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Perfect Pie Crust to Use or Freeze – Recipes

...butter (6 ounces) and some water. When you scoop flour into a cup, it can be compacted or loose, and your measurement inaccurate. For consistency I use a digital scale (10 oz = 2 cups flour). An added benefit is that weighing speeds the process (no fluffing the flour necessary) Cut the butter into cubes. It should be frozen solid, so use your best chefs knife. If you find it too difficult to cut frozen butter, cut chilled butter into cubes and then freeze. Blending this dough with frozen butter is the key. I use a food processor, which can,...

Setting Up Your Own Camera – FAQ

...most cameras support. One limitation is that network cameras allow only a small number of simultaneous users. The upstream bandwidth of your home Internet connection will also limit the number of viewers. Also look into one of the new cloud-based video services such as Dropcam. However these cams are generally designed for indoor use. Supporting many users If you want to allow many users to view your camera then consider a video hosting service that offers video streaming. Now your home Internet connection only has to upload a single stream from your camera up to the hosting service. The service...

Little Barn Coop Plans – FAQ – Housing

...of space. Plan on 4 square feet per bird for the interior of your coop. That’s not including the boxes! Outside, your hens need 8 square feet per bird. My barns are not insulated or heated. It really isn’t necessary unless you have silkies or frizzles. What is important is that the coop has shade and is well-ventilated and yet draft-free. Make sure that you have windows that open, and soffits and vents in the eaves. If you can, install a working cupola. Because the rabbit overheats easily in the summer, a special 8 x 8 foot piece of shade...

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

...stay away from her foal, she quietly walks between them, and indicates displeasure with her ears pinned back. One horse eases away from the other. Conflict resolved. Horses in stabled situations often exhibit much more dramatic behavior. Instead of eating continually, grazing over hundreds of acres, food is dispensed a few times a day in a stationary spot and is quickly eaten up. Horses are stuck in close confines with horses they don’t know well or don’t like (in a natural situation, a horse chooses her own friends, and she’s picky.) Resources of both space and food are limited. Horses,...

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

...of that target stick just about anywhere. So, instead of tugging and pulling, I simply had them go towards the stick. Still, Steve had to pick the boys up and put them in the van. The ride was surprisingly uneventful. A bit of meh-mehing. They were so busy learning how to stand up in a moving vehicle, that they didn’t try to dismantle the back seat. The drive to the vet’s office is only 20 minutes. We waited outside. The boys decided to do some landscaping for Dr. Sarah. These branches needed trimming. The boys noticed plants inside and offered...

Nesting Boxes – HenBlog – Thursday, June 15, 2006

...hens, which is usually plenty. But Snowball and Blackie are broody, so they have staked out two and are immovable. That leaves only one box. Marge claimed it this morning. Ginger glared impatiently at Marge, like a customer waiting in line at a restaurant who stares at the seated person who is finishing her dessert, preventing her from lingering over coffee. Marge stayed put. Perrie didn’t bother to wait. She hopped in – right on top of Snowball, shoving the little white hen to the back of the box. Snowball stayed put. It is time to order more nesting boxes....

Sweet Clementine – HenBlog – Thursday, April 10, 2014

...coos when she sees us. And gobbles down her favorite foods. Her comb stayed red. And, ever so slowly, she started to improve. From no leg strength, to lifting herself up for short periods, to standing straight for short periods. And she laid her first egg 3 days ago. She goes outside for dust baths - although not often enough with all of the rain we have had lately. Given her issues, we should have culled in the beginning. It is hard once you start nursing them - you get attached quick. I worry that like Clementine, Ursula will become...

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

...time he didn't treat then lingering infection til my doctor gave me antibiotics. Chemist painkillers were ineffective but oil of cloves saved my sanity! (Some would argue). Smells nice, tastes foul but very effective I found. Is lovely to have your girls to look at when I'm going to bed and miss my babies. I'm in Adelaide South Australia so get my nocturnal chook fix thro u. Thankyou. hope your pain free soon!!! Bobbie Get well soon Terry! My Sis has had problems with a root canal that she had for 2 months now. Get some rest. Janet Rodgers Terry,...

Coop Ventilation – HenBlog – Friday, May 23, 2014

...frequently.) Only during blowing snowstorms do I close the pop-door. Otherwise, it stays open, even during the coldest of days, to bring fresh air in. (I do lock it closed at night to keep predators out.) Vents along eaves rarely move enough air. Some small coops have ridged roofs, which supposedly provide for plenty of ventilation. (This coop was found on PInterest; there was no link.) However, I know someone who built a coop similar to this and this past winter her hens had frostbite. The problem here is that there isn’t enough headroom. The chickens roost right near the...

Brood Coops – The Vintage Hen – Thursday, March 21, 2013

...my chicks a few weeks ago from Tractor Supply, and by day 2 or 3 one of my little yellow pullets started weezing, sneezing, coughing, and sounded raspy as all get out... soIactd with my best intentions and seperated her and gave her antibiotics, and "saved" her, no more sneezing weezing coughing or raspiness... I could understand why she ws growing so ridiculouly fast I mean she is like double the size of the other chicks of the "same" breed and age, Terry you saw the pic on my facebook. I came the the conclusion last night, that she must...

Handling The Chicks – HenBlog – Thursday, April 18, 2013

...(it’s unlikely that every one of those children at the farm did) that your chicks won’t have issues. Still, I don’t pick up my chicks just for fun. My goal with chicks, with all animals, really, is for them to come to me. To do this, I pay attention to the animals’ reactions and needs. The first thing that I noticed was that the chicks all scurried into corners when I opened the barn door. Of course a door swinging open towards them, and sudden bright light and a big human looming over them, was terrifying. Now, as I approach...

Twiggy Keeps Laying – HenBlog – Friday, November 14, 2014

...one Leghorn in a flock of seventeen birds of a variety of breeds. Twiggy is active and a tad flighty, but also personable, and her floppy comb makes her look a tad ridiculous. She’s curious and bold and is a fun foil to the more staid, heavier old-fashioned hens. Leghorns are not long-lived birds, but I’d like to have Twiggy around for a few more years. It’s important for her health that she rests and rejuvenates during the ten-week process that is the molt. It’s time to molt, Twiggy. Take a break! She says that she will when she’s ready....

Why I Don’t Use Avian Vets – HenBlog – Monday, December 17, 2012

...Michael Phillips is one of my personal heroes. Terry, I used your Spa Treatment on a chicken I thought for sure was a goner and she is doing great! Tracy Byers Fabulous article and great comments! I always learn so much and have my own thoughts confirmed! This topic is a lengthy one in the "Backyards Chickens" class I teach, mainly because we are so trained to take our pets to the vet... Terry Golson Emily, I love hearing about such successes. sue noy Hi Terry, I really enjoyed reading this article. Here in UK I am very fortunate in...

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

...his cause of living simply, out in nature. He has created a website and Facebook page. "Mule", his nickname, has been cited often for taking mules through cities. Very interesting. Fortunately, his mules seem okay. Website: 3Mules.com OR https://www.facebook.com/3Mules?fref=ts Michele b No experience here. Although I have always loved Donkeys. Thats a great photo! jean yes i have a mule story - an on-going mule story and i'll share - but later. my stray cat - the one who looked like a thug likes to help me type when he hears the keys rattle - and here he commes Michele...

The Best Scrambled Eggs – HenBlog – Monday, February 17, 2014

...this morning, I watched as the Little Barn Ladies lined up to lay in the rabbit hutch....too funny! Do all 6 lay in there? Elizabeth Anne (TX) Eggs are a true comfort food. Too easy and very delicious. This is how we make eggs, too. Eggs for any meal! Carol Caldwell This is also how I make my scrambled eggs and the only time I add to this is special occasions such as Christmas morning breakfast when just as they are done I mix in some thinly sliced bits of smoked salmon. This makes it seem like a bit of...

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

...soft shelled eggs. This past summer an egg broke before she laid it. She was walking around clearly in discomfort. After a soak in warm water and epsom salts, I was able to remove the remaining shell and the yolk and whites slid out. I believe that these baths have saved her life! Thanks so much! Donna YES! Well said Terry! It either works or it does not. I have saved hens with this treatment, but I have also lost more than I have saved just due to the facts you stated above. This has not been a good bird...

Lily is on Bed Rest – HenBlog – Monday, May 18, 2015

...can't do. I think its amazing how well she runs and enjoys her life. She was not over weight either, just ran full out everywhere. She seems to self monitor..A truly wonderful dog! Chin up, Lily is strong and smart, she will be fine! Terry Golson Exactly what I had hoped to hear. At 12 I don't want her to go through surgery. She'll be fine on 3 legs, if only she's not in pain - hopefully after the injury stabilizes. Terry Golson Thank you. Terry Golson She makes short work of those bully sticks, too. And she's so smart...

Beauty All Around – The Vintage Hen – Friday, October 18, 2013

This has been the most beautiful fall that I can remember. Possibly, I say that every autumn. But, this year it does seem extra-special. Maybe it’s because the weather has perfect and the blue skies set off the colors. Or maybe it’s been that I’ve been seeing it from the back of a horse. Still, some years the colors are dull. Some years the trees change, but a storm blows through, ripping the leaves off of the branches so that the show of color is only fleeting. A couple of years ago we had a snowstorm right before Halloween and...

Digging Dandelions – HenBlog – Wednesday, April 18, 2012

...everyday....prep time about 5 minutes and feeds 7 spoiled chickens...they do the tossing and the shreading. Wendy I shall enjoy watching you do that, while Candy and I sip gin in your lawn chairs. I let the luscious ones grow for Tortoise. I may not need them this year (sniff) Terry Golson Yes! Caper has a loud and distinctive voice. He's also the one who watches for me, sees me in the kitchen window and starts yelling. Terry Golson Sangria here. Not gin. Bobbie That is so adorable! Wendy How very European of you! Sheri What a treat for all,...

Love, Chickens and the Ikea Effect – HenBlog – Thursday, February 14, 2013

...the work that pays the bills. :-) nancy Excellent post! I know we certainly have more invested in our chickens, garden, etc. because we did it ourselves, than just paying someone else to set it all up, and the eggs/veggies/fruits/herbs all taste better (of course). Nancy, Little Homestead in Boise Donna Terry! We can fix you up with a Walker! Just say the word! :) Jen Stanton I too have a soft spot for Buffy. I think it's because she has a way of beating the odds. Just when it seems like she won't make it, she comes through somehow....

B is for Bantam – The Vintage Hen – Saturday, December 20, 2014

Michelle No, that really is a Y, it's just missing its descender. I suspect they used a flawed type block – back in the day when type was set by hand. Mikayla In my experience, instead of "Sebrights so gay", it should be written "Sebrights are Satan"... I can only speak for the cockerels, but he was horrible. I've heard from other people that sebrights aren't really their favorite in the flock... not the friendliest personalities. Terry Golson You're right! Terry Golson Obviously, we need to do our own alphabet next year! Start sending ideas :) Cheryl B is for...

Snoring Horse – HenBlog – Monday, November 16, 2015

...I don't have CIs (yet), but I do have a continually declining hearing loss. So things that I can here stop sounding like they used to sound. So I have to keep re-learning the same sounds. And, yep, "seeing" the sound sure helps. (That's the sound a motorcycle makes now?! That's not what it used to sound like.... Well, actually, it probably still sounds the same -- I'm just hearing the roar and the motor-sounds on fewer frequencies. Many thanks! --Carol Terry Golson I hope you never need CIs, but it's good to know that the option is out there!...

Pecking Order – HenBlog – Thursday, July 19, 2012

...as a brick, but she's put an egg out every day since 4 & 1/2 months. She's sweet and very talkative. If she hears me talking in the house she'll run to get a close as she can and she'll start jabbering.... When she sees my daughter she runs up to her and squats down so she'll pick her up.... Funny girl! Terry Golson Tell me you named her for Col. Sanders wife?! Debi M I've noticed that there arent as many nesting boxes as you have hens. Dont the hens like to have their own box? Kristine A long...

A Busy Week – HenBlog – Monday, November 23, 2015

...a pie (yes, really, I keep records!) I bake all of the pies myself, from scratch. I use my organizational skills honed when I worked in professional kitchens. I have exact prep lists and have planned out the work flow. Yesterday I made 15 crusts, plus decorative cut-outs. Baking is a combination of exact measurements and technique born from experience. I weigh out the flour.   But the rolling out is all about feel. By the way, that’s my beloved 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=B000IYYG26&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_c4146bb582c29872683b7415bcfb3818 . It has...

Rewards, Not Threats – HenBlog – Friday, February 5, 2016

...But it’s not simplistic! A horse can’t go happily with a rider on his back unless what he wears fits and is kept clean and supple. A saddle is strapped onto the horse with a band called a girth. The girth sits behind the horse’s elbows. All parts of a horse are sensitive, but this belly area is especially so. Saddles and girths need to fit the individual horse. A bad fit is comparable to you walking around in stiff shoes of the wrong size. Pretty soon you wouldn’t want to move. Also, some horses are fussier than others. Just...

Cuckoo Marans Egg – HenBlog – Thursday, March 19, 2015

...all over the place. She's a splash so I wasn't sure what to expect. She's mostly a white hen with 4 splashes lol. But I don't mind. She is a sweet bird and very curious. She is my lap chicken and I love to listen to her talk. Her voice is so deep. Niall Anderson Of my four cuckoo marans bantams, 2 lay dark, speckled eggs and are always consistent; the other two, however, always lay brown paper bag colour, but sometimes with speckles, sometimes without. My two welsummers both lay darker eggs than the marans. Strage, as my emories...

Trimming The Goats’ Hooves – HenBlog – Wednesday, September 18, 2013

...reward. In this case, cut up pieces of apple.     I’d be lying if I said that all goes according to plan. They are goats. Pip would rather sit in my lap than stand, and Caper would rather turn sideways. But, it’s a lot easier than trying to wrestle the boys immobile while plying sharp shears. In any event, with Steve clicking the goats for standing properly, and with me fearlessly wielding the cutters, the job gets done fairly quickly. Too quickly for the boys. That’s the thing about using training instead of restraint, it’s enjoyable for the animals....

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

...broody. She claims a nesting box and keeps everyone else out. She stops laying eggs. She’ll fluff up her feathers and look twice her size. She’ll pull out some of her breast feathers – if she had a clutch of eggs to hatch, her bare skin would keep them warm. Here is Twinkydink, showing broody behavior. Notice how she is hunkered down and her feathers are strewn about. Typically, a hen will stay broody for almost a month. If she had fertile eggs to hatch, she’d be on the nest for 21 days. But chickens don’t count and the time...

Nesting Box Drama – HenBlog – Tuesday, September 10, 2013

...But I'm patient. It will happen. Terry, I'm worried about my Delaware. She mouth breaths. Has been doing it for a couple of weeks now. Everything else seems normal. She also sounds a little hoarse. She's eating, drinking and her stool is formed and normal color. I've cut out any snacks that aren't nutritious at 15 weeks and give small servings of greens, vegetables and fruits. Any thoughts on this. I would appreciate it. Carol About a month ago I was in the back of my coop where the rollout nest boxes are, when out popped a little blue egg....

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

...stories... Sara What a wonderful story. Congratulations on your success! Bea Gibson With everyone running around for the holiday and not stopping to smell the roses they all might just get something out of your life's challenge. I have RA and never thought of my self as indifferent but angry sometimes, yes. No one can imagine what is going on with someone else unless they have their own challenge to work through. I so want some chickens this spring but everyone is telling me I can't handle the care they need. I am so happy for you and Tonka. He's...

Worms – HenBlog – Thursday, January 21, 2010

...the worms in the intestinal tract. It's like teensy razor blades, so some people have concerns about the delicate chicken innards withstanding that over time. For production hens that aren't allowed to live more than a couple years, maybe it's less of a concern. What about pet hens? Tracy Byers You have sunshine today! What a blessing! We also have some here on the West Coast- sure lifts the spirits! Thanks for the info on the wormers and the DE. Our run was empty for 9 mos, then scraped clean before we brought in the new chicks, should I have...

Where's the Tail? – HenBlog – Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Marge’s tail fell out and I’m not worried about it. Although, judging from your emails, feather loss is the second biggest source of anxiety for chicken keepers (broodiness is first.) Here’s the ugly fact: chickens molt once a year and it’s not pretty. It’s not like one day you go out to the yard and they’ve lost all of their feathers, which then proceed to quickly grow back. Oh, no. The feathers come out in clumps. Slowly. And the feathers that grow back at first look like porcupine quills. Even worse, during this month-long process, the hens stop laying. Commercial...

Early Summer Blooms – HenBlog – Monday, May 31, 2010

So far it’s been a lush summer. Lots of rain, but it’s not been the sort of cold drenches that kills off tender plants.Instead, we’ve had gentle rain and then sunny heat. The peonies bloomed, and without driving rain or high winds, they’ve stayed upright and full-petaled. The daisies are in bloom under the one peach tree. The goats look longingly at these plants. That’s the electric goat fence, which is effective in keeping them out. The lily in the pond bloomed. The Beast lurks under it, in the lily pad’s shade. This old-fashioned climbing hydrangea shares the trellis on...

Goats Gambol – HenBlog – Friday, February 26, 2010

My bedroom window looks out into the backyard. When I woke this morning, delighted to see the sun (a brief respite before more snow and rain) I lucked out and saw Pip at the very moment that my husband opened his stall door to let him out. I think that Pip was as surprised to see the sun as I was. Instead of a inch of standing water on top of ice, there was bare ground underfoot. Pip leapt. He ran. He bounced. In short, he gamboled. I grinned. And I thought, how often does a person get to use...

Hungry (but fussy) Goats – HenBlog – Monday, January 25, 2010

...delighted to see me. I offer the parsley. They sniff, but, they don’t even nibble. It’s wilted! They look quizzically at me. Why would I be showing them this worthless stuff? Don’t I know that if it’s hangs limp, that it’s inedible? They think, “that goat maid is well-meaning but none too bright.” I get them some hay. They might be fussy, but they are polite. Caper thanks me. I feed the parsley to the rabbit. Candy says that it’s delicious. There’s no mushy spots and the color is a nice, deep green. What do those silly goats, know, anyway?...

Waiting… – HenBlog – Thursday, January 14, 2010

If you’ve watched my goats at all you know that they love to eat. All the time. That means that they also poop all the time. (Goat people call these pellets “nanny berries.”) The goats even poop while eating. Yesterday I had planned to take a fecal sample to the vet to have it checked for worms. It’s important to keep a goat’s intestinal tract parasite-free. Some people worm their goats on a regular basis. Since different drugs kill different species, they switch between products. It’s rather hit-or-miss but effective enough on an annual basis. Pip and Caper arrived here...

Who Was Here? – HenBlog – Thursday, January 7, 2010

...been there since before the Revolutionary War. In fact, the Minute Men marched down it to the infamous bridge in Concord where some say the war started. It’s name comes from the fact that it is two rods wide. The stone walls are still there. But now, instead of fields on either side, there are woods. Perfect places for little animals to live. Someone besides us was also out and about yesterday. I imagine the pitter-pattering tiny feet, the furry belly dragging in the snow, the tail marking a fine line behind. I’m not a tracker, and my Guide to...

Odds and Ends – HenBlog – Monday, October 26, 2009

I thought you might want a catch-up and follow-up on the animals here at Little Pond Farm. Although Eggers is better (she’s eating, drinking and hustles outside when there are treats) she still doesn’t seem vigorous to me. Partly, it’s because she’s on the very bottom of the pecking order, and so spends her days avoiding everyone. But, I don’t think that’s it entirely. Bantam White Leghorns are active, cheerful-looking birds. Eggers doesn’t seem to have that joie de vivre. Some chickens sulk when they molt. Yes, that’s anthropomorphic, but accurate. If your chicken is grumpy, you know it. Eggers...

Links – HenBlog – Wednesday, February 20, 2008

...coops, some like animal webcams, others are researching chicken breeds. Then there are the folks who find my hen house when they’ve actually been trolling for something else. In England, bachelorette parties are called “hen parties.” Personally, I’d rather hang out with my chickens than get silly drunk at a bar, however I doubt that the soon-to-be married are going to watch HenCam instead of have an embarrassing night on the town. (Too bad…) Yesterday, the person who searched for this found my chickens: Polish girls in Sussex looking for love. And how did you find HenCam? Let me know!...

Kindergarten – HenBlog – Friday, May 4, 2007

Sometimes I think that having a flock of hens is like having a bunch of kindergartners in my backyard. Hens are gregarious, endlessly curious, and vocal. They have friends but don’t want to share. They fuss about status and who has what. They like to play in the dirt. And there are always social situations to be resolved. Snowball has a bad habit of plucking feathers off of other hens. She is sneaky about it – she’ll maneuver next to a hen that is sunbathing and peck as if she is mutually grooming, so at first the other chicken doesn’t...

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,...

Phoebe’s Day – HenBlog – Tuesday, November 5, 2013

...a corner. This is where Phoebe goes.   Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. During the day, Phoebe naps in her den, or hangs out with the old hens dozing in the sun.   Phoebe does have bursts of activity, even at midday. She sprints around the pen, she goes over to the fence to chat with the goats, and she eats. Along with downing her pellets, Phoebe forages through the weeds and things that I put into the hens’ pen. She especially likes to gnaw on the pumpkin shell. The Ladies sometimes chase...

HenCam Technical FAQ – HenBlog – Saturday, March 7, 2009

...static IP address, or you can use dynamic DNS (DDNS) which most cameras support. One limitation is that network cameras allow only a small number of simultaneous users. The upstream bandwidth of your home Internet connection will also limit the number of viewers. Supporting many users If you want to allow many users to view your camera then consider a video hosting service that offers video streaming. Now your home Internet connection only has to upload a single stream from your camera up to the hosting service. The service takes care of the rest. How The HenCam Works We have...

Win a Book! – HenBlog – Sunday, January 25, 2009

I have been thrilled to get emails from librarians telling me how much they love Tillie. My book is being used for story hours! HenCam is seen on library computer screens. People are talking about their favorite chickens (which is just the subject matter that I think librarians should be sharing with their public!) Instead of a “chicken in every pot” I’d like to see Tillie Lays an Egg in every library. To that end, I’m going to donate a copy of Tillie to a library (school or public) of the winner’s choice. All you have to do to enter...

Egg Laying in Winter – HenBlog – Monday, January 19, 2009

Early in the Fall the hens begin to molt. Like leaves falling, it’s not all at once, but little by little. Some start in August, some in October. The girls look scraggly. Then they grow in aptly-named “pin feathers” (which look like short porcupine quills). Finally, they fluff out, hopefully in time to have a nice feather coat for the winter cold. During the molt they stop laying; their energy goes into feather-making. With winter, the daylight hours shorten and the temperatures drop. All of this triggers the “don’t lay!” button on the hens. Before there was heat and electricity,...

Coco Joins the Flock – HenBlog – Tuesday, November 11, 2008

It’s always a challenge introducing a pullet to an established flock. Because my chickens are different sizes, ages and breeds (and currently in different phases of molt), there’s a lot of jostling establishing pecking order. It’s not as easy as introducing the new hen and saying, “play nice girls.” I have two flocks that live separately, except for when they roam the lawn together, and even then they don’t mingle much. The hens in the big barn are more assertive. In my experience, Barred Rocks and Wyandottes do not tolerate bantams, and that observation rang true this week. I let...

Perrie – HenBlog – Friday, August 1, 2008

...she was molting, as hens stop laying when they molt. She lost some tail feathers, but nothing else. She was eating and acting normal. Then, two days ago, I noticed that Perrie had minor diarrhea. Yesterday I noticed that she was sitting on a roost instead of going out on the lawn with the other girls. Although Perrie didn’t show any respiratory distress, the runny poo and the quiet behavior was enough for me to isolate her in a dog crate. I wiped her butt with a paper towel, but didn’t see anything amiss. Decided I’d give her a bath...

Thank You Birds and Bugs – HenBlog – Monday, June 23, 2008

...of them had over wintered in our window casings. Some were confused and came indoors instead of finding their way outside. Yuck! But, it was worth it. My birch tree in the front, which always has terrible infestations of absolutely disgusting sawfly larvae (that even the chickens refuse to eat) is so far free of them this year. The only bugs crawling all over the branches have been ladybugs. It’ll be interesting to see how the veg garden fares. In the past, the cucumber beetles have been a scourge. As have the squash borers. I hope the birds like them....

Huffy Hen – HenBlog – Thursday, June 12, 2008

...feathers stick out. She looks twice her size. Instead of a gentle happy cluck when you come into the barn, she rasps an angry greeting. A hen who has always been pleasant to the others will go out of her way to chase them. Unless you want to hatch chicks under your hen, when she goes broody it is a big pain. Not to mention that she stops laying eggs. If you have only a few hens, you’ll certainly miss that egg at your table. What to do? Try to break up the broody spell by unceremoniously kicking her out...

What I Do for My Hens… – HenBlog – Wednesday, May 21, 2008

...lot of fluffy feathers. Later I cut up tiny pieces of organic beef and fed it to Snowball and Buffy. Buffy loved it. Snowball was looking almost too tired to eat. Then, I took them out to the asparagus patch for a dirt bath. The dirt is loose and warm. All the hens love this spot. I don’t have a lot of asparagus for obvious reasons. Buffy settled in to get dirt onto every inch of skin. Hens hate being squeaky clean! But Snowball fell asleep standing up, which was just too sad for me to see. I found a...