Happy Harvest Blog
Oh great, it's time to move blog platforms again
I’ve been blogging here at WordPress for nine and half years, and I was perfectly delighted with it for eight and a half. I’ve never had so many problems as I did this year. Coincidentally, this year is also the first time I’ve paid for the top tier account, for extra storage (nine years of images, yo), and to keep my blog free of annoying ads. To hell with that.
Let the chips fly where they may
We brought in a quantity of wood shavings today (free for the pickup at a local sawmill). The chips arrive: What is it? Oh, we’re watching. We’re watching intently. Here they come. A cautious approach. Here comes everyone. First, the investigatory pecks – Is it edible? They were underwhelmed that it was not. Then the whole crowd sort of circled around the mound. Later, they were up on top of it.
All in!
What a load off my mind! Everyone is in. I thought it might all be too crowded for the numbers I have now, but it's ok. It's sloppy and slapdash right now, but it will work out. There's plenty of room for the coops, and a pool, and more. The guineas are being very tolerant about this mass invasion. They very much like to sit up on top of Silkieland. Perhaps we'll poop on you. I think they're so cute. They treat the chickens more like pets they're fond of, than equals.
Bedtime, and coop cops
Some of them decided to face the other way, for variety. And two of them decided to have a big pecking fight, on the rail, with one uninvolved keet between them, hunched up low, keeping head down and out of the crossfire raging above him. So funny. Peck you! No, peck you! They're getting slightly more independent; they scatter wider. Packing up the three boxes of moms and chicks, to go into their safe house in the greenhouse (everyone goes in a lock box at night for weasel safety), Fiesty's box was empty.
Broodies and brooderies
The first order of business: a broody box for Perchick (smaller than a chickery, but big enough for a big hen mom - wow! I have broody layer hens!)While I was making a broodery, I made another chickery, because I'm sure I'm going to need one real soon. Cream Puff is still freakin' out! She's being good, diligently staying on her eggs, but she's on high alert and looks very concerned like she thinks she's losing her mind, and no one told her this could happen. What's happening to me?! I'm feverish!
Roos of the woods
Eviction is in progress. We lifted the coops out of the greenhouse, and I'm "encouraging" the birds to all transition to living outside now. You'd think they'd be all gung-ho to spend all their hours out of doors and get their vitamin D. But no, they are resistant to being encouraged. They all find their way back into the hothouse by the afternoon. The GH is at its worst these days. It's (past) time for it to assume its primary function, sheltering growing food, so high time to move all the chicken-related detritus out.
Instagram.
I may not make a blog post every day, but at least I Insta.
Bite size.
