Update: New Chicks

The chicks are growing! They are adorable.

The mother hen isn't too pleased when I get close, but she's not as defensive as some hens we've had. I'm guessing it's because Quin helped raise her as a chick when he was only 2.

This is a photo from 19 July. It's usually much harder to get close to a hen that has chicks!

Another photo from 19 July. I love going out to the barn and hearing their peeping!

I took a few more photos on 26 July. They are starting to get more feathers, but they are still cheeping. They aren't very hard to catch, either. Mama hen doesn't like it, but she doesn't come after me when I pick them up.

One of our sweet neighbors decided that they really didn't have time to have turkeys right now so they gave them to us. The hen has been laying eggs in the horse feeder almost every day.
Another one of my favorite sounds is listening to the turkeys gobble. These two aren't as friendly as the last batch that we had, but they are getting used to us and know we're the ones that set out the feed, so they don't run away quite as fast as they used to.

Three of our neighbors have lost birds this year. The neighbor to the south lost all four of her hens. Both neighbors across the street have lost four or more hens each. And a neighbor to the north has lost hens.

We lost one of the turkeys, two ducks, and three ducklings.

One neighbor suspects a family of raccoons is living nearby in one of the unused barns. They must not like the smell of our dogs so we haven't lost any birds (so far) that are housed inside the chicken pen, or inside the barn.

I'm hoping it stays that way!

Poor Dog!

We have no idea what happened to Scout! He came in one night with a huge wound.

It was a holiday so veterinarians took the day off. Our farm vet would have come, but she was out of town as well.

We think he may have caught himself on a fence, but we don't know where because we haven't found any fencing that would have caused this. If it had been fencing, surely the goats would have wounded themselves on it long before now!

Matt cleaned it out and trimmed the hair all around the wound. He kept it clean and bandaged until we could get him to the vet on Saturday.

I was surprised that it only cost $160 to have him stitched and stapled.
He's such a good dog that he hasn't had to wear the "cone of shame" much. He only wears it at night when we can't keep an eye on him. He is very good about leaving it alone!

I'll be posting photos of the healing process as it goes along. Bryon mixed up some antibacterial spray that he has been developing in the lab. We're pretty sure it will help it heal more quickly and that Scout won't get an infection.

Mountain Sunday * 26 July 2015

South of the barn.
26 July 2015

East over the barn.
26 July 2015

North of the barn.
26 July 2015

Mountain Sunday * 19 July 2015

It's a beautiful day today! It's 77˚F and almost no breeze. It would be a perfect day to work outside if we worked in the yard on Sunday.

South of the barn.
19 July 2015

East over the barn.19 July 2015

North of the barn.19 July 2015

New Chicks

One of our Buff Cochins went broody. She sat on pile of hay for 2 weeks before I finally took pity on her and gave her some eggs to sit on.

They hatched out Friday, 10 July 2015.

Mountain Sunday * 12 July 2015

It's 82˚ F outside with clear, blue skies. What a lovely day!

South of the barn.
12 July 2015

East over the barn.12 July 2015

North of the barn.12 July 2015