Awaking from a Long Winter...

The time changed last weekend marking the end of what felt like an extraordinary long winter.  Now it is lighter in the evening and this opens up the possibility of doing more than simple chores during the week.  It is still dark in the morning during feeding time but at least one is treated to experiencing the sun come up during the feeding round.

The place is becoming greener and the animals have a spring in their step - particularly the largest gander who will run completely across the orchard to hiss you off.  A defensive sweep with a trash can lid catching him on the side of the head has not seemed to deter him.  I am actually spending time in the garden!  With the garden being smaller than last year and mostly using raised beds, the workload has reduced significantly.

Here is a shot of the typical menagerie - An escaped (and thus free ranging) NZW rabbit joins some Guinea Fowl and Buff Orpington Roosters for breakfast.  All these creatures live on their own and seem to be doing OK.


This time of year chicks and ducklings abound.  The geese have a nest of eggs they are semi-sitting on and the rabbits have had litters.  Can't tell if the goats or Henny, the registered AGH gilt in with Beau, are pregnant yet.  The remaining hogs born last fall are getting fatter but not ready for the butcher yet.

Lost a few of the White Leghorn chicks over the last few weeks to an unknown culprit.  This afternoon just before dusk I saw a possum in a branch right over the Poop Coop.  Thinking this may be the varmint, I ran off to get a shot gun.  The noise of the shot and the crash of the plummeting possum to earth caused a commotion with the hens.  On inspecting the possum I found six babies still attached to her and one on the ground.