The blue skies have returned and the weather man says we are going back into a dry cycle. 
We are still very lucky though. Our dry spell is nothing like the droughts they are having down South. All weather is relative really. An Australian drought would devastate this area. And a mid west drought would be a Hawke’s Bay dry summer.
But the local crops will come in thin and short. And the price of grain (and feed) is already beginning to rise. Lately the price of meat in the stores has begun to rise too. I read that ground beef is the highest it has ever been. So for the farmers there will be a shortage of hay and very expensive grain. Sustainable looks better and better every day. 
The lady down the road is downsizing her flock to cope with the rising costs. So our chickens are being asked to share their grain with the chooks from down the road. 
Awaiting their night time release are eight big Rhode Island Reds. I have enough clients to sell their eggs to, so their grain is covered as long as they keep laying. Rhode Island Reds are good winter layers and these are still young. So they be able to segue into the farmy cycle easily.
Of course Sheila is looking forward to meeting the new arrivals but has discovered to her horror that she cannot fit through the gate anymore!! Thank goodness. 
The Duke of Kupa left you a gift. 
The nights are cooler and he is beginning to shed. So beautiful. The design of these birds is superb.
Good morning. Daisy gets her third hormone shot on Sunday and then the vet will come to breed her. I hope she gets pregnant the first attempt so that she can calve next years calf on the spring grass. Though it will not be much earlier than this year. I really do not want her calving much later. Milking into the deep winter will be hard on her and me.
You will remember that this year you and I are going to New Zealand in December for a few weeks, so I am hoping to be able to dry her up by then. If not I have stand-by milkers, a lovely retired couple from down the road. You cannot dry up a cow who is milking a large amount of milk. It is dangerous for the animal. The cow kind of slows down herself and once her production has dropped right down, then we can stop milking and dry her up. So I have to be prepared for both scenarios. And be guided by Daisy herself.
Have a lovely day.
celi
What was happening on the farm a year ago? Quite a bit by the sounds of it. Sex on the farmy is the first time the animals began to really find their voices. This is still a funny read!
The Kitchen's Garden 
74 responses to “Adopted chooks”
Poor Sheila!
I wonder if Daisy will be asking to go into the milking shed for a feed, even after she dries up?
Very good point, it is her favourite place to be! But she is not allowed to poo or pee in there so i am not sure how it will work out.. c
Ohhhh! We get to go to NEW ZELAND!!! I’m so very excited…delighted…can hardly wait!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Nor can I.. december seems an awfully long way away today.. c
P.S. have you ever heard of Laura’s Beef? 92% lean. Do you know if it is produced by one of the big four? We buy it at Dominic’s and jewel and hope it is good for us. “no hormones, no antibiotics, vegetarian fed”– whatever that means.
It means that there are no fatty meat products in the feed.. makes you reel doesn’t it! The idea that they could .. Laura’s beef does sound good. Big probably but they are trying.. we should do some research on them.. They are not one of the big four though, I am fairly sure.. c
I can’t wait to go to New Zealand!!! :))
Nor can I! It will be awesome! c
I would love one of those fabulous feathers! Does he lose all of his tail in the autumn?
I burst out laughing when I read ” then the vet will come to breed her. ” I do hope that is not personally!
oo that did read a little humorous! We need to ask Julie my peacock guru but i am under the impression that they molt in the autumn and regrow in the spring.. c
That’s the good thing about laying hens when you’re a small concern, they certainly earn their keep!
Christine
They certainly do.. in fact chickens and bees pay for themselves.. c
Can you see the autumn light like I can celi ??
I might but i am NOT LOOKING! I want late summer for ages and ages (laughter!!).. c
Rhode Island Reds! How gorgeous are they. And Kupa, really, one of those amazing sights in nature.
I never tire of watching him, i have to restrain myself from taking his picture all day! c
I love how good you are to her, and making sure she dries up naturally, not taking any chances on her health.
She is our Mother Ship, a pivot in the farmy and an animal i spend an awful lot of time with, as you we can’t take any chances really.. lets hope it all goes well for years to come! c
Sheila is gorgeous! My chooks are on a “no lay” fortnight (maybe it’s the heat) so I’m very thankful my ducks are still laying eggs every day.
What do you do with the ducks eggs, I hear they are good for baking?.. and welcome Anne. c
I use duck eggs just the same as normal eggs. They’re bigger and richer so excellent for baking.
Poor Sheila, unable to get in and root around with the newcomers. Wow! We get to go to NZ with you!
Sheila loves the chickens, they are like a TV for her! c
Great post! Love the piggy raising his foot.
Isn’t she naughty! She knows it too.. c
Lovely new chooks! And what a beautiful peacock feather – what will you do with it? Maybe it needs to go onto a fancy hat, Celi.. 🙂
Oh yes i should put it in my wedding hat, i never even thought of that! c
A lovely Saturday with Celi. I loved hearing about the Rhode Island Reds. The chickens down on the Home Farm (where I get my eggs) have almost stopped laying it has been so hot. l8 chickens and only 6 eggs yesterday. It was 36 C. and not at all pleasant. But today we are promised a thunder storm. Hurrah. I don’t have to water the vegetable garden. Have a gorgeous weekend Celi. Hugs Virginia
The heat does slow them down.. which is particularly boring when we want to make ice cream!! love love.. c
Sheila has such a funny look on her face. That second picture is perfect. ( and they have intent expression on those little faces) Glad you’ve had rain and a bit cooler at night…you can manage the hot days if nights cool down.
We had rain this afternoon and maybe more tomorrow – so grateful that this year the lakes are managing to stay full – even so, it takes a while for the land to recover from such a drought as we had last year. Everyone is worried about the cost of hay and feed.
Hope all goes well with Daisy.
it is so true Mouse, that we can take the heat as long as the nights are a little cooler.. bless.. c