So last April we decided we wanted to get our first farm animal. So we bought 12 one-day old chickies. My mom then thought the boys should have ducks too, so she brought over 8 ducklings the next day. We did put the cart before the horse and bought the birds before we built their home. They stayed in the dining room for three weeks. Flash forward 7 months. We now have 8 of our original spring chickens and 7 ducks. (After butchering 3 and losing one to Koda, our Wheaten Terrier). We adopted 9 more chickens, a rooster and 4 more ducks in September. Now they have a nice chicken house with an attached outside enclosure. They have been very productive laying delicious eggs. We have had so much fun with them. The older kids ask us to get them up early enough to do chores before the bus comes. I free range them during the days and that is always entertaining. The original gang of hens love to come onto the porch and peek in the windows, teasing the dogs. There is nothing like looking out the window to see a flock of ducks crossing the driveway or the chickens running through the yard. It just looks so natural, like hey I'm a duck and here I am walking in my yard.
We have a new cow, named Strawberry. The flock don't understand their new boundaries due to the new fence for Strawberry and often wander into her pasture. But they can't always figure out how to get back out. Strawberry would prefer they stayed out of her space. I think she is only trying to protect her baby boy, Buddy.
All of this was fresh on my mind as I sat down to write my blog, because my mother and I just came in from a rescue mission. My rooster and 3 of his girls were trapped on the wrong side of the fence. Chickens are blind in the dark. So even though they should have been able to get to the house they were scared and roosting on the fence a foot from their gate. Silly chickens.
I suppose I have babbled on enough about the animals. Everyday is something new and exciting.
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