Okay, where has the clucking time gone?

Some have seen this picture of our Lorraine Quiche - she is a golden lace Wyandotte and the top hen, or so it seems at this point. She is friendly-ish too! And doesn't she look amused?!?

Well, a lot has happened since our last blog. The people who own the property next to ours is having their house built...actually it seems finished just moving in to do.

Our chicks are no longer little girls, they are closing in on 19 weeks old - egg production is almost here. Actually, the Rhode Island Reds can start any day now, another week or two and the Wyandottes will be ready too. It's interesting to see their personalities emerging and it's nice to see them gather when they see us coming. They are not fond of being picked up, but Lorraine will let me pet her.

Below you will see the first generation chicken coop and contained run. As the girls have grown we've added an external run and in picture 2 are they lining up as we come to let them out into the external run. Finally, in picture 3 they are getting some exercise and free ranging time - they are also free to go back into the fully contained run. We live close to a busy highway and there are, of course, various predators in nature, so we like to know where they are and that they are safe as possible. Next year we will be adding even more exploring space for them.

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We've introduced them to little treats - in picture 1 they are eating fresh summer squash from a net bag. The next two just show the girls wandering around their external run.

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Its a lot of fun watching the girls grow --- in another year or two we'll be adding a few more to our flock, but we know that we have a bit of work to do first.....like building a bigger coop and run. First we need to focus on their first winter.....no, no, I'm not rushing the seasons! We just need to have a plan in place before hand. We'll be sure to show pictures of the preparations.

We've had some good and not so good news on start of our orchard. The cherry trees are growing - good sign after being planted and this weird weather spring and summer. Unfortunately, our plum trees have black knot - we need to wait until dormancy to remove these areas, destroy off site and hope for the best in the spring. But look at picture three - do you see what we see?!? We have found 8 apples starting on one of the apple trees! I forgot what we bought so it will be fun to see which one is giving fruit!

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In addition we've been claiming more of the property from years of ..... not neglect, but being left to nature. Sadly, we've uncovered too many trash/junk piles so we rented another dumpster to get rid of it and prepare the land for use - we're contemplating adding another type of livestock in a couple of years and we will be creating gardening plots in the up coming spring. We still have another acre and a half to two acres to reclaim. We do plan on leaving some of the trees where they are, some of the bushes too, as they create nice little private nooks for nature to still do her thing.

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And then we rest......