Not the 2 x 2 Ark we have had no rain for a while but the 47 Chickens On Grass Ark. Scrapper is unimpressed.
Kupa is just not the bird he used to be. But my vase of peacock feathers is glorious. Don’t worry they will grow back in time for spring and next year his tail will be longer and fuller.
Friends came yesterday to start building an Ark that I can drag across the grass behind the tractor, changing its position twice a day, so that the chickens we are growing for lots of family freezers get to eat grass and fertilise the fields during their short happy scratchy lives.
They are coming back today to finish it. It is going to be great!
Sheila wants to show you her nose. She stuck it through the fence and Charlotte bit it. Though I don’t think Sheila was trying to be nice. She goads Charlotte.The animosity between these two seems about equal. Charlotte is much healthier and stronger and does not bother me or the dogs but she and Sheila cannot get on so far. It is a conundrum. I am hoping time and being closer will sort it out, as long as the gate between them can take the bashing which is unlikely.
Tilly.
Good morning the Fellowship of the Farmy out there in the world. Mama is limping again, so she has thankfully gone into solitary (she often gets better when she is penned up in the barn after her hoof has a good clean and trim, though we went through this only a month ago) and Tilly is out with her sisters. The hoof splits and is getting smaller and smaller as I trim off the flaky bits and rub it with oil. She gets dried mud caught up in that soft cavity in between her toes and it gets sharp as a knife. So I clean out in there as well. All her hooves get attention about four times as often as the other sheep because of this one bad foot of hers. But Mama does not like handling and hates you to touch her feet, you will remember this story, working with her hooves is traumatic for the old ewe and I need to work fast.
But she is looking good, old Mama. And will be better after a nice rest and her pedicure.
Have a lovely day.
Your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
42 responses to “The Rising of the Ark”
Love the idea for the chicken tractor…
Poor Sheila and Charlotte. They used to be such good buddies. Tilly is a beauty.
The ark looks great! It’s so nice to see everyone’s faces and catch up with the farmy friends. Happy weekend to you, C!
Hey! We need a REAL ark here with all this rain we’re getting. DeDe don’t even want to go outside to potty.
There is never a dull moment at the Farmy. What about a carousel with the arks around the outside?
I remember reading in Michael Pollan’s ‘Omnivore’s Dilemma’ about the ‘chicken tractor’ and I have been wanting to see one! You and your farmy are so inspiring. X
Such a sensible man that fellow.. c
I get that cat yawning look a lot from my cats.
Love the ark and the thought of the chickens having fresh weeds each time it’s moved. We’ve had small versions of the ark here for guinea pigs and rabbits, and pulled the ark (think we called it a hutch) around the grass.
we did as kids too, i still cannot understand keeping rabbits in a cage above ground, all ours were dragged about the yard!
I missed Mama’s story on my catch up read of thekitchensgarden, I’m so glad you linked it… I had tears in my eyes. The chooks’ ark is cool but I think the whole of the Farmy is a true Ark, Noah style, maybe not animals 2 by 2 being saved from a deluge of rain but a sustainable enterprise on the modern world basis 🙂
I feel sorry for the person who tries to go near my Pete’s feet – he is INCREDIBLY ticklish and just talking about it makes him cringe so he will definitely sympathise with Mama.
Oh dear what to do with Sheila and Charlotte C – do hope they can become loving sisters again soon.
🙂 Mandy xo