Turkey Trouble

This mama turkey has been hanging around our cabin. She has a few babies we have seen running on the trails, but lately she has been hanging out closer and closer to the barn.

If you saw my previous post: Camping on the Farm, I shared that we have a cornhole game by the cabin.  This is a game you play using “corn bags” that are tossed.  The “corn bags” are a felt fabric stuffed with whole kernel corn and sewn shut.

We went back to play the game the other night and could not find the bags.  After a few minutes of searching, we found one empty bag of material, then another and another and so on.  Yep, you guessed it, mama turkey had stolen the bags and put a tiny hole in each one and eaten the corn!!

We have had no rain in almost 2 months.  The ground is hard as concrete and most of the wild vegetation has shriveled up. These poor wild animals are having a hard time finding food sources.  I am finding more and more deer in my pastures picking at leftover hay.  The raccoons are around and in the garbage, the birds are eating and drinking at the feeders and bird bath more than ever.

This picture was from yesterday.  She has now made her way up to the chicken and goat pasture and was eating the chicken scratch feed.  Needless to say, I ran to the feed store today and purchased a bag of corn to put out back in our feeder for her and her babies.

For more of our crazy daily farm living adventures, don’t forget to follow our facebook page: ChasenChanceRanch

 

Sunny Cold day on the Farm

Even with the brisk temperatures it’s still beautiful to be outside if only for a little while!

Farm Kids

This picture really captures the essence of “farm kids” in my mind.  I love how they still at 13 and 10 appreciate their farm animals and remain the little “farm kids” we have raised them to be.

We built a larger run for the chickens tonight so they have more room to free range safely when we are not home.

You can see more cute chicken pictures on our Facebook page here:  Cute chickens

Mom and Dad Trail Ride

After a nice cold winter there is still enough chill in the air to keep the bugs away for now.  This is the perfect weather to ride.  Today the man and I had the opportunity to ride together for the first time this season.

The horses were tacked up and we headed down the trail

Took a quick trail ride selfie

And everyone made it back to the barn to enjoy the rest of the evening

And in time for softball practice and to cook dinner 🙂

Beautiful Day on the Farm

Even though it’s 11 degrees out it’s still beautiful with the blue skies and sun!

You can’t tell but the horses have worked a small area in the pasture after each snow fall and it’s actually about 3 feet higher than the actual ground. If they step off into the snow that’s not worked they sink almost up to their bellies.

Poor Blue the goat wanted to come see me at the chicken coop and realized it was over his belly so he turned around and went back to the trail I made for them to use to walk around.

Al and Oreo thought it best to hang in their house and peek their heads out rather than venture out!

See it’s true

All these years I have been talking to my horses.  Yesterday, I finally took a video.  They do understand what I am saying!!!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203577379140077&set=vb.1383255143&type=2&theater

It’s all about the tools

Having the right tools in the barn is just as important as having them in the kitchen!!  Here are some of my “must have” tools in my horse barn.

I keep a scrub brush and empty bucket for cleaning out the water buckets in the stalls.  I scrub them and empty them to refill with fresh, clean water.  I have an orange hose that is heated.  I plug it in when I enter the barn and by the time I am done with stall cleaning and other chores in the chicken and goat houses the hose is ready to fill the water buckets.

The blue fish net is an EVERYDAY item.  I use it to clean the water in the buckets on days that I am not emptying them and just refilling.  They catch all the little bits of hay or grain that may have fall in into the buckets.

You just swirl the net around and the water is free of any debris and fresh.

I have scissors and wire clippers hanging at the doorway to cut open hay twine or quickly nip/repair any part of the wire goat and chicken fencing.  Having them at your finger tips when you need them is a great feeling.

Last year I asked for a tool box for my barn.  This is MINE only.  It is off limits to the kids and the man of the house.  I keep a hammer, screw drivers, wrench, and all different size nails for any little projects I need to do in the barn.

Those projects include hanging pictures and items that make me happy.  I love this oil barn painting that was found in a house after someone purchased it.  It’s signed Adele 1956.  I painted the frame black and love seeing it every morning when I am in the barn.  The blue framed picture is one I bought at an antique shop many years ago. I have no idea who it’s by but love the picture imagining it’s a soldier returning after a long time away and getting reacquainted with his woman.  And last the old license plates from my parents, lanterns found in the woods and an old fashioned beater.  I feel right at home in my barn.

A staple gun is another handy tool for those days the wind is coming in the cracks of the doors.  You can easily plastic them with a quick staple to the corner of a sheet of plastic.  Plastic bins for important items such as paper, pens, leg wraps, injury wraps, etc.  keep the items free from dust.

Felt blankets purchased at Walmart for $5.00 each work great at covering the saddles again keeping them free from dust and dirt and easily removed when getting ready to ride.

Bucket rakes and muck carts are another fabulous invention.  They make picking stalls a breeze.  I also keep a few around in case one breaks or for when someone else is helping (after you forced them) to clean stalls.

And last, but certainly no less important, is a baseball cap for those days you get stranded in the barn when it starts pouring!  It helps keep the rain or snow out of your eyes when emptying buckets, bringing in all the animals or making a mad dash to the house.

These items sure make my job easier and assist in keeping me happy in my barn 🙂

Dashing Through the Snow….

It’s our “Wrinkles”deer

Well this was fun tonight trying to get our dog to keep this headband on.  But a few yummy treats soon had her sitting pretty for a picture!!

Wrinkles is our crazy rescue dog (you can read about her here).  And while she is truly crazy most times, she is coming around and proving to be a great farm dog!!

Farm life in the Fall

Martha on top roost and Cherry below all nestled in from the wind and rain

Fall is my favorite season.  But with fall comes cold temperatures, windy days, less daylight and MUD everywhere.  The chickens stop laying eggs consistently, the goats only roam out of their house for short periods and will spend time in their outdoor hut which offers protection from the wind and a full view of the house and yard, and the horses spend many days in their stalls and walkout areas as wet mud is not good for their feet and legs all day.

I like to keep things as natural as possible for our animals.  The goats have a hill and rocks to climb in their pen.  They have grass and trees as well.  The horses have 12×12 stalls and outside the stalls are walkout areas made of stone and rubber matting so they can walk and stretch their legs all day and night.  The chickens free range so get to be in their natural habitat all day.  Some farmers keep a light on in their coops to “trick” their chickens into thinking it’s daylight longer and they will produce more eggs.  I prefer to only use a red heat lamp and let their bodies act naturally during the winter months.

This is our hen Grrr having a drink of water that contains apple cider vinegar to keep her healthy all winter long

This is our hen Catness. She likes to roost on the highest part of the house

Some days I will let the horses out when the ground is slightly frozen in the morning.  However as the day progresses and the ground warms up, this is what you get:

Our paint mare, Mysty decided to enjoy the mud!! Bad horse!

And this week I am dog and chicken sitting for a neighbor.  Her chickens are full of personality.

They are spoiled like our chickens and enjoy hot oatmeal, fresh salad, tomatoes and some nice yogurt during the cold days.  These are all young hens born in the spring and they are still laying eggs.  The perk of this job is the eggs I get to bring home every day!

And while it’s much more work it’s also great to spend some “me” time on a nice ride through the bare trails on my oldest horse Bailey.

Wet and muddy on those trails but worth it!!

Mud, water, and ice spots line the trail

And about now I am ready for the change of season with its snow and frozen ground!!

Rescue Duck– last update

Mrs. Waddles our rescued and rehabilitated duck has now “flown the coop”.

She was a baby mallard found in a road.  She was raised for a month by a family with 2 children who cared for her in their home and bath tub.  When it became apparent she needed more they asked us to take her on the ranch.  Because she spent the first 4 weeks of her life in a home as a pet being carried all over by a cute little girl and boy, she truly had no idea how to be a duck.

We set up an area connected to our chicken and goat pasture so she could go in and out with all of the other animals.  Each day she became a little less “tame”, preferred the animals over the people, learned to swim and enjoy water and puddles, learned to forage for her food and bugs and how to dig in the mud like a duck.  Slowly she started to fly.  She flew further and longer away every time and she has now left our home.

We will miss her but are happy she is living the free life a mallard should live 🙂

Here is the link to more pictures of her here:  Mrs. Waddles