Winter Preparations....

8/16/2010-

This is August- the last of the summer months for many, including horse folk. Ever since I was 11, I had to learn all about getting ready for winter. Especially when a horse was added to my life. It has been that way from then on..... Now I have 11 horses to care for, and the amounts if items needed hasn't really changed to much- just MORE of each of them.

Just a few days ago, I ordered a big load of some fine grass hay from our hay man, Ivan. Its' first cutting of a variety of grasses and is fresh smelling. Not as nice as some when it comes to a sweet smell but it is great to have. Eight thousand pounds of it in 800 pound giant square bales.  It cost a pretty penny but if I'm careful and there's no mold, then it should last until its time to restock for the worst months of winter here in PA.

The plans for September are to finish painting the stall doors, and to find some pretty paint for the chickens' coop. Yellow n' light blue just don't get it- especially when some kid spray painted misc. stuff all over it. So I need to choose a pretty shade of burgundy I think.....  Then to get the manure pile piled up more so, and all these weeds mowed down . I'm Far behind on that thanks to about 5 days of rainy weather. They're growing taller with each passing hour I think !

There's quite a long list of things to get accomplished before winter sets in, and I need to get busy !

Just One Rooster 8 3.2010

Yesterday, I gave a mini riding lesson to a friend's daughter. She was visiting her dad and was simply dying to come see "Suzi" and for a ride.  While I was busily showing her how to brush Suzi once again, the silly roosters kept crowing and crowing !  They were Noisy ! Our farrier- Kurt - was there finishing up putting on Carli's "sneakers" as well. We had a busy barn ..... One of the gals was saying how she Loved to hear roosters crowing, and Kurt said jokingly " if you talk to that lady, I bet she'll GIVE you one " .    I didn't say anything , just smiled and went on w/ the lesson for Lisa.  We all got done, Lisa's extended family left , and Kurt was done putting Carlene's sneakers on her front feet.

Later on that evening, the phone rang.  We had just come inside, and missed answering it. It was Lisa's step mom.... she wanted to know if we were still offering a rooster for free. I called her back to say 'sure was'.  Patrick drove over and chose Skylar- the Light Brahma rooster. So now Skylar has a new home.

I am keeping the other rooster, Aiden, and bought two little Barred Rock Hens. These girls will be turned out into our " flock" as soon as they are a little bigger. So, now WoodFinn has 8 chickens, and even though I keep looking at photos of some really cool breeds, I tell myself,  ''NO- No more !" 
Below are a few photos I took this morning of them outside.
The two little gals are inside still.

This is Aiden crowing- something he does a LOT !

 

Here he is watching Skarlet and Emmie taking a dust bath....

 

Below is Silverwulf with Devon behind her inside their coop

 

This was taken from outside to the interior of their coop- Devon, left, Silver , right

 

My favorite - Lucy !