We recently had a big end-of-summer party and I was showing the animals to some new friends who had never met them. I got the question, "How in the world do you tell all the chickens apart? Some of them look exactly alike. Practically half of them are all black!" Well, I DO have five all black hens. I had never thought about that before, really. They don't look that much alike to me. But I … [Read more...]
Chickens
When my kids were young, if you told me that after they went away to college I'd get some chickens to fill up my empty nest, I'd have said you were crazy. Yeah, look who's crazy now. That's me - crazy, with chickens.
The Misadventures of Pickles
August 6, 2015 by
It has been quite the week here at Happy Mama Acre! I must say I've spent the better part of it with a silly grin on my face watching the animals, especially the baby chicks and their mamas. After watching them so much, I got a good idea of their personalities. So...meet Pickles and Pepper. The babies were introduced to the barnyard at exactly one week old. I started opening the … [Read more...]
It Takes A Village
July 29, 2015 by
Ah, it is finally, finally summer here—my very favorite time of year. We have been graced with hot days and warm evenings. The animals spend the mornings and evenings seeking out the cool breezes blowing through the barnyard. In the heat of the afternoons it's totally still and quiet—save the sound of a hen singing her egg song, often with Napoleon chiming in his approval. The cows have … [Read more...]
The Surrogate Mama
July 21, 2015 by
Well, the saga continues with Mama Jasmine and Little One. It has been so wonderful to be able to watch this pair as Little One grows up. I'm so, so lucky. Each evening since my post last week, I have found Jasmine in the red coop. That first night she was up on the roost with the other ladies. But in the following days she's been on the floor or on top of the nesting boxes, looking a bit … [Read more...]
No Ma’am. Not Yet. Not Today.
July 15, 2015 by
Last night was one of those times that tried my little animal-loving soul. It has only been a month since Little One hatched. This past week, I've been watching her with some concern. Jasmine stopped talking to her the way mama hens almost constantly chatter to their babies. And stopped responding to her little bird cries sometime. It was way too early for Jasmine let Little One fend for … [Read more...]
A New Path…And Maybe More Chicks?
July 8, 2015 by
When I say a new path, I'm not getting all philosophical on you. No, I literally mean A NEW PATH. The grass in the barnyard was so tall the animals weren't walking through it. I kid you not. The goats would walk along the fence line, desperately trying to eat the tall grass on the other side of the fence, but not turn around and eat the same thing IN THEIR OWN SPACE. Go figure. They are … [Read more...]
Welcome To the Family, Little Chick
June 15, 2015 by
Well, this has been the longest three weeks of my life. Been waiting here, wanting to share...and now I can! We've got a new member of the family :-) Jasmine, best mama in the world, has a new baby. Every human chicken mama gets to decide for herself how she wants to get baby chicks into her family. Mail order? Farm store? Incubator? For me, I'm leaving this important job to the … [Read more...]
No Drama Lucy
June 3, 2015 by
If you could pick a chicken for your best friend, I think you would pick Lucy. I know I would. Why Lucy, you ask? Well, you know that someone in your life that ALWAYS have a problem, is ALWAYS in a crisis of some sort and needs your help, ALWAYS meddling into other people's business and creating an issue? Yeah. That's not Lucy. Every morning when I open the yellow coop, Lucy's little … [Read more...]
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