Around The Farm In December

Much of my focus is on hay these days, and it's fair to say that ALL of the herd's attention is on hay. How fresh it is (or is not), how much ice coats the bales, how much is left, when we will run out, is every animal getting what they need - plus storing it, moving it, unwrapping it - it's an all consuming subject these days (pun intended):

The sheep farmers up the road have been hauling the hay stems which their sheep ignored out to their field and dumping it, so this time they brought me a load to see if my animals would eat it:

The cows and Blue were afraid of the big, noisy truck and unknown people, but Remy got right in the way of everything:

The hay stuck in the bed and we had to move it with a pitch fork, but it turned out to be a considerable quantity. The next morning I went out to fork it into the bale feeder, only to discover it had mostly been consumed during the night. I guess my animals liked it:

I go out to do the chores when it is light out, but the sun is not yet risen over the horizon. The skies are beautiful and the sun is up by the time I'm finished:

The little hens seem happy and healthy:

They don't have much room, but they do have roosts and nest boxes - plus two screened windows which I open on mild days:

One of the elderly pigeons died yesterday, one of only three which have died since I began my flock years ago. I'd say they are long lived, healthy birds:

They eat the same layer pellets as the chickens. Now, if I could just keep the English Sparrows from getting in and eating it too:

I worry that the English Sparrows will spread diseases and parasites to my fantail pigeons, but so far they are looking healthy - and I am working hard to block the sparrows' entrances and to chase them out when I find the inside:

One day was devoted to spreading liquid manure on the corn field across the road from me. A giant tanker brought a big load and transferred it to two smaller tank trailers, pulled by tractors. It took many loads and all day to finish. You can see the darker colored swath which the first tanker load spread. Curiously, it didn't stink - probably because it was so cold:

Each new snow reveals fox tracks, so I know they come visit every night and circle my car, climb the stairs up to my porch, enter the barn and check out the hay bales. I think they are after the Cottontail Rabbits, whose tracks I also see each morning:

Remy And Blue, Imps Of Autumn

I moved the cattle across the road into the north field but kept Blue and Remy in their usual south field where they could access the barn. It was a beautiful autumn and they seemed happy:

They were indeed happy and healthy, enough so to get into plenty of mischief:

They are both kind hearted, friendly horses, but still young and playful:

Sometimes I walk out into the field just to spend time with them. They seem to enjoy it and come running when they see me:

Remy always had the more outgoing personality but Blue is very sweet and loving once he overcomes his shyness:

And they are seldom separated. On this day the loveliness of autumn was marred by that tank trunk you see in the background. The workers were spreading liquid manure in a recently harvested corn field, which required pumping the gunk from the tanker to the spreader. Someone goofed and the connection failed on one of the trips this day, resulting in liquid manure spilling across the road and filling the ditch. It stunk for a week:

One day Blue lost this halter and I couldn't find it anywhere. I ordered a new one but it hasn't arrived yet. These photos, though, were taken before he lost his halter:

I think it would be a fine idea to train them to pull a cart or do some kind of work but for now, their role is to look cute and be lovable:

Whenever he sees me in the field, Remy comes trotting over, getting closer and closer..............

Kiss me!

They have a fine life and they seem healthy except, perhaps, for being too fat:

Who are you calling fat?

Spring Is Arriving Full Force!

Yep, the farm is looking like springtime has finally arrived, even though there is much more yet to come. The apple trees were not yet in bloom on this day but my one pear tree was flowering heavily. You can see the farm sign beneath its branches:

The chickens are out all day, every day now - and enjoying each moment of it:

 They spread out across the lawn, circle the barn, explore beneath the apple trees and cross the gravel road to forage in the north field with the cattle. It's a good thing I don't plan to eat them, because I'm sure they'd be tough from all their exercise:

 Oh yes, they also explore the lawnmower. I think they are snacking on grass clippings which collect on the mower deck:

 The fantail pigeons also have freedom every day although they don't use it much:

 

 Occasionally the pigeons come out for a bit of flying exercise, but they're not outdoors birds like the chickens. The pigeons appreciate the comforts of home:

It had been a long time since I'd cleaned the pigeon and chicken coops so when I finally did so, I sure hauled a lot of dry, dusty, stinky bird poop to the manure pile:

  The pear tree was the first to blossom:

 And what beautiful blossoms they were:

 The plum tree which bore fruit last year was the second to bloom. If you click on this photo to enlarge it, you can see a lot of interesting bugs who also enjoy the flowers:

 This is the first year the Bush Cherry will bloom, though the buds were just emerging when I took this photo. I've never eaten bush cherries. I suspect they're not as good as the cherry tree produces but they'll sure be easier to pick:

 The apple trees hadn't yet bloomed, but some of the trees were producing pink buds. I knew it wouldn't be long:

Buttoning Up For Winter Weather

Yesterday I wrote of winter's arrival with respect to the Red Polls. Today I focus on the rest of the farm, beginning with a winter sunset over my neighbors' barn:

The eastern sky is sometimes glorious in the morning, but the western sky is the wonder of the late afternoons now, as the sun sets:

My usually quiet county road became loud and busy with giant tractors, hauling tankers filled with liquid manure from the big dairy farm up the road:

They drove south, fully loaded, and then north again, empty, for another load. Apparently they were spreading it over someone's fields. All I knew was that a tanker roared past my house every five minutes or so:

I hired a local guy to help me haul 100 small, square bales of hay to the barn and stack them inside. They are to be used as bedding for the cows, though they eat them also:

Then another snow began, slowly at first but gradually increasing:

The dogs and I stayed warm inside the house. The chickens and pigeons were locked in the barn, out of the winds. The cattle had to brave the cold, snow and wind - but I gave them extra grain and a barn to sleep in at night:

The dogs thought it was great fun:

The ramp down into the dog yard became covered with ice and very treacherous. This was no problem for the dogs, except that PeeWee needs to be carried, both in and out. That meant that I had to negotiate that icy slope:

The round bales became snow covered and frozen, making it difficult to cut the string off before feeding them to the cows:

I kept finding apples in the crotches of trees. I have a small Red Squirrel. It's awfully cute, but I worry about how much trouble it may cause. I'll just wait and see how this unfolds:

The Rugosa Roses went dormant long ago, but I found several rose buds and leaves, frozen solid. Yes, indeed, winter has arrived: