henrietta:  “Hey Lil’ Red have you heard that latest about Bertha over there?  Don’t look, keep pecking, or she’ll know we’re talking about her again!”

Lil’ Red:  “Do tell!  I haven’t had a good cackle in a while!”

Well, I never caught the whole conversation, but it sounded like something about “wrinkled eggs.”  Aww, poor Bertha.

By the way,  for those wondering about the old crocks in the background, well, they’re Goose toys.  Rain or shine, in or out of the pool, they are good goose and gander fun…  and best of all?   They’re indestructible and thus provide hours of *dibbling  fun and enjoyment!

*Dibbling = chewing

 

Winter work

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When the wind blows cold, and the garden sleeps, the only thing that can get me outside is my critters!  I have to let them out, feed them, change water, clean out their hutches and sleeping quarters, and this week I’ve been thawing out their water troughs and founts!   We’re just barely breaking freezing during the daylight hours!   It is a bittersweet job.

While I know the chickens and geese stay healthy for my having done all this work, and I am sure on some level they appreciate it, it is none the less a dreary job in winter temperatures and/or the rain.

So, once my duties to flock are done I then come in to do house work and special projects.  This winter my special projects are:

  1. Redo the pantries (yes, curiously, there are two of them)
  2. Paint the bathrooms
  3. Work on my Etsy items
  4. Research historical facts for my book!!!  (I am very excited about this!)

The first project on the list is actually pretty easy, although making the trim was very time-consuming.   I wanted to add a trim of some sort like they used to do in the 40’s and 50’s but there are none to be had because they are no longer made.  Too bad I say, but I won’t let it hold me back.  I found a place with instructions to make my own, but then I ended up doing it entirely differently!  I pinch pleated and sewed them all down… That   took   a    v – e – r – y        l – o – n –  g        t – i – m – e.  Then I sewed on the Swiss Dot Red Grosgrain ribbon.

Here is what I was up against… as in literally.

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Before

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Crammed and packed in two layers, It was hard for me to get into the back to reach anything because it is over a three-foot reach!  The solution?  Remove the front boards off of each of the lower levels,  which then gave me about a two foot wide access.  To replace the lost shelf space, we then mounted a demi-shelf at eye level, and added new shelving across the bottom.

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Carpentry Done and first coat of paint applied

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NOTE:  Plumbing panel to the bathroom tub is not blocked.  The shelf is braced on the panel, but not nailed in place to allow for easy access.  Light items only here.

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Now that I am done painting, I’m waiting for the paint to dry for 48 hours (so the cans won’t stick into it).  I am resisting the urge to just throw it all back in because I can’t stand the mess in my kitchen and dining rooms.  Ech!

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Skirting stapled into place…

OK, Done!

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Total cost to paint and skirt two pantries:  Under $15:00.

I’m happy!

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If they only had a brain

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The temperature dropped to 27 degrees just as the weatherman predicted it would.  I had made all the necessary precautions…

  1. Heat lamps for the chickens
  2. Plugged in heating base for the water fount
  3. Covered my little citrus trees and my precious succulents from California
  4. Hung the winter drapes

I was ready, “Bring it!” I boasted…

But what neither the weatherman nor I could have predicted was the hungry owl that would come in the night and steal away with one of my Guinea hens.  The chilling thing was that I heard the geese honking furiously last night at about 1:00 AM, and I should have known something was wrong!  Though I doubt there was little I could have done about it.  Owls, like hawks, gotta eat, and so it was that last night I lost another Guinea but to an owl this time.

The curious thing about Guineas is that they refuse to roost anywhere but up in a tree, which is fine if it is fully leaved.  But, when fall and the wind have stripped it bare it just doesn’t make sense, but then guineas have no sense.

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Things Guineas are most likely to do:

  1. If left by your fowl friends on the other side of the fence, then you run back and forth for hours crying till your little feet have run a track in the dirt.  You could fly over the same way you got in, but this will never occur to you.
  2. Run in terror from a little white fluffy Cockerel who is easily less than half your size.
  3. Screech out “WEE-choo,  WEE-choo, WEE-choo, WEE-choo, at the top of your annoying little voice… all day.  Every day.  Until the husband of the owner of the ugly, little, brainless, feathered fowl turns to you and says:  “I HATE THOSE NASTY BIRDS!”  Whereupon you remind him that he was tick free this summer and he acquiesces.
  4. Come rain, wind, or freezing temperatures, you will roost in the trees to be eaten by a large bird.

So now I have a choice to make.  Let them take their chances or put them in the freezer for dinners this winter.  I can order more in spring for tick control and I know it will make the husband happy, if only temporarily,  that I got rid of them. What would you do?

~  Epitaph For a Guinea  ~

If I Only Had a Brain

(with apologies to the original author)

I could while away the hours, conferrin’ with the flowers
Consultin’ with the rain.
And the dirt I’d be scratchin’ while
my thoughts were busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain.
I’d unravel every riddle for obtaining any viddles,
In sunshine or in rain.
With the thoughts I’d be thinkin’
I could be another chicken
If I only had a brain.
Oh, I would go inside to sleep at night,
I wouldn’t have to fear of  Owls in flight,
And then I’d live to see another day!
I would not be just a nothin’ my head all full of stuffin’
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,
If I only had a brain.

 

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Photo credit:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guinea_Fowl.JPG