Hot day

I started work on my west flower bed, but Steve wanted the grass I was digging out as sod, so the work stopped until this evening (right when the sun will be nice and hot on the west side) when he could get to it. The first real day of summer - hot and steamy, so the kids tried to hang out in shade. Abby was able to hold the small brown chick.

Reed and Emmy got to help grandpa out in the shop move things around with the forklift. Abby had been out earlier crawling under the truck helping put on brakes, but was sent in when it involved moving heavy machinery.

The chicks stayed in the shade as much as they could and enjoyed Matt's frame to his dune buggy.

Time Flies

Emmy catches the small brown chick all the time, its "my friend". She's had Abby holding it by herself a time or two. There's nothing like a baby scampering in chick poop and touching all things chick poop. Where is her mother?

Reed and Ruby. Notice Ruby is on a chain, she still can't leave the chicks alone. They run so then she runs. Now we keep the chicks in their pen until 11am or so and let Ruby loose. Then chain Ruby and let the chicks loose, unless we're right there with Ruby on a leash. One of these days the chicks will be big and give her a big peck, then everyone will settle down.

I can't believe its been a week since I posted. The chicks are growing and doing great. There was a close call today with one. Steve had put an old 4' X 8' piece of chip board over the top of the fencing to create shade, and it was looking like it was going to break in two and kill some chicks if they were in the pen. So, I bought a tarp and we went to take down the dubious wood and put up the tarp. While taking the wood down Steve lost his grip and it fell almost taking out a chick, in fact I think it grazed its wing. But the chick ran off squaking so all is well. We did get the tarp up and secured. I found lilac (a Little Kim) and blueberry bushes today so I can plant my west garden now. I already had my butterfly bushes and various bulbs. Hopefully these will shade the west side of the house and cut down on airconditioning cost. I still haven't got my rainbarrels up and running, Michael (a nephew) is supposedly working on them...hint, hint, Michael.

Free Range

The chicks are looking good, going over the "pasture" and weed-eating. Its gas free work, but not poop free. Ruby has been let off her chain with supervision. She did cause a slight rucus when I was helping Steve with body work and it took longer than anticipated -we heard frantic cackling and Steve ran out to save the day. Ruby was "playing", no chick was hurt, but Ruby was put in time-out.
As the day went on she was getting better at just standing and staring, although she occasionally can walk up to a chick and sniff it before she's noticed and the chick runs off. If we're not outside we chain Ruby up, but the chicks then made their way to the edge of the garden. Now we need to fence that (also Ruby was playing in it yesterday).
Another beautiful day on the farm:)

Free Range Chicks

Going out to visit the chicks.

After Steve put up the pen on Wednesday the chicks came out for a couple of hours. Thursday we were gone all day so they we inside the whole time. Ever since then, they are let out into the pen in the morning. Sunday as I was cleaning up dinner I heard shouts of glee. Steve had tied up the dog and opened the pen door so the chicks could "free range". Nothing like more excitement to get the grandkids and dog riled-up.
The garden is looking good, but it needs weeded. There are small zucs already so we'll be picking them within the week. I was weeding the strawberry bed and Reed helped by loading the weeds and wheelbarrowing them out to the tall grass. The grandkids also helped my plant more flowers up front.

Abby and Emmy playing with chicks in the pen. The fun never stops on the farm.


Emmy wrangles chicks out of the pen and into the yard.

Reed doing his pirate immitation.

Steve supervising the chicks and grandkids. Ruby is tied up, but very interested.

Chicks Outside

I thought we would have the temporary outdoor pen done sooner so I was waiting to update then. Sunday we had to put a lock on the inside of the coop door so that Reed and Emmy could go in and lock Ruby out. Hard to believe but Ruby was getting "wild".
We bought a dog kennel off Craig's List to use as a temporary run until Steve could get time to put in a big fenced area.
Steve had to make sure there was an opening (one was already cut - for a dog house) that lined-up with the chick door. Also he had to build out walls since the top fencing was blocked by the overhang. Of course a ramp had to be installed.
The chicks and turkey were chicken to go outside. The grandkids went in and threw them out, and then shut the door so they couldn't go back in.

This was the perfect time to clean out the coop...it was getting ripe. But what to do with the used litter? Trevor, the grandkids and a neighbor girl spread it over the garden. This should fertilize and keep the weeds down.
Farmer girl Kim cleans the coop.
With help the cleaning went fairly fast. Besides, Mandy did the dishes while I was out doing farm chores.

Ruby's Friends

(There are six chicks in the box)

Ruby goes in with the kids all the time, which isn't necessarily good. I hear yelling of, "Ruby, NO!" quite a lot. So far she hasn't bit any chicks, although Reed reported that she, "put her paws on the turkey but he got away, and then she put her paws on a Houdan but he pecked her eye. When she got the other Houdan he pecked her other eye". We need coop cam desperately!!! The only thing I've seen is an excessive amount of playing with the chicks (see photo). The kids will cram numerous chicks in one box, move them around, chase them down, etc. I don't see the chicks gaining weight because they are running too much. These aren't going to be plump birds, but tough chewy ones. I doubt they'll lay eggs due to being under duress all the time. FYI: When I was shutting down the coop tonight I did count the chicks and there are still 26 chicks and one turkey. That is 15 original chicks for those in the race.

Training continues

Today Ruby went in with me without her leash. Actually she had gone in when the kids were there but they yelled and Mandy went and got her out. Anyway, Reed, Emmy, Ruby and I were in for about 10 minutes and Ruby did very well. Very well being defined as 'no eaten chicks'. Of course the chicks were skittish, but then again they were being chased and caught by the kids.

Farm Fun

As you can see, chick fun takes up most of the farm chores. Emmy and Reed will spend hours in the coop. They're now putting chicks in the nesting boxes, moving them in and out; basically treating them like dolls. Many of the chicks seem resigned to being caught and played with. Matt was in charge of Ruby training today.

Abby knows she is missing out on chick fun and begs Mandy to take her out to the coop.

Thanks Mandy for this lovely pic of me weeding the garden (no one ever seems to be around when this is being done).

Yard Work

Yesterday was spent planting flowers. Why have all the stores gone with 4" pots instead of the 6 packs? I also bought a rechargable weed eater. Its not as powerful as our old one, but I just push a button and it starts. No more yanking and not being able to start, lugging a heavy one, and having it die - just to not be able to start it again.
Ruby was in the coop with me and the grandkids today. The grandkids would run around, catch a chick and bring it to be 'introduced' to Ruby. She just sniffed at them but was very excited the whole time. Of course that may be due to the chaos. As Emmy said, "We would hate to get the chicks too wild" (she was mimicing me). Anytime the kids are in the coop it is a wild time.

Ruby training

I took Ruby into the coop with me tonight. She was on a leash that I held tight. Basically she just laid beside me (yes, in the chick poo) and watched. The chicks didn't come around us, in fact they didn't get closer than 2 feet away. We were there for about half-an-hour without any reaction from the chicks or Ruby. Tomorrow we go back in and I'll walk her around in there.
Remember if you come up to view the chicks you need to bring crocs or shoes you don't care about. And 'good' shoes you can put back on when you come out of the coop.

Sunday Ease

Nothing going on here, just a quiet day. We did go to Robin's to check on her chicks, the older ones and newer ones. She has her fenced yard up and it looks fabulous - just what we will be putting in soon.
The grandkids have taken to the climbing dome and running the maze.