Found 28 hits.

Little Barn Coop Plans – FAQ – Housing

...the run. Even with these secure measures, we close the little door to the coop at night. Raccoons and fisher cats think nothing of climbing fences, ripping off hawk netting, and taking sleeping chickens. The rabbit is also latched into her hutch at night. Inside the barn are roosts. I like ladder-style roosts with round rungs (1 to 1 1/2-inch diameter). Older and heavy breed chickens find it easier to go up a ladder. Chickens like being able to arrange themselves at different heights. Also inside are the feeder, waterer and nesting boxes. It is essential that chickens have plenty...

Coop Dimensions And Design Criteria – FAQ – Housing

...air while sleeping. If possible, have roosts at varying heights because that helps with flock dynamics. A ladder-style roost is best, so that the heavy hens can hop up and down. There should be head room above the top run to allow for air flow. Windows: Sunlight is essential in a coop. Hens have very poor night vision. Even if it’s daylight outside, if it’s dark in the coop, your chickens won’t get moving, eating, or laying their eggs if they can’t see to hop off of the roost. Also, sunshine is a natural sanitizer. And, the hens appreciate a...

Animals IN Nursing Homes – HenBlog – Tuesday, October 21, 2014

...of her employees to “llama school.” This is the designated handler,   but anyone can pet Travis.   Not all of the residents can go outside. No problem. Travis comes in.   Animals bring the unexpected into a place where life is regimented by meal times, therapy sessions and visiting hours. My photographs failed to capture the sheer craziness and joy of the animals in this building. Not only was Travis plodding on his camel-feet down the carpet, but there was this young dog in training learning to work with his occupational therapy owner:   Along with Ellen’s two goldens,...

A California Visit – HenBlog – Wednesday, December 5, 2012

...kept chickens was tempting. I had always wanted to feed a carrot to a friendly llama. I wanted to meet the other Temecula librarians who were all Tillie Lays an Egg and HenCam fans. Donna said that she’d take me to a winery. I’m not a big drinker. I still might have said no, but then Donna offered to take me there on horseback. I couldn’t possibly refuse. (In the above photo her husband is leading their colt on the winery trail. I’m riding Gus.) I love the internet. Who, you might ask, was taking care of the animals back...

Chicken Coop Dimensions and Design Criteria – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 6, 2013

...coops have them on the floor) or the exterior covered run space. Interior air space: Chickens need to roost at least 30 inches up off of the ground, and have head space to do that comfortably. Roosts: 6 inches per hen. I prefer rounded roosts. Hens have special ligaments in their legs that lock in place when they sleep. This is how they can sleep without falling off the perch. To do this, they need to be on a round roost. If possible, have roosts at varying heights because that helps with flock dynamics. Windows: Sunlight is essential in a...

At the Fryeburg Fair – HenBlog – Monday, October 4, 2010

...spotted steers. Even bigger, was this oxen team. I think they were the gentlest animals at the fair. The owner says they work for cheese doodles and head scratches. I’d rather be around those massive oxen with their sharp horns, than this llama with her annoyed expression. There were also border collies herding sheep, ginormous draft horses, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, pheasants, and a whole barnful of rabbits! I thought about taking this Harlequin bunny home. But I didn’t. I did come home with maple sugar sprinkles and goat milk soap in the shape of a tractor, which was enough....

Worms – HenBlog – Thursday, January 21, 2010

...probably around 1890. It was unlikely that the soil harbored parasites. But, every time I bring in a new animal, or visit a friend’s farm and then wear the same clothes in my backyard (I should disinfect, but don’t, it all seems so benign at the time), I run the risk of introducing harmful pathogens and parasites. My first line of defense is that I’m fanatical about keeping my coop runs and paddock clean. There’s no manure build-up to host eggs and larvae. I provide the flock with food-grade diatomaceous earth (see the blog archives for more about this.) Instead...

A Good Farm Dog – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 20, 2014

...Jack Russell personality. Never met a stranger. His bold and dominant personality was charming but he took his territory quite seriously, and was vocal and alerted us to every visitor. His sister Annie was much shyer, completely bonded to me and quite delicate in confirmation. But it was Annie who was the superior hunter. Silent, careful and deadly. While Ernie was all bark and wiggling butt, Annie hung back, watched carefully, and quietly then went in for the kill many times. I always have bird feeders which attract rodents and all sorts of vermin. Both dogs completely ignored the birds,...

Dr. Sarah Stops By – HenBlog – Friday, May 10, 2013

...Caper are the cutest! How did they get their names? Terry Golson I named them. Seemed right :) Terry Golson I've been told by llama owners that finding a good llama shearer is like finding a pot of gold. Bobbie ADORABLE! I wonder Terry, do you have the same veterinarian for all your animals or does Dr. Sarah specialize in large animals? Jaumie So cute!! ;) Terry Golson Hi All - to answer the questions: the shots are for 1) rabies, 2) CD&T which protect against two dangerous bacteria and also tetanus. Terry Golson She does both dogs and large...

Caper Goes to the Vet – HenBlog – Thursday, May 13, 2010

...have a Pygmy goat and he was ALWAYS quite comical. One of the most intelligent and easiest animals I even owned. I'll pit their intelligence against a pig's any day! Goats usually freak people out....I'm assuming it's because of "those" eyes...and the fact that sadly people aren't around farm animals anymore. I just found your site the other day and am "enjoying" it very much! Mollie Jo Owner of 4 PET Chicken Girls Donna Hi Terry...I take my llama out for a walk after I have had a crummy day...It is hard to be grumpy walking a llama..We have been...

Black Gnat Season – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 30, 2014

...dashing! I bet he thanks you under his breathe when the other horses aren't around. Jean R He's most beautiful all by himself, but, if it protects him, I'll learn to love it. Terry Golson Really? Just swab some on? How could gnats not like the smell of vanilla? :) Terry Golson There will be more, soon! Donna My horses AND the llama already have fly masks on. I am worried about the summer and what it will be like. The flies are bad already. My llama has not spoken to me for 4 days. He is truly miffed that...

Rooster Puppets Giveaway! – HenBlog – Monday, April 16, 2012

...have. : ) Sarah These are incredibly cute! I am the asst. Director for a big summer arts camp that has story tellers (puppets are always needed), I also volunteer for a local k-8 elementary school that would love some time with them, and I also am starting homeschooling next year! Donna Oh my! The stories I could tell in the library with those roosters! Adorable! Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life These are darling. We are a homeschooling family that these would be wonderful for. We host a pre-school group once a week and I have four chickens so the...

Chickens and Dogs – HenBlog – Wednesday, May 28, 2014

...that they were not prey. His heard protector genes prevailed. They are his flock now. When we introduced the new corgi puppy, it happened all over again. Now both dogs help patrol the flock, even intervening with the rooster's 'advances' on the hens when it is 'too aggressive.' The roosters, dogs, hens all intermingle well. The roosters do like to grab some fluffy fur occasionally as the dogs walk by, and then act like they didn't do it. It's comical. We free range with our oldest Corgi guarding the flock all day while we are at work. He takes his...

January Thaw – HenBlog – Thursday, January 26, 2012

...I will be offering chicken keeping workshops again this spring! I'll be giving a free, "getting started" talk at the Chelmsford, MA Agway on Feb. 25 at 11 am. I'm also going to do a couple of programs here in my backyard this spring, which I'll be announcing on this blog. As far as the molt - some hens take only a few weeks to molt, some all winter. It's all "normal!" You're getting a good amount of eggs for your flock. It'll really pick up this February. Terry Golson My goats already have this! But, they prefer to rub...

Pie Party By The Numbers – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, December 3, 2013

...way. Melinda Terry, do you prepare/cook all the pies. Just curious how long it takes you to bake all those pies and are all pies sweet or some savory? I may try my hand at hosting an annual pie party just not so sure how to coordinate the event. Terry Golson I do all of the pies and all of the crusts. I blogged about how I organize the pie party here. This year, four were savory and the rest were sweet. Terry Golson Do make a pie! The apple pie looks rustic - it's very forgiving. Start with that....

Why Outside Roosts – HenBlog – Monday, July 13, 2015

...safe from them. In between preening, Veronica yattered away. But, up on the ladder, no one took notice of her. Not even the goats.   *Notice Veronica’s bare bottom. It’s nothing that I worry about. The skin color is normal, there’s no sign of damage from pecking. It’s not due to external parasites. My best layers often have bald spots. After last winter’s cold, snowy confinement, my flock is looking especially ragged. The girls won’t replace the worn out patches until after the molt late summer. They’re not up to beauty pageant standards, but that’s okay with all of us....

Vintage Cat Photo – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, March 25, 2014

...learning a lot from your site. Judy Meow, Meow! From two big ginger kitties in Washington, DC, to all the ladies and gentlemen at Little Pond Farm. We enjoyed everyone's blogs/tales about their feline friends :) Carolyn M I have two cats, three chickens and one dog. And they all get along with each other. I do think the chickens rule! Or at least they did when head hen Ginger was alive. She'd peck the nose of the cats and dog if they came too close. Ângela I have two kittens that I love and are my mates all hours....

Cure for the Common Cold – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 6, 2016

...it and enjoy my "girls"all the more when i get home. Feel better Terry and thanks for all the great posts!! :) Terry Golson Nothing worse than being sick while away from home. I'll be taking a llama training/care course in September! Not because I'm getting llamas, but because working with other species is enlightening about one's own. Are your llamas pasture pets? Guard llamas? Jean R Animals seem to be intuitively tuned to our health and moods. And we have to work so hard to be better attuned to them. Thanks for all the awareness that you pass along...

A Scary Day – HenBlog – Friday, August 14, 2015

...Thanks again for all you and Steve do, Terry! I love HenCam, and appreciate all your wisdom! Ken So glad things are going so well. Scary times when we have a really sick animal. Rebecca Happy News about about Pip!! And for all of you. I hiked once with a Llama here in the Smokies. It was a constant effort to keep him away from the rhodies. They want to eat everything along the trail. I was worn out after that hike worrying about him getting poisioned. Kris So glad Pip is ok!!! Great ending to a very scary story!...

A Cautionary Tale – HenBlog – Monday, August 11, 2014

...the parasites become resistant to the chemicals. So, it's prudent to use management techniques to interrupt the parasites' life cycles. Most of the parasites emerge out of the soil and climb up grasses - but it turns out that they only climb so high. So, if goats browse on tall forage, they eat above the parasite line. The best thing for goats it to graze in a field that is knee-high and above. If you can keep the animals off of the pasture until it is overgrown, that reduces the parasite load inside of the animal. Terry Golson I feel...

Thanks for the Carrots! – HenBlog – Thursday, June 19, 2014

...height so they do some rather ridiculous gymnastics there as well. Donna She's not FAT! She's FLUFFY! I had my llama sheared yesterday and the shearer says "Oh! He is a little round! Oh well! He will even out"...I have no idea what that means but I am buying it.....LOL Melissa She says she's merely preparing for another New England winter! Terry Golson Phoebe and I very much appreciate all of the excuses for her rotundity. Yes, she'll even out! And her head will get bigger, and she's all set for bad weather :) Nicolo Spring? Never heard of it!!...

An Odd Harvest – HenBlog – Monday, August 9, 2010

...in the past years! Terry Golson I love tomatilla salsa! Terry Golson When I was about 5 years old, and not allowed any pets, I kept a tomato horn worm! In a shoe box! Can't stand them, now. Even the chickens say they're too big and ugly to fuss with. Terry Golson Isn't it wonderful when kids eat cherry tomatoes like candy? Donna How funny! They are truly a disgusting looking thing! Terry, I could not have pets either..do you think we are on to something? Let's see...3 cats, 1 llama, 3 horses, assorted parakeets and 1 cockatiel, and 40...

Shedding Season – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 5, 2014

...this week..it is made of rubber and has rubber nubs or fingers all over it and you wrap it around a fence post! I would have bought one for the llama but it was $59.00...I bet you could find one cheaper online...not sure what you would look up? Rubber nubs might produce all kinds of weird results...LOL Jean R Pip's and Caper's Goat Maid runs a great spa. Thanks for reminding us of Mother Nature's recycling plan. Terry Golson I bought something similar for the goats. It's attached to the side of the barn. They ignore it. They say that...

Book Giveaway! – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, September 17, 2013

...Llama needs to be in there! LOL!!!!! Mary Honeyfield I'm a little partial to the chicken and dog photos since I have both those animals, however the pigs are so cute I think I like them best. Enjoy you whole site! Mary Honeyfield Just "liked" you on FB! Mary Honeyfield Shared your link on FB! Michele b I love them all but my favorite is the dog cover. I did share the link on facebook. Renata Carvalho All of them are just adorable! But I have to choose one, so I pick the dog cover. Julia The motoring dog wins...

Bainbridge Farm Goods Giveaway! – The Vintage Hen – Wednesday, September 12, 2012

...Beryl, a Buff O in the other flock has gone broody.... again. Sigh. Gust Front Farm Wow! I could use several of these signs because I have an organic garden, lots of varieties of berries, and chickens. Maybe I should get several and switch out which one I display according to the season... Anyway, if I could just pick one, I would get the purple "Farm Fresh Eggs" sign. Angela My fav is "5mph Chickens at Play", but they are all so cute! Elizabeth Anne (TX) They are all so precious. What a wonderful give-a-way! Hard to choose, but I...

How Many Hens? – HenBlog – Monday, July 30, 2012

...already know that I have a soft spot for the old, retired girls. Still, eggs are an essential part of the picture, and as such most people who go into backyard chicken keeping want to know how many chickens they should get in order to have enough eggs. I can’t tell you how many hens you need in order to have eggs to supply your table. First of all, the more eggs you have, the more you eat! You might think that two eggs a day is plenty, and then you start eating eggs everyday for breakfast. Secondly, how many...

Egger's Good Day – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 27, 2010

...those annoying hens, Siouxsie and Tina. The children fed her lots of cracked corn, and it was ALL HERS. No sharing. She was held and pet gently by little hands. This made her very happy. The children were happy, too. They tried to capture Egger’s beauty in their drawings. Of course, it’s impossible to paint a chicken who is so perfect in real life, but they came close. If you would like one of the “actresses who play Tillie” and me to come to your school email me (terry@terrygolson.com). Eggers, Betsy and Coco are all eager for more road trips....

Working From Home – HenBlog – Monday, April 5, 2010

Angela Mesquita Ah ... what fun life... God bless you for taking such good care of animals. I laughed a lot reading this story. bunnylady Glad u were home and saw it happen and got too him so quickly!! I all ways worry about my bunny kids doing something like that with their toys when I am away. I was @ work yesterday when we had a 7.2 earthquake here. I called my roomie and he said the bunny kids were a little freaked but ok. The cats though had total disappeared. They showed up when I got home thankfully....