Well, we’ve had sun and wind and rain…lots of rain. Rain is amazing, somehow those big black gloomy rain clouds always manage to turn on the faucet just in time to catch us with a drenching downfall as we step out of the door. Yesterday it was bitterly cold, there was no wind ( amazingly !) the sun was shining…and it snowed ! Knowing that I never know what weather conditions to anticipate these days, I start with T shirts ( yes, in multiple) and work up to polar outerwear. I make no excuses….I used to be cosy warm and dry in an office, it’s a tough mentality to break….I freeze !
The chickens don’t appreciate this wet stuff either, the hen houses are fully populated, rows of wattles and feathers hunched over the perches. Adolf the Rhode Island Red rooster remains in full control even there. Should a squabble or dispute arise over perching rights or a particularly enticing chunk of grain Adolf is very fast to restore peace and tranquillity. No hen fights on his watch ! Big brother John has been busy keeping our feathered ladies happy by providing them with foraging and pecking material….complete with replacement silly hat ( the original silly hat had malfunctions and sadly had to be retired) but the chickens for the most part remain dry and warmly tucked up in the henhouse, his efforts ignored.
Gimpy is still holding out, every move is laboured, a struggle to get up, a struggle to get down. Her bulging udder swaying between her legs indicates an immanent birthing but baby watch to date has just seen Gimpy looking particularly miserable and still pregnant…maybe today ? The other lambs are creating chaos and mayhem in the sheep pen. No respecter of age or infirmity those tiny bouncing machines trampoline from back to back, under heavily pregnant tummies and round and round the pen. Anxious moms try to keep control and soon to be moms get irritated by the newest arrival’s exuberance. The sheep/ lamb pen is an entertaining place to be right now which is useful as sheep retained in the “maternity ward” generate a lot of “recycling” and here at the ranch we know what that means….poop!!
Now we have two confused geese, Gertie our resident goose with an identity crisis appears to have persuaded her ardent suitor Valentine that standing under a horse’s tummy or waddling six inches from stomping hooves is a really good idea. Not too clever Gertie ! Charm has a very low tolerance level, when the hay in his feeder runs low our palomino with attitude looks for alternative entertainment and two confused geese just fit the ticket. Gertie and Valentine can be seen flapping their wings and honking running in front of Charm hot on their tail feathers….you CAN fly guys !!!
All the babies are thriving. Cody and Song are growing daily. The two kids and the three calves are becoming real attention magnets, when people are around you can be sure the babies are close by. People mean food and a back scratch..clearly both top of their “must have” requirements.
Welcome home to Cody who came back to the ranch last night. It was good to see that big enthusiastic smile coming through the kitchen door, Cody is a WOOFER Intern who has quickly morphed into a family member and we are very grateful that he chose to be here.
Well, time to move. It’s snowing/raining out there and yes, it is still very COLD. Take care, keep safe, M
The chickens don’t appreciate this wet stuff either, the hen houses are fully populated, rows of wattles and feathers hunched over the perches. Adolf the Rhode Island Red rooster remains in full control even there. Should a squabble or dispute arise over perching rights or a particularly enticing chunk of grain Adolf is very fast to restore peace and tranquillity. No hen fights on his watch ! Big brother John has been busy keeping our feathered ladies happy by providing them with foraging and pecking material….complete with replacement silly hat ( the original silly hat had malfunctions and sadly had to be retired) but the chickens for the most part remain dry and warmly tucked up in the henhouse, his efforts ignored.
Gimpy is still holding out, every move is laboured, a struggle to get up, a struggle to get down. Her bulging udder swaying between her legs indicates an immanent birthing but baby watch to date has just seen Gimpy looking particularly miserable and still pregnant…maybe today ? The other lambs are creating chaos and mayhem in the sheep pen. No respecter of age or infirmity those tiny bouncing machines trampoline from back to back, under heavily pregnant tummies and round and round the pen. Anxious moms try to keep control and soon to be moms get irritated by the newest arrival’s exuberance. The sheep/ lamb pen is an entertaining place to be right now which is useful as sheep retained in the “maternity ward” generate a lot of “recycling” and here at the ranch we know what that means….poop!!
Now we have two confused geese, Gertie our resident goose with an identity crisis appears to have persuaded her ardent suitor Valentine that standing under a horse’s tummy or waddling six inches from stomping hooves is a really good idea. Not too clever Gertie ! Charm has a very low tolerance level, when the hay in his feeder runs low our palomino with attitude looks for alternative entertainment and two confused geese just fit the ticket. Gertie and Valentine can be seen flapping their wings and honking running in front of Charm hot on their tail feathers….you CAN fly guys !!!
All the babies are thriving. Cody and Song are growing daily. The two kids and the three calves are becoming real attention magnets, when people are around you can be sure the babies are close by. People mean food and a back scratch..clearly both top of their “must have” requirements.
Welcome home to Cody who came back to the ranch last night. It was good to see that big enthusiastic smile coming through the kitchen door, Cody is a WOOFER Intern who has quickly morphed into a family member and we are very grateful that he chose to be here.
Well, time to move. It’s snowing/raining out there and yes, it is still very COLD. Take care, keep safe, M
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