For the past 2-3 weeks, we have been slammed back into summer weather. Ugh- I do so despise summer weather, no matter what time of the year it shows up. But !! October arrived, cool and breezy and I, for one, am lovin' it.
Time for winter preparation here on the farm. Mowing the last of the weeds, putting fencing back into perfect repair. Some of the horses who left this past year and before really made a mess of some of it... So, after " riding fence'', I had quite the list. Plus, my personal horses had leaned over the wire fencing, bending the tops of it in some areas. (not going to mention any names but both were big and black ;) )
We have more than enough hay in the loft for wintertime- and it smells Wonderful. That's one of my favorite things in a barn- that fresh new hay. Mmmm'mmmm.
I have been incredibly worried about my old mare. She's 27 this year and is finally looking 'old'. Her arthritis has gotten worse, and she developed some thrush deep inside one frog. Both together mean a lot of pain to handle for her. She has gotten down and stuck on the ground 3 times by now, and I know that it is the beginning of the end for her & I. I love this mare more than just about any horse I've ever owned and it will blow me out of the proverbial water when she is gone. I thought loosing Evie was hard- no contest for when Lynn goes. My gelding is doing pretty well considering his DSLD problem... but so far, so good in management of that.
I have decided that my hens are much safer in a barn stall than outside over night. It has been to heartbreaking to come to the barn on a morning, to find some are missing or simply killed for the fun of it. Sooooo- in the barn they will be. They've actually learned to want in for egg laying long about 10 or so every morning. Well, Some of them have. There are those non-conformists in feathers who never really want to be in a stall, so those must be prompted to walk/ run to the barn each morning.The little hen house I bought a few years ago is for sale as there's no reason to keep it when it could help other chickens keep cozy this winter. It has served the Girls well, but now it is time to live elsewhere.
The rest of the horses are doing great! The boarders horses are too.
Briana is still a little corker to work around and drive.
I do so adore her antics.
She makes me laugh,even when I'm down.
There is one hen named Casey, that is amazing. She will sit on your lap, follows me all over the farm when she's outside and has learned that the blue coffee scoop has Chicken Feed in it! It's a little tough trying to get to the flat dish I use to put their scratch in when I have a hen "jumping" ( yeah- chickens Jump!) at the scoop I am holding. Gotta watch out for the other hens, And Casey also.
These are the five 'fat farm hens' in their giant chicken house ( AKA- stall) having breakfast. Still the most fussy hen is Bess- she may be short in stature but holy wow- she is da Boss!
These are the new additions to the flock. Cochin Bantams- 3 of them One rooster, and two hens. ( one blue and one red) I love the blue colors a lot and those feathered legs are so cool looking! They're only maybe 4-5 months old and "should'' be starting to lay soon. Teeny, little banty eggs! I guess 2 will take the place of the normal large/ x large eggs from the other hens.
I haven't seen any predators in the area, but I never have before... The one I did see was a red fox and he has been moved elsewhere.Good riddance to him.
I cannot remember if I posted this one or not- but it's our short man in the barn. Eli... he's a POA and here he's sporting his new harness.
Have a wonderful Autumn !
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