Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Welcome to Our Little Place in the Woods!

Since I write quite a bit about my chickens, perhaps some might have the impression that we live on a farm.  WRONG!  We actually SOLD the farm about 6 years ago and bought some acreage in a woods with trees as tall as 70 ft. or better.  Our house is well off the road and up a long lane in a clearing.  When we moved here, we had only one hen, named Tina.  She was a trick hen - played  concert piano!  Sadly she passed away 3 years ago, and that's when the HUBBS said "...why don't you get another hen?"....and I came home with 6 baby pullets!!!  We're up to 11 now, and that's just fine with me!  We have eggs to eat and eggs to sell!

In the woods we've seen deer, wild turkey, fox, coyote, and one night there was even something that could have been a black bear - we don't know for sure.  We saw claw marks on a tree, and the animals were acting strange that evening.  I keep my hens in 2 dog runs that are connected together to form one large one.  They stay there during the day until all the eggs have been accounted for, then towards evening, we let them roam for a couple hours while we're home to keep an eye on them.  As it begins to turn dark, I call them in to their enclosure to roost for the night.  They love treats to fill their crops before bedtime, and so they get scratch grains, bread scraps, or veggies.  If they ignore those treats and still want to linger on the lawn, I bring out the secret weapon - COTTAGE CHEESE!!!  (That always works, in a pinch!)


10 comments:

Becky K. said...

I would never have thought to give them cottage cheese! Interesting.

Becky K.

kim said...

I have never thought of cottage cheese will have to try that. We have chickens for eggs. Had some to get killed last month. No evidence where something got in. Cant find any tracks. Something took the heads off and the insides.Have you had this problem before?

Angela said...

I too never would had thought you could feed your chickens cottage cheese! Learned something new today!

Hugs,
Angela

Anonymous said...

Cottage cheese? :)

You place in the woods looks wonderful!

Have a wonderful week!
Zuzu

Anonymous said...

I have lived in the country all my life,while growing up rural Ga.,we always had chickens,I pester my husband all the time to please build me a chicken coop and let me get some chickens,ducks,
peacocks,etc...one day,yes,one day!

Jane said...

Ah! Will work for cottage cheese! Interesting!

Jane

Carol............. said...

Cottage cheese? LOL

I'll remember that trick......mine are sometimes slow to want to go into their "night enclosure" and keep looking for more bugs snacks before bedtime. Many times I'm already in my nighty (in the dark) when I finally close the coop!

Love Of Quilts said...

Sounds like you really enjoy your chickens and the eggs are what makes them worth the trouble I use to have chickens. Trish

Chatty Crone said...

Okay - cottage cheese - really? YUCK.
sandie w/♥

MamaBear said...

Your garden looks especially lovely, the trees...oh my!