My New Year's Resolution

So I've resolved to begin posting again. Last year came and went before I knew it. The ducks were a fun addition to the farm last year — lots of pretty and interesting heritage breeds such as Black Cayuga, Buff, Blue Swedish and Anconas. (I promise pictures later.) Last year also saw the introduction of livestock guardian dogs to the ranch. Jill, a four year old Akbash, arrived last May and has become the great protector of the sheep and poultry. She has been joined by the newest member of the "dog team," Nia (short for Gardenia), a 9 week old Akbash. Nia is in training with three small ewe lambs and when she is bigger will join Jill to help guard the ranch. Nia literally shakes with excitement every afternoon when she watches Jack herd the sheep down from the hillsides and sees Jill rushing in behind them to greet me and have her dinner.

Wow, it's almost December...

Time seems to really fly. The days are growing shorter and the hens are slowing down their egg laying. Egg production is linked to day-length so the chickens get some much needed R&R during this time. The approach of the winter solstice is always a welcome time on the farm since when the chickens rest we rest.

Tupping time (the boys are back in town)

So yesterday was the big day.  The rams went back in with the ewes.  Jack escorted the gents — Newman, Handsome Dude and  Mac —to the ladies in the pasture.  By this time of year, the rams have put on a bit of extra weight so the ewes easily outrun them up the hillsides.  By the end of the first day , the three rams were huddled together.  Trying to devise a better strategy no doubt. Most of the day, my farm help and I spent laughing.  Poor boys!  There's lots of ladies and lots of hillsides on the ranch.

Happy Hens Farm newest arrivals

The other morning, I noticed Nellie, one of the Red Jungle Fowl chickens, pacing oddly around a mound of composted soil near the barn.  I walked over only to discover eight chicks marching out from under a loose tarp!  I moved Nellie and her brood to a private suite where they can be safe from curious barn cats (and the skunk).  Given the "crowd" Nellie runs with, the papa is Red, a very striking Ameracauna rooster.   

The rams

Okay.  I admit.  I think the rams are probably one of the coolest animals on the farm.  This is Newman, a very formidable Scottish Blackface ram. When Newman isn't politely posing for pictures, he has been known to bash up an old redwood outbuilding or destroy metal livestock panels with his horns.  He's the top breeding ram on the farm and quite a confident guy.

Jack vs. Pepe le Pew

There's nothing like being awakened at 2 a.m. by your barking dog only to hope that it's not really the smell of skunk wafting through your house.  I'm sure Jack's intentions were good.  But the skunk's aim was even better and he (or she) managed to spray my front door.  Luckily, Jack was inside the house and only the front of the house smells.  In fact, it smells so strong it makes your eyes water when you walk by. I'm sure it will wear off soon.  

Of course, there was that time that Jack managed to get skunked about 10 minutes before we finished loading up sheep into my trailer. I then proceeded to spend the next several hours (4 to be exact) pulling a trailer full of my sheep with Jack riding shotgun, as they say, next to me.  You may be asking yourself how that could be. Well, I had one of the worst head colds of my life and couldn't smell anything.  And Jack didn't seem to mind.  For him, it was just another perfect day.

Eggs

With around 250 laying hens, I manage to get lots of eggs every day.  I find egg gathering one of the most pleasant tasks on the farm.  The chickens clucking away in the hen houses adds a certain hypnotic hum to to the farm.  Some chickens stand up to let me collect the eggs from underneath them in the nesting boxes, others peck my hands as I reach in, and a few others — let's just say I still haven't lost any fingers!

The eggs are collected routinely throughout the day and minimally washed and packaged.  They range in color from white, buff, brown, dark brown to blues and greens.  The flavor and richness of the eggs is a reflection of the lives my hens lead:  days filled with fresh air, sunshine, and the freedom to range and forage hillsides and creek beds.