Found 273 hits.

The Broody Hen – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...sometimes there is. She’ll sit on eggs that the others have laid. Sometimes a broody will kick a hen out of a nesting box and in her deranged state smash the very eggs that she’s claiming. Sometimes a broody will even sit on top of a hen that is laying. Incubation is three weeks and a broody hen might stay in a box for that entire time. Or longer. Some hens are genetically programmed to go broody. Some never do. There are breeds more prone to broodiness, such as the Cochins, Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. You might not see her...

Pecking Order – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...merge new hens into an established flock here. Sometimes the attacks seem endless and they can be severe. I’ve seen a hen jump on another’s back to pin her down and fiercely peck at the head. Chickens doing that can kill. Roosters don’t allow this sort of hen on hen attack, and stop it by interrupting the behavior. This is something that you can do, too. Sometimes all it takes is for you to pick up the bully and move her away from the hen that she is focused on. Do this a half-dozen times and she usually gets the...

Can I Keep Rabbits and Chickens Together? – FAQ – Housing

...It’s just not worth the risk. I provide hay, rabbit pellets and water. Phoebe, who sleeps in the coop, uses the chickens’ Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B00EORGCXO&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_b2e2237b0108d63d3dfd917eea1713f8 . In the winter, it’s Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B07MDYW16L&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_dda4a853701e0b27582145a88116cf6f , and she appreciates that. A rabbit might eat from the chicken feeder; mine have. That doesn’t worry me too much, as the bulk of her diet comes from her own pellets, as well as fresh vegetables, and in...

No Knead Bread – Recipes

...the New York Times food writer, posted baker Jim Lahey’s No Knead Bread recipe and it went viral. Since then there have been many variations. What follows is mine. 2 cups bread flour (this has a higher protein then all-purpose, but all-purpose will do if that’s all that’s available) 1 cup whole wheat flour (or you can use all white) 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast (this is different than the regular yeast. I use saf-instant) 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (I use bread salt from King Arthur) 2 cups water Stir the dry ingredients to evenly disperse the salt and yeast, and...

Apple Bread Pudding – Recipes

...bouncy. I’ve been reading diaries kept by a New York state farm family back at the turn of the last century. Supper was often what we’d consider dessert. They sometimes ate cream and berries for their evening meal, or had shortcake, or pancakes. This recipe, filled with eggs, which were precious back then, would have been an extravagance. But, they did love their ice cream, so I’ll have some, too. Leave out the sugar, add cheese, and you’ll have a savory dinner, sometimes called a “strata.” No doubt I’ll be scrounging around the in the kitchen soon, thinking there’s nothing...

Do Chickens Transmit Diseases to People? – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...the press. Instead, let’s go over what you need to know about the hens in your backyard. The biggest fear that many have is of Bird Flu. The first cases of H5N2 appeared in North America in December of 2014. This is highly pathogenic to poultry, but at this point is not a concern to humans. Cases in the news of people getting sick are almost always in situations in which many dead and diseased birds are handled in close and unsanitary conditions. Even in those situations, the symptoms are mild. There are no cases of human to human transmission....

The Molt – FAQ – Health and Behavior

...supplement formulated for molting pet birds, like canaries. These products are high in protein and the other nutrients needed for feather growth. I gave some daily to Lulu when she was molting, and her feathers grew back beautifully, glossy and thick. Feed stores stock supplements made for chickens. Calf-manna is a brand that’s been around for decades. They make a Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B0024E321O&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_042e8b20c7c171355231e809ed4ddfca that looks like laying hen pellets, but it’s obviously “manna’ by the distinctive anise aroma. They say that the spice helps palatability. When...

A New Blog – HenBlog – Monday, May 2, 2016

...reporting on a daily basis from the plethora of grim news going on in the rest of the computer world. Your oasis of calm and peace in a disturbing and unsettling world of war, politics, murder, and quarreling made a huge difference to me in my daily life. You brought humor, compassion, and insight into day-to-day living. You were active. You cared. You made a difference. You taught things worth learning with your chickens, your goats, your dogs, your horse, your cooking, your gardening, your trips, your family, your various endeavors. I could tell you about my Mexican burro, Jenny,...

Unseasonable Heat and Animal Care – HenBlog – Thursday, March 22, 2012

...in the sun cloaked in layers of fur. I’ll be checking their water bucket a couple of times today to make sure it’s fresh and clean. A goat, even a thirsty one, will refuse water if it is even the littlest bit contaminated with a speck of dust. I’ll also go out and give the boys a good rub with the curry comb, too. This heat makes them so itchy! Pip enjoys the morning sun, but later today you’ll be seeing him in the barn, where it’s shady and the concrete floor keeps things cool. The Beast has emerged from...

A Sad Day – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 9, 2013

...a very good life. She will be greatly missed. It will warm up enough to bury her under the peach tree today. I will get another rabbit, when and what breed I don’t know yet. Today I’m just thinking of Candy. I expect that a lot of you will be as sad as I am to say good-bye to her. I welcome your comments and memories, but you’ll understand that I’m not up to responding. I have barn chores to do today, which is good, as that’s where I need to be when I’m sad. But, I’ll miss Candy’s supervision....

Today’s Happy Photo – The Vintage Hen – Monday, July 8, 2013

...times today. I needed to wipe off their beaks to clear their airways of mucus. The care that I could give them would make a difference, and so I stayed. I’m totally bummed about not being able to head out in my car with my family, and it’s draining to do the sort of nursing that I’m doing for the hens. But here’s the thing about having animals around, there’s always that good moment. Always. This is today’s. This whiffily, nose-twitchingly friendly conversation between Pip and Phoebe was just the salve that I needed. What was your happy moment today?...

A Life Transformed – HenBlog – Tuesday, December 17, 2013

...CI, when sounds began to normalize, it was like a switch was flicked and my world was transformed. It was like going from a black and white Kansas to the colorful world of Oz. It was like upgrading from a tinny AM radio to a Bose system. I don’t just hear voices. I hear richness and beauty. Two CIs were more than the sum of the parts. It is only now that I am hearing so well, that I realize how much I lost with my hearing disability. A gradual hearing loss is an insidious thing. You don’t realize what...

Where I Belong – HenBlog – Tuesday, October 15, 2013

...but I also went to UNH and got a BS degree in Animal Science, with a focus on horses. I worked for awhile at barns; I rode dressage and trained with an FEI judge. I had a fancy young horse that I was schooling. But, she went lame and at the same time, I changed course and got into the food world, first cooking in restaurants, and then working as a food writer. Over the years, my riding life was sporadic. I didn’t, couldn’t, own another. There were times that I could lease a horse, but always there was an...

Writer’s Procrastination – HenBlog – Thursday, April 14, 2011

I’m working on a big book. Now, a lot of people say they’re writers and never actually put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard.) I have to admit that this book is mostly in my head. But, having actually written books that have been printed, I know how to buckle down and force myself to write. Which I’ll do soon. But not today. Today it is GLORIOUS out. It is a day to procrastinate. But, being as how I think of myself as a writer, and thus feel guilty if I’m not writing, I procrastinate very, very productively. That...

A Sea Change – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 17, 2015

...of dogs who are entered in local competitive work-outs, and watch how human and dog interact with the fun of competition. Wouldn't a sea change in dog shows be wonderful all around? I love the positive edge to this post. A sea change is giving me a wave of hope. Cheers to you! Christine O. Ah, a sea change like that is something to cherish. I think that most of the craziness and brutality we are seeing around the world is the last gasp of the power-hungry corporations trying to maintain their profits and dominance over the world. We only...

The Best View – HenBlog – Thursday, October 15, 2015

Today might possibly have been the most perfect day to be out in the woods all year. This morning the biting insects were gone. Fallen leaves that smelled sweet, and yet somehow like old campfires, were underfoot. The sky was blue and the sun lit up the leaves still in the trees so that the world glowed like old stained glass. I had the perfect vantage point to take it all in.   Last weekend Tonka and I were in a dressage show. We placed second and third in our class. A couple of people, watching the competition, commented to...

1916 Eggs – HenBlog – Thursday, January 6, 2011

...buying the right brands? It's amazing how different the ones from Cherry Grove are from the rest of the, supposedly ethical, places. The yolks are huge and dark gold. So worth the expense. Sorry for the long post. I'm looking forward to your app. Scott BRAVO! I've been on my high horse about eggs for about a year now, telling everyone I know to buy only truly free range eggs. A site I found that has helped is EatHumane at http://www.eathumane.org/ This article in the New York Times was great. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/weekinreview/15marsh.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=battery%20cages&st=cse I saved one page of it that doesn't translate...

Believe the Ears – HenBlog – Wednesday, October 7, 2015

...of the horse’s world goes by different rules. Twenty-two or so hours out of his day the horse has little influence on what goes on around him. Often the horse is in a restricted environment, and everyone else who cares for him relies on pressure, restraint, etc. during their interactions. Many horses are rightly not trusting or are shut down. Positive reinforcement requires that the animal actively engage in the training by offering behaviors. A horse used to being punished for a hoof out of place is not able to do that. The horse that does understand that the rules...

A Second Cochlear Implant – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Marie Wishing you the best success with your operation! Cresca Albright Exciting and scary all at once! I know it will be successful. Are you scheduled to do this soon? Corrina Sending blessings your way, may you be surrounded by healing and beautiful birdsong! Best of luck today. :-) Colleen I hope the surgery goes well, again! I'm looking forward to hearing about your progress. Dee Fox Good Luck, will be praying for you! David & Wendy Scott Good luck and hugs from the West Coast. You will be in our thoughts lots today and over the next couple of...

Lily’s Birthday – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 1, 2014

...humans are often focused inward, or on the computer screen, or at a task. Combine that with our dull senses, and we go through our days barely aware of the world beyond the extent of our physical reach. A dog like Lily, who is vigilant and hyper-aware, can change the very space that we live in. Some people find dogs like this demanding and impossible to live with. Not me. I am grateful that she clues me into this greater world. It’s hard work, being Lily. She never takes a break.   But, today is your birthday, Lily. The sun...

Perrie – HenBlog – Friday, August 1, 2008

We had to put Perrie down today. Knowing when you can’t fix things isn’t always obvious. For example, Buffy is a miracle; I was sure she’d be dead by now. But, it was worth trying to see if TLC could help. Now, she’s standing and eating and a full member of the flock! I’m willing to feed hens that aren’t producing. Isolate them. Care for them. But sometimes, the right thing to do is to do them in. That was the case with Perrie. Perrie hadn’t laid one of her beautiful blue eggs for about a month. I thought that...

Blog Birthday – The Vintage Hen – Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Today is Twinkydink and Edwina’s birthday. They’re eight! Today is also my blog’s birthday. I started writing about my hens in this space seven years ago and I haven’t stopped. I’ve added a few more characters along the way – the Beast, the goat boys, the dogs, and others. I’ve written about my garden and the flowers in the woodland. I’ve kept it all focused on this small world in my small backyard. Some days I’ve put up two posts, and yet there’s a backlog of tales for the telling. I thank you all joining me on my travels here...

The Beast Emerges! – HenBlog – Friday, March 27, 2015

...the fish swim. Then the water is pulled into the pump and is circulated again. This keeps the water under the top layer of ice from freezing and adds oxygen to the mix. There were times, this winter, when Steve had to go out and break the ice from the top of the rock in order to keep the water flowing. There were times when we couldn’t even see the top of the rock! (It’s there, to the right of my son.)   At one point during this winter’s deep freeze, the pump broke. Removing the broken part and replacing...

6th Anniversary – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Today is HenBlog’s 6th anniversary. The writing that I do for this blog is the most consistent, longest work project of my life. Writing itself isn’t new to me – I’ve always thought of myself as a writer. One of my clearest childhood memories is of putting down my thoughts and stories in a notebook. Over the years my identity as a writer was confirmed by the publication of five books and numerous magazine and newspaper articles. My sense of self-worth was tied into whether an editor and a publisher deemed my words valuable and interesting enough to put into...

Chicken Waterers – HenBlog – Thursday, September 20, 2012

Susan Belanich I use the same combination of waterers as you - galvanized inside the coop and the large waterer you show in the run. An occasional touch of ACV in the outside waterer - sometimes as a treat, but usually medicinally - but NEVER in the galvanized steel. I learned the hard way that the fastest way to rust out an expensive waterer is to use apple cider vinegar in it. I use a heated base on inside in the winter, but outside, the plastic would freeze. So each morning and each afternoon, I run outside with a half...

Pecking Order – HenBlog – Thursday, July 19, 2012

...into an established flock here. Sometimes the attacks seem endless and they can be severe. I’ve seen a hen jump on another’s back to pin her down and fiercely peck at the head. Chickens doing that can kill. Roosters don’t allow this sort of hen on hen attack, and stop it by interrupting the behavior. This is something that you can do, too. Sometimes all it takes is for you to pick up the bully and move her away from the hen that she is focused on. Do this a half-dozen times and she usually gets the message. Don’t you...

Ears Do More Than Hear – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 30, 2016

...every inch of your fencing every single year and it will last forever." He was right. "Hire a local pack of Jack Russells to clear your pasture of woodchucks and gophers every summer and you'll save your horses' legs." I did, and he was right. "Be sure to have your neighbors over several times a year for dinner and they'll forgive you when a loose horse (or that damn Boo Boo) eats their herb garden." I did, and invited him and his wife. "Build a good relationship with the best local vet and give their kids free riding lessons. It...

A Rainy Day – HenBlog – Thursday, September 8, 2011

...in all the way to the hand with room to spare. I fear them getting a foot caught and breaking something. Water seems to do no good. I guess I could run sprinkler 24/7 but $$$ Terry, also, I wonder do the Gems have a roosting hierachy on your ladder roosts? In other words, do certain hens always get the top rung and on down the line? Terry Golson Right now the Gems all crowd the top two rungs of the ladder and it is impossible to see a hierarchy. I'll try to get a photo. Also interesting is that...

Rainy Day Chicken Care – HenBlog – Wednesday, October 19, 2011

...how much I look forward to your posts. Even when they don't hold happy news, they always encourage me. Thank you so much for posting even when you "should be" working on your writing projects :) Denise Rain and muck on a farm always makes the animal care more difficult. Donna It does look dreary there, Terry! But everytime I checked yesterday and today, those Polish are running around having a ball! I too look forward to your posts as it is a routine when I get to work. Coffee? Check! Computer on? Check! HenBlog? Double check! Kitty McKnight If...

At The Conference – HenBlog – Sunday, April 22, 2012

...all of the senses. (By the way, Cynthia is a HenCam fan. I like thinking that my hens are flickering on computer screens around the world, calming and inspiring writers.) When I sat down at the large round banquet table I noticed that the woman next to me had “chicken” printed on her name tag. Wow, I thought, other people are into chickens here, too. Why don’t I have chicken on my name tag? And then I realized that “chicken” was her entree choice. I do live in my own poultry-centric world, don’t I? It was a two hour drive...

Draft Horses – The Vintage Hen – Wednesday, October 8, 2014

...She loved that horse and she needed him too. By the 1940s draft horses almost disappeared. Today many breeds are endangered. But some people loved them. Loved them enough to keep them going, despite the fact that they are no longer necessary on farms or to take the family to church. Hundreds of these big horses will be at the World Percheron Congress this week. Every few years this show is held at a different arena, and not always in the USA. It’s also been staged in Canada, France and England. This year the World Percheron Congress is not only...

It's Cold Out – HenBlog – Thursday, January 11, 2007

We’ve been having a record-breaking mild winter in New England, but last night it got down to 15 degrees F. Did I worry about the girls getting cold? No! I find it amusing that the only chicken fanciers who worry about heating their henhouses are those who live in warm climates. People in the moderate Northwest advise heat lamps. Folks in the south put in a heater if there’s a frost. But trust me, the hens will be fine. We do have a heating pad under the waterer; chickens must have fresh running water at all times. This simple gadget...

In the News

...and also in national media such as Southeast Texas, Live! Current Science Magazine (which reaches 6 mllion students, teachers and parents) featured a spread on Little Pond Farm and says that it might be “the most famous backyard chicken farm in the world.” (February 26, 2010) Susan Orlean, staff writer for The New Yorker, mentions the HenCam in an article about chickens titled “The It Bird” (September 28, 2009). My books have been reviewed in many papers, including Publisher’s Weekly, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times. My love of pie baking has...

Back (?) To Simplicity – HenBlog – Tuesday, December 13, 2011

...and intercourse. It sometimes requires much courage and independence of thought and action to achieve this ideal when one’s neighbors give elaborate dinners which are paid for with difficulty, seek the excitement of moving-picture and vaudeville shows when the can scarcely be afforded, and neglect the allurements of woods and fields and streams, which offer more healthful and simpler pleasures. That doesn’t sound much different from today, does it? A “simpler” era is never the one you are living in. You don’t have to go back in time to live by the “right principles”, and in fact, there’s no year...

Your Hen’s Hearing – HenBlog – Wednesday, February 25, 2015

...as dogs. picassospaintings When I took my hen, Picasso, on school visits, I showed the kids where her ears were. They thought it was great, and were really interested in learning about the chickens ear and how it works! Some of them thought it was funny that chickens ears are hiding behind their feathers!! picassospaintings My hens like country music. They don't like the news. I've seen them scratching in sync with the music a couple of times. Maybe incidental but I like to believe that they do it on purpose!! Kris My girls hear me coming in the morning...

The Chicken I Eat – HenBlog – Friday, June 15, 2012

...restaurant and the most interesting item on the menu is chicken, I’ll order it. The reality is that the poultry industry is a trillion-dollar, world-wide business. My buying power isn’t going to make even a pin-prick of a dent if I opt out. On the other hand, my buying power makes a world of difference to the small farmer who is doing animal agriculture right. All of the red meat and pork in my freezer is purchased from local farms. Up until recently the best choice I’ve had for poultry is to buy organic at the regular market. Organic doesn’t...

The Garden – HenBlog – Thursday, June 4, 2015

Today I need to get into my (neglected) garden, and so will forgo a time-consuming post about chickens. For the last two days we had chilly temps and rain. Today is my chance to get the last of the tomato plants in. Also, now that the ground has softened up, I can pull up weeds (it’s a difficult task when the soil is like concrete.) A thorough weeding now will greatly reduce my workload later in the summer. The deep winter snows provided cover for voracious voles, who girdled the rose bushes and the grape vines. A hard pruning has...

Book News! – HenBlog – Saturday, November 10, 2012

...out as I only have a stick blender, but voila! Wonderful! Bobbie HOORAY! Congratulations Terry, that is fantastic news! Sean Congrats! Natalie, the Chickenblogger Wonderful! Congratulations, Terry. It would be an honor to share the news at Chickenblog... when the time comes. Cindy B This is good news! Just had to return my borrowed-from-library copy but can now look forward to purchasing your newly expanded version and having it permanently at-the-ready. Thanks Terry Allison Great news! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Terry Golson Most are vegetarian recipes, though not vegan, of course, since I use...

Gratitude – HenBlog – Thursday, November 28, 2013

...through this sense – a dog’s pant, a twig snap, the tick of my wristwatch. The sounds of birds in the trees have become birdsong. A running stream is musical. Every day I give thanks to the long line of researchers and scientists and doctors who have made this possible. I know that on this planet, I am one of the lucky ones, here, today, with my wealth and my freedom, my ability to make choices, and the wherewithal to make them reality, I do not take any of it for granted. The underlying tenet of the type of animal...

Snowbound Chores – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, February 10, 2015

We’re not exaggerating. This is record-breaking snowfall – more than has been recorded in the last 150 years. I’m feeling housebound. And so I tidy. Yesterday, I cleaned the pantry. I organized my flours (I have more than six types that I bake with, including my favorite for pizza, Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B00FRHHH0C&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_8eb4a3e5d49fb2245b3ad060c5a18304 ). I’ve been meaning to put labels on the canisters. Yesterday I finally got around to that task. There. Now I feel better.   I’m also sorting through my collection of vintage chicken things....

February Eggs – HenBlog – Sunday, February 7, 2010

...in Long Creek/Eastern Oregon this year, so the chickens at our house can go outside to exercise several times a week. You have such a wonderful website and I really enjoy your 'Hen Cam' alot. I really like your Coop too. Mine is just an old shed, but it keeps the hens and the rooster protected at night. Linda Symons Today here in Louisiana is a nice day. It started off cold cloudy and damp but afternoon gave way to sun and 50 degrees. My two Buff Orpington hens have laid eggs on and off all winter. The girls have...

Leaving the Hens Home Alone – HenBlog – Friday, December 16, 2011

Sometimes I leave home. On Wednesday my husband, son and I took the train to New York City. We left at 7:30 am and were back home at 9:30 pm. In that short amount of time, we were somewhere totally different than our small, quiet town. I wrote about simplicity in my last blogpost. This is not. The world, from the top of the Empire State Building, is exciting, invigorating, and BIG. I love it. But, when you have animals, even easy-to-care for ones like hens, you can’t just travel on a whim. Can you leave them for a day?...

Phoebe’s Burrow – HenBlog – Monday, March 16, 2015

...we probably had the only rabbit that didn't dig. My dad didn't want a rabbit in the house. "They have to be able to run and dig and I don't want it tearing up the carpet!" So the bunny got the run of the backyard. The yard was fenced, but not deeply and my dad inspected regularly. Shaking his head. He finally dug a burrow and put plywood over top and covered that to see if it would spark bunny digging. Nope. Wouldn't even go inside. The place of choice? In the garage under my dad's work bench. :D Bunnies...

Integrating One Hen Into A Flock – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 4, 2014

...behavior. All I had to do was to put my hand between them. Beatrix tried four times, encountered my hand (I didn’t push her, I simply gently blocked her pecking), gave up, and went back to the floor of the coop.   Within minutes, I was quite pleased to see this body language. The flock was going about their busy day, ignoring the new hen. Beulah was comfortably on the roost, not being harrassed.   Then it got better. Twiggy and Veronica hopped onto the roost. They each selected a rung, and all three started preening. Birds only groom themselves...

Antibiotic After Effects – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 14, 2011

...matter of time until she is gone. Today I found a thin, empty, bloodied shell on the floor of the outdoor run. Agnes had just finished eating the yolk from inside of it. It was a medium-sized white egg, so I knew it was laid by one of the Polish hens. I picked them up and looked at their vents. Siouxsie’s was bloody. At least her eggs are coming out whole. The two hens laying the soft eggs are the ones treated with doxycycline. The hens that were treated with just Tylan are fine; I collected three sturdy eggs from...

Hens Don’t Have Teeth – HenBlog – Friday, April 20, 2012

Contrary to what you see in the movie Chicken Run, chickens don’t have teeth. Like all birds, they have beaks. Which means they can’t chew – at least not in their mouths. Instead, they eat tiny rocks, which are stored in their gizzard. The gizzard is a tough and powerful muscle, and as it squeezes and churns, it uses the rocks to grind up the food. Today is one of those days that I wish I had a beak and a gizzard. Instead, I have teeth, which despite me doting on them day and night require much attention by my...

Russian Easter Toy – The Vintage Hen – Monday, March 25, 2013

It might snow today. Or rain. Or freezing rain. Which isn’t as bad as what blew down on the midwest overnight. Whatever the weather, it’s the sort of day that could use a cheerful pick-me-up. Silly windup toys always make me smile. Here’s one from my collection. It’s Russian.   I think it resembles Jasper.   What’s cheering you up today?  ...

Happy Face – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 27, 2012

April What a cue face! I was offered a goat today, but I still enjoy having my husband around. So I had to politely decline. He's still in shock about the chickens, and it's been about 7 years! Sheri Oh, what a silly face! I just love Pip (and Caper, too). He's a beautiful goat with such great expressions. He does seem to always be smiling, but I've seen him sleep, eat & chew too. Today he followed his brother back and forth from the barn to the side yard to wait for you to tuck him and Caper in....

Tillie Takes New York – HenBlog – Thursday, April 1, 2010

...news of the TV show. I loved the pictures. Coco and you did good! Congratulations Terry and Coco :-) Terry Golson No, she slept in her crate, covered, so she could get her beauty rest. Terry Golson I so love that wallpaper! I want it in my mudroom. Terry Golson Thanks! Terry Golson I was too exhausted to post yesterday. We drove back very late Tuesday night in a torrential rainstorm. Some scary driving. I'd have been tired anyway, but that wiped me out. But, today, FINALLY the sun is shining, and although some of my neighbors are flooded, we...

Apple Bread Pudding – HenBlog – Thursday, October 27, 2011

...bouncy. I’ve been reading diaries kept by a New York state farm family back at the turn of the last century. Supper was often what we’d consider dessert. They sometimes ate cream and berries for their evening meal, or had shortcake, or pancakes. This recipe, filled with eggs, which were precious back then, would have been an extravagance. But, they did love their ice cream, so I’ll have some, too. Leave out the sugar, add cheese, and you’ll have a savory dinner, sometimes called a “strata.” No doubt I’ll be scrounging around the in the kitchen soon, thinking there’s nothing...

Euthanizing a Hen – HenBlog – Tuesday, October 28, 2014

...for enough hens to have the benefit of hindsight. Steve euthanized Etheldred by breaking her neck. This is difficult. Death is instantaneous, however the heart keeps beating (those stories of “a chicken running around with it’s head chopped off” are not far-fetched). I did a necropsy. There was an impacted crop (It’s that white ball on the left of this photo.) But there was also this – an abdomen filled with solid, rubbery yellow material. In a healthy hen none of that would be there. None.   There was no room for the intestines to function. There was no room...

Thin-shelled Eggs, Old Hens, and The Miracle Diet Cure – HenBlog – Friday, July 8, 2011

...starving. They tell me that every time I go into their run. They’re not. They’re eating a balanced ration of laying hen pellets. They’re getting out onto the grass and scratching around in the dirt several times a week. They get a small handful of scratch corn in the morning for a treat. (Small! A few pecks each. Corn makes hens fat, and fat causes laying issues.) They’re now laying these: The eggs aren’t quite perfect yet. Look closely and you’ll see wrinkles. But, the shells are thick enough to need a nice whack to crack. When faced with thin-shelled...

Hearing Loss – HenBlog – Tuesday, October 27, 2015

...cochlear implant; but, since I still had a little hearing in left ear, I was not qualified. Unlike you, I was born with a severe and profound hearing loss. I was raised to speak and lip read (no sign). There was always an hearing loss sigma with me; but, I ignored it and plugged on plugging on only to fight against crap in the rat race when I became a professional programmer years ago. It is tough struggling in a hearing world. But, times have changed. People are now more willing (and more understanding) to work with people who have...

Follow the Ears – HenBlog – Friday, November 6, 2015

Humans are word focused. Unless someone says look! we often don’t. One of the joys of riding is to tap into the world through my horse’s senses. I can feel when Tonka takes in a deep breath to smell the air. I see his ears swivel. I feel his body orient to something – something that I can’t smell or see or hear, but that he can. I look with him, and sometimes it comes into focus for me. Tonka and I went for an explore along a river at a state forest.   Tonka’s ears flicked first, then his...

A Chicken’s Sense of Smell – HenBlog – Monday, February 24, 2014

...up scratch feed like it is their last meal but pick all days long at their laying pellets? Mine are so ticked at me in the morning when I put layer pellets in their feeder rather than scratch. They run in, look and run back out into the run. I can't imagine that the grain is any better tasting than the layer feed. Robin And then there's the excited chicken version of "Yes!" followed by the mad dash after anything that wiggles and squirms. :) Lesley S Well chickens have eyes too Ken. A good chef will tell you a...

What Does Your Hen Say? – The Vintage Hen – Saturday, August 17, 2013

...Was the coffee named for the sounds, or did some adman come up with the hen logo with the thought that the brand name sounded like a hen clucking?   There are plenty of coffee cans with images or roosters crowing wake-up calls, but this is the only one that I know of with a hen. In any event, I’ve been collecting what hens say around the world. I’m told that in Turkey, a chicken says biak-bik-bik, and that in the the Dominican Republic a flock sounds like this: cocoteeecoco. What do hens say in your neck of the world?...

Noisy World – HenBlog – Friday, February 18, 2011

...ignore it (or so I'm told!). Magic Cochin I don't think I notice half the sounds around me - in fact I'm very good at ignoring sounds! Sometimes when we're out on a walk miles from anywhere we sit and name the sounds we can hear - it's always enlightening, especially if we are on a hill high above a village. Enjoy your new sound world :-) Celia x Amy at Verde Farm I so want my mom to start reading some of your posts on this as it will help her to know what to expect. I bet it...

Grit and Probiotics for Chicks – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 23, 2013

...go through a lot of water and often make a mess. There are times when I do a quick clean up and refill from the outside faucet instead of bothering with water prepared with probiotics (which has to be mixed in advance and replenished daily.) It’s better to have clean water than leave the fount dirty. A couple of times a week I fill the waterer with the Gro-2-Max laced water, which is enough to get the benefits of the product. My chicks are strong, healthy, and active, due in no small part to providing them with grit and probiotics....

Tonka Settles In – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, December 5, 2013

...it’s easier on my shoulder and back to lift a saddle onto him. Today I tacked him up four times, and I did appreciate his compact size! Tonka is getting a tad tired of me putting saddles on and taking them off. I also have been looking for a bit that suits him, so right now I don’t even have a usable bridle. I’ve been using a halter and lead rope while trying out saddles. He’s been a total gentleman about it. Tonka isn’t the biggest mover. He’ll never make it as a fancy dressage horse, (which is the sort...

Hurricane Irene Wind Speed – HenBlog – Saturday, August 27, 2011

Last night, while watching The Weather Channel, IT Guy typed some code into his laptop, and now you can see the wind speed here at Little Pond Farm (along with the temperature that we’ve always had on the top right of the HenCam screen). That is, you’ll be able to keep tabs on our weather until the power goes out. Today is the lull before the storm. The animals are acting 100 % normally. Obviously, I can’t rely on them to let me know that a hurricane is brewing. The animals are relaxing on this hot, humid day, but we...

Agatha’s Turn – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Today I am putting Agatha in the car and driving 38 miles to visit about 150 pre-K and kindergarten children. I’m looking forward to it. Agatha doesn’t know to look forward to anything that will happen more than ten seconds beyond the immediate moment, but I do know that when she is at the school and sees little girls in sparkly shirts, and is pet by little gentle boys in awe, she will be a content hen. This is the first time that I have not brought one of my actresses who play Tillie with me. Snowball was the first,...

The Broody Hen – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 16, 2010

...her back in the coop and she immediately became broody again. I would give up, except she’s so intimidated the Polish hens, that they’ve started laying their eggs on the coop floor. I found one broken, and one here: So, today I have put the two broody hens, Coco and Lulu, out in the goat paddock. They’ll pace the fence to get back to their nests, but I’m going to ignore them until the other hens have had a chance to lay their eggs in the boxes. I’m hoping to get five eggs today. I’d like to make chocolate pudding....

Holiday Weekend – HenBlog – Friday, August 31, 2012

...as if all of a sudden the garden switches to fall-mode, too. Pumpkins are ripening and there’s a hint of orange is in the trees (the goats are pleased about that and are snarfing up the first of the fallen maple leaves.) But, for today at least, the temperature will be hot – in the 90s – and the frogs will be hanging out in the pond. I’m working flat out on several projects (I hope to tell you about them soon!) but I’m going to take a break today and join the frogs. I’ll catch-up with you on Monday!...

Cooking For Comfort – HenBlog – Friday, February 20, 2015

Yesterday I received the news that a lovely man, the husband of a dear friend, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. They were high school sweethearts, married in their early twenties, and had forty-seven years together in a marriage filled with a generosity of spirit and mutual admiration. Both worked hard their entire lives. Just turned seventy, he was still at his job as an engineer, she a teacher. Last year they had finally managed to take a vacation together. They were looking forward to more. As you know, I am a person who looks for the good, for...

Trip Preparation – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 27, 2010

...of hip restaurants that are unique to New York. I’ll meet her in SoHo, and afterwards I’ll window shop and walk and walk. My feet start moving in New York, and I can’t stop. I don’t have to dress up, but I do like to have clothes that look stylish enough that I don’t feel out of place. That’s not too hard – there’s a few things in my closet that will do. It’s supposed to be seriously cold on Friday, and when it’s cold, Manhattan’s streets, lined by skyscrapers, turn into frigid wind tunnels. My red wool coat won’t...

Fatty Liver Disease In Hens – HenBlog – Thursday, July 16, 2015

...running. I know, because I’ve trained mine to come, and it’s hilarious and a lot of fun to watch (See video here.) But, corn, or the similar product of scratch grains, is nothing but empty calories. There’s no reason to feed it to your hens. Even “scratch grains” are not necessary to feed. I do have corn on hand for calling the hens back to the run, but I know the danger of feeding too much. Each hen gets less than a teaspoon as a treat and I don’t feed it on a daily basis. scratch grains for hens  ...

Home From Italy! – HenBlog – Thursday, September 10, 2015

The trip to Verona, Italy, started out with a nighttime flight across the Atlantic. Flying east, the light of dawn hit the airplane wing as we flew over Ireland.   I traveled to Verona with Karen Pryor for the TAGteach International World Summit. This conference was all about how to use the science of behavior and positive reinforcement in applications as diverse as earthquake safety training, to teaching modern dance, to improving the skills of call center employees. It was a week of intense conversations, a hah! moments, making connections, and deep thought. But, because it was in Verona, Italy,...

Outgrowing the Nest – HenBlog – Friday, July 10, 2015

...five days they transformed from bare, wobbly, eyes-sealed-shut, helpless beings to these voracious and demanding creatures.:   Soon, they’ll leave the ledge on the porch. Then these Eastern Phoebes will enter the wide world.   It’s not simply a bigger space, with food to find. It’s a community, and not just of other Phoebes. Birds are aware of and know other species of birds. They’re familiar with the squirrels and the chipmunks. The birds in my yard know my dogs and my goats. They know me. There’s a wonderful book, Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL...

Chickens Surprise Scientists – HenBlog – Monday, November 27, 2006

A paper published in the scientific journal, Biology Letters, has challenged scientists’ view of the intelligence of chickens (and other creatures). Many scientist have long believed that only humans use language to denote things in the world — that we’re the only ones who can point at an object and give it a verbal label. But the research by Dr. Chris Evans and Linda Evans showed that golden Seabright bantam hens had twenty observed and specific calls. For example, there was a difference between the clucking one did for corn and for pellets. It was also noted that they could...

Web Cams – HenBlog – Wednesday, May 31, 2006

...installed very good cameras and linking it all to our server, etc. wasn’t easy. And then there was the Web design… But it’s all been worth it. Today I watched the indoor Web cam right when Blackie was trying to crowd Snowball out of a nesting box. It was a match between Stubborn vs. Immobile. Mine is not the only hencam. At least a dozen other people around the world have had the same idea. Our set-ups differ, but the purpose remains the same — sheer fun. The best listing of hencams is on a German Web site. Go see!...

Barnyard Friendships – HenBlog – Friday, November 13, 2009

...world by taste. This is partly why they have a reputation for eating everything. If it’s there, if it’s interesting, it goes in their mouths. Not unlike human toddlers. Candy and Pip were next to each other. A quiet, companionable moment. Then Pip reached down, and nibbled Candy’s ear. Soon, a big part of the ear was in his mouth. The next moment, Candy was hanging in the air – Pip had picked her right up by the ear! This was NOT acceptable bunny behavior. Candy growled. Yes, rabbits growl. Pip dropped her. Candy shook herself and hopped away. Well,...

Ascites in Hens – HenBlog – Wednesday, October 15, 2014

...all healthy and like someone else said they sometimes start to take the puddle of water back again. Yuk, I wipe it up. Terry Golson I've fielded this question many times! I don't go into detail in off-topic questions, but I'll send you in the right direction. (If what I have in my posts doesn't help, I'm happy to answer private emails, and appreciate a "cup of coffee" in return - it's what keeps this site up and running.) Birds need to learn to roost. Usually it takes just a couple of days of putting them on their roosts and...

Look Up, Look Down – The Vintage Hen – Monday, October 13, 2014

...and commuted to the suburbs to work. We made things out of jute. I clearly remember her saying how much more real natural materials and colors were. In her mind the natural world was muted. I never understood that. I saw this,   and this:   What is colorful in your world? I have many readers in Australia and Brazil. Do you see wild parrots? Back in high school I made a fiber hanging based on feathes from our pet lovebird – vibrant greens and yellow and reds (actually, rather like the colors in these photos) which shocked my teacher!...

The Beast Eats – HenBlog – Thursday, July 25, 2013

The weather last week was terrible. It was hot. It rained on and off. There were long stretches of torrential downpours. When it wasn’t raining it was hot and the air was dense with 100% humidity. We humans were miserable. The rabbit stretched out on the concrete next to a frozen bottle of water. The hens stayed inside and complained. The goats refused to graze and asked for more hay. But, the Beast was in her element. Fish must stay submerged in water, and so her world is constrained to under the surface of the pond. The Beast and her...

A Rabbit and Chickens – HenBlog – Thursday, June 12, 2014

...My ex mother in law had rabbits. Someone or something opened about half the hutch doors one day and approximately 10 rabbits were freed. In about 4-6 months there must have been 30-40 rabbits running around the place. Rabbits literally run here and running there. Fear not, the coyotes found the a few months after that. Paul Great pictures of Phoebe! We have wild rabbits around and they run about and graze even while the hens are out free ranging. The hens don't seem to mind them being around either. The other day I saw one in the hen's run...

Spring Coop Dusting – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 29, 2016

My chicken coop is airy, dry, and doesn’t have any bad, lingering odor. I pick up and remove the obvious piles of manure several times weekly. But, that’s not enough to keep the environment healthy for the hens. Chickens create a huge amount of dust. They shred bedding and manure with their feet. They take baths in loose dirt, then come into the coop and shake. They lose feathers and grow new ones. As feathers unfurl, they release powdery keratin. All of this dust settles on surfaces.   Keeping the coop as dust-free as possible is key to a healthy...

What I Did Over My Vacation – HenBlog – Saturday, January 3, 2009

...an excursion just a half-hour out of the city to Ostia Antica. These ruins cover acres. You are allowed to walk just about everywhere. We stepped on mosaics laid down 2500 years ago, and clambered over walls and ducked through doorways that were used by everyday merchants in Roman times. My favorite mosaic was this sign in a fish store for fast food. I wouldn’t be able to go away if it wasn’t for my wonderful pet sitter, Luisa. She comes 3, sometimes 4, times a day. She rubs Candy’s ears warm and gives her fresh water. She brings bread...

I Like Mules – The Vintage Hen – Monday, December 9, 2013

...New Mexico rode a mule. He claimed that his good mule had saved his life several times. Mules have a deeply-ingrained sense of self-preservation. If you load their packs unevenly, they won’t budge. If you ask a mule to go through a mucky area, he’ll tell you if the footing is unsafe. The cowboy in the Sangre de Cristos, as we rode along the mountain ridge, pointed out a charred tree trunk. He’d been on his mule, just the two of them out in the wilderness, when all of a sudden the mule stopped dead. Refused to budge. A sudden...

Chickens Don’t Smile – HenBlog – Sunday, February 5, 2012

Ângela She participates with the angry face. But I liked it! Magic Cochin A brilliant photo Terry - you can see the dinosaur in her genes! Hens don't smile, exept for Nick Park's plasticine hens in 'Chicken Run' http://www.aardman.com/features/released-features/chicken-run/ Celia x Terry Golson I read an article about Chicken Run, and how they made a conscious decision to add teeth because otherwise the chickens wouldn't have expressive features. Carol Caldwell I commented via e-mail because of my lack of technical ability but agreed all the above. Jean Garnet reminds me of the famous "mad bluebird" picture. She's wonderful. Amazing what...

Roasted Hakurei Turnips – The Vintage Hen – Monday, July 1, 2013

...roasted them in a dressing of maple syrup, mustard and soy. But, at the beginning of the summer bounty, I crave simple recipes in which the vegetables themselves are the stars, and so just simply roasted them. Serve at room temperature with a drizzle of the best balsamic vinegar that you can afford.   For lunch today, I’ll have a salad with lettuce and these vegetables, tossed with feta cheese. But, as much as I like these Hakurei turnips, I think that I prefer the regular purple tops. I’m going to buy a packet of seeds today and plant them....

Little Pond Farm – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 30, 2008

...has lived in this town for 60+ years, and has raised ponies and golden retrievers, calls her place a “farm.” But she has more right to that title – not only does she own forty acres, but broodmares and foals make for a real farm, don’t they? Years ago, she also kept chickens. In 1942, she did what I do now, sold eggs to her neighbors. Back then, she got 35¢ a dozen, which in today’s dollars is $4.45, more than I get today! Well, whatever you want to call this little slice of land, I’m happy to be here....

The Truth About Sharing – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Yes, in Tillie Lays an Egg, the hens share and take turns. But, sorry, that’s a work of fiction. This is what happens in real life: Philomena and Agnes both want to lay their eggs. There are three nesting boxes. The other girls are outside. Plenty of room, right? Wrong. They both insist on the middle box. Today. Yesterday they laid eggs in the right-hand box. What one has, the other wants. It’d be funny, except sometimes they get so pushy that they trample their eggs. The egg that you see to the right is a decoy egg. It’s wooden....

They’ll Be Sleeping – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, March 19, 2015

...Mix, they are always anxious when they think I am leaving for more than my usual day at work. I find if we are out for the day on a Saturday or Sunday, they won't drink any water until we return. It is as if they are worried the water will run out. But as soon as I walk through the door, they all three run to the water dish. Dogs - life with them is wonderful. Have a great time. Durbin Ken Dogs are amazing. Just like Lily my Lulu knows what the suitcase means. She hates it. She...

A Sick Hen – HenBlog – Friday, October 9, 2009

I’ve been keeping an eye on Eggers. Two days ago she was the last one out of the coop in the morning, which is most unlike her. Yesterday she was the first to go to bed. Sometimes it’s those subtle clues that let you know that an animal isn’t feeling well. But, with no other symptoms, I left her alone. Today, she looked like this: Eggers is on the compost pile, in the corner of the yard – the warmest, least windy spot. Her eyes are closed, her wings and tail droop. This is a sick bird. It’s a cold,...

What's New is Old – HenBlog – Sunday, January 6, 2008

I have a collection of poultry books and pamphlets from the early 1900’s. The material looks charming and dated, yet the advice is good -or better- than what is found in books and on-line today. The Lay or Bust Yearbook, put out by the feed company of the same name is a case in point. Their market is the “back lot poultry keeper.” My favorite bit of advice from this brochure is, “don’t go into the poultry business if you do not like hens.” Can you see Perdue saying that to their contract farmers? But, it makes great sense if...

Sunlight and Dirt – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 17, 2009

...couple of days to make sure they won’t bring diseases onto the property. Today, while the older hens were outside foraging in the lawn, I let Agnes and Philomena into the yard of the big barn. They each took two steps onto the hot, dry soil and collapsed! It was quite the dramatic flop into the dirt and I imagine that a new chicken keeper would have panicked. Here they are, in a pile of feathery ecstasy. There’s a health reason behind this chicken “spa treatment.” Dirt worked under the feathers and rubbed onto the skin, kills external parasites. Sun...

Hot Chickens – HenBlog – Thursday, June 1, 2006

It’s in the high eighties today and humid so the girls are in the shade. The bossy ones have settled into the prime real estate of the loose cool dirt near the compost pile. But there’s not enough room there for everyone, so a few others are off to the side of the chicken house where it is shady and breezy. Still, chickens are restless and easily distractible creatures, so if you watch long enough you’ll see a hen or two wander by. And if you see them all suddenly come charging into view, it’s likely that I’ve just opened...

Feeding For Egg Production – The Vintage Hen – Monday, November 12, 2012

This is the booklet that I quoted in today’s post. Although in 1923 farming was on the cusp of change – chickens were moving into climate and heat controlled housing and flocks were getting larger – the vast majority of chickens were still raised in small groups on diversified farms. Not yet invented were antibiotics that in the future would allow for crowding and the brutal conditions of factory production facilities. In the early 20th century, farmers had to rely on light, air, exercise, sanitation and observation. These remain the foundation of good backyard chicken keeping today. My favorite line...

Let’s Take A Walk – HenBlog – Friday, October 12, 2012

...farming days. Now ferns and wild grapes soften the edge of the field. It was a short walk and we are back home. Today it is clouding up and the light isn’t glowing through the leaves. The wind is blowing and a freeze is expected. This landscape is ephemeral. Still, it is lovely out. I’m going to declare today a “too beautiful to work” holiday and take the dogs far into the woods all the way to the Hemlock Forest. When I come home I’ll get down the box of winter gloves and scarves. We’ll be needing those soon.  ...

Treats and Toys – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 17, 2007

It’s 8 degrees this morning. Where are the chickens? Outside pecking at the scratch corn. Where is Candy? In the chicken house, drinking warm water and eating the laying hen pellets. But, the wind is supposed to pick up and it is going to be brutal out later, at which point the girls will go indoors and annoy each other. I’ll put a cabbage in the henhouse later today to keep them busy (and healthy – greens are very good for hens). Cabbages are cheap, right? Not if you’re shopping at Wholefoods Market and the only options are organic green...

Twinkydink Lays An Egg – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 30, 2013

...was named Janie. Well Janie is about to kidd on May 15th, so the boys are going to be uncles. Terry Golson All nice news, Kit. Christine O. Ah, so Buffy is feeling like her young self! Twinkydink, too. lauren scheuer Aw, Twinkydink. ... Happy birthday to you! xo Bobbie Happy Birthday Twinkydink, you go girl! Buffy, what the heck! Thank you again Terry for sharing. I have loved all the photos and narration. Your blog makes me SMILE! Sue Their stamina gives this sometimes-faltering human lady great hope! Way to go, girls! jennifer bevins This is why I love...

Sunlight and Coop Design – HenBlog – Thursday, February 10, 2011

...read the fine print. http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/confinement_farm/facts/guide_egg_labels.html Jeremiah I've heard of lighting to encourage laying, and for health reasons. Do you use any lighting? Theresa Thank you so much Terry! We are designing a coop and will definitely use this good advice! (More windows honey...!) Denise I feel fortunate that my hens can go out every day of the year. I actually worry more about hot summer days since our temps sometimes reach 95-100. Shade cloth and misting helps but I still worry as I see them panting. I sometimes wish I could leave my hens in on days when it's not...

Oriole – HenBlog – Sunday, August 7, 2011

It’s been a difficult couple of days. Good Dog Lily, in her effort to rid the yard of a scourge of blackbirds and a curse of squirrels, has been in chase mode. Her sprints are cheetah-worthy. She killed a squirrel on Friday! But, yesterday, she ripped her dew claw, so today we spent a few hours at the emergency vet clinic getting her patched up. Scooter, left home, yowled and yowled. Lily will be fine, but is presently bandaged up and will be on leash for a week. Also worrisome, I noticed that Coco was looking tail-down Thursday. On Friday...

Poultry Tobacco Cards – The Vintage Hen – Friday, December 19, 2014

...a surprise!) So, I’ve decided to do a light-hearted series to bring us through the New Years. At the turn of the last century, before tobacco was evil, cigarette companies put beautifully lithographed cards into their packets, rather like baseball cards in today’s packages of gum. To encourage collecting and sales, they did series. I have the complete set of poultry cards. Let’s go through the alphabet! Today we’ll begin with the letter A.   The best bit of these cards are the poems on the back.   I’ve never owned an Ancona hen. Have you? Tell me about her....

Today’s Blooms – HenBlog – Saturday, March 24, 2012

For the last three days in a row, temperatures rose above 80º F. Yesterday, if I stepped outside and blinked, there’d be another plant in bloom! I have no idea what this is. It’s in my shade garden. These crocus and scilla are in the front woodland. There are pink buds and flowers on the ornamental cherry. As pretty as this is, I’m worried. There’s going to be a snowstorm this week. I am 100% sure of my weather prediction because Steve is going to California for a conference today, and we always have dramatic weather when he’s gone. I’m...

Putting the Girls to Work – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 13, 2012

...ready for planting, there’s one chore to do before I can plant. There are bad bugs lurking in the leaves and the dirt, and I know just who can dispose of them. Yesterday I lured the Gems into the fenced vegetable garden and shut the gate behind them. The chickens would rather be in the pumpkin patch or the woods, but they soon understood the task at hand. The Gems set right to work. Go get ’em, girls! Today I planted the greens. Today, when the girls had their free-range outing, they were on the other side of the fence....

It’s Pumpkin Season for Chickens – HenBlog – Thursday, October 3, 2013

Yesterday I put the one and only pumpkin that I was able to grow this year into the Gem’s pen. They know all about pumpkins and went right for it. Today, all that’s left is a shell.   Pumpkins are the perfect treat for your hens. Pumpkin is filling but not fattening and is consumed over the course of the day, not in a fit of gluttony. Pumpkins contain good nutrients, including carotene, which will go right through to the yolk, and which will be good for me, too. My scrambled eggs at breakfast will be bright orange this week....

Pumpkin Patch Help – HenBlog – Monday, April 23, 2007

...area and dumped in all of last year’s compost. I’ve set up an old patio umbrella, put out a waterer, and when the weather is good – like today – I take three hens out there. They turn over the old leaves and grass clipping and garden scraps, eat up bugs and level it out. They’ll have about 7 weeks of glorious scratching, and then I’ll kick them out and plant pumpkins. When the growing season is over, I’ll have a lovely plot of dirt. Last year’s pumpkin patch is ready for wildflowers. I bought 3 packets of seeds today....

Today's Eggs – HenBlog – Friday, February 20, 2009

It is bitter cold outside, yet some of the hens are laying. It’s early in the season, which means that sometimes some odd eggs appear in the nesting boxes. This is what showed up today: The two pale eggs are laid by the bantam white leghorns. They’re supposed to be like that. But the one on the left? The dark brown egg with the two pointy ends? That was laid by a standard-sized hen. It should be large, like the eggs to the right. Sometimes, the first egg that a hen lays at beginning of the season is small like...

Spa Treatment Update – HenBlog – Monday, December 15, 2014

...tub for very long and didn't easily settle down into the tub without some gentle encouragement, but the other two were fine and weren't in any rush to get out. Sara I find the spa treatment to be beneficial to my hens. When I see one sick, I always begin with a warm Epsom salt bath and then drying. Then I put them in a warm dark place with good food and water. Sometimes, that is all it takes for the hen to bounce back. Other times, I had to do more, but it always relaxes and rests the hen....

Tonka’s New Home – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 30, 2014

...Terry Golson I know! I've missed exits listening to books. Terry Golson My drive is nothing compared to yours. Terry Golson Nothing idyllic about keeping a horse :) Terry Golson I know about the Moth, but not the BBC History. Thanks for the suggestion! Terry Golson I had to read that 3 times before I realized it was "poultry." Hilarious. Terry Golson Looks fun. Terry Golson They have a number of naked necks. Marie What a cute picture that would be, of course you could let the donkey just follow like a mare with her foal. Wren If you like...

Social Feather Picking – HenBlog – Monday, March 24, 2014

...to write about today is when this behavior becomes the social norm. Sometimes feather loss is due to a nutritional deficiency. The birds need roughage and calcium. Provide grit and oyster shell. There have been studies in industrial flocks that link aggression with lack of protein. If you’re overdoing the corn and bread treats, and your hens are filling up on kale and cabbage, this might be the case, but for most backyard flocks added protein doesn’t resolve the pecking. I’ve tried adding meat-based cat food and shelled sunflower seeds. The pecking continues. Sometimes feather loss is due to one...

Good Morning – HenBlog – Monday, February 25, 2013

...made it one of my favorites! I love to check in and watch the chickens and goats.....It makes my day. I am a country gal at heart....I live in the county of York with my twin daughters (21 yrs of age, 3rd year of college!) and this year plan on having a huge garden! I have just over an acre of land with a doublewide on it.....a shed for my wood carvings....and a huge campfire site that I love to sit around on the chilly weekends. The pictures today of the snow and the road and your backyard are breathtaking!...

Gail Damerow Visits The HenCam (and a giveaway!) – HenBlog – Thursday, March 15, 2012

...on mean kicks, and if so, how best to accomplish that feat? Does she know of some helpful techniques? Diane Burnham I would have asked...I am just starting out with 4 chickens and 1 frizzle rooster. I converted a portable horse stall into housing and the outside run is a 10' x 10' dog run. This seems to work well but now that spring is here I want to clean their pen. Is there anything that I should use to clean or sanitize the dirt area that they use? I want to keep them healthy but not sure what to...

Chickens Have Messy Bottoms – HenBlog – Thursday, August 18, 2011

...off with clean water. It was a hot day, so I held them under a hose. No one seemed to mind much, but I’d dunk them in a tub of lukewarm water if the weather was cooler. Here is Maizie getting bathed. Once each hen was cleaned up, I squirted the providone on the bare skin near the vent and rubbed it in. Use gloves and don’t wear clothes you care about. This stuff stains! I treated the hens in June, and look at how lovely Buffy’s bottom is today. No runny, stinky secretions. And here is Eleanor. Her bottom...

The Week In Review – HenBlog – Sunday, October 14, 2012

...strain it to get the seeds out but well worth it in the final product. jean chitwood im like candy - can't wait for winter. live in s.w. wi. tho, so it won't be long now. we've already gone thru the pretty colors and now we're ankle deep - in places more than that! - in leaves and that's nice too. fun for when the dog and i do our walks. today we can't. we're getting a rain to make up for all the times we didn't get any when we needed and wanted it desperately. chas (my dog) came...

When Will My Hens Start Laying? – HenBlog – Wednesday, November 16, 2011

...Terry Golson That's a huge variation in your day-to-day numbers. Yes, your roo is a freak :) Terry Golson I wish I had Maran eggs and blue eggs in my egg basket. But, I can only have so many chickens! One reason I have concrete floors in my barn is to keep out the predators and vermin. There are trade-offs. It's not as warm on their feet and I have to deeply bed the goats, but it is easy to clean and no one digs in! Terry Golson Rule of thumb (and stats to back it up) is that after...

Looking Better! – HenBlog – Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Melinda this is wonderful news! I am so happy for you and those sweet girls. Amanda Yay!! I have been anxiously waiting for this post today. So glad to see them doing better. Pat D. I am so relieved to hear the girls are getting better! I enjoyed the horse pictures,also. Thanks! Pamela W. Not raising chickens myself it would never have occurred to me to feed a chicken eggs. This was the new thing I learned today. Carol Caldwell So, So glad to see the improvements. Hope you are on the way to complete recovery. This post is truly...

What I Can Hear Now – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Valerie Mondesir My hearing was always kind of bad, but there was a time when I could hear the rain pattering on the window and the roof. I miss that sound, it used to lull me to sleep. I'm so happy to hear about your progress with the CI, Terry. I think it's like having the best of both worlds, because now you get a little more clarity, but you can still shut it off -- something our hearing peers can't easily do! Chris That was so beautifully written and touching. There are so many sounds around us that sometimes...

Feather Pecking Update – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 18, 2014

...that about 2 years ago I had a big problem with winter feather picking too. Several of the hens had completely bare bottoms and some even bleeding at times. I had to coat them in Blu Kote mutliple times to get them to leave them alone. It was a long hard winter and they were in so much of the time which I'm sure helped the behavior along. Then last winter I read about the need for additional protein in the winter for hens and that if they are missing that they will eat feathers to help provide that need....

A Gem Laid An Egg! – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 14, 2011

...:) Dianne That's great news! I remember the excitement over finding those first eggs. Wish the camera was a little more on the nest boxes so we could see who's on. Shannon Hooray! Finally, an egg! That is so exciting, Terry. My two 23-week old chickens have laid a couple of eggs over the past few days, but in random places where they have cracked or been eaten by the other chickens. Finally, today, we had our first unadulterated egg! It was tiny, but so exciting! Georgene from Florida EGG-CELLENT !!!!!! Kristin Yeah! I got my second egg today. One...

New Year’s Greetings – HenBlog – Sunday, January 1, 2012

...later today. For now they’ll sun themselves in their paddock. There is no better way to begin a new year than doing morning barn chores on a crisp winter morning. But, to leave you with an honest picture, coop cleaning means stinky chicken dust, which sticks to hair and clothing. When I came in I had to shower and change. Real animals are smelly and messy, noisy and demanding. Still, barn cleaning never fails to put me in a good mood. I hope that this morning’s beauty and peaceful companionship of my animals are harbingers of a good year to...

More Winter Eggs – HenBlog – Monday, January 14, 2013

...eggs already today. I am reading your past archives since I just found your hencam last month and gaining so much great helpful information. Thank you for your dedication to helping others. God bless you. Jen Stanton Thanks for this info Terry! Have you noticed any runny poo after feeding the alfalfa? Terry Golson Poo as normal as always. Joyce Renshaw It is 4:15 your time and looks like the old gals have gone to bed already. The gems seem to be out still. It is really cold here for us. Not quite freezing but unnaturally cold for Cambria. joyce...

Sick Hens – HenBlog – Monday, July 8, 2013

Friday morning, when I opened up the Big Barn, Ruby remained on the roost. Obviously something was amiss. She was hunched, tail down, and one eye was swollen shut.   The other eye was clear, but when she blinked, Ruby looked the image of misery.   The other Gems were bright-eyed and energetic. So, I do what I always do when there is a sick hen, I isolated Ruby and observed. Her comb felt feverish to the touch. I cleaned her face off with a cold, wet washcloth so that I could have a better look at her eye. It...

Opal On The Mend – HenBlog – Thursday, July 11, 2013

...all is well or atleast on the mend. Jaye This is the best news - I'm so happy for all of you at Little Pond Farm! Christine O. Happy news! Yeah, Opal! Yeah, Terry! Tori Yay! Vicki in So. CA So glad to hear this news!!! Sue ****sigh of relief**** Sara So happy to read your news. On a lighter note: Is that a bunny blocking the door to the little barn??? Deborah Pruden Great news! Hang in there girls! Debbie I'm glad that Opal is doing better. Ken Good. The better news is they should all have built up...

Sandy Blows Through – HenBlog – Thursday, November 1, 2012

...that you are all ok. Very sad for all those who lost their lives - or who are now homeless. Good to see things are getting back to normal for you. Just interested, what is the name of the board game you were playing(?) - i really like the look of it! Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life I am so glad you are all well. Great news. So many are in such bad shape. It is heart breaking. Debbie B Happy to hear you and all our anipals weathered the storm safely. I keep checking to see when your power...

Independence Day – HenBlog – Thursday, July 3, 2014

...Carol Caldwell Love the awake version of Scooter smiling and happy to part it of all. Your son seems to bring out another side to Scooter. Its absolutely adorable. Barb from Bethlehem Terry & Family: Happy Independence Day! Small town, old-fashioned 4th of July celebrations are true treasures. So glad your town partied early and didn't have to contend with soggy old Arthur. Blessings to all. Ken When one watches the evening news and sees what is going on around the world one becomes VERY grateful for living in a free country and EXTREMELY thankful for our diligent military men...

Coop Cleaning Routine – HenBlog – Monday, October 21, 2013

...and we all agreed it must have been the cedar chips.The next year, I was a poultry judge at the county fair, and the man who had the contract for providing bedding for all the poultry there, confirmed what we had decided...the cedar is bad news for chickens. The 2 local feed stores have warning signs in their poultry aisles, telling people not to use the cedar chips on poultry. Ken Wing flaps = flying newspaper = freaked out hens. Terry Golson I was about to say something similar, but you said it better :) Terry Golson I've heard the...

Cochlear Implant Update – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 25, 2011

...are sounding more normal. Voices continue to have a metallic echo, but already I have more clarity than I had with my hearing aids. For thirty years I have dealt with being hard of hearing, and with the anger, frustration, grieving, and acceptance, that comes with a disability. Because my loss is progressive, I went through that emotional cycle over and over. I’d learn to cope, and then have the rug pulled out from under me and have to go through it all over again. The CI has stopped that. I know my baseline. If I never hear better than...

Authentic. Or Not. – HenBlog – Thursday, October 9, 2014

...we wonder why there's so much pressure to be the "perfect" woman....when will we learn and appreciate the beauty of the natural-self? Michelle Ah yes, it happens in every breed – of horse, dog, sheep, cow.... The "fashions" of the show ring have ruined more good animals, and entire breeds! Laura Ever since you put the World Percheron Congress link on your blog, I've been hooked on it. I sneak peaks at it all day while at the office, and have it on my laptop with speakers at home at night. So, thanks Terry, for giving me a fun thrill...

Fine So Far! – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 27, 2015

...late! Where’s the hay?   Thank you for your comments. It’s nice to know that you’re thinking of us. Not to worry. Weather like this is a challenge, but we’re fine! Also, thank you to everyone who sends me “coffee.” (Which, if you haven’t checked it out, is $4 via PayPal.) The cams are expensive to maintain, and I couldn’t do it without support from my viewers. I love sharing my bit of the world with others, and I appreciate the contributions that enable me to do that. Today, I think, I should change the coffee icon to hot cocoa....

Rainy Day Blahs – HenBlog – Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Ângela Scooter was very happy ... Charli Lopez I love that rabbit! She has got attitude! Ha ha! Deborah Your blog makes me smile. Kinda comforting. Kit love your photos, reflections and words of gratitude! that's what it's all about. Melissa Red sky at night, sailor's delight... Jane Brewin Sometimes reading your blogs is like reading beautiful poetry. Really wonderful! Natalie, the Chickenblogger Your posts are a *story time pleasure* for me. I love a good picture book, a little drama, a happy ending. Thank you. Rebecca What a great way to end my afternoon. Wonderful world we live in....

Visitors – HenBlog – Thursday, January 17, 2013

...run around the yard sniffing all the strange odors in the yard so I know we had visitors during the night. I know that many more animals come into the yard that I don't hear or see. But in the winter they leave behind the evidence in the snow. Sheri How gorgeous it looks. It's a white blanket covering everything. I hope there is more of this to come. Suzanne "Pretty is too bland a word for the world outside on this cold but still morning." I have a word for those lovely trees and snow: "Ahhhh!" :-) It's interesting...

Training – HenBlog – Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Louise Stopford Good luck with the course. Hope you and Scooter both enjoy and do well. Ken Who would of thunk you could train a fish. Mary O Awe! Poor little Scooter and his adorable crazy legs. I have a bow legged, 4 1/2 lb Pomeranian named Lola Puddles. I gave up on her long ago. She refuses to fully potty train with her pea size bladder. She never asks to go out until she is ready to rupture. I have approx. 5.3 seconds to drop whatever I'm doing, leap up, and rush to the door (many times a day)....

Why Not to Keep Roosters – HenBlog – Thursday, August 14, 2014

...cull our beautiful roo and a nasty little roo too who hatched in our coop because of their abuse of the ladies. :'( It took us months to come to this decision - and we had to break the news to our three children. Chicken keeping has not been easy but we're hoping it'll be better now with peace in the coop! Thank you for your blog! You have given me so much useful information that I couldn't find in any books! Khris I guess we got lucky and have the best roo in the world. He is the sweetest...

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

Marsha Kern OMG how scary, glad he is ok! Jan I am so so glad Pip is okay, that was why I saw you rubbing his belly. Very worrying times. Lots of love and hugs to you both...:) louise stopford So glad that lovely Pip is OK and has recovered. These animals really put us through our paces sometimes and cause us worry. Saying that though, we couldn't live without them. John Putnam Glad Pip is OK. It is interesting how certain plants are very toxic to one animal and harmless to others. The list of plants that are generally...

Saving Clementine – HenBlog – Thursday, March 27, 2014

...need to be warm, but I didn’t want to go outside numerous times during the day! She stayed in my laundry room. Over the next few days, I continued to give Clementine antibiotics in her water. I kept her calm. I monitored her manure production and food consumption – both improved, as did her stance.     Each day saw an improvement.   I trimmed off her tail feathers ruined by her penguin stance, but she no longer needed them to balance! Clementine was now walking in a more chicken-like way. She was able to peck. She started scratching the...

What I’m Hearing – HenBlog – Monday, March 19, 2012

...it being confused, with the cartoon sounds from the right? Marie Terry, I am so very happy to learn of your news! thank you for sharing this experience with us. Wishes for continued healing. ps. Happy birthday to Candy.....I do love her antics. Louise What exciting news. It must be wonderful. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to struggle to hear your family and livestock - even if they are like cartoon characters for now. Thought you might like to hear news from my household! My Australian Shepherd puppy, Harris, is settling in well and is quite...

Buffy – HenBlog – Thursday, January 2, 2014

...catching up with the news now. RIP Buffy - seven and a half years lived happily thanks to Terry and Steve. Kudos to Steve for doing such a difficult job. I will miss this lovely golden hen. Jaumie Just checking up with your news. So sorry to hear about your nice Buffy. Enjoyed watching her too. We will see her again at The Rainbow Bridge. She will be missed. Jaumie P.S. I just found out about your cute Siouxsie. So sorry to hear this sad news too. I enjoyed watching her entertaining antics. I will miss seeing her too. :'(...

Clear Eyes, Smooth Eggs – HenBlog – Thursday, July 18, 2013

Celia Hart This is such good news Terry! The Gems are looking so much happier and well - the are so lucky to have you to take care of them. xx Lynn Noone Oh, Terry, this is such good news! Thanks for the update! sue noy Brilliant news, so pleased they have come through. On another subject, the new webcam.....I sent a message saying I couldn't view it on my tablet, but this morning I fired up the PC and I can view it on there so its obviously something to do with the tablets configuration. I will seek the...

A Heat Treat – HenBlog – Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Khris Januzik We too had record breaking heat at the end of June & beginning of July... 108 with a heat index of 114. I have to say that watermelon rules when it comes to hot chickens! Even if we and the girls don't consume it all, it goes in the freezer against the next heat wave. They love frozen and semi-frozen cubes of watermelon or just frozen chunks and slices with the rind. They have learned how to defrost it in a hurry. It is amazing how much better they seem to feel after eating it in extreme heat....

And More Snow – HenBlog – Monday, February 9, 2015

...hope it lets up soon! Carol Caldwell I don't know how you keep going in these conditions (although you have to of course), it's so good that you have the type of barns that you do. I hope things get better for you soon. Jan Pip and Caper enjoying their branches in the sunshine. Boston is in the news in uk, hope the weather doe's not come in as bad again as they are saying. Have put a card in post today, hope it gets to you ( probably at least a week or two ). As always keep safe...

How Many Eggs Do Your Older Hens Lay? – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 21, 2010

...day here or there. But, usually, you’ll get plenty of eggs from your new hens. When the chicken is about 18 months old, she’ll go through her first molt. Egg laying ceases. Old feathers fly. New ones grow in. And then it’s winter, and this time through, the dark and cold slow down or stops the egg laying. When spring comes, she’ll resume her egg-laying, but not at the pace of her first year. The shells will be thinner and more prone to breaking. By the time her second molt and winter comes along, a farmer who needs her chickens...

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

...pasture. There’s a destination for the exercise. Yesterday a camerawoman and a producer from Chronicle, the Boston ABC station’s long-running human-interest news show, came to Life Care. They filmed the hens. In this photo you can see an occupational therapist encouraging her patient to stand up to get closer to the chickens.   It was a beautiful fall day and so the patients were out on the track, viewing the animals, doing physical therapy, and getting fresh air and sunshine.   Llamas are unique creatures and Ellen needed someone who knew how to work with them, so Ellen sent one...

No to Chicken Rental – HenBlog – Thursday, April 30, 2015

...“ Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B000HGB93E&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_233b400a3a95c688abc1f3545b29e79e ” that is supplied. The runs are small and easily accessible by predators. The food and water is exposed to the elements. Chicken keeping isn’t as easy as so many of its proponents would like you to believe. No animal is easy – if it is, you’re likely doing something wrong. For example, a rabbit in a wire hutch in the backyard is no trouble to take care of – simply give it food and water daily – but you’re not providing...

This & That – HenBlog – Monday, March 11, 2013

...it seems empty out there without one. There’s a rabbit show in May that’s not too far away. I’ve penciled it into my calendar. Who knows what I’ll come home with. On other news, my publisher has informed me that the egg cookbook will not be published until 2014. I had no say in this, and of course, it’s frustrating. They might release the ebook this year. I’ll keep you informed. What else? Yesterday I collected 9 eggs from the 12 Gems. This bounty coincides with a luncheon being planned for our small town’s library staff. One dish on the...

Bird Flu and Backyard Hens – HenBlog – Thursday, March 5, 2015

...the most about in the news because they have caused several hundred human deaths. Look closely at these cases, and you find that the stricken people were often exposed to large quantities of diseased dead birds in unsanitary live poultry markets, or they were collecting feathers from dead wildfowl. There has been no human-to-human transmission. Nor is there a risk when eating properly cooked eggs and meat. The poultry industry is rightly worried about this virus spreading. They have a lot of animals at stake. Some barns house 50,000 hens, and exposure to the virus means that all of the...

Horse Training Attitude – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, August 28, 2014

...earlier. The rider does need to assert himself as the controller, not for power struggle, but because deep down a horse has a sense of humor, and he will remove you from his back and laugh about it. And the smarter the horse the more games he can think to play with you. Terry Golson Sadly, there is still "breaking." More worrisome to me is the "natural" horsemanship that bases the training on incorrect assumptions about how horses see the world. They claim to be natural and kind, but it's actually punishment. Terry Golson Hi Erney, as I've said in...

Chocolate and Caramel – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I’m a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, which means I get to hang out with some amazing, talented, accomplished women in the food world. Last night, my local chapter had a Chocolate and Caramel event. We met at Kelly Delaney’s Cakes for Occasions kitchen. Lee Napoli, one of the most inventive chocolatiers in Boston, showed us her truffle-making technique. It’s all about very good chocolate at the right temperature. Next, Denise Baron, of Burton’s Grill, made caramel. I’ve struggled for years to get caramel right. The step where you boil down the sugar is so tricky! It seizes up. It...

A Charming Coop Door – HenBlog – Monday, May 27, 2013

Rebecca Sitting on the porch here in TN enjoying a coffee and all the birds calling. Wanting to Thank all our Service Men and Women here and around the world....for the opportunity to do it. Freedom is not free it comes with a price. Remember them all this Memorial Day. Lesley S That is a great door! Beautiful craftsmanship! My joy today will be using my new sifter that my son made me yesterday. It is hardware cloth on a square frame to make cleaning our sand floor chicken run easier and I won`t be composting as much sand. It...

Watch Me Skype – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tomorrow is World Read Aloud Day. I’m taking part by donating four Skype visits to classrooms from California to Maine. Skyping is a live-streaming video tool. Because Steve has put WiFi in the coops, I’m able to video chat with the kids while surrounded by hens! For WRAD, I’ll be sitting in the Big Barn, and you’ll be able to watch on the BarnCam. I’m going to try and read Tillie Lays an Egg, but chaos might ensue. The hens are fascinated by my iPad, and who knows what Agatha will do! My first visit is set for 11:15 am...

Birthday Boys – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

...when something is right. I put a deposit down on two, yet to be born, goats. And this is what I got. These are my first goats, so I don’t have any other goats to compare them to. That said, these are the absolute best goats in the entire world. I have worked with many and varied animals, but I must say that goats are unique unto themselves. Yes, they fit in the four-legged furry farm animal category. But they are nothing like horses. Or donkeys. Or mules. Or cows. Or sheep. Goats have goat obstinacy and goat humor. Goat...

Snow Horse – HenBlog – Friday, January 30, 2015

...weight, and can find forage in a wide range of places. It took a few thousand years, but horses became stronger, larger, faster, and more suited to the tasks required by humans. The domestic population surged, the wild dwindled, and now there are no truly wild horses left in the world. (Herds out west are feral, not wild.) Recent DNA research confirms this. Even the Przewalski horse is descended from domesticated species. Still, there is something of that wild steppe equine in our modern horses. Does Tonka have an ancient memory of snow-covered Mongolian plains as he makes his way...

1000th Post Giveaway – HenBlog – Friday, September 7, 2012

...tell me what key you would hang on the chain. It can be a real key, like the one to your front door, or one you wish you had (I’d take a pickup truck, horse van and horse!), or one to something intangible, like the key to a loved one’s heart. Leave your comment here for one entry. If you post this contest on FB, let me know here and you get a second entry. If you post on Twitter, come back and tell me and you get a third entry. I’m happy to ship anywhere in the world (I...

Springtime Beauty – HenBlog – Monday, May 5, 2014

...as tonight. Terry Golson The goaties say that their bellies are rumbling with thoughts of green grass! Terry Golson Each dog is a Sherlock Holmes - perceives much more than we ever can. Terry Golson Ken, with all of the sad, sad stories about tornados lately, that is so nice to hear that your favorite tree is springing back to life! Kim Perkins This Spring is our sweet reward for enduring such a rough Winter! Robin For me it is my decorative crab apple bush (that sometimes gives me a crab apple or two :) ), forsythia, wild violets and...

There’s Always One in a Crowd – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The other chicks are content to run about in the brooder and perch on the branches in the coop. Not this one. She’s discovered the HenCam mount and very much likes the view. I wonder if she’ll be a “top hen” and lord it over the others when full-grown? So far, pecking order seems to be entirely about size. But, I haven’t sat and watched for any length of time, so there’s probably more going on than I’ve noted. I’ve been concerned about spreading the mycoplasma to the chicks and so do my chores quickly and leave them alone. However,...

Come For a Walk With The Boys – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Every morning I take the goats for a morning munch in the meadow (don’t you just love alliteration?) This is their chance to see a bit of the wide world and graze on the varied foods that are so good for goats and that they so love. Please join us. First, we hurry out of the stall. Although I’m teaching a “come” and a “follow me,” they’d rather eat my flowers and mint than do as told. Notice the leashes. I’m about to use them. The boys like different foods. Caper always goes for the sunflower leaves. Pip is partial...

My Sane Place – The Vintage Hen – Wednesday, October 29, 2014

...cat or two. Pure serenity. Kris My sane place is with my 8 year old boy, laughing until we have tears running down our cheeks. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day and am always running around feeling rushed and hurried. But at the end of the day, he's what makes me feel like the happiest person in the world. :) Connie Moreau Sitting on my yard swing watching my busy chickens! Linda DITTO to Connie's quote! Lesley S I am never so relaxed as I am when outside in my garden with no chores in mind...just...

My Job – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 11, 2012

...an Egg. Agatha listened and was as well-behaved as the incredibly polite and attentive first graders. Agatha showed off chicken feet (like a dinosaur’s!) and ears, feathers and her beak (birds don’t have teeth!) Agatha sat in my lap while every child came up, one by one, to pet her. She chortled, she looked, she never once pecked. My good hen and I did this program three times, for about 100 children and teachers in all. As I was leaving, a little girl handed me this picture and gave me a hug. I have the best job in the world....

Gardening With Chickens – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 7, 2012

...look like this: Well, it could if you lived on a British estate and employed master gardeners. For the rest of us, there is a compromise between hens run amok, and keeping them penned at all times. You can pick where and when you want your girls to roam. Yesterday the Gems spent quality time in the pumpkin patch, scratching up overwintering pests and weeds. I appreciated Agatha’s help. A new book, Free-Range Chicken Gardens, written by a gardener who is also a chicken keeper, dispenses good, commonsense advice. Jessi Bloom (is that a perfect name for a garden writer?)...

The Chicken Medicine Cabinet – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 3, 2011

...irritated skin. (Follow the package directions.) Epsom salt, when ingested, can neutralize toxins, help get the intestinal tract moving, reduce runny poo and treat vent gleet. Olive oil is also one of those cure-alls. When a hen looks poorly and isn’t producing manure, I want to get things moving. A dose of a tablespoon, poured down the throat, can sometimes loosen blockages and help. Lastly, there are times when the only thing that will save your flock are antibiotics. These can be purchased online, at feed stores and from your veterinarian. There are many on the market, and you’ll read...

Fashion Tips For Animal Owners – HenBlog – Wednesday, November 18, 2009

...hanging on the rack, the material attracted lint. I could only imagine what it’d look like in a house with my world-class shedding dog, Lily. #4: Avoid purchasing apparel that attracts lint. Here are Lily and Scooter. They’ve just had a nice scratch. Notice the dog hair on the carpet. I selected that gorgeous plum rug before I owned Lily. It’s not as easy to match decor to one’s pets as it is to change clothes. #5: Keep a lint roller and vacuum cleaner on hand at all times. That’s all for now – I have to go do laundry....

Catching Up – HenBlog – Sunday, May 22, 2011

...nasty bugs – rainy and dark days are prime breeding times. Speaking of bugs, I picked up a tool, which angered a wasp hiding on it. Got stung on my right palm, which has made it difficult to do anything for the last day. Amazing how it can be itchy and painful at the same time. Luckily, I’m not allergic, so no trip to the hospital – just poultice after poultice of baking soda. Also in the last week: Flowers bloomed. The washing machine broke, then Steve fixed it, and now I’m on my sixth load of laundry, with at...

Scooter’s Birthday – HenBlog – Friday, January 8, 2016

...training facility, where there were scary smells and sounds and strange dogs. He was miserable traveling without Lily, but he did what he had to. In order to graduate, I had to teach him a 10-part behavior chain. Here we are practicing. (The final chain is more precise. For example, we finessed it so that he touched the ruler with his right paw.) Thanks to Scooter, I passed. Lily is still the alert dog, and Scooter is the master of naps. Lily knows that Scooter sometimes needs the entire bed. That’s okay. That’s what best friends do. Happy Birthday, Scooter!...

Not A Good Sign Of Spring – The Vintage Hen – Wednesday, March 25, 2015

There is still two feet of snow on the ground, and more in piles shoved by plows and blown by wind. But, we’re also seeing patches of bare ground. Dead leaves are visible under the wood pile. Grass is visible circling tree trunks. These hints of springtime are welcome. But, the warmth awakens things that have rested protected under the snow cover. On Sunday night, Lily’s face swelled up. Her lips thickened to three times their normal size. Her eyelids drooped. Her chin sagged. This came on suddenly. She did what she always does when she doesn’t feel well –...

The Vintage Hen – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, May 21, 2015

...I only joined recently. They are informative, funny and some times sad well worth reading for anyone who has not read them all. Also a vintage image once a week would be interesting. Hope the new website goes well for you, but please don't forget us who love the chickens :) Jess asks if the new site is about Tonka and if so will we have lots more pictures and possible webcam ?? a.q. Awww, I'm gonna miss the Vintage Hen :( Well, I'm glad you're still going to be running the Henblog :) A 'vintage' day would be nice....

Hinged Roosts – HenBlog – Thursday, April 2, 2015

I keep my coops clean, not obsessively so, but tidy enough that the manure doesn’t build up and the air smells fresh and isn’t laden with dust and humidity. Every other day or so, I skip it out. (Skip it out is a term used in horse barns – you’ll feel like a real farmer when you use it!). As necessary, I refresh with clean bedding. Once a week, I do a more thorough cleaning. A couple of times a year, I remove everything, use the shop vac to vacuum up the dust, scrub walls (just water and white vinegar)...

Two’s a Crowd – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 2, 2015

...nest, and look what’s under her.   It would be comical, except sometimes what with all of the stomping and jostling and squatting, an egg breaks. So far the eggs that the Ladies lay are sturdy enough to withstand the commotion, but that’s not the case with the Gems. A few of those older hens lay thin-shelled eggs, and several times a week I find a broken one. I know the hens that are no longer able to make strong shells – Jasper and Opal – and if I was a real farmer, they’d be gone. But, lucky for them,...

Feeding and Cleaning – HenBlog – Thursday, July 9, 2015

It’s Phoebe Week, day Four!   It takes a lot of food to power the astoundingly fast growth of hatchlings. We see the Eastern Phoebe parents flying to the nest and then off again countless times during the day.   The babies are now so large, that even from a distance, I can see gaping mouths waiting for food.   What goes in must come out. The birds somehow have to keep that nest clean of feces. I hadn’t thought about how that was done, but then Steve caught the method on camera. The baby bird turns it’s butt to...

Old Nest Revealed – The Vintage Hen – Monday, April 13, 2015

...Some plants will need tender loving care. Branches broke under the weigh of the snow. Mice ate bark. But the climbing hydrangea is astoundingly vigorous and sturdy. I clip it back several times a year, if I didn’t it would overwhelm the Little Barn and even lift the shingles from the walls.   This is the first plant to show signs of spring life.   Looking closely, it revealed a secret from last summer.   I had no idea that birds had made a home in its branches. I’ll clear this nest out, prune the plant, and wait to see...

A Garden Day – HenBlog – Monday, May 16, 2011

Celia and I went to two gardens today. The first, Ickworth House, could be used for one of those BBC dramas where everyone sweeps about in gowns or brocade footman’s outfits, and there’s lots of intrigue but they don’t actually do much. It was fascinating to see, but I wouldn’t have wanted to live here, whether I was royalty or a servant. Then we went to Wyken Vineyards. This is the house. I’m told it’s a “gentleman farmer’s house” and not a grand estate. Really? (By the way, although the grounds are open to the public, this is a private...

Listening To My Horse – HenBlog – Friday, May 9, 2014

...of moving away from the mounting block to finally get through to me that what I was doing hurt. A testament to his sweet nature is that he never became dangerous or rude. He simply kept trying to give me the message in the only way that he could. Sometimes I can be so dense! Tonka is back to his good behavior only because I didn’t call what he was doing “bad.” I listened to him. Maybe next time when something like this comes up, I’ll be quicker to figure out what Tonka is telling me. In the meanwhile, I...

Observation not Assumptions – HenBlog – Friday, July 17, 2015

...and ride, then clean him off. I try to make time to hand-graze. I try not to rush, but our interactions are all within the context of me deciding what happens. It doesn’t allow for getting to know who he is on his own terms. Or for problem-solving situations that come up. For that, I need to step back and watch. Tonka spends his days in a fenced area with Maggie. They get along okay. Horses who are best friends do mutual grooming, stand head to tail swishing flies off of each other, and eat together. Maggie and Tonka do...

Horse Grooming – HenBlog – Sunday, October 4, 2015

...URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B002HJB5PG&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_df95e66e036351065fae04a14af06fe8 . (The one I have is an inexpensive model, but you could splurge and get Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B00WOMBROU&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_de827f4d7e40600bb47c6d23c4492c67 .) As you can see, it does a great job of loosening dirt and hair.   Tonka particularly likes having me use it on the insides of his legs where he can’t reach. How do I know? He politely shifts his bum and leans in.   Here is Tonka, tipping his head so that I can scritch his ears and...

Before You Use a Clicker – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 23, 2015

...in a book, Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=1982106468&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_8800e14a2afa0086586bf656c20266bb . Over the years, this type of training became more sophisticated and codified, and morphed into what is now known as clicker training. Using a small plastic noise maker, called a Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B002LAS2KW&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_951356900ae7b303a951698f5e68a8be , the trainer marks the moment that the animal does the right thing and then immediately gives the animal a reward (often, but not always, food.) Using clicker protocols, the training is...

I’m Nominated! Please Vote. – HenBlog – Friday, September 2, 2011

...Terry, removing cookies from my Ipad is too hard so I am using my PC every day to vote for you. Today I voted twice for you because I could not vote yesterday.Good Luck!!!! >^..^< Terry Golson Maureen- I feel like I should bake real cookies for everyone who is putting in the effort to vote! :) Brenda Terry, I have only been able to vote once because i can't get past the Survey Monkey annoyance. Diane from Vermont Good luck, Terry. Love your blog. Will vote everyday for you! DIANE BREEN survey monkey gone!!! yeah..was able to vote again,today!!...

No Knead Bread – HenBlog – Wednesday, July 18, 2012

...the New York Times food writer, posted baker Jim Lahey’s No Knead Bread recipe and it went viral. Since then there have been many variations. What follows is mine. 2 cups bread flour (this has a higher protein then all-purpose, but all-purpose will do if that’s all that’s available) 1 cup whole wheat flour (or you can use all white) 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast (this is different than the regular yeast. I use saf-instant) 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (I use bread salt from King Arthur) 2 cups water Stir the dry ingredients to evenly disperse the salt and yeast, and...

Bucolic – HenBlog – Monday, July 28, 2014

Carol from Oregon Loved the tour with you! Noticed the chicken wire on the side of the barn and floor of porch. We will use the idea and put wire down across our bridges over the irrigation ditch because it gets icy in winter. Notice God is watering your garden back there today! PS.. We finally were able to order some Koop Clean from a place in Montana!! ... That's the closest place out west. Do you still like it? Terry Golson Torrential downpours today, with thunder. Then sun. Then thunder. One of those days. Yes, I still like using...

The Nest Egg – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, October 9, 2012

...smell the old eiderdowns and mothballs and feel the itchy wool rug under my knees when I think about it. There was of course no heating and you could see your breath in the bedrooms, so as good as a fridge! Tracy Byers I keep mine in a tea tin that a good friend brought back from Boston many years ago. Sometimes it is flush, sometimes not so much, but it's a good feeling knowing it is there :) LB I'm afraid it goes in the 'pocket money tin' from which we fund the girls' bus money and dinner money...

Ice – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 16, 2016

There’s been a break in the bitter cold weather. That’s not always a good thing. This warm front came with snow and then rain and fog. It does this to trees. Each branch is outlined with ice. Branches are encrusted with granular snow, which weights them down.   Spring buds are encased in frozen water. It’s beautiful but dangerous. I’m headed out to upstate New York today. The roads are currently too slippery to drive on, but the temperatures continue to rise. It should be safe in a couple of hours. Later this week I fly down to Dallas for...

What I Did in NYC – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 25, 2008

...in a long line at the taxi stand. Penn Station is below Madison Square Garden, where Ringling Brothers Circus will be playing. So, next to the line of folks waiting for cabs were a line of protesters. Now, I’m the first one to stand up for caring humanely for animals, but PETA and the like have an anti-animal, anti-zoo, anti-animal training, extreme vegetarianism stance. Their outlook is unrealistic, has a warped view of animal/human relationships and does more harm than good. What can I say, I got in a shouting match with them. New York brings out that in people....

Supporting Local Agriculture – HenBlog – Monday, January 7, 2008

When do you think this quote was written? we of the east send west of the New York-Ohio state boundary between 900 Million and a Billion Dollars every year for food products that could and would grow here in the east. And this: If you are so unfortunate that you are compelled to live in a city where you cannot keep even a half dozen hens in your back yard, you can help some by insisting that your grocer supply you with nearby eggs. No, this isn’t from some recent locavore tract. It’s from the Lay or Bust Almanac from...

On The Road – HenBlog – Thursday, March 11, 2010

...bread with their 10-grain mix. Have just run out. And have just finished the last of their extra-bittersweet chocolate chips. Have you baked with those? My son loves the mint chips. I've also run out of the Italian bread flour. It's going to be a full car on the way home! But really, this is a work trip. I'm giving a terrific (if I do say so myself) presentation on backyard chicken keeping. And, I'm doing a children's program - which I've brought feathers from home for a craft project. Anyone out there ready to take a road trip to...

Chicken Tee Giveaway – HenBlog – Friday, November 16, 2012

...Chickens was founded in 2011 as a part of The Friends of Brook Park, a community garden in the Mott Haven community of the South Bronx. As the winner of a grant from Just Food, volunteers came together to build the coop and run for the 15 hens that came from the Queens County Farm Museum. Brook Park Chickens is 100% run by volunteers – two come daily to feed, water, clean and take care of the hens. Eggs are shared by all of the volunteers. But the main objective of the coop is to bring in school, after-school and...

Broody Girls – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Three of my hens are broody – Blackie, Snowball and Marge. A broody hen sits in a nesting box, and if there are eggs there, she’ll roll them under her to keep them warm. I don’t know how Snowball stays balanced. At times she is perched on four large eggs that weigh almost as much as her. A broody hen stops laying for weeks, and sometimes months, and so a backyard hen keeper has to decide if he or she wants to go to the bother of breaking the broody cycle. It is possible, but not easy. Being broody is...

An Egg Is Clean – HenBlog – Saturday, July 13, 2013

...at me! How much clearer and smoother the image is on my iPad2. (Only thing I can't do now is screen capture an image, but that's ok.) This is great. It'll be hard to tear myself away! Thanks! Cindy B Fantastic! Terry and Steve! I just saw Phoebe run fast out of the barn and across the run. So much action is displayed in the new fast streaming cam. It's a lot of fun to now be able to see the chickens move and 'dance' as they do in real life. What a wonderful new view you have given us....

Nancy’s Soft Eggs – The Vintage Hen – Wednesday, October 16, 2013

...has eaten it. Soft eggs break easily and the chickens find them irresistibly delicious. That sort of egg eating can lead to the bad habit of egg-breaking and eating, but it hasn’t happened. Her eggs are so unlike the hard-shelled ones laid by everyone else that I don’t think that the hens have made the connection. It can be hard on a hen to lay a soft-shelled egg. They’re squishy and don’t slip out easily like smooth, correctly formed eggs. I worry about her. Sometimes soft eggs are caused by a poor diet. But, I know that’s not the case...

On Her Own Terms – HenBlog – Sunday, January 5, 2014

...special hen -- Betty -- a Buff Orpington/ RRI cross, now heading into her 5th season, and at some point I'm sure I will face the big question of her decline and death. I'm not looking forward to it, but I have several friends with lots of experience who have said they will help me do the deed. I sometimes think the 'backyard chicken movement' has inadvertently done a disservice to chickens -- the lighthearted 'chickens are fun! friendly! entertaining! and they make your breakfast!' kind of encouragement by many in the poultry world treads lightly on the deeper issues:...

Horse Care – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 15, 2014

...rainy spring is over and the sod has firmed up.) Because his paddock doesn’t have grass, I’ve been hand grazing him daily, gradually increasing the amount of fresh greens that he eats. We both enjoy this peaceful time near the wetlands, where birds are singing and the spring peepers (small frogs) are making a ruckus.   A horse carries himself (upwards of 1,000 pounds) plus a rider on four hooves, which aren’t simply solid cartilage – no, they have bones and capillaries and cushions, all of which can be damaged. The hoof walls are continuously growing, and so need to...

Why I Don’t Use Deep Litter – HenBlog – Thursday, December 5, 2013

...do agree with the advocates of deep litter that earth and compost contains healthy microbes, and that loose dirt to scratch in provides necessary activity and also protein from the bugs that are consumed. But, you don’t need deep litter to provide these things. I have a compost pile in the chicken run. It does all of the positive things of deep litter, but it also keeps the run and coop dry and tidy. My compost in the chicken run is a modified deep litter. There’s soft earth for digging, healthy microbes, and bugs. I toss in garden refuse, bedding...

More Snow. – HenBlog – Monday, February 16, 2015

It’s official. We’ve had record-breaking snowfall this winter. And winter isn’t over yet. The Valentine’s Day storm brought another foot, plus, of snow, and high winds are making drifts of monster proportions. This was the scene on Sunday morning that my intrepid shoveling men faced.   By the afternoon my son waded out, just to see what it’s like to walk through epic snow.   Steve shoveled. And shoveled. I think that we need a snow blower. Perhaps something like Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=B00MHRHJ2Q&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_21ce7237b6390741449421ec21052b8d . He resists....

Amazing Expanding Goat Bellies – HenBlog – Tuesday, July 21, 2015

...rumen is when you look at the boys top-down.   The rumen is not centered inside of the goat, it’s actually more to the left. New goat owners often panic when they see something the size of a volleyball protruding on one side of the goat. It’s actually a good thing to see a full rumen. And, it should be noisy! Inside of the the rumen are millions (billions?) of bacteria doing the work of breaking down the feed into usable components. Put your ear to the side of your goat and you’ll hear rumblings and grumblings. Silence is an...

A Full Crop – HenBlog – Tuesday, July 8, 2014

...to be active and work for their food. Their systems aren’t made for eating a few distinct meals a day. But, sometimes what a hen swallows is big. I once saw Lulu slurp a baby snake down whole, like a strand of spaghetti. Sometimes hens find a bonanza of bugs in the garden and gorge themselves all in the course of a few minutes. The first stop for all of this food in the digestive process is the crop – which is a pouch in the hen’s neck. Physically breaking down the food happens later, in the gizzard, which is...

Feeding During the Molt – HenBlog – Friday, October 10, 2014

...very expensive and wouldn’t last a week. A bale at the feed store usually weighs over a hundred pounds! But, you can find what you need in the horse aisle: chopped alfalfa mixed with molasses. (This is horse feed, the molasses makes it more palatable for the animals; the hens don’t mind.)   This is the brand that I feed – it comes in a 40 pound plastic bag, the size and heft of a bag of pine shavings. Every morning, I toss a handful out into the run. Because the stems are chopped, your hens won’t get impacted crops....

An Improved GoatCam – HenBlog – Tuesday, November 11, 2014

...invite the manufacturer to do product testing here. There is jostling in the stall. Stuff (of the unmentionable kind) gets on the protective plastic lens.   Here are the goats rubbing against the Goat Maid’s rubber boots. Wearing boots that they can rub against is one of her jobs.   Much to the goats’ chagrin, she often fails at this, and so the goats have to resort to rubbing other things. LIke the cams. So, enjoy the improved live-streaming, and I apologize in advance if you see it through a haze of goat dirt. IT Guy can’t solve every problem....

Broody Hens – HenBlog – Monday, June 18, 2007

...and toss her out. Within seconds, she is happily scratching in the yard. But only a few minutes later, the impulse to brood takes over and back in she goes. Hens bred to supply most of the world’s eggs have been selected to lay an egg each day, and once they’ve done their job, to ignore that egg and eat and drink so that they can make more eggs. Even some of the old-time breeds of chickens were developed to lay but not sit on their eggs. This makes a lot of economic sense. So, even within a backyard flock,...

Drought – HenBlog – Thursday, August 5, 2010

It was such a record-breaking wet spring, that this summer’s drought caught me totally by surprise. I know it hasn’t rained. But, it’s been humid. It feels damp. I’ve been watering the vegetable garden, but otherwise have left things alone. Yesterday, I noticed this: The sun spire in the woodland border is about to expire. This made me look around. Really look. What I saw is scary. Bushes are turning yellow, which is something we like seeing in October, not the beginning of August. Oak leaves are brown and dropping. Maple trees are showing signs of stress – some leaves...

Compost Bins and Chicken Manure – HenBlog – Wednesday, February 22, 2012

...might contain bits of internal parasites, and it might harbor the intermediary hosts of those parasites. It also smells. Bad. That pile of poo is about 75 % water. It will eventually shrink, but it while it is dehydrating and breaking down it has to go somewhere. I keep compost piles in my chicken runs. It keeps them busy with things to shred, scratch and eat. Much of my kitchen and garden scraps go there. But, that’s not where I put the manure. I don’t want the hens mucking about in their own waste and possibly ingesting parasites. I want...

Epsom Salt Soak for a Hen – HenBlog – Monday, August 4, 2014

...every day for almost a month in a row. Yesterday evening she was just standing at the pop hole to the coop as if she wasn't sure if she had the energy to go in. She did, after I went over to see if she was alright. I will give her an Epsom salts bath today, even though she seems herself again, the reason being that she has runny poop and a messy bottom. I figure that I can take the opportunity to check her out while she is soaking. I was wondering,can I give her the bath in the...

This and That – HenBlog – Friday, September 23, 2011

There’s no big news here, but there’s plenty going on. A Great Blue Heron has been fishing. Lily chased it out of the pond three times yesterday. It’s a huge bird, and slow to rise into the sky, so I give it a head start before telling Lily to “get it!” There’s too many small goldfish in the pond, and I wouldn’t mind the heron eating a few, but I don’t want it stabbing The Beast, who is too big to swallow whole, but is still at risk for being stabbed. The fish eat algae and mosquito larvae in the...

Towers – HenBlog – Sunday, September 11, 2011

Magic Cochin I'm remembering too. I remember standing on top of the tower, feeling on top of the world - it was my birthday! I remember all the smiling people and the people rushing about their working day. I love your solid colourful lego tower. Celia x Terry Golson Yes, and when you looked down out those windows it looked like the building was arcing away from you so that it was as if you were on a precipice. Deborah Pruden I come to this blog to see your beautiful animals and hear about your life as mother, author, hen...

Waiting For Eggs – HenBlog – Monday, September 5, 2011

...builds these boxes and sells them on-line. As a general rule, you need one box for every five hens, so the girls could use another. I have too many nesting boxes in the HenCam barn, so I might move one over. Chickens innately want to lay in a safe, semi-dark place. But their idea of a good place is not necessarily yours! If they’re free-ranging, they’ll find a nook in a stone wall or a hiding place under a bush. So, when your girls begin to lay you might want to keep them from wandering. Keep them near the coop...

Boots! And Other News – HenBlog – Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I found these inexpensive rubber boots on sale at Sears. They’ll take me through the next couple of months until I switch to my hard-core snow boots (which are toasty and dry but not conveniently slip-on). I got the boots just in time. There was a hard frost yesterday morning, and a cold, driving rain, and possibly snow is predicted for the remainder of the week. Meanwhile, it appears that Garnet is no longer pulling out Jasper’s feathers. Four Gems are laying. I harvested the last of the kale from the vegetable garden. Winter is on its way!...

Updates – HenBlog – Tuesday, July 1, 2014

I wanted to catch you up on a few storylines going on here. The good news is that, what with the extra shade and the addition of pond salt, The Beast is fully recovered from her bout with sunburn.   The thermometer is registering temperatures above 90º F and it’s been humid, but I don’t need to look at a weather gauge to know that. I just have to observe Phoebe. She’s stretched out on the cool concrete inside of the Little Barn. If you want to see her active, check the cams at nightfall. She’s been letting us know...

Sunshine in the Barnyard – HenBlog – Saturday, March 12, 2011

...what with their big bellies and not having had exercise for months. They’re celebrating the sunshine and open space with much head-butting. My morning chores and a bit of spring clean-up took less than an hour, but the sun and the work and the cheery nature of my animals, and the feel of a warm wind makes me optimistic. The here and now of a sunny barnyard does that. Much needed after hearing the news out of Japan. Much needed most everyday. My next task today is to shovel snow off of my cold frames. I’d like to plant kale....

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

(Update: this contest is closed. Patti Lincus won!) My friend, Susan, at Bainbridge Farm Goods has very, very exciting news. Her sign company is a finalist for the Martha Stewart American Made People’s Choice Award. Her signs are filled with goats, chickens, and vegetables. They are bright, modern, and playful. They are made in America (actually, in her corner of America, Bainbridge Island.) They look like this: And this: And this: Don’t you just need one? (I already have a Fresh Eggs sign, but I think I need the goat sign, too!) To celebrate her being chosen as a finalist...

Clever Goat – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 9, 2014

...The bottom one was off the hook. Yep, Pip figured out how to unlatch the chain and squeeze through the gate. (Notice that the chain on the top is still on. Notice the size of Caper’s belly. He must have defied some law of physics to do this.)   Recently a study made a big splash in the news. It announced that goats are intelligent! Those of us with goats read the study and shook our heads. The test that the researchers presented the goats was easy-peasy. It was like asking an MIT mathematician to recite the times tables. Obviously,...

Tuppercraft Rooster – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, September 4, 2012

It’s a dreary, rainy, back-to-school day, so I thought that I should post a bit of turquoise and pink mid-century baby charm. This dapper rooster (just look at that bow tie!) held diaper pins. I read that the rooster’s tail was a way to unlatch the pins one-handed, but I can’t figure out how to do it. Does anyone know? News flash – I’ve figured it out! Push the pink clasp into the gap in the rooster’s tail, which holds it securely while you twist it open. Brilliant! I do know how to squeeze the beak in order to release...

House Chickens – HenBlog – Friday, April 1, 2011

...the nightly news and in People. I hope Tori had food and water waiting in the store for the hen. Silkies overheat easily. I know that Tori isn’t thinking of her animals because she also has a pet Nigerian Dwarf Goat. Just one. Goats should always have another goat companion. Tori’s goat is also kept as a house pet. Although he is (supposedly) trained to “pee-pee” outside, he leaves goat berries everywhere in the house. Tori Spelling has a toddler. Children should not be living with animal feces in the home. I wish this were a Hollywood phenomena, but in...

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

...down. It amazes everyone who sees it when the two pooches are relaxing in the sunshine while the hens scratch and peck all around them! Anyway...one day Ruby took off like a shot to the coop and within a couple minutes proudly returned with a dead weasel in her mouth! Atta girl, Ruby! Both dogs, Ruby and Lucy, diligently patrol after dark to make sure all varmints are not pestering the slumbering hens inside the hen-house. They are such good girls! Kris Our Westie thinks she's a good farm dog, but in reality, while chasing the resident woodchuck into the...

A Group Portrait – The Vintage Hen – Monday, January 6, 2014

What with the sad news posts I’ve been writing, I thought that we could all use a charming vintage photo to puzzle over. What’s going on here? UPDATE: the caption on the back reads: All of my family except for the chickens. Taken in our back yard about a week ago. Weston, Texas, Feb. 1930 Have you tried to photograph all of your animals, at one time? Can you imagine the rumpus if I tried to do that here? Just the thought of it makes me smile. (By the way, take a look at that terrier. Her legs are in...

Saving Clementine, Part 3 – HenBlog – Monday, March 31, 2014

...either. Clementine had to rejoin her flock. When a hen is removed from a group and time has passed, say, five days (which is an eternity in a chicken’s mind) the flock does not welcome her back. Never. Ever. They will chase. They will peck. They might draw blood, and sometimes even kill. When you first put a hen back and see the mayhem, your first reaction is to want to pick up and protect the hen that you recently spent so much effort nursing back to health. Don’t. Do not, in your misguided kindness, relegate the hen to a...

Yoga With Goats – HenBlog – Friday, November 30, 2012

...I hear they have great personalities. Terry Golson Yeas ago I tried tai chi. I kept dropping that imaginary ball! Terry Golson Adult hens don't fly up much but bantams can. I have hawk netting over the run to protect from aerial predators. I like the fencing to be tall enough that I can stand up in the run. Vicki in So. CA Sorry to hear you're achy and tied up in knots. Yoga probably really sucks for you right now, but if you keep at it, and be gentle with yourself, it should help. The meditation at the end,...

Nursing Home Hens in the News – HenBlog – Thursday, June 27, 2013

Ken PERFECT!!!!!!! I think the fact that the chickens are moving and doing things is a big difference than the trained dog that is brought in and trained to lay and be petted. Don't get me wrong I think that is a great thing as well. laura Well, that's going to make me run out and buy the Globe today. Very well done, Terry. Terri What a blessing! sue noy Just read the article Terri, you must be very proud, a wonderful venture xxx Yvette This is beautiful, Terry. Well done. Joyce Renshaw I tried to access the article on...

Eggs from Pastured Hens ARE Different – HenBlog – Friday, June 19, 2009

...hen or by one kept in a cage. A researcher in New Zealand has come up with a test to verify what type of housing an egg was laid in. It turns out that a pastured hen, eating a wide variety of food, produces a very different egg than the caged hen. A synopsis of the article can be read in this poultry industry on-line newsletter. Awhile back, Mother Earth News did it’s own analysis of pastured eggs and came up with similar results. Those of us with backyard hens knew this already, but it’s nice to have scientific proof....

Revised Chicken Keeping Web Page – HenBlog – Monday, October 16, 2006

Check out my Chicken Keeping Web page. I’ve reorganized the resources and links section and added a few more useful sites to peruse and fun things to look at. I’m on the lookout for chicken artists (not hens that paint — though that’d be really interesting!) — but artists who are inspired by chickens. Also, I’ve added a list of blogs about hens. I’ll keep the list small and well-curated. You’ll know it’s current and worth reading if it’s on my site. (Don’t you just get so annoyed clicking out-of-date links?) On to henhouse news: Tweedledum is finally up and...

Sad News – HenBlog – Friday, November 17, 2006

When Steve went out to feed the girls this morning, he noticed that Tweedledum was barely sitting up, and she was gasping for breath. We got her inside, put her in a cozy bed, and gave her dropperfuls of antibiotics mixed in water. We’ve had other hens with respiratory infections who we could nurse back to health. But, Silkies are not the most robust of breeds. Within a few hours of realizing that Tweedledum was sick, she died. This is part of owning chickens — some become ill and die — but it’s never easy. Tweedledum was my son’s much...

News from the Rabbit Hutch – HenBlog – Friday, October 12, 2007

This morning I found an egg in Candy’s hutch. I’m sure it’s not hers. Whoever laid it sometime yesterday made a nice nest – the egg was securely at the bottom of a cozy hay bowl. I’m hoping that one of you HenCam viewers saw which hen did this. Perhaps Alma? Amazingly enough, Candy, inquisitive rabbit that she is, didn’t break the egg. My fourteen year old son has to catch the school bus at 6:35 am (!) He leaves in the dreary half-dark. Yesterday, walking down the driveway in a drizzle, he heard loud banging and ringing. As you...

The News From Here – HenBlog – Sunday, April 20, 2008

...for this type. Rabbits’ ears are their air conditioners. In hot weather, they stick them up away from their bodies, and the blood that runs near the skin in their ears cools in the breeze. Lop-ears can’t do this. Their ears are always hanging next to their warm fur. They need help to stay cool and healthy. So, Candy’s house has been moved. I’m sorry that you can’t see her there, but it is better for the bunny. Buffy Update: Whatever is wrong with Buffy isn’t going to go away. I assume she has a terminal illness, like cancer or...

Chickens are In! – HenBlog – Monday, April 28, 2008

...“fancy” – that is, those who show poultry – are worried that fewer and fewer people are enjoying their hobby (obsession for some.) But, overall, the number of small flock holders is growing. This is good news all around. It means that the producers of all of the things that we need to keep chickens, from waterers, to feed, to brooders, to the hatcheries that sell us chicks, will stay in business. It also means that there are more people to advocate for keeping domestic farm animals on a small scale. More people to keep an eye on NAIS. Don’t...

Snowball – HenBlog – Friday, May 30, 2008

Snowball died last night. I suppose there are euphemistic ways of sharing this news, but finding other words to say it doesn’t make losing her any easier. We buried her in the wildflower patch under the peach tree. She was as much a part of the family as a beloved pet dog....

NYC – HenBlog – Thursday, December 4, 2008

I’ve been a tad busy and unable to blog. First was the pie party. What delicious fun! Tonight my family consumed the last of the leftovers (and there’s still pie in the freezer!) A favorite was the Pear and Cranberry Tart (seasoned with a splash of good brandy) in an Almond Shortbread Crust. Guests with a serious sweet tooth loved the Peanut Butter Chiffon. Those with a savory bent ate up the Russian Onion Pie. As always, each person ate about a half pie per person. They all denied that they’d eaten so much – but the empty pie tins...

Tillie News – HenBlog – Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tillie Lays an Egg has been getting great reviews! My book got a starred review in Publishers Weekly, and raves in Kirkus and School Library Journal. It looks like people are having as much fun reading it as I had making it. Your local bookseller can order a copy and get it in time for holiday giving. In these days of re-evaluating what is good and lasting and necessary, I do think that books are right there in the “must-have” list. They’re a pleasure to hold, and are the ultimate hand-me-downs. However, if you’re on a really tight budget, make...

Accolades – HenBlog – Wednesday, May 13, 2009

I’m pleased as punch (do my overseas readers use that expression?) because HenCam has been selected as a Top Ten Cam by EarthCam! EarthCam has an international audience, and I’ve already heard from new viewers in Italy and London. Not only did I get this news on Mother’s Day, but I also got the sweetest present from my husband – he bought me the domain name goatcam.com, and as soon as the babies are old enough to come home (about the end of June), the goatcam will be up and running. Here’s a teaser for what you’ll be seeing: I’ve...

“Hen Mother” – HenBlog – Thursday, August 19, 2010

I’m in the local paper. I love my new title of “Hen Mother.” Don’t you? http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/news/lifestyle/x1371493473/Concord-Carlisle-residents-find-their-way-to-local-food...

Their Eggs and Our Eggs – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 31, 2010

With the mind-blowingly huge egg recall happening, there’s some interesting information getting into the press about the difference between the health of backyard hens and their eggs, and those from factory farms. I learned something in this piece about how eggs stay microbe-free (at least they do when the chickens are healthy and the eggs are handled properly!) I subscribe to a poultry industry newsletter, which claims that the salmonella at the factory farm came from poor-quality animal-based feed (one reason “vegetarian fed” eggs are a step better than the cheapest eggs at the market.) The same newsletter had an...

Buffy’s Status, Etc. – HenBlog – Wednesday, February 20, 2013

...absorbed the added moisture, and become a dense mass. Some days Scooter can traipse along the top of it, sometimes he falls in and disappears. The shoveled paths are becoming worn. There are days that they’re muddy, and others that they’re slick with ice. The dead-end path on the left is Scooter’s bathroom area, which he only deigns to use when it’s warm and the snow surface can’t hold his weight. On other news, the Gail Damerow book contest is over, and Ruth won. I’m delighted, because she’ll be sharing it with her 4-H club. Lastly, you’ll notice that there’s...

I’m On Chronicle – HenBlog – Thursday, November 13, 2014

A couple of weeks ago, I caught you up on the nursing home hens, and told you about how Chronicle, a New England human interest television show, was doing a piece about the project. The producer also spent some time in my backyard. The half-hour show, which they’re calling Creature Comfort, will showcase unusual therapy animals. It airs on WCVB channel 5, Boston, at 7:30 pm EST on November 13, 2014. It live-streams here. By next week I’ll have a link up on my In the News page....

My Take On Worming – HenBlog – Thursday, October 11, 2012

It’s gross and you don’t want to think about it, but chickens have nasty parasites inside of them. There are various types of roundworms, tapeworms and flukes that live in the intestines, the eyes, the throats and the gizzards. A chicken with a heavy parasite load shows a loss of vitality, fewer eggs and a lowered disease resistance. I’ve been researching and reading about this, both on-line and in books. But perhaps the best advice I’ve seen has come from this 1941 booklet. The good news is that the parasites that live inside of poultry are avian-specific. They don’t live...

Winter Care for Chickens – HenBlog – Tuesday, December 8, 2009

...do it, but they won’t be happy. So, take a moment and shovel a clear area for them in their run. Or, if the snow is too deep and icy, put down some hay. They’ll appreciate it. One of the most important things to give your chickens in the winter is fresh water. If you have electricity in the barn, get one of these base heaters for the waterer. Otherwise, you’ll have to replace the frozen water a few times a day. (And, yes, I know the directions on the box say not to put a plastic waterer on the...

Rabbit Weather – HenBlog – Wednesday, December 9, 2009

It’s going to snow at least 4 inches today. Maybe 8. There will be high winds. Then we’ll get sleet on top of it. The goats, despite their furry coats, do not like it. Pip looks out, but you can tell by the expression on his face that he is not pleased. The chickens stay indoors. But, wait, who is this going outside? Yes, it’s Candy. She like to warm up in the company of the chickens. She drinks from the heated waterer. But she also likes snow. She likes to hop in it, build tunnels, and sit on mounds...

What Breeds? – HenBlog – Thursday, April 28, 2011

...Denise I have 2 Welsummers this year, my first of this breed. They are very mellow compared to my others. I think I'm really going to like them. I got 4 Golden Sex Links because I do not want or need another rooster. My Hannah has gone broody and I'm not taking any chances...last year 2 of 5 were roos. I need to read your suggestions for breaking a broody hen because she is collecting other eggs and breaking some of them. The yellow evidence is on her beak! Have fun. Terry Golson Good to hear about the Welsummer. My...

Pushmi-Pullyu Hen – HenBlog – Friday, May 24, 2013

...Doctor Dolittle", are free through Kindle. If anyone is interested. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=doctor+dolittle#/ref=sr_st?keywords=doctor+dolittle&qid=1369426536&rh=n%3A133140011%2Ck%3Adoctor+dolittle&sort=price jonathan Lol I thought it was conjoin twins.. at closer look I can see its two sepetate birds LOL I can be a fool sometimes!!! Cindy B Yes, revisit your early library bookshelf. The more time goes by, the more early memories remain perfect. Do settle in with a copy of Dr. Doolittle on this cool, misty weekend. You won't regret it. P.S. I am enjoying the energy and activity of the pullets in the Little Barn run. Cindy B Yes, Sue ~ I, too, still have and enjoy...

October Snow – HenBlog – Monday, October 31, 2011

...stall. Would love to see the snow outside. Terry Golson It's amazing that the camera works at all - the goats bang it, stand on it and rub their noses on it. IT Guy is out of town, but I'll have him adjust it when he gets back. (He missed the storm, so I'm blaming it on him!) Carol Calwell These are amazing pictures, I cant believe you have this in October with autumn leaves still on the trees. We in England are still having a warm October (at least last October day today). I am still in shirt sleeves...

Pepto-Bismol for Pip – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Pip had a bellyache last night. Since a goat has four stomachs, that can be a lot of ache. The largest stomach (technically there’s only one stomach with four compartments, but everyone calls them stomachs) is the rumen. The rumen is like an expandable pouch. It’s where all of the bulky, grassy, thorny, leafy, barky things that goats eats are stored. It’s amazing the quantity of feed that can fit in there. Sometimes Pip eats so much that his left side (where the rumen is) sticks out in a lopsided way. Counterintuitively, an asymmetrical, bulky belly is a sign of...

Peak Foliage and Rose Hips – HenBlog – Friday, October 19, 2012

...a recipe in the old, old Organic Gardening magazine - does anyone remember the small, original version with the newsprint pages? That was back when Ruth Stout was still alive and writing a regular column. I think J.I. might have still been alive too. Suzanne Gorgeous pictures! I have to agree with Ken, fall is the best time of year (with the exception of the aroma of manure that people here in S.Cal spread all over their lawns every October...) As for rose hips, I always enjoy the tea, purchased at the health food store. There's a rose especially bred...

It’s Me or the Dog (or Chicken) – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 18, 2011

...this is a "teacup" pig - a designer animal bred for it's small size and cute factor. Like teacup dogs (yorkies, poodles, etc.) they often have neurological issues. Also, when an animal is that tiny, you can't feed it indiscriminately. You have to be very careful they're getting the right nutrition. So, I don't know what Mud's future holds. Susan O So sorry I missed it. I will have eagle eyes out for the re-runs. I just posted about your wonderful cookbook on my blog. Please pop over and tell me what you think. I hope you like it!! From...

Steamed Eggs – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Laura B I totally want that exact egg steamer! CUUUUTE! Ken Terry, Is that the male plug I see in the photo on the bottom? just like the old waffle irons. Scott THANK YOU! I have searched and searched the internet to the answer to this problem. I tested it today and it totally worked with one of today's eggs. Not that I didn't trust you Terry. I would maybe steam for 18 minutes instead and see how that is. I'm making potato salad for a party this weekend and was dreading boiling up the eggs. Not anymore. Now I'll...

Winter Dust Baths – HenBlog – Thursday, March 3, 2011

Chickens require dust baths for health and happiness. But, right now it’s 20º colder than usual for early March, there’s 18 inches of snow under the bushes where they usually take late winter dust baths, and there’s several feet of snow in their run. There’s no dirt, let alone loose, warm earth to get under their feathers and next to their skin to kill parasites. So, I went to K-Mart and purchased two kitty litter pans, and filled them with sand, fireplace ashes (all hardwoods) and food-grade diatomaceous earth. There’s a spot of sun in the HenCam run, so I...

Giveaway! – HenBlog – Friday, April 2, 2010

...the Martha crew enjoys a sense of humor, too! Sounds like you & Coco had a marvelous time. Tracy Saw the show today- you did great, and so did Coco/Tillie! Must have been great fun to see all of those pretty breeds. Terry Golson Actually, I had to wait in someone's office. The guests didn't get to mingle, and the only time on the set was during our individual rehearsals and then for the taping. You saw more of the birds than I did! I was very proud of my little hen. She looked gorgeous and she behaved beautifully. What...

The Big Apple Circus – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, March 31, 2015

...that he smiles back at you when you chat with him. The url in the web site above is for a photo of my husband and Joshua. Ken I too will not attend a circus with big cats or elephants. The treatment of elephants in circuses is criminal in my mind. Terry Golson I know nothing of that farm. Thanks for the sweet photo. Michelle We got to see a similarly impressive circus here, from Mexico, when my husband was given tickets after he did some vet work on the zebras and camels. Several vets warned my husband that zebras...

Small Town Fourth – HenBlog – Saturday, July 4, 2015

...do love our caped crusaders.   Minute Men march.   The fire department tosses candy from its trucks.   There are “floats” like this tractor from Clark Farm.   Instead of candy, they handed out strawberries!   Clark Farm also showed off its goats. Recognize the truck? It’s in Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=054500537X&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_09517a52c317c4b0bf258fbdf11f1a96   The highlight of this year’s parade was a new entry – the Garden Club put together a drill team! They performed in front of the judges stand.   Some years we have a...

Feather Picking – HenBlog – Friday, October 21, 2011

...Ruby has a taste for feathers, but I’m sure that she’d prefer to eat other things. I’d like to let them out more – which will be possible soon. Today I’m having a fence installed to keep wandering dogs off the property. I’ll rest a lot easier when that is up. Meanwhile, I put a pumpkin in the pen. I’ll fill the compost area with weeds and leaves to keep Ruby and the Gems busy. It’s possible that I might have to switch Jasper into the HenCam flock. She’ll probably be on the bottom there, too, but at least she...

Names & Bios Up! – HenBlog – Friday, May 31, 2013

jennifer bevins Yeaaa! I've actually seen Edwina put the young whippersnappers in their place. So funny. She ran one off the spaghetti squash, yesterday. No pecking, just a sudden appearance by her at the squash. The youngster ran like her life depended on it. Christina Rose The names and descriptions are wonderful! I'll miss the others who left, but I look forward to getting to know the new girls as they grow up. As an aside, as many of the names are book-related, I want to say that it's been extra fun watching the blog lately and sharing the mutual...

The Nicker – HenBlog – Thursday, April 3, 2014

...you do hear it, you know that two very good friends are greeting each other. It is a clear sign of affection. I’ve had Tonka now since the beginning of December. Last week, when I was walking out to his paddock, he nickered for me. This is how we greet each other. Hello, Tonka! He looks my way.   Tonka turns.   Come! He thinks about it. I let him think. Sometimes, not rushing a horse makes what you want to have happen, happen faster. Good boy!   Hi, there.   Hmmm, I think that we have some grooming to...

Phoebe – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, January 22, 2015

...bite of that yummy pumpkin she says, and then maybe I'll be ready for bed. Rebecca Phoebe knows a good goody when she sees one. Enjoy the pumpkin with gusto girl! Riccardo Macri Phoebe is at the pumpkin again today! I think she's working to get it smaller than she is! Kim C I love Phoebe! Great photo! About 15 years ago, I adopted a huge rabbit I named Cinnamon. He was very funny and loved having his ears scratched. He had a hutch outside on our patio and he was let out to run and play in our fenced-in...

Cue, Threat or Punishment? – HenBlog – Friday, September 18, 2015

...the saddle and getting on Tonka's back), but I've also heard that (some) race horses love nothing better than to run their hearts out—kind of like sled dogs. I have another question, just because I'm curious—no judgement intended: did you spank your kids when they were young? Terry Golson Some horses love to run. The question is more nuanced - should they be training and running when so young? Should the 23 hours a day that they're not on the track be as it is? As far as spanking - never. I have yelled or grabbed to stop a dangerous...

Before The Frost – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 17, 2013

...and took down my second planting, but the third time I planted I did get some nice veggies and we'll have a second green bean picking in a few days if the frost doesn't ruin that. My herbs did very nicely and the pumpkins are still coming in. I am tired of it now and can't wait to close it all down. Today I baked a jewish apple Cake...yum and made apple sauce. It looks like Buffy might need a spa day again before winter. She isn't sleeping on the roast and doesn't seem to be able to make it...

The Girls Have An Outing – HenBlog – Tuesday, March 18, 2014

...that everything ended well... Here in S.Cal, I've had three coyote sightings in this typical suburb: once on a December evening, and the other two times it couldn't have been any later than 2 p.m. There are no rules as far as coyotes are concerned! -LOL! I was wearing flip-flops while I was in New York this December...well, it was only to take out some garbage...and I was wearing tabi socks too...not to mention it was a relatively warm day. Now, here in S.Cal, it is so warm and dry I am absolutely dreading the arrival of summer. Hopefully I'll...

Summer Plans – The Vintage Hen – Saturday, May 24, 2014

...Vermont in late July, with no phone or tv! Just quiet relaxation with our kayaks and a few good books. Lesley S Our family cottage that was built by my Grampa along with my Dad and my Uncle in the early 1940`s, was not much bigger then that. It had one large room that held the wood stove in the center and one wall had a counter with a sink(no running water though...that was fetched from a well), and some open shelving. The far side housed a small table and chairs and a double bed. There was a tiny bedroom...

Blueberry Muffins – The Vintage Hen – Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Rebecca Yum! Jnathan42480 I love blueberry muffins. looks like i'll be making them this weekend... Perhaps try the soft pliable fabric screen insted of the netting. Lori Those look delicious! As for the birds, I have heard of a product that scares cats away from area in which you do not want the to go. It is motion controlled and runs on batteries. Here is a link http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751025 Chris S. I have seen folks build a wooden frame around their berries then add chicken wire like a big chicken run. Lori Or try a fake owl. jennifer bevins These are...

You’re Invited – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Melissa Loooovvvve the pic of Amber. Just wish I lived close enough to attend your party. fay (AK) wish I could attend. Living in Alaska we miss out, but one day when I retire will travel to a ''Terry" event. Suzanne Same here! Well, not Alaska, California. But I hope to move to western New York, and then a road trip to HenCam country wouldn't be so unthinkable. "Notice the cookies"?- Notice the rubber chicken! That has certainly got my curiosity up... :^) Jennifer How fun! But I live too far. Boo. I watched my chickens fight over a bird...

Misty’s Disappearing Act – HenBlog – Friday, August 7, 2015

...My standard outfit this year in addition to my gardening gloves and shoes is an old pair of yoga pants (long) and an old men's dress shirt I picked up from the Salvation Army Thrift Store for $1.25. Yes, it does get rather warm when wearing my garb (minutes within putting it on, I can feel the sweat start to run between my shoulder blades), but it makes it much easier for me to reach through plants to nab tomatoes--plus no insane itching afterwards! Amy Sanchez You need to keep Benadryl on hand. My allergist highly recommends the ones that...

Chicken Tote Giveaway! – The Vintage Hen – Sunday, July 8, 2012

...enter a THIRD time by forwarding the post to your FB friends. If you’re not a FaceBook friend, do become one! I post photos there that you don’t see at HenCam. I’ve got a busy week – it’s Brimfield again, and I’ll be looking for more finds to post on The Vintage Hen – so I’ll let this contest run through Friday, July 13. The contest will close at 9 PM EDT. I value my international friends, so, yes, I’ll ship this to anywhere in the world! Good-luck! Up-date- this contest is closed and was won by Stephanie in AZ....

We Are Okay – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Tanya K. Love from New York! Sara Your little corner of the world, with your animals blissfully unaware of the word beyond your yard, is a comfort in these times. I'm glad everyone you know and love is ok. Thoughts to all up there. Wendy Scott Hugs and thoughts to all from Seattle. We are confused and in disbelief of the actions of yesterday. jennifer bevins One walks a very thin line between being concerned and being intrusive. Wonder how many of us were holding our breath until we heard you and your family were safe. Sad day for America,...

Preparing For Sandy – HenBlog – Sunday, October 28, 2012

...IT backed up (LOL). Now about those pumpkins. My hens are completely indifferent to pumpkins. Raw ones they ignore completely, cooked ones they nibble on but mostly leave untouched --- ??????? Same with sprouted mung beans, which I read about on another chicken blog. My hens don't just refuse to eat them, them leave them on the ground in their pen and trample them into the earth. Am I missing something here, or is it just different strokes for different folks, er chooks? Marcella The Dutch media said the hurricane will enter the country between Boston and New York, so...

Two-toned Egg – HenBlog – Wednesday, July 11, 2012

...to lay an egg was distracted from her job while the flock had a runaround in the gardens, and were held by the participants. Sometimes when a hen’s schedule is disrupted, or she’s stressed, it will take an extra day to lay that egg. In this case the egg got a special paint job in the process. In all of my years of chicken keeping, I’ve never found such a perfectly two-toned egg. I’ll be blowing it out with this tool and saving it. For more about pigmentation in eggs, see this post. Have you found any decorator eggs lately?...

My Lunch Box – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, July 5, 2012

When I was in grade school, my mother made my lunch every day. Tuna fish sandwiches on white bread. A pickle spear. Potato chips. A pink marshmallow covered cake (not homemade.) Sometimes it was bologna and pickle sandwiches. Sometimes meatloaf. With ketchup. You get the idea. These lunches were squishy and smelly. This was in the days before plastic zipper bags. The dill pickle was slipped into a wax paper bag that was, maybe if my mother remembered, twisted closed. The sandwiches, too,were wrapped in wax paper. Then it all went into a thin, inexpensive, small brown paper bag, which...

The Kindness of Euthanizing – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 27, 2012

...to put a hen down this year too - it was the humane thing to do, but heartbreaking just the same. We are so sorry for your loss. :-( karen robinson "Euthanized" is a word I'm finding difficult to write as I feel like a murderer, but any way that's what we did to Mary yesterday. I read everything in your FAQs about 19 times first as if that would somehow make it easier, but it didn't, because of course the act is one you have to do yourself. We do feel really bad. Mary had been definitely under the...

Pip’s Twin – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 15, 2012

...projects; piggy bank, purse, slippers, but needle felting is a whole different world. That close-up is absolutely adorable — makes me want to try my hand at yet another craft. Terry, don't give up on the scarf. It may just be the first of lots more projects if you get bitten by the fiber bug like I did many years ago. If you really like it, you should join ravelry.com (free). A great community for fiber lovers. Terry Golson I'm traveling in New York State - today I'm in the very beautiful town of Cooperstown, NY, to give a chicken...

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

...I used to have all kinds of Folkmanis puppets when I was a children's librarian. And I know a library in upstate New York that would LOVE these for their storytimes! When a nice giveaway! Judy Dear me! Buffie has been inside the coop on the roost all day, wings out, beak open. Makes me want to rush up to Little Pond and offer her an ice pack!! Hope your puppet give away is a crowing success Terry. WandaB The kids in our church's childcare program would LOVE to have these to play with! Olivia We are hatching eggs at...

The Goats Leave Gifts For The Birds – HenBlog – Wednesday, February 8, 2012

...cashmere after a life raising chicks in horsehair! Jill Cashman Wendy what a beautiful story-the image of long, silver hair being swept upwards and away by the birds is a lovely one. And how wonderful your friend has recovered. :) Donna I hear ya Terry! We bought a cord of wood and have not burned any! Today? 80 degrees! What the heck???????? BTW..the guinea hen that moved in with the chickens is here to stay. We named her Gertrude..Gertie for short, and we are getting a kick out of her. She is really funny to watch. Julie Come spring those...

Thank You For Your Votes! – HenBlog – Friday, September 16, 2011

...do hope you win the trip to New York City !!! Barb Olds Congratulations Terry!! You won as I knew you would... My 15 month old Grand daughter & I love your blog and the hen and goat cams....We check them before breakfast!! Love your site!! Sue Excellent! Glad my one measly vote helped. Keep up the great blog--it's better than PBS! Joan Yippee! You deserve it! We read your blog everyday! Sean Congrats Terry! You certainly deserve it! Casie Wonderful to here you won! Glad I went and voted. ;) Susie I appreciate you! I am very new at...

Preparing for Irene – HenBlog – Friday, August 26, 2011

...without power again for three weeks. Lots of putting up of lawn furtinure and shopping went on here today too. I am goind to read Stephen King as I always do during hurricanes. For something light hearted I would reccomend Janet Evanovich, her books are quite light and funny. Deborah There is a children's story about a girl lighthouse keeper who has to go out and rescue her hens in the storm. I have visions of you running back to the house, head down, clutching chickens to your chest. I am officially worried about you and yours. Stay safe, Deborah...

Anniversary Giveaway! – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 3, 2011

...the time to watch them in the coop! Finally got to meet you at a book reading and get a copy of Tillie! I read the blog at every new post! Donna Terry! You have been part of my routine for about a year and a half? Maybe more..I can't remember! You are part of my daily work routine...Get to work at 7:00, turn on the computer, drink coffee until it decides to fire up, check the HenCam! When the kids are going bonkers...I check the HenCam...You are my sanity in my sometimes insane world! Thank you to my fellow...

Bathtime – HenBlog – Sunday, March 28, 2010

...thing – barely bigger than a pigeon, and yet it took a good 40 minutes to dry her off. She perched on my right arm, while I blew her dry (on low – wouldn’t want to ruin those feathers or burn her skin.) Whatever do people who show cochins do? Must take them over an hour to dry their birds. In any event, she is happily ensconced in a scrubbed clean crate, bedded in fresh yellow straw. She’s ready for her moment of fame in NYC. I, meanwhile, need to get a new nail brush and go take a shower....

That Coco – HenBlog – Thursday, October 21, 2010

...new location(usually takes a day or two)although my old gray barnyard bantie would sit on eggs on the roof if I placed her there I think ;-) I put the eggs I want to hatch under the hen at dusk when I am less likey to disturb her but my pet chickens are so tame I've never had a problem with breaking the broody up. Once the chicks hatch I play it by ear as to how long I keep momma and chicks in the cage. It really depends on how many hatch. I order eggs off of ebay and...

Why I Have Goats – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 6, 2011

...treat. A couple of days ago he turned to the goat cam at just the right angle and I could really see the rounded tummy that you described in an earlier post. This is much more flattering. Wish I could be a goat-maid... Melissa Hi Terry, Love the picture, hope the goats are helping cheer you up after the news of Little Blue. I'm trying to vote for you, I've voted twice now, but for the last two days I've gotten the same page that thanks me for taking the survey but doesn't take me to the survey page anymore....

Tracks in the Snow – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 18, 2014

...drought which is very sad. We have one of the remaining monterey pine forests left and it is feeling stressed. joyce Robin Yikes! By the time all your snow melts away, you'll be living in 'Bog Town'. 'Course that's always a good time for ripping out wild brambles and shrubs you don't want. :) We, too, have been getting snowed on and frozen. Not as much as you have, however. And today it's 40 degrees. *shakes head* The ice will start breaking up on the rivers after a couple of days of this and it will be flood city around...

Thinking About Pie – HenBlog – Thursday, November 10, 2011

...pie before but I think you have just inspired me! Celia Your pie's look delicious. I always have to make custard, pumpkin, and chocolate. Family members favorites. Betsey Freese from "Living The Country Life" has a fabulous looking pair of rubber boots up on Face Book today. Made me think of you...yellow and green with hens and roosters on them. celia Carol Calwell You must let us know how many pies you end up making. Seems like you are going to need a lot of pies. You must have a lot of patience to make so many pies. Let us...

How To Stop a Broody Hen From Brooding – HenBlog – Monday, June 6, 2011

...year ? Jane Thanks Terry - you've spurred me on to break my Salmon Faverolle from her broodiness. Rita is such an adorable chicken who is driving herself crazy with this constant battle and I miss my eggs! Wendy Three days? Ha! Babbs, the Steve Mcqueen of the hen world, had me yelling at her to stop being an idiot after two weeks in the cooler. Gladys can brood on a perch - completely flat as if she was on her nest. There's nothing else for it but to let them hatch eggs these days. Gladys's are due on Friday......

Baby Robins, Day 6 – The Vintage Hen – Friday, June 21, 2013

...sounds awful to dispatch the runt, but the system ensures that there will be plenty of large and sturdy chicks surviving. Laura Hmmmm... being the youngest of four, I'm getting flashbacks of sibling attempts to do the same.... Terry Golson I'm the youngest of three. Yup :) Deborah Pruden Be there to catch it! sarah I'm raising a baby cockatiel,who's 10 days old .....not as advansed as yours...still has baby fluff no feathers showing eyes just started to open..... Emily We had a clutch of 3 robin chicks on our deck support. Great viewing through the slats. We noted a...

Smiling Goats – HenBlog – Friday, November 5, 2010

Marcia Matthysse Oh my goodness! Sounds like he probably didn't feel much like trick-or-treating (or maybe he's too old for that?) Hope he's healing well now! Louise Hope your son is feeling better. Your blog, chicks and goats have helped keep me sane over some difficult times - their antics always make me smile. Ironically it has been easier to see your chicks when the weather is bad than to see my chicks in England at the bottom of my garden! Magic Cochin Hope he's on the mend... I know can surgery make you feel tired and grim for a...

My Favorite Smell – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The summer that I was five years old, my brothers went to sleep-away camp. My mother, worried that I would be lonely, got me a guinea pig. His name was Chester and he had belonged to a family who no longer wanted him. He was full-grown and a chestnut brown and I thought him the most beautiful animal in the world. I didn’t miss my brothers at all. A few weeks later, when told that my brothers would be coming home soon, I howled and cried, thinking that their return meant that I had to give Chester back. Given a...

Egg Stomping – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 1, 2010

...in pieces, a yolky mess in the shavings. She doesn’t eat the egg. If she was an egg-eater, she’d be gone. That sort of bad habit is picked up by the other hens, until you have broken shells and not much else for your chicken-keeping efforts. Sometimes, hens lay thin-shelled eggs that break easily – then the hens learn to eat them. However, that doesn’t appear to be the cause. The smashed eggs that I’m finding look normal. I wish that I had a camera in that coop to spy on the hens. I’d like to know the culprit and...

Candy’s Ears – HenBlog – Friday, May 21, 2010

...calmly. When Candy came home, she hopped into her hutch and looked at me, waiting for the dried banana chips – her favorite things in the entire universe. Candy will have to stay in her hutch for a few days while her ears get treated. Right now, there’s bare skin, and since she loves to sunbathe, I don’t want her to get sunburned. I also want to keep her very clean. Candy is not going to be happy about this. Nor is she going to like having her ears handled twice a day and having medication rubbed on. You’ll see...

End Of Life Decisions – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 28, 2011

...which really means, we do what's best for them, and not what assuages our feelings and wants. Again, this is why I have much respect for you - it's about the animal, and not you! Thank you, Terry! Terry Golson Well put, Karla. If you make it about the animals, then life with them is even more interesting. How boring if all creatures were to respond to the world the way we do. How they see, smell and touch the world is unique to each type of animal, and also to each individual. When we interpret their lives through our...

Egg Variation – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 12, 2013

...Onyx the Barnevelder. Neither lay chocolate-colored eggs. In my flock, the hen that lays the darkest egg is Ruby, the Rhode Island Red. Ruby and Garnet are the same age and same breeding. Awhile back, Ruby had issues with laying large, pale, thin-shelled eggs. I stopped feeding table scraps like rice and bread, and the laying went back to normal. Normal, that is, for these two Rhode Island Reds. Ruby lays that dark egg. Garnet lays the pale one. Rhode Island Red eggs Despite raising chickens whose DNA is tightly controlled and in a narrow range, variation in egg color,...

Goat Beard Trim – HenBlog – Wednesday, February 13, 2013

...is right for you. Please get it from a local shelter/bunny rescue NOT a pet store or breeder. The shelters/rescues are full of bunnies needing homes. As far as chickens and bunnies together some people say no and others say yes. If the environment is kept properly the problems with diseases,bugs etc should not be a issue. My friend has chickens, ducks, bunnies and geese that all live together and are very happy.When the chickens bicker it's usually the bunnies you see breaking it up. Which is hysterical to watch. :) Candy loved hanging out with/ruling the hens. She never...

Church Basement Egg Coffee – The Vintage Hen – Monday, August 13, 2012

...reading and a glimpse, only slightly tongue-in-cheek, of these "sturdy" women. Thanks for sharing this image! Bobbie Terry, you made me laugh so hard! My sister is Lutheran and they still do the coffee thing! Cindy B Wonderful post, Terry. I would never have thought of this. I have always heard that Swedes make their coffee with egg shells in the pot. However, I never knew they put in the whole raw egg!! Terry Golson Cowboy coffee, as I understand it, and have had over campfires, is simply grounds boiled in a pot of water. Sometimes, reused! No, I haven't...

Guess Who Is Broody – HenBlog – Monday, August 6, 2012

...they are breaking. Ugh. Why didn't they learn from the other girls? I am so frustrated. shannon I have a broody girl named Lucy too! :-) She's my very first and we're letting her make a few babies. Terry Golson No serious pecking. Just threats. Terry Golson Have you tried putting dummy eggs in the nesting boxes? Sometimes they need to see eggs in a box to go there. Also, if they lay in the morning you can try keeping them in until they lay. Limit the choices. Just until they get the hang of it. Of course, I've done...

Topaz is (Still!) Broody – HenBlog – Friday, June 29, 2012

...were still in the nesting boxes. Then one day we had left over yogurt and we gave it to them. The next day they weren't broody anymore! It could be just a coincidence but the same thing happened to a friend of ours. Ken Love the photo of her looking between her legs. "mom what did you do?" I have four broody hens, I too have give up in breaking them. It was 108 degrees yesterday and at least the next 7 days predictions are over 100 degrees. Yesterday evening I went out at around five o'clock and the four...

Digging Dandelions – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 18, 2012

LB Mr girls love dandelions, so I confess, we don't dig them up, we simply harvest the leaves and flowers from time to time! Elizabeth On dandelion digging...If only the chore weren't so back breaking, it would be a joy. It's worth it to see how much your pets delight in this special treat. They are lucky, indeed to be living under your care. :) Carolyn Now if you could just train the goats to dig the dandelions and then share them with the hens and rabbit .... LOL :) Ken Dandelion wine anyone? My gramps use to make it....