Raw Feeding At It's Best

At least from a dog's point of view. I recently got a great deal on beef cuts and bones. Imagine my surprise when the bones turned out to be things like entire shoulder blades, well covered in meat. Fortunately I have large dogs, who are up to the task of eating them.

Berna was given her shoulder blade outside. She felt the living room was a safer place to eat such a treat. Since my back door has a faulty catch, she was able to make that choice.

The next day there was a polished shoulder blade on the floor. I moved it outside. It's back in, about 1/3 the original size. My dogs are very, very happy with the buying co-op I belong to.

Cat Wars

I think I now understand my cat issues. Cats do not by nature want to travel in social groups, being the independent loner types. Groucho, above, has decided she is queen cat of the farm. She follows me around if I'm out, and Charlie around if I'm not. She is everywhere all the time. The other cats do not like her, and seem afraid of her. It has taken some convincing, but Squeak and Pus now both seem to understand that they do indeed have a place here, and I want them and will protect them from the evil Groucho. Groucho is as sweet a cat as any person would want, but seems to present quite another face to felines.

The Black Piper

Three hens hatched out clutches of 10-15 chicks within 2 weeks. One was my tiny Silver Sebright hen. About 4 days after the third hatch, I noticed this one hen with a crowd, the bantam with only 5 chicks, and the other black hen with none.

Somehow this hen, the pied piper of chickens, managed to take on all the other chicks. There are 23 in this picture. She has managed to keep them all alive and healthy. I've never seen this behavior before. No one seems unhappy with the situation, so who am I to complain?

Squeak Squeaks

Tonight as I opened the door, Squeak jumped on the porch, looked up at me in hello, and sauntered in. I snatched her up in a hug, held her as long as she'd allow, and then did what she'd been waiting for - I fed her.

So all my cats have shown up. However, Pus, after spending the day in a cage that protected her (and her food) from the chickens, decided to go outside. She did not reappear when I needed to move on. I'll have to check for her again in the morning. Crazy cats!

Cats, Cats, and more Cats

I have an abundance of cats. I came here with two, both strays I adopted at my last place. Now I have 5 that I intentionally feed, several more that lurk around the edges. Where do all these cats come from? We don't have any close neighbors - although one cat was the "dear pet" of the people across the street. He has been taken back down there a number of times, and keeps returning here. 

This weekend I realized that it had been some time since I'd seen 2 of my cats. They are pretty independent, but usually show up regularly for meals. I spent quite a bit of time calling and looking wherever I could think of, without success.

Tonight as I was driving in I saw a cat dart into the bushes. She looked familiar. I stopped, grabbed a flashlight, and called "Pus? is that you? Pus?" "Meow!" "Pus?" "Meow!" She was hiding in the brambles, afraid to come out. I had to sneak my way in past the berries. Pus came out then, and let me pick her up. She clung to me. She's fairly thin. She was also within a minute's run from the building she should be living in. 

Pus is back inside in front of a large bowl of food she is ignoring. She's been loved and pet, and hopefully is feeling safe again.

Now If Squeak will just show up again.

Millie's Big Day

Millie the rescue Pyr was not an immediate success as a working dog. I ran out of training time long before she ran out of enthusiasm for the chase. She has been living in a large field next to the hoof stock. She has chased down and killed 3 chickens during her stay here.  I did not have high hopes for her working future.

One evening several weeks ago I heard cheeping as I was feeding Millie. The cheeps were definitely coming from somewhere in her territory. Oh no, I thought - one of my chicks wandered in and got stuck down there in the dark. 

The next morning as I was feeding Millie I saw momma peahen and her 4 chicks wandering up the hill, followed by a peacock. Oh no. Not chicks, peafowl. Oh no. 

But the peafowl have survived, and I've seen them several times in Millie's territory. She seems to ignore them. Good dog. Odd, since I've watched her chase chickens. But encouraging - perhaps there's hope for her working career.

Tonight as I was feeding the hoof stock, I heard a goat's mournful cry. That sound is unmistakable. I had a goat caught in the fence at the back of the paddock. I took the hay in to the sheep, and walked to the back fence. There was Millie, thrilled to see me, next to my silly Nubian whose head was stuck on Millie's side of the fence. Millie was beside herself with joy and pride. She had stayed by this goat, protecting her, not harming her. She was rightfully proud of herself, and delighted to get my praise. She knew she'd done well, and was totally thrilled about it.

I guess this means back to training, and getting Millie in with the sheep. I don't think she'll ever be completely trustworthy with chickens, but she seems to want to have the company of my four-footed crew.  I love these dogs. Millie is so very pleased with herself, eager to be praised, and eager to perform her ancient tasks. Her youthful enthusiasm, lack of any kind of training for her first 1-1/2 years have led to confusion, but I think she's getting it figured out.

Surprise!

It's becoming a familiar story, but it thrills me still. This morning I was met by a feisty little hen bringing out her 10 newly hatched chicks. 

 

Soon she tucked them beneath her warm feathers, shielding them from the world. These Sebrights are small and beautiful, and very good parents. They are also very good at disappearing when they want to hide their eggs and raise a family. And a joy to watch as they shepherd tiny fluff balls around the yard.

Late Summer Days

The sheep are outside mowing the sides of the lane. The goats and donkey are hanging with me as I cut down alders that have miraculously appeared on the side of the road, 6 feet tall and up to an inch in diameter. The saplings will become perches and chew toys for parrots. I cut smaller ones as browse for the sheep and goats for those days they don't get out to graze.

Down the lane a dozen chicks drift back and forth across the lane like black and white leaves dancing in the breeze. They dart in and out around sheep legs, as if what the sheep are eating must be better than anything else.

The goats sneak up and start eating my soon-to-be perches, which obviously taste much better than those thousands still growing beside the lane.

Another lovely day, as late summer again draws sunshine and warmth.

In the Dark of the Night

I usually share fun, interesting, and beautiful things here. But I have a farm that I try to keep as natural as possible. That means that everyone isn't always safely hidden behind wood and wire.

My chickens are entirely free range - they choose where to sleep and where to nest. Most sleep in the trees. My white hen gone bad nested just outside the fence, under some berry brambles. A well hidden lair.

Or so it seemed. For three weeks she guarded and trained her 15 chicks, losing only 3 to the many dangers for small, defenseless creatures. That's pretty amazing, since there are many ravens, hawks, cats, and other hungry predators around. And chicks are very small. 

And then. I was coming up the drive after dark, and saw an owl in the headlights. An owl on the road, with it's recent catch. Pulling and tearing, devouring a small white hen. My small white hen. 

This is a time of mixed feelings. I love owls. They are beautiful creatures who have an important role in the ecosystem. They are excellent hunters, and I am always in awe of their silent flight. They appear, and disappear, and I am lucky to see them. They are the most successful predator on my farm. Dogs have a difficult time guarding against a silent and swift winged predator.  It's amazing to me that I drove in as the owl was eating its prey - what are the chances of that? I only wish he'd been able to finish the meal, and at least go away full.

I am very sad to lose my sweet little hen who was such a good mother. Fortunately, it looks like her entire brood has survived. One chick has a limp, but I think I've counted them all. It's hard to tell. They do not hold still - as soon as they see me or the dogs they run as fast as they can to shelter. They hang out in groups of 4-6, but the groups are never far apart. I don't know where they are sleeping, it must be some place safe.

Life goes on. The cycle continues. Some live, some die so others can live. 

More Barns

Isn't this a great barn? It stands sentinel, both a guardian and a greeter. Notice the white horse on the building at the back. 

What a great color! The cows certainly consider this barn home. 

When Good Hens Go Bad

White leghorn chickens are known for being good layers, unlikely to go "broody" and set - sitting on their eggs to raise a family. My leghorns are great layers. I had noticed recently that the number of white eggs I was finding had diminished. Two days ago I discovered why.

This lovely girl came out of the woods with 15 chicks. Fifteen. She's challenged the geese and keeps a good eye on her babies, finding food and shelter for them all. Someone forgot to tell her that leghorns don't make good mothers.

Chicks are born with life skills intact. They stay close to Mom, seek shelter quickly, and find food efficiently. They are adorable.

 
One of my Sebright hens left her friends to make a solitary nest and hatch 9 eggs. She and her chicks hang out by my neighbor's house, foraging and hiding in tall grass and blackberry brambles. I've never thought of chickens as solitary, but I have  another hen who hangs by herself at great distance from the rest of the flock. Whenever I find her remote homes she looks at me as if I have no right to disturb her peace.

So much for a career of selling eggs. I seem to be in the business of raising poultry.

Drive-By Barns

My daily commute takes me through lovely rural areas. I see crops grown and harvested, animals appear and disappear from fields. In the morning grass waves in the breeze, in the evening the field is dotted with hay bales. This ever-changing land is secured by barns. Horses may come and go, but the barns they live in seem to stay forever.

I decided to share the barns on my daily route. This turned out to be more challenging than expected. The small state route that winds its way east has no shoulders to pull off on. I need some car-free time to stop in the middle of the road and take my pictures. Fortunately this is a sparsely populated part of western Washington, and this is an access road, with a larger, straighter cross-country route nearby. I was able to get four shots before picking up a tail. Hopefully more barns will follow soon.

I've shared these silos before - this is one of my favorite places. One grain silo, one tree silo.

This is heading east, away from the freeway.

Looking northwest. I would love to have this barn on my property. My animals would love to lounge under the protection of that roof, taking advantage of any local breeze.

Further down the road is this lovely barn, obviously well appreciated by it's owners. Some day I'll post a picture of the tree whose shadow adorns the barn. 

Here's where I picked up a tail, and my concern must have made my hands quake. Feeding time is soon, as the horses are working their way in. It's been fun watching this foal grow. 

You can see part of a beautiful sunset in my mirror. I may try for a rear mirror picture some day. There are times when I wish I could drive with my eyes glued to my mirror, the sunset is so stunning.

 

Chick Mania

This family of chicks have been motherless for a month, and now consider me Mom. They are adorable. When I come home from work they run to me at top speed, hoping I have some special treat. The two largest chicks are French Morans, and the brown chick between them is a Wellpinit. I bought these three as day-olds, as they lay chocolate brown eggs. I put them in with the newly-hatched chicks of my best brooder hen, who happily raised them with the bantams and other miscellaneous eggs she hatched.

After a good meal it's important to snuggle up and take a nap.

My little Seabright family. The roosters hang out with moms and chicks, pointing out tasty food items and warning of danger. 

Rest Secure

Polly doesn't think it's any of my business that she's trying to roust Jesse out of his resting spot. She thinks he's got some dogfood hidden in the area. Jesse hopes I've come to save the day.

Groucho feels safe and secure under the chair the sheep upended. She's pleased they made this great shelter for her.

I decided to line my big kennel with wire small enough to keep chicks in, since none of the dogs like to stay in it. I was half way through when, in between trips for wire, Ursa took up residence. This seems to be a nice, cool spot out of reach of other dogs or sheep or donkeys. Needless to say, I chose a different location for the chick shelter. Ursa now owns this kennel.

You Looking at Me?

I need to get a picture of my senior peacock displaying. His tail is so long now, it touches the ground when he perches on the gates. I love the way he was laying, resting his head on the shelter leg.

Summer Sky

Clouds make the sky interesting, and at sunset they reflect the suns light in such beautify ways!

I love living in a place where clouds frequently add another dimension to the sky, and make such stunning displays.

Deep Thinker

Dolka, my first Samoyed, was exceptionally good at abstract thought. She thought about situations and figured things out. 

We had friends with a house on a lake, and a dock that was really a raft, tied to the shore by heavy ropes. Dolka loved to chase the ducks who grazed on the lovely front lawn, and they would fly out to the raft to wait for her to leave.

Dolka did not like the water, and did not want to get wet. She sat, stared at the ducks, the raft, and the ropes. She turned her head, obviously deep in thought, and looked at everything again. Then she trotted to the shore, grabbed a rope, and pulled the raft in. It was heavy work, but she persisted. Unfortunately for her (but happily for the ducks) when she let go of the rope so she could jump on the raft it floated back out beyond her reach.

She repeated this process three times, then gave it up. She needed another mouth or an opposable thumb, which she didn't have. But she'd made a good, logical try.

Another Lovely Day

After a week of cool rainy weather, today is warm and mostly sunny. It's another beautiful cloud day in the Northwest.

Hay is in short supply this time of year. It's harder to get each year as more houses pop up in former grass fields. Every chance I get I let the sheep out to browse on the grass, weeds and berries along my lane. First thing this morning - still in my pajamas - I went down to check on my chicks and let the sheep out. Charlie darted out with the sheep. He doesn't like his sheep being outside of his patrol area. Jesse scrambled under the fence after him while I was heading back to the house to get dressed.

By the time I got back out the lane was totally quiet. No dogs, no sheep, no goats, no donkey. Knowing the sheep, I walked down to the road. My small flock of sheep and goats, guarded by the donkey, were providing free lawn service to the log house across the street. It's for sale, and the lawn definitely is due for a trimming. Fortunately my sheep are better at coming when called than my dogs are, and they happily followed me back across the street and headed up the 1/4 mile of lane home. They turned left towards the houses and pastures, and I went up the hill to the power lines, finding lots of footprints but no dogs. One of my hens seems to have taken up residence in the old railroad cut. She looked a bit offended that I intruded in her territory.

By the time I got back to the developed section of my farm, Charlie was next to the pasture fence looking like he wanted in. He joined me and we went to the gate and inserted ourselves. The sheep flock were browsing happily nearby, eating the plentiful grass and brush here at home. Ursa came up to give Charlie the once over (where HAVE you BEEN?) as I started up the hill to the house. Half way up Jesse lay next to the fence, looking mournful that he couldn't get back in. Why is it that animals can readily get OUT of somewhere, but are at a loss to get back IN?

So we are all now inside and fed, or outside and feeding. I had breakfast, and am working on a second cup of coffee. Once again I am grateful I chose to locate my farm well off the seldom-travelled road. Just another peaceful morning on the farm. 

Inside Beauties

My Night Blooming Jasmine is blooming. I am so in love with this plant. It's large leaves and delicate blooms, its voracious appetite for water and striving to be a tree all appeal to me. I have one plant I've let grow without pruning that is tall and leggy, and another that has been sheep-pruned a couple times when I've put it outside, so has a much more compact growth pattern. 

Cestrum nocturnum - Night Blooming Jasmine, Queen of the Night. Blossoms during the day.

Blossoms at night. The scent is pervasive, unmistakable, intoxicating.

Two cactus branches that were knocked off parent plants by a wagging Border Collie tail. I stuck them in a small pot, and the small pot in this lovely planter my mother made and painted. I didn't know the colors of the cactus when I planted them. I love the way they match their container.

All of my "Christmas" cacti are blooming right now. They love this house, and I love them. This one is another piece that the dogs broke off, and I dutifully stuck in a new pot. This is my reward.

News From China

My nephew and his wife live in Suzhou, over 700 miles from the epicenter of China's huge quake. Here's his report of the long-range effects of the unstable earth.

Aftershocks from a recent 7.8 earthquake rocked our office on the 19th floor like a boat out at sea! We had to race down the emergency staircase while the lights flickered on and off until finally shutting down completely. Emergency lights kicked in as the crowded staircase still rocked and people screamed in panic. I felt like we were in the Twin Towers during 9/11; racing down the 19 floors of staircases for our lives!  Each time we descended a floor, more screaming people pushed their way in; slowing headway to a standstill.  Everyone was screaming in Chinese: "Hurry, Hurry! We're all gonna get crushed!" 

 

After a 5-minute race down the emergency exit staircase, masses of people flooded the lobby and ran across the streets toward an expanse of green grass just outside of the buildings fallout range.  There is nothing quite so shocking as running behind others while their necks are strained backwards watching the building as if it were to fall when you haven't yet completely escaped. 

 

The epicenter was actually located in China's Sichuan (Szechuan) province in a city called Wen Chuan, 1200 km (appx.720 miles) away from our office in Suzhou. In this picture, an ancient pagoda in my wife's hometown (Anna May Deng from Langzhong) collapsed to the ground along with numerous apartment highrises that you can see along the river; behind my brother Dan and Anna.  Her family is okay; they were luckily all outside on ground level when it happened; although many poor families in the countryside had their brick houses collapse.  I attached pictures of what homes looked like two weeks ago when we last visited.

 

Aftershocks are still riveting through the province from eyewitness accounts via telephone and mobile phones.  Anna was on the phone 10 minutes ago, when her Grandma suddenly said; "Another one is hitting, I got to run!"  She also spoke to an Aunt who had just poured a cup of hot tea on the table when the first shock hit and bounced it through the air onto the ground. 

 

Both China's CCTV local news station and CNN have limited knowledge of the true extent of the earthquake.  Both have reported it as breaking news, but we have yet to see images from the epicenter, or the nearest metropolitan city; Chengdu.

-Mike Grigg

Smallest of the Small

Roosters are wonderful beings. They protect their hens, share food with them, and look after chicks after the hens abandon them to burgeoning adulthood. The problem with free range chickens when roosters are involved is that you end up with more chickens, and more roosters. And while roosters are wonderful, they don't play well in groups.

Small roosters, however, are easier to deal with. And I am totally enthralled with my Seabright bantams. So every hen that's gone broody this year has had Seabright eggs substituted for those they start with, and I now have 10 chicks growing up under those hens. The fact that the chicks are a variety of colors probably means the hens haven't been solely getting the attentions of the Seabright cocks. 

My young Golden Seabright hen with one of her chicks. The other one is black.

Aren't these the cutest chicks? Foster mom is one of my best mother hens. She's also taking care of the 4 chicks I bought (all females) as future egg layers. These bantams lay tiny eggs - great if you want to make a partial recipe, and need 1/4 egg.

Old Barn

After years of neglect this pasture is now home to some lovely young llamas. Even the old barn seems to have taken on new life now that it is being used again. I love old barns, crouching in their fields, like mother hens protecting their chicks from the cold. 

April Showers?

The weather gods are confused. So are the rest of us. Last Saturday it was 82 degrees, and last night it was 24 degrees. This morning it snowed. Here in the Pacific Northwest late April snows are pretty much unheard of.

Just notice the green of new leaves on the hardwoods. 

My turkey hen is decidedly not happy. The peafowl keep hunkering down on the porch, then flying off in panic when I open the door. I'm going to start knocking before I go outside, give them some warning.

Jesse is the only one who is thrilled with the weather. But then, he comes dressed for it. That's Ursa, hidden in the shelter staying dry.

Birds of Interest

In spite of the cold spell, snow, hail, and other inclement weather, the birds here know it's spring.

My oldest Peacock displaying for the hens, while last year's cock watches. Everyone displays - the hens even do sometimes - but no one is as pretty as my 4-year-old male.

When chickens hatch duck eggs, the baby ducks think they are chickens. This girl was hatched and raised by a black chicken. Look who she chooses as her companions...

A Den With a View

Providing shelters that are wind and water resistant is a continuing struggle, especially since much of my land is on a slope. For Millie I used an old stump, and tarped around it. This made a small shelter that Millie loves. It's open on both sides so she can see down toward the woods or check out someone sneaking up on her to take pictures.

These pictures were taken in the middle of a hail storm. We are all grateful that I got my shelters back up and running last month!

When You're Small...

What do you do if you are very small and it's cold and wet and you hate being wet?

You hang out in the dog shelter. It's dry, and with any luck the dogs will have missed some tasty food items. If you are very lucky a warm dog will be in there, and you can snuggle up.

It's ... Spring?

It's unusual to have snow in late March in the Pacific Northwest lowlands. This year the weather has been cold and occasionally snowy since the first day of spring. Today it outdid itself. It has snowed, hailed, snowed, hailed, snowed, rained, snowed.

Jesse, napping on the snow-covered pillow, recovering from some serious digging for moles.

Ursa keeping dry in her shelter. Notice the chickens taking refuge in Jesse's crate. Charlie keeps watch in the background.

The geese are the only birds not disgusted by the weather. Geese seem impervious to weather.

I'm hoping for some warm sunshine tomorrow!

Nunnery Protector

Another dog sighting from my correspondent in Greece:

I found this particular Big White Dog at a nunnery high in the Koziakas mountains (Vitouna Convent) where we went to scout some rocks.

The nuns are not very tall, and the dog is very big, but they seem to get on quite well.

The place is so beautiful, I'd have no problem becoming a nun and merging into the setting in my old age.

- Annie