The Gems and the Ladies know each other – and for the last couple of years have foraged on the lawn at the same time with no issues. But because these two flocks are housed separately, they keep to themselves. The Gems forage up towards the meadow and the Ladies stay in the woodland border near their Little Barn. I want to put them all in the Big Barn this winter and so I’ve been trying to get them to interact. For this, I bring out the cracked corn – a treat that none of the hens, even the shyest, can resist.

When I shake the container and call them over to a neutral spot on the lawn, their personalities become obvious. Pearl, the cochin, hangs back, and then pecks at the edge of the group. Veronica, the Marans, watches from a distance and cautiously approaches. It’s no surprise that Twiggy comes running. Not only is she always voraciously hungry, but she has lived with both groups.

Quite awhile back, Misty was banished from the group of girls that she grew up with because she was chasing and pecking at them. She learned to fit in with the Gems, who did not allow her to get to the top of the pecking order. Unlike Twiggy, though, she is cautious about making the reacquaintance of her former roommates. This is not because her temperament has mellowed, but rather because she is going through a dramatic molt, and she knows she’s not at the top of her game.

In fact, because a few of the more dominant hens are going through the molt, this is the perfect time to combine the flocks. The dynamic is in flux – top-ranked hens are unsure of their status – and so a new order should sort itself out quickly. At least, that’s the hope.

I’m planning on a couple of more meet-and-greets on the lawn. Agatha seems to be enjoying all of these interactions. She’s even including the goats in her social circle.

If only they were all like Agatha!

Fourteen hens. Most are in the midst of the molt. Some look fully-feathered but continue to be on a rejuvenating break.

One hen continues to produce an egg, almost daily.

Twiggy. She’s yet to molt. He schedule hasn’t changed. She lays her egg without difficulty. She has her normal, ravenous, appetite. She’s healthy – I know this because, after that situation in which the Ladies shunned and pecked at her, now she’s back to being an accepted member of the flock No aggression. No bloodshed. Not even when she’s on the lawn and puts herself amidst the Ladies.

However, while the White Leghorn was once a sharp dresser in a sleek white coat of feathers, she is now clothed in raggedy feathers.

Twiggy seems unconcerned about her attire, so I will be, too. Besides, I’m grateful for that one good egg a day.

As you know, the goats pride themselves on being useful.This time of year, they are a great help with the fall yard chores.

The grass needs one last cutting, and leaves have to be raked (or eaten) up. The goats are on it. The chickens also help by making sure that grubs don’t overwinter in the lawn. Such a hard-working crew!

We’ve had several hard frosts, which have wilted the mums. Pip tidies up the planters.

The raspberry canes need to be cut back. The goats make the job easier for me by removing the leaves first.

The goats even do jobs that I didn’t think of. Both boys were adamant that before the first snowfall that parsley should be eaten back to the root base. They were so enthusiastic about this task that they convinced me that they were right. Caper says that his miraculously expanding belly is up to the challenge.

Thanks for easing the workload and leavening the mood, boys!

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 neck turned.

Do you see what he saw (or first heard, or smelled)?

Wild swans. (Sorry about the quality of the photo. Taking pictures from horseback with an iPhone is difficult!)

I always pay attention to the ears. Here’s Pip enjoying the water celery at the back of the pond. One ear is to the food, but the other is pointed back and up. I wonder what he’s aware of that I’m not?

Lily has radar ears. She even pays attention to what flies overhead. Her ears keep the farm safe.

Alas, not every animal has ears worth watching. Some animals have floppy ears and are only aware of the immediate world around them. That’s okay. They have other, endearing qualities.

Have your animals’ ears clued you into something that you would have otherwise have missed? Leave a comment!

Over the last year, I’ve heard from one of my readers who was going through the process of planning for and building his first coop. He told me that he was an experienced builder of high-end cabinets and wooden boats. Ted asked good questions. Yesterday he sent me photos of his set-up. I was as impressed as I thought I’d be. Ted generously said that I could share his design with you.

The building is a riff on a classic monitor style (there’s an illustration of one from the 1930s here.)

Ted lives on Cape Cod, and this building lets in light and air, but can withstand ocean winds and storms. Because Ted has a storage shed nearby, the entire interior or this 8 x 12 foot coop is used by the chickens. But, it could easily be divided, as I do with my Little Barn. (Plans for my small barn are here.)

Note that Ted has smartly predator-proofed the interior with

Even more than the coop, though, I’m impressed with the design of the outside pen. He used greenhouse hoops! Areas can easily be covered with tarps for shade, snow and rain protection, as need be.

Hardware cloth is also used here – it’s longer lasting and more predator-proof than chicken wire. You can see the master builder’s touches in the mahogany jungle gym and swings.

It makes my day to see a thoughtfully designed, well-made and spacious coop that is a healthy and happy place for both the hens and owner. Thanks for sharing, Ted!