The Goats Leave Gifts For The Birds

It was 17º F this morning when I did my morning chores. The goats don’t care what the thermometer says. They’ve have had it with their winter coats. Bit by fuzzy bit, they’re leaving it on the fence.

It’s a gift to the wild birds. I hear them singing. Some are already building nests. There’s going to be some soft beds for their chicks this year.

Comments:

  1. Hi Terry, I discovered your website while checking out “Tillys Nest”. I love your webcams and daily posts. I’m just discovering all the wonderful reasons to raise such interesting and loveable creatures. Thanks for the abundant information and encouragement. Debbie from Washington state.

  2. Still very cold here in Suffolk, UK. It went down to 15F last night and the snow is staying put until this NE wind turns round to the SW – probably at the weekend.
    Your goats would have the perfect coats to keep them warm!

    My hens are getting bored with just walking along the same clear track from the hen-house to the feeder!

    Celia
    x

  3. Just this past weekend we took a plastic grocery bag full of fur from brushing one of our dogs. She’s a Husky and has hair to spare!!! (Especially since we live in Texas) We took it out to our land and scattered it around a pile of brush we built as bird habitat (we’ve seen one baby bunny scurry into the pile too). Whenever we brush the dogs out in the yard, within days, all the fur is gone. We joke that the birds and squirrels in our neighborhood have the plushest nests around.

  4. last year I put out my friend’s lovely long silver hair after she lost it all in one go from chemo (she’s completely recovered now!) and watched the long-tailed tits and flycatchers steal it away. I love to imagine it all woven in and out of the hedges – it must be like cashmere after a life raising chicks in horsehair!

  5. 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. :)

  6. 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.

  7. Come spring those birdies are going to have some fine soft, fluffy nests. BTW do you have snow? Greetings, Julie.

  8. In England we had our first snow a week ago. Because of the cold temperatures it has stayed and now our second snow has added to it. It is unusually cold here for February after what had been up until now a mild winter. It has come from Russia apparently. Its been strange seeing you guys with spring like weather while we have snow.

    I am sure the birds appreciate the goats hair for their nests.

  9. Our dryer vents to the front porch. The birdies come and pick up the lint. We once found a very colorful, fluffy nest in our apple tree.
    Deborah

  10. Hi terry,my silkie hen just laid three eggs and i was wondering if they were chick eggs or what i mean can you even eat silkie eggs i have no clue but i do have a silkie rooster so any advice would be great. kristen

    • Hi Kristen, Silkie eggs are normal eggs (albeit small) and they are perfectly fine for eating. Since you have a rooster in with your hens, then they might be fertile – which means they could be put in an incubator and they might hatch.

  11. I work the weekend overnight shift in a children’s homeless shelter. Most mornings I have the HenCam up on my monitor and the kids are usually intrigued! Bet you didn’t know your animals are doing therapy work in New York!

    • I’m thrilled to be sharing my animals with you and the kids. I’d be happy to put a “hello” message up on the HenCam home page for you. Email me!