SAND FLAT FARM: 05/14/12

Monday, May 14, 2012

This evening we let our chickies out to free-range first time. I thought if we let them out late in the evening, then it wouldn't be long before they would go back into their pen and go to bed. And they had a BALL! They had eaten and scratched all the grass from the pen, so they were excited to be out running around in the grass again! Even a few bugs were to be had, too. The hornworms had arrived here on Sand Flat Farm and I've been picking them off the tomato plants and one even ate all the foliage off one of my jalapeno plants and started on a pepper! So, the chickies have been getting some big fat green hornworms. Actually, BB (the bully brahma) has been getting most of them. I try to move her and give the worms to some of the others, but she manages to bully her way into the fray and grab these delicious worms away from the other girls.

Since you probably don't know what chickens look like, thought I'd share a few more shots. We've been having fun watching our chicks. Very relaxing in the evenings. We had Gypsy on her leash and she slept beside our chairs. One of the hens got too close, however, and Gypsy turned and I think she would have either grabbed it or would have taken off chasing it. I'm trying to teach her that the chickens are MINE and she is not allowed to mess with them.

I set my scratch bowl down for just a second and see what happens? In a minute, this bowl was full of chicken heads. We've been giving them kitchen scraps, and I've got a little section in my garden that I've been growing greens for them. They love fruits - especially bananas and watermelon.

I recently added a couple more hens. They had just started laying good when I got them. My barred rock and my Rhode Island Red. I'm getting nearly two eggs every day. This is so fun. Just humor me, K? I'll move on to something else soon...

I finally got all the front porch posts and railings painted. I really like how it turned out. AND, I painted the front door RED. I love it! Gives the porch a pop of color. Still have some work to do, but I'll eventually get it all done. Still have a couple of flower beds to build, but I need the husband to help me on that project and I've gotta wait til he's got the time and the inclination.