I was up before the dawn today.
Letting the dogs out and opening the door for the white chickens to get onto the grass and making my cup of tea before I scuttled back to my bed still warm from a nights restful sleep and jumped in so that I could write to you. It is cold this morning, I mean, not like cold-cold because you know it’s gonna get really cold, (winter is coming – this is Illinois) but it feels chilly. So I’m sitting in bed in my brothers warm flannelette shirt. It’s funny the things that become important when you don’t live close to your family. He literally took this shirt off and gave it to me when I admired it and I jammed it in my suitcase to carry the scent of him back to the farm far, far away, before he dropped me at the airport.
Little brothers are so special.
Anyway! Yesterday one of these bloody turkeys attacked a little white chicken and bit it in the head repeatedly as I ran across the lawn to get to it. The chicken will be ok but I am very disappointed in the turkey.
Boo was there first but could only yelp at the turkey because the dog is not allowed to grab the big birds.
These broilers are having a tough time.
They are probably the best group I have raised though. R has supplied the feed as these broilers are for her freezer. Their poop is yellow from all the pumpkin – 😂.
R and her family have been gathering walnuts at their local park.
She has one bin filled already. From one tree in the park. The PopPops will eat them too – when they get bigger – this is going to be wonderful winter food.
The pumpkin truck is getting emptier. And anything that stays in one place for longer than an hour becomes a workbench! Farms are like that.
We are going through the pumpkins fast.
There are more to collect in a week or so. The frosts start next week. But the temps will be up and down as this last summer has taught us.
This is probably the sweetest picture today.
Have a lovely day!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
28 responses to “That Dawn Again!”
up before dawn would be a great song title! love that pic at the end
Yes there is a song in that!
Turkeys are territorial, but attacking a poor chicken is ridiculous! At least the ducks are happy 🙂
He was too fat to move fast – now he is in the side room – he can see the others but has to stay out of everyones way until he is healed – he will be attacked again for sure. He has a purple head from the iodine spray and looks a bit silly!!
Poor thing! I looked up alpha male turkeys and that one is probably looking to be the leader of the tribe. It is testosterone led and you may have more macho behaviour to deal with (while he’s thinking about breeding) – other turkeys or close proximity animals… Domestic turkeys are generally well behaved, but their wild counterparts fight and live solitary lives after puberty.
Hmm. I have two males. So there might be more bloodshed.
Hopefully they will settle down. I have seen film of large groups of free range turkeys in Norfolk , living outdoors in the woods, where they huddle together at night like penguins. They can be nice to each other. Otherwise, Thanksgiving is coming!
Amen to that brother! Those boys are getting big!
Bad, bad turkey!
Exactly my words!
Your pictures today are beautiful – as always – but really carry the fall feeling. Love the sky behind the corn at sunrise. And the truck load of pumpkins. Also love the shot of the Charlottes and all of the farm paraphernalia surrounding them. Glad your chicken predator seems to have made scarce … Did you see the news stories about the woman in Poulsbo, Washington who started feeding a family of raccoons around her home? That was ten years ago … recently she was not able to get into her house bc there were 100 of them between her and her door!! That must have been an interesting 911 call!
Feeding wild animals is never a good idea. I read about bears who people have fed just walking into houses. Not good endings for the people or the bears.
I had a neighbor who told me a story of her brother in law and family who fed a raccoon. The family went on vacation and the raccoon got into the house through a window and went back with friends and the group of racoons stayed in the house for days. When they got home their house was trashed and they had to get the racoons out and hire professional damage restoration cleaners to make the house livable again. It was very expensive and they will never feed another wild animal.
Now THAT was a hard way to learn that lesson!
Your animals are fed such wonderful food. The nights are now cooler here in CT as well and the days have the beautiful autumn clarity.
The photo of the ducks is lovely. I’m so glad that Quicker has so many friends now.
I read about the woman in Washington and her raccoon hoard this morning in the news. That would be a challenge for animal control.
I do love that shot of the ducks too – a plan that worked – I just had to remember to be patient. The raccoon problem looks awful. They will be trapping them I guess – many will not survive. Once they are dependent on people the animal is rewired all wrong. Feeding wildlife always has repercussions we don’t think of.
Best to plant plants and trees they can feed on, maybe? What do raccoons even eat?
Your animals are fed such wonderful food. The nights are now cooler here in CT as well and the days have the beautiful autumn clarity.
The photo of the ducks is lovely. I’m so glad that Quicker has so many friends now.
I read about the woman in Washington and her raccoon hoard this morning in the news. That would be a challenge for animal control.
Poor chicken, I hope she heals quickly and can get back with the flock. I love that R is collecting walnuts! That is a double win, no wasted nuts in the park and free pig food for the winter.
she did heal – the wounds are dry now and bring purple from the iodine spray!
You don’t need to get emotionally attached to turkeys, their doom is upon them! No feeling sorry for the bullying dinosaurs. They’re a pain to raise, noisy, stupid and occasionally aggressive. Give me a goose any day.
I actually was not raising them to eat! 😂
😂
Another fire hydrant!
yes! I must count them one day –
What a great array of pumpkins! Surprised the turkey got nasty .. even the wild ones never bothered our chickens
They are a nuisance. I am going to sell them.
Shame when things don’t work out .. I got given a rooster once who was a villain, gave him back pronto!
Live and Learn! 😂