Here And There

Autumn came early and suddenly, with cold nights and nearly nonstop drizzle. The grass mostly stopped growing, and the herd began grazing far back in the field. They found new places to eat which they'd previously ignored:

 The little bantam hens don't have to worry much about the weather, but many days were so dark that I had to leave a light on in their room:

 Remy had grown so much over the summer that his former halter no longer fit. I bought him a new halter at the feed store. Remy has become much too large for a mini, not that I mind. It's a shame he isn't pulling a cart. I think he'd be good at it:

 Blue's halter still fit but was a bit tight. I ordered him a new one:

 The fantail pigeons seem healthy and even raised two end-of-season babies:

 The Easter Egger bantams pretty much quit laying eggs for the season, but the Barred Rock bantams, though getting old now, kept laying occasional eggs for my use:

 I began putting out bales of hay two weeks earlier than last year and the herd has been eating them at a rate of one bale every two days. This has me worried about running out of hay this spring:

 Two Easter Eggers and one Barred Rock bantam:

 I hope I've prevented any more English Sparrows from getting in with the pigeons, but the food and water are being consumed at such a rate that I have my suspicions:

 The Red Poll ladies still don't come in for grain in the morning. Of course they are obese and don't need any, but the grain is how I get them in the barn for artificial insemination. Scarlett was inseminated several months ago but I just saw her come into heat, so it will have to be repeated:

 I worry about Blue and Remy eating too much grass and having hoof troubles again. There isn't much I can do now, however, except trust that winter will intervene, putting an end to all grass eating:

 My Thanksgiving Cactus bloomed early this year. I posted photos earlier, but it seems that every time I look at the plant, it has more flowers and brighter colors - so I took another photo: