Found 84 hits.

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

...would make the long drive to Southern California to attend! Maybe when your cookbook is out? Kit I second Laura's idea! Glad you had such a wonderful experience and thanks for the beautiful way you shared it. Donna It was lovely having you and we are still talking about your visit! Thank you Terry for the darling post...Even Pasco the llama looks good! brenda jay How wonderful!! I have to ask, what does she have on the ground in her run? Thank you for sharing your trip> I enjoy all your stories, and your Hen Cam is a delight. I...

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

For the last year I’ve been involved with a forward-thinking nursing home director who understands that animals can enhance, engage, and delight the lives of her facility’s residents. Ellen Levinson appreciates what dogs can bring to an institutional setting. She has two of her own that work alongside of her. But Ellen wanted to go beyond traditional therapy animals that are brought to a bedside, and then are taken away. The nursing home is owned by a large corporation, based in Texas. Somehow Ellen convinced the accountants that bigger, permanent animals were worth paying for. The home is sited on...

Treating Candy’s Ears – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Dr. Meade used the process of elimination to come up with a diagnosis of a fungal infection on Candy’s ears. He took a skin scraping, looked under the microscope, and didn’t see mites or lice. But, the white, dry, lumpy skin on her ears sure looked like an external issue. There wasn’t a test for fungus, but that was the logical conclusion and to go ahead and treat for it. If it didn’t clear it up, then there were some serious systemic issues, perhaps an auto-immune disease. Fortunately, the daily ear washings (with a special disinfectant) and applications of fungicide...

End of Fall Color – HenBlog – Thursday, October 28, 2010

...with both hands and steer with his knees, and of doing long-distance runs to Canada with an auto-transport truck (with my mother and grandmother enjoying the ride from the top car!) He always said that the most dangerous conditions weren’t ice or snow, but wet leaves. They’re treacherously slippery and you can’t see the edge of the road. But, I love it when the leaves come down and narrow my already narrow street. When it rains, the tree trunks darken, providing a background that intensifies the remaining colors. Don’t worry, Pop Pop Charlie. I’m driving slowly and enjoying the ride....

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

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

HenCam Party and Hat Giveaway! – HenBlog – Friday, July 31, 2009

...sees anything new – and especially if it is paper or plastic. I’ve bought balloons and crepe paper. I’ll be watching HenCam from LA to see what Steve has come up and what Candy does about it! Viewers from home also have a chance to win a door prize! (“Coop” prize?) This hat might be yours! To enter the contest, simply email me and write “door prize” on the subject line. Also, let me know what state (or country) you’re from. A winner will be selected randomly from the entries when I return. I’ll announce the winner on August 12....

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...

A Conversation With Root Simple – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 20, 2014

jaye Great interview, Terry! One of your topics in particular was timely for me: rooster collars is being discussed on a local poultry forum here. The thread included a youtube video of one in use, and when I heard the audio, I found it disturbing; it struck me that he sounded strangled, in spite of behaving normally in every other way. Terry Golson I watched that video and it made me wince. Brenda Enjoyed both of the podcasts. So much good info! Erik Knutzen Thanks again Terry--you are an amazing source of information! And I love seeing that drop of...

Blog Tour #6! – HenBlog – Thursday, March 20, 2014

Erik Knutzen My apologies for running the blog tour visit a week early! We'll announce the winner next Monday. And congrats on the new book--it came just in time for a flood of eggs from our hens. Now we've got some recipes! Terry Golson That's okay, Erik, I imagine that's what sunshine does to a person, makes them eager (we wouldn't know here in dreary New England!) I appreciate you being part of the tour! Gloria It looks like one of the goat boys is bleeding. Maybe you can check him. Terry Golson They're both fine. Gloria Good! When I...

Facebook – HenBlog – Wednesday, June 10, 2009

...summer that I can announce on Facebook (heads up HenCam fans in Los Angeles, I’m headed your way and am planning a party!) I also feel a bit awkward posting on Facebook. It’s a culture that I’m not familiar with. It has rules. My teenage son informs me that unlike the word, google, that facebook is not a verb. So, although I can say, for example, that “I googled for directions,” that when I am typing on Facebook, I’m not “Facebooking.” Still, I am registered. I check my page daily (and often more frequently) and I need friends. Anyone interested?...

Catching Up at Home – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 11, 2009

I arrived home from Los Angeles last night (morning) at 2 am. It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s gorgeous. In the six days that I’ve been away, the Rose of Sharon is in full-purple bloom, tomatoes have ripened, green beans have gotten too big, the lawn guys came and edged my beds (it looks so tidy!), the painters repainted the porch ceiling a bright blue, and Lulu is finally no longer broody and has come out of the nesting box. I’m trying to catch-up. I’ve sent thank-you notes to the wonderful people in LA who hosted my HenCam party and had...

Worms – HenBlog – Thursday, January 21, 2010

...will protect your animals. Some farmers worm on a regular basis. When I managed a horse farm, we were on a rigorous schedule of various products. My dogs are on monthly heartworm pills. (When I was growing up, my dog died of heartworm. I’m grateful for the products now available!) But, since these chemicals are strong enough to destroy the parasites, they also have the potential to harm the host, so, for my small backyard menagerie, I have a different approach. The coop runs and paddock are on virgin turf. The last time they were used for farm animals was...

Lightbulbs In The Winter Coop? – HenBlog – Monday, November 12, 2012

...minimal inputs from owners. But the chickens of today are capable of laying 250+ eggs a year, have much larger frames, and generally have been bred to do only do well on commercial feeds. If they are fed properly, laying year round for the first 2 years does not tax them. Once a hen is older, the laying rate drops quickly. Molting does affect laying because feathers are over 70% protein, and so's an egg. They can only direct resources to one of these. Molts can last up to 8 weeks or longer, but feeding supplemental animal protein at 1/2...

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

...cat that's an excellent mouser! What critters is Lily keeping out of your squash? Cheryl I have an Australian Shepherd, Buster, who use to walk the turkeys on my sister's Alpaca farm. These Turkeys would sit at the feeder all day and never move. We would open the pen door and Buster would 'goose' them with his nose to get them to move. He would do this all the way around the large chicken/turkey/duck pen. By the time they got back to the door, turkeys would be huffing and puffing, but Buster was one happy working dog. Donna How about...

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

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

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

Feeding chickens is so easy. You go to the local feed store and purchase a 50 pound bag of laying hen feed. You put the pellets into a hanging galvanized container which the chickens peck at throughout the day. It’s good for your hens to get greens, too, but they’ll stay quite healthy when the bulk of their diet is from those tidy pellets. It hasn’t always been like this. In the 19th century you couldn’t purchase bags of complete rations. My favorite chicken manual is a charming little book titled The Biggle Book of Poultry. It first came out...

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

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

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

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

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

...Even after all of these years, I still get a small thrill when I share the bounty from my flock with others. So, back to the question of “how many hens do I need?” My own answer is that I want to have eggs for my table and some to share with others. At the same time, I’m not keeping chickens just for the eggs. If I did, then I’d have all look-alike hybrids, and cull them at 18 months. I like having a flock that is small enough so that I know each hen, and in which there is...

Protecting Chickens From Predators – HenBlog – Friday, February 1, 2013

...and ocassionally a mountain lion has been spotted. I have not lost a hen in years because I have built a pretty predator proof enclosure. Chain link all the way around and chain link fencing on top. I play soldier woman when they are let out. I walk my property line watching. Needless to say..on cold days they don't get let out. Mama Hen is too cold to stand guard. Donna Natalie...where are you that you get weasels? I worry about those but have never seen them..I am in Temecula. Melissa When my grandfather (1892-1986) came to dinner in the...

The Chicks Go Outside – HenBlog – Thursday, May 2, 2013

...usual. Great to see their progress, thankyou x Dan in Los Angeles Whoever came up with the phrase: eat like a bird, never had chickens. Natalie, the Chickenblogger A grand day out! Fun for us all. Terry Golson They'll have access to the brooder until fully feathered out and able to stay warm without the heat lamp. It depends on the weather here and their maturity. As you can see some are feathering up faster than others. Dan in Los Angeles Lucky you! 97 here. And wildfires all over the place. Ugh Bobbie Oh Terry, I just love these photos...

Backyard Eggs Are Safer – HenBlog – Wednesday, August 15, 2012

...Los Angeles Plus this study was only concerning blocking arteries. What I'd like to know is how many people got lung or throat cancer from eggs! I bet there haven't been any. Dan in Los Angeles Egg nog...yum! That's something that should be a year round thing, not just a holiday drink. Melissa He'd just slurp the eggs down whole for stamina. In summers his day started at dawn tending family veg garden and fruit trees. Early on they even had a pig. Then he worked all day as an electrical contractor. He kept chickens into his 80s. My mother...

Chicken Waterers – HenBlog – Thursday, September 20, 2012

...wet area around my composter I just had to look it up. Terry Golson There are also glass bases and waterers from the 1920s. Thanks for identifying the weed as ladysthumb. Its everywhere and even the goats don't like to eat it. Terry Golson The base is sold at the local feedstore, but you can also find online, like here. Marcia Matthysse I haven't seen Betsy for quite awhile now. Is she okay? Maybe I just haven't been watching at times when she's on camera. Terry Golson She is broody and is in the lefthand nesting box, hunkered down so...

Good Goats – The Vintage Hen – Friday, September 21, 2012

Dan in Los Angeles I was fortunate to have "tuned in" when you were attempting the photo shoot with the goats. From my perspective it was very humorous. Especially when one goat head-butted the other off the stump. My heart goes out to Spencer...as a fellow photographer I know what it's like when your subject won't cooperate. Terry Golson Dan, do you have a link to your portfolio? The first time Spencer tried photographing the goats he discovered to never, ever set his equipment down :) I'm glad we supplied someone with a bit of amusement today. BTW, it's always...

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

...from an animal shelter 5 or 6 years ago and has never forgotten his regimen. he takes me out in the a.m.. before 9:00 it had better be! and then we go again anywhere between 4 and 8p.m.and that's the way the world turns, mom, he says. today both times it was raining hard and q very abbreviated walk around the yard was about as far as i could get him to go. both of us have had a day off.so i'm canning. have done it for years. will keep you posted when i see you're doing the same thing...

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

...her barking that she won't listen nor can I distract her. So then if she doesn't listen to us, she gets picked up and put in time out in her crate. It seems to work and we have had to do it less and less often. We also reward her with treats when she acts calmly around visitors and stays put when we tell her too. Judy marvelli My great dane Storm is the most reactive dog I have ever owned. I would not ever let her out when girls are out. Shes gone through extensive training but is such...

I Hold A Dinosaur – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 22, 2013

...Wow! What an awesome opportunity! I think Malays and Aseels (which look a bit similar) are such beautiful birds - I was excited to see your pictures this morning. Thanks for sharing! karen robinson That is awesome! I can't believe the size of his feet curled beside your hand Katie King OH WOW! He's simply gorgeous!! Kathleen M O'Connor You need one. Definitely, want to watch that guy on the hen-cam. We could all chip in...All those birds were beautiful. Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life What an incredible animal. Thanks for showing us something we would never get a chance...

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...

Choosing Chicken Breeds Right For You – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 25, 2012

...heads] rule, just because I'm a low maintenance (i.e. "lazy") kind of chicken farmer. I've also generally shied away from bantam breeds because I feel bad about selling smaller eggs. To maintain a flock of around 25 hens, I've found that I need to order/replenish about 5-10 hens a year. Predators generally account for about 2/3rds of our loss, but while we have been lucky/careful enough to avoid any other serious issues, I always lose a couple per year to other natural causes (egg bound, cancer, etc). Then there was the rooster that showed up in last year's order. He...

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

...rain but nothing as drastic as you guys get. It has suddenly got cold here but no extreme weather to worry about. I hope you all stay safe and ride out the storm, it seems like you have it all under control. Good luck, we are all mentally with you and wishing you well and waiting for your further reports. Stay dry and safe to you and all your family and critters. Colleen No school tomorrow! I hope that means all fizzles! Jen Stay safe! Glad to see you and all of the animals are hunkered down and ready. We're...

An Early Molt – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 10, 2010

...she knows it too. Two of my girls are moulting (Brenda, hens do a good moult after hatching their eggs, no idea why, but it's normal, and sometimes happens even when they haven't hatched anything at all!) and from ten hens I only have three reliable layers at the minute... I think I'll have lots of bald girls in a few weeks! Jen I wish my girls would molt earlier... they always wait until it is pretty cold! Two years ago, I had two girls molt in late November and it was really cold day & night. I had to...

I Have A New Camera – HenBlog – Sunday, June 26, 2011

...to break tomorrow and return to a sensible 20C. Terry Golson Thanks everyone, for your comments! Makes me feel like I'm a "real" photographer. Steve picked this camera for me because it autofocuses quickly and can take multiple photos, so you can catch that nanosecond when your chicken is doing something cute. I can also use that zoom (with the flower icon - which doesn't screw things up if I forget it's on.) Terry Golson Chickens are the "gateway animal" (like a gateway drug) to larger animals :) kristen I have a leghorn chick and a black giant I think...

Rose Tomato – HenBlog – Friday, August 3, 2012

...very good luck with everything this year...mainly because the deer haven't eaten the tops off all of our plants. (knock on wood) i was just out in my garden and counted over 21 tomatoes on two of my plants. i am thrilled. they will all ripen at the same time and i will be drowning in them but i have a few recipes ready to try. and eating them sliced with salt and pepper is a great snack in my book. Terry Golson Have eaten but not grown zebra tomatoes. Delicious. sheri glewen a snake in the garden would ruin...

“How To Raise Chickens” Book Giveaway – HenBlog – Monday, April 15, 2013

...she is my favorite so far. aletha reshan I am most smitten by my birds who like me the most! I respect those who get along fine without engaging with me ~ but just warms my heart when they enjoy helping me fill bins ~ or come to make sure I'm gathering the eggs properly ~ or simply just enjoy perusing the yard with me ! The dog and cats get a kick out of them too! Sue I like the golden comets. Great egg producers! Camille Hello , I like Negre soie ! Donna Gallatin We love Buff Orpingtons!!...

Chicken Chore Clothes – The Vintage Hen – Monday, July 15, 2013

...free women, automatic washing machines did. Ken LOL Elizabeth Anne (TX) Maybe this photo was taken in October or April. Terry Golson There's always a trade-off, George :) Terry Golson Lucky you to have those family stories. Terry Golson Men had more options re: skinny dipping. Terry Golson By 1920 the fashions had totally changed, and by the Depression rural people were wearing those feed sack dresses. Certainly more comfortable! Terry Golson She certainly made a lot of work for herself. I've never heard the expression "Scrubby Dutch," is it a midwestern thing? Terry Golson Love the freezer, and I'd...

Hidden In Plain Sight – HenBlog – Thursday, September 5, 2013

...in dealing with insect pests, just poor soils and erosion. Suzanne BTW, thanks for the borer fact sheet! Ken I think those things are what we use to call "Stink Bugs" growing up. Do they produce a awful smell when touched? Darlene I was thinking the same thing, Ken. Looks like the Stink Bug to me. One of Maryland's invasive species... My chickens won't eat them. They are a "bugger" to get control of, too. Good Luck. Best advice is to hand pick them off and drop into a bottle of soapy water. No pesticides have been proven to kill...

Mothers and Daughters (and chickens and a goat) – The Vintage Hen – Saturday, May 10, 2014

I love this photograph of three generations of women and daughters. This family portrait was not a spontaneous snap shot. All of the women are wearing their finest clothes, embellished with lace, bows and jewelry. And yet, they pose with animals under their care – chickens and goats. (Notice the goat cart that the youngest is perched on!) These animals were symbolic of the realm of women’s work, and also a sign that there was abundance and productivity on the farm. Look closely at their smiling faces filled with pride and love of family. I wish the same for you...

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

Last week was a difficult one. It started with having to euthanize Opal, and it didn’t get much better from there. On Wednesday I went out to my vegetable garden to collect the first ripe tomatoes and got stung by a paper wasp. I’m not usually allergic to stings, but this time my foot swelled up… and then my hands… and then over the course of the day I watched as hives spread across my body. It was never so bad as to affect my breathing, but it was far from pleasant. I’ve been warned (by one of my readers...

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

...what we could of it for three days and then I pursed up the rest and turned it into pie filling (found a recipe on allrecipes,com) my problem is I still have enough insides for3 more pies but I've run out of regular flour for the crust - bread flour would make it too tough. Chicken pie? Oh no ... I need to recount the betties tomorrow when your cameras come back up Ginger Apples and onions are natural together, I found a recipe once that called for the addition of brown sugar bt Hubbard didn't like it ... What...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

...Oh my gosh. I actually broke out in a cold sweat reading this story. I am SO thankful that things ended well. More proof that people should always listen to their intuition. Jenn I have a pair of handheld ratchet garden pruners. Cuts through hose like butter. Might be a good tool to have on hand for this sort of thing. Terry Golson I never yell at my kids, so when they hear me screaming, they know there's something serious up! Terry Golson Goats, like all animals, can get internal parasites. Few drugs effectively kill them, and used too often,...

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

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

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

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

Shedding Season – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 5, 2014

...a post in the middle of the field. Terry Golson I've seen those in photos. The goats would love it. I'll ask the DPW guys. I bet that after sweeping up all of the road sand this springtime that the brushes will need replacing! Suzanne I believe some people are using brushes from automated car washes the same way. I wonder if those plastic door mats would work- the ones that are supposed to be green grass with a daisy in the corner! :^) It's so interesting that the mammals shed their fur just in time for the nesting birds......

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

...additional chances to win. Like me on Facebook to get another entry. (You have to come back here and tell me you’ve done that.) If you already like me on FaceBook, then share this post to get another entry. If you share this post via Twitter, you get an additional entry. Again, come back here and tell me in a separate comment. In order to select a winner, I enter the number of blog comments into a random number generator. I only count comments here on my website, not on my FaceBook page. The winner will be selected on Friday,...

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

...(an honor in itself out out almost 2,000 entries) Susan is going to give one of you the sign of your choice! All you have to do is go here and then click over to her catalog. Pick a favorite sign (it will be hard; give yourself some time to look over all of the wonderful designs) and then come back here to my blog and let me know (in the comments on this page) which one you want if you win. While you are at the Martha Stewart Website, take a moment and vote for Susan, please. I, for...

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

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

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

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

Some Fancy Poultry – The Vintage Hen – Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Lizzie Hee! Hee! ... Just imagine the size of the eggs!!! Dan in Los Angeles Eggs the size of your head! Debbie It's Henzillas! Bobbie What a great sense of humor the person had that created this! Joey ....imagine the drumsticks Colleen Antique photo shop! (and, hey! I just discovered our kids are on the same team!) Linda I went looking for a chicken to cook and eat and spotted some chicken wings that were huge. They looked like they belonged to a chicken nephilim. I have seen chicken breasts in the store larger than a turkey breast. I wonder...

Siouxsie’s Big Egg – HenBlog – Tuesday, February 26, 2013

...:-) Michele b She is Such a pretty hen! got quite a few double Yolkers when my first batch of hens started laying in June. It was always a great surprise to crack them open and find a double. The second batch of girls that I got in mid June didn't start laying until early Jan, so no doubles there. You ave great advice in your faqs section! Thanks for sharing. Ken Yep Michele b What s the square meal piece attached to the roost that you had greens in? Is the same thing you put suet cakes in? Ken...

BarnCam Troubles – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 13, 2013

...will be one lucky bunny. Carrie Lee McCleary The HenCam makes my day! Lucy Holt Hi Terry, just thought I would let you know that a barred rock is totally terrorizing Buffy. Pecking her head, scratching her body. Total bully and Buffy isn't getting out of the way. :-( Chickens are not kind or pretty sometimes. Lost one of my leghorns this morning...three years old, and an elderly girl..six year old barred rock, last week. The other side of hen keeping! Terry Golson Thanks for the heads up. It's been escalating. I thought it was Siouxsie, so I trimmed her...

Here To There And Back Again – HenBlog – Tuesday, April 2, 2013

...troop! :-) It is comical how they all do the same thing at the same time. Marcella Probably Acacia,but I don't know which Acacia. Linda The foliage looks like a Mimosa tree but the flowers look like dandilions. Very interesting. I wonder if the tree is fragrant and what is attracted to it. Butterfies, bees, ants, hummingbirds? I think Terry will tell us when she wakes up. Jaye LOL, I just witnessed an encore of the kumbaya performance you described - all of them sleeping around the perimeter of the light ("campfire") with their little fuzzy butts facing inward. So...

Springtime? – HenBlog – Wednesday, March 27, 2013

...shoes and gets tracked all over the house. We have grass between our raised beds with enough space to run the push mower between. Mikayla Scooter is the cutest little dog! Ken Terry feel you pain on this ENDLESS winter. Last year at this time we were in the mid 70's and I am pretty sure I had mowed twice already. I agree with all the others that Scooter is just adorable. Donna Wishing Spring to come quickly to you Terry! I am so stupid about horseradish..I thought it was just a sauce..but I like it! I remember having it...

What To Feed Chicks – HenBlog – Thursday, March 28, 2013

...my four girls can be outside. :) Terry Golson If you're mixing them, you'll have to feed the hens chick feed. You won't be able to keep the chicks out of the laying hen feed. Paul Gentry Aloha from Hawaii ! What an answer to prayer! Thanks for the suggestion of giving epsom salt baths and a few teaspoons olive oil to sick looking hens. After 2 days, "Hurtle" the hen is eating more and looking spry. We are also giving her several dropper fulls of colloidal silver b/c our local feed and seed is out of antibiotics. Thanks again!...

Quiche Season – HenBlog – Friday, April 12, 2013

...the comments! What a delicious distraction... Mercy! When eggs and spring veggies are plentiful, I turn to quiches, too. I make a quiche with sautéed leeks, fresh spinach, and a variety of cheeses. http://www.chickenblog.com/2012/03/garden-to-kitchen.html jennifer bevins I haven't made quiche before, but I do cook everyday. Yours looks divine and quiche is what will be for breakfast come Sunday. Please sign me up for your upcoming cookbook. Can't wait! Bea Gibson We like ours just like you made except if I'm having it for lunch I might add a little hot pepper to spice it up. When you get a...

Safe Dust Baths – HenBlog – Friday, February 22, 2013

Dust bathing is essential for chicken health. It’s how a chicken keeps external parasites at bay. It’s good for feather maintenance. It’s also essential for chicken happiness. If you don’t have your own flock then you probably haven’t seen the pleasure that hens get from wallowing in the earth. You can see that joy on this video. Chickens prefer to take dust baths in shallow pits of earth that they’ve scratched up. They prefer it dry, hot and sunny. Here in New England, those optimal conditions are rarely met. So, I provide my hens with a dust bath indoors. I...

Cuckoo Maran Chick (NOT!) – HenBlog – Thursday, April 18, 2013

...the right in the first photo, peering over the others. Terry Golson That one I'm keeping! She's an Ameracauna. Deb Eveland I got my first 4 chicks last year. My Cuckoo Maran looked like yours, she turned into a beauty, great attitude and dark brown eggs. Her "sister" an Ameracauna is so sweet, just gotta love her green eggs! They all get along well with my Buff Orpington "twins." They all turned out to be super layers and very entertaining. Flock Mistress Oh, so cute. When I got my first batch of four day old chicks, one was a Cuckoo...

Signs Of Spring – HenBlog – Friday, April 19, 2013

...the chicks would try to eat them and choke. Can you give me some direction on this Terry? Are my fears unfounded? Ângela Happy spring to you, Terry :-) Jen I love your pics! I too have asparagus creeping up, and I have never been able to harvest, so am hoping this is the year. The chicks look so funny with their awkward feathers. I have 3 one year old buff orps I just put 12 eggs under one of them yesterday, she has been broody all week. I moved her to my now unused brooder with a whole set...

Sun Dog – HenBlog – Thursday, April 25, 2013

...tell the Gems. No party planned! Terry Golson You and me both. Terry Golson That first day of perfect weather is a joy. Melissa "I've been waiting all winter for this." Dan in Los Angeles The button nose! Nobody mentioned the cute button nose! Melissa Off subject, Terry, I just looked in on the "chicks" and I'm beginning to think you switch them out for bigger ones each night! Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life Yeah 63 on your cam right now. So glad spring has come for you. Tanya K. He looks like a doggie Zen Master. So very cute!...

Hally Jolivette Cherry – HenBlog – Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Linda How beautiful! Does this cherry produce fruit? Kit Been watching the chicks run around with Edwina, Twinkydink, Buffy and Betty. Looks peaceful, though I think I did see Betty chase one of the chicks. Did Betty get all puffed up her deceased friend Coco when she met the bullying Fake Opal rooster, two years ago, and chest bump anyone ? Also looks like Buffy is in doesn't care mode of who is running around, even if a few of the chicks are her exact coloring. Cherry Blossoms are lovely, I have always wanted to go to the see the...

Downside to Free-ranging – HenBlog – Thursday, May 2, 2013

...all offers of wet and dry dog food. I will also try to keep the cats away from her and vice versa. But our house very small and open with only three doors on the bathroom and the bedrooms. So when we can we will close the bedroom door to my mother's room when they are in it. Or mine when I am in my room with my cats. Jonathan Terry my birds have always laid in the box except for my little less than a year old silkie, she thinks under the roosting bar is better, so yesterday when...

Bluebirds – HenBlog – Monday, July 1, 2013

...rid of all of them but anything will help. Thank you for all your pictures specially those from the retirement home, they touch my heart. Christina Rose I was surprised to see rain and puddles just now in the run! I envy you rain as we've been having a heat wave in the Pasadena/Los Angeles area, especially concerning with a fear of local wildfires and the upcoming Fourth. Already it's so dry. I've never been through back east humidity with heat, though. Must be miserable. I saw Buffy very early this morning kind of beak gaping which must have been...

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

...and then when he died she started again she isnt even the head hen... My jersey giant is the matriarch of the group, she will even mount the other girls... I have a peculiar lot! Adrienne I have always been fascinated in what a chicken says also, but mainly what roosters say. In the Philippines, a rooster crows, "tok-ti-low. Low as in, "Ow, I hurt my toe!." Judy marvelli My favorite sound is the quiet boop boops I get when they are in bed and I close them in its the sweetest little good night sound, not like the morning...

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

...ago? I was probably doing an Internet search for some chicken advice and your blog popped up. I've been here ever since:-) Rachell I've been reading since my daughter got the book Tillie Lays an Egg a couple of years ago. We just had to check out the hencam and we've been following ever since. Plus, we now have our own backyard chickens and we're loving it! Joyce I have been reading and watching for approximately 2 years when your site popped up when looking for chicken advice. Been watching and reading ever since. Heather Hi! I started reading about...

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

...to the ground. A rooster will do this many times a day. He’ll often have a favorite hen that he bothers incessantly. Some hens will lose all of the feathers off of their backs, and some will get scratched from the rooster’s spurs. In a truly free-range situation, the hens can avoid the roo, not so in a backyard. Experienced breeders recognize this. They’ll put a mating trio together for only a short week, and then the rooster is removed from the pen. If you do keep a rooster with your hens, the ratio is one rooster per eight to...

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

I’ve lived in New England for over thirty years, and so I’ve seen the seasons come and go. I’ve seen the leaves change. I go through my days saying, “oh, pretty” and then moving along. Yet every October there’s one day that stops me in my tracks. The beauty of it all can not be ignored. It is so gorgeous that it affects me physically, like a musical passage that goes straight from your ears into your core. Yesterday was one of those days. The field across from my house doesn’t have sharp, brilliant colors, but it does have light...

Please Share – HenBlog – Thursday, December 13, 2012

Although Steve knew that there would be animals in our lives (moving in with him was contingent on getting a dog), chickens weren’t something that he thought about when we got married. Still, he wasn’t surprised when, sixteen years ago, I took in a neighbor’s lone hen. In any event, he liked the fluffy white Cochin. He didn’t mind the production red hen that I got her for company. For months, when I had a bed rest pregnancy, he took over the care of the chickens and found that he liked doing the barn chores. He got attached to the...

Mail Order Chicks – HenBlog – Tuesday, January 1, 2013

...backyard keeper, like myself. There are also suppliers, like MyPetChicken.com, that act as middlemen for a number of hatcheries. If you are interested in just one type of chicken, and want high-quality stock to show or breed yourself, then I suggest purchasing from someone who specializes in that breed. If you want just a few chicks, and aren’t too particular about the selection, you can probably pick them up at your local feedstore (which likely got them in from a big hatchery.) But, if, like me, you want a wide range of breeds, and you want them all to arrive...

Egg Chart To Download – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, January 3, 2013

Dan in Los Angeles Even with all this shiny, fandangled technology we have there's nothing like just putting pen to paper once in a while. Harmon Thanks for the egg chart. I printed it out yesterday and started using it immediately. My six girls started laying in June 2012. I have been keeping count since then on small scraps of paper. This will be so much easier. Since I found the first eggs, there have been over 700 more. Two gold comets, two Rhode Island reds and two light brahmas. Thanks again, have a Healthy and Happy Year. Jane in...

How Loud Are Hens? – HenBlog – Tuesday, June 26, 2012

...website late yesterday afternoon. I have enjoyed reading about and watching your chickens. My grandfather had chickens that ran loose on the farm and an area where they could roost and lay eggs. It wasnt unusual to find a hen laying eggs in an unapproved spot. There were always at least two roosters. I truly miss those days of going to retrieve the eggs and sometimes being chased by the moma when we tried to catch the chicks. Terry Golson Glad to have you here, Debi. There are lots of HenCam viewers like you who get their "chicken fix" here....

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad – HenBlog – Tuesday, August 7, 2012

It’s been muggy and hot here, so bad that the very thought of turning on the stovetop makes me wilt. If I could survive on iced tea and lemonade, I would. My appetite is down, but I still need to eat. This is the time of year when salads take the center of the stage in my kitchen, and when dinner can be as deceptively simple as tomatoes and mozzarella. For this salad, I thickly sliced that one-pound Rose tomato and fanned it out on a plate. I sliced a round of fresh mozzarella, and alternated it with the tomato....

Dangerous Weather – HenBlog – Thursday, January 31, 2013

...always true to your own nature :) At least you're following doctor's orders and not lifting anything heavy. I'm lucky here, as Steve does a very good job caring for all when I go away (and puts up with my worried questions and text messages) and when we all go away, I have a pet sitter who comes three times a day. Have used her for 15 years. Wouldn't leave if Luisa wasn't available! Kit I always remember anyone with Polish chickens who have very very cute names :) I hope you continue to heal and not hurt too much....

Not in the Nesting Box – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 18, 2012

...nest boxes with a space in between. Usually all but one egg is in one box, and the last remaining egg is laid in the other box. Once all 4 eggs were all in the middle "space" which was too narrow to fit a third box (before the 5th hen started laying). Yes, there is drama. One hen, with black laced hackles (I haven't named them, terrible with names...) paces back and forth in the dog pen, outside the little wooden coop's door, loudly saying "oooooohhhhhhhh, oooooooohhhhh..." as though she is moaning "oh dear, ooooohhhh dear!" It definitely is a...

February Egg Bounty – HenBlog – Wednesday, February 20, 2013

...invert it so the tortilla falls out, slide the tortilla back into the pan and cook it a few minutes more until the underside is golden brown. let it sit for a bit till room temperature, then slice & serve. Garnish with fresh parsley or tomato wedges. You'll get the hang of it once you've made one or two. So yummy!! M.E. Still missing the bunny! Elizabeth Anne That Siouxsie! There are reasons for the nesting boxes! Someone else enjoyed that egg. Too bad. Elizabeth Anne I also dont like the idea of weasels getting in even when the girls...

NOT Mycoplasma! – HenBlog – Tuesday, May 31, 2011

...found much real research to back up what they recommend. Vicki in So. CA You managed to nurse two hens back from near-death and save the rest of your girls on an educated guess. Sorry the lab results weren't more conclusive, as they might Being a future hen keeper, I went to a 'Backyard Hen Keeping' lecture at the Los Angeles Arboretum last Saturday. Specific mention was made about wild birds bringing problems. I thought about your experiences these past couple of weeks in relationship to how careful you are with cleanliness. Even then they get sick. Is there no...

Frosty Morning – HenBlog – Friday, November 23, 2012

...it. It’s time to start wearing gloves out to the barn. That door handle is frigid! The barn sparkles in the morning light. I don’t mind this weather, and neither do the animals. Candy’s hutch is positioned so that she can nap in the sun. The hens, even those still without tails from molting, like Jasper, are active and content. The goats are always happy. However, they would like it to get even colder. Their soft and dense winter undercoat is in. They’re almost too toasty on these frosty days that warm up above freezing. Bring on the cold!  ...

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

...cheryl brimfield ma amen!! the jacob sheep do the same for me! Dan in Los Angeles Terry, I agree with you about meditation. Hate it! The yoga studio we go to doesn't do it, luckily. We get a 10 minute period where you just lie flat and relax after all the yoga. My partner always falls asleep then...ans snores...loudly. :) I also have one of those RespErate Blood Pressure Reducing devices, which also requires meditation of a sort. Ugh...so hard! Got a rain event here in L.A. through Sunday. Things are starting to green up fast. Except for those 5...

An Odd Winter Egg – HenBlog – Friday, January 18, 2013

Dan in Los Angeles Kind of freaky, aren't they. I got an egg the other day that reminded me of one of those Russian Nesting Dolls. Vidal The wonders of nature, perfectly imperfect....the hens give us all. Judy G I marvel at each egg that is laid and always tell my girls "thank-you" when collecting the fruits of their labor. They seem so proud. Maybe this early egg is a better predictor of the seasons than that old Groundhog in Pennsylvania! Carol Well, I just don't know what to say! Marie Isn't that strange, it looks like it has frost...

Use Your Imagination – HenBlog – Wednesday, January 23, 2013

When I do school visits I bring my picture book, Tillie Lays an Egg, a hen, and feathers. At the end of the program, I encourage the children to write and illustrate their own stories about chickens. I tell them that the chickens in their story don’t have to look like mine, that chickens come in all shapes and colors. I tell them that chickens can be black, yellow, blue or white, speckled or striped, with glossy feathers, or feathers that look like fur. They take me at my word. I wish that I could bring all of the children...

Hens in the Bitter Cold – HenBlog – Thursday, January 24, 2013

...bare and I was worried that she wouldn't be able to maintain enough heat to be safe. But when I went out in the morning on Tuesday and Wednesday, she and the others were hopping around the coop waiting for their morning treat of cooked oats and a little bird seed. Amazing! cheryl in brimfield this real cold always makes me worry about the chickens. They seem to do well,and in the am when i open the coop they run to the barn to hang out with the sheep and llamas.The sheep do well when the temps drop but i...

Nothing Goes To Waste – HenBlog – Wednesday, December 12, 2012

...Whole. Chickens are true omnivores! Kay I love the picture of "unimpressed" Candy!! It made me smile. I needed it today especially. Our "baby" informed us he is joining the Marines soon & passed his physical yesterday. Merry Christmas :(. Lesley S My Hens are going to get a bunch of `puffed wheat` cereal that found itself on the kitchen floor after I opened the bag. I will bring the cereal to them....no chickens allowed in the kitchen! ha ha.... Jean I save everything I think the chooks will like, peelings, leftovers, doggie bags, kitchen disasters. I get funny looks...

A Surprise Winter Egg – HenBlog – Thursday, February 7, 2013

...count myself very lucky then...we got 288 eggs from our 6 Barred Rocks and 6 Buff Orpingtons in January! I was wondering if that was typical. Terry Golson When did yours hatch? They might have been a month or two older than mine. Regardless, you're doing a lot right to get January numbers like that! Jen Stanton They hatched May 9th. It's nice to know something is working! Diane Shorb What happened to the bunny? Deanne G I'm really looking forward to Spring for this!!! Christine O. Me too! Marie Will the gems accept the "old girls" when you move...