Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Ye Olde Chicken Coop

We were in Southern Colorado for Memorial Day Weekend.  On one of our daily explorations we discovered this old chicken coop.
Take a peek inside.
Fifteen nesting boxes and roosts for many.  This chicken keeper had many, many birds.  There are so many questions to ask.  What breeds?  How many?  Roosters?  How long ago was this an active place?  

The coop is long abandoned now, and there is evidence of rats.  Yikes!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Friday, May 23, 2014

Gallery

I used to know this family that had chickens.  The young daughters named the hens.  One named her hen Angel and the other named her hen Eyeball.  I thought of Eyeball when Papa Hen came in from the coop with this photo:
We are headed out of town for the weekend.  The girls will be in the capable hands of our wonderful neighbors.  So you don't miss them too much over the weekend, here are our four birds.










Sunday, May 18, 2014

Transformations

Day four of the Flagstone Path left us with an almost finished project.  We need to let the rocks settle a little bit and then put some final touches on the path.  Then we will landscape next to the path.  Can't wait!

We worked on beautifying other parts of the yard as well.



Saturday, May 17, 2014

In The Pen With Fitz And Lou

And the nesting box too.
 Both Fitz and Lou already laid their eggs in the box on the left.  From what I observed, Fitz needed a little quiet time and decided to rest in the box on the right.  Rather adorable.

 And then with a *whomp* she jumped out of the nesting box and went back to scratching and pecking.
Bruiser and Bill weren't being as entertaining this morning, just noisy, so I didn't take any pictures of them.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Snowy Spring - again

It rained and snowed most of the day yesterday and we woke to a yard full of snow today.  Papa Hen and I were up early to tend to the birds and shovel.
The sky kept at it until noon.

When I got home from school, the sun had been out for just a few hours, and the melting was full-on.
As usual, the birds wanted snacks, and snacks they got!  Spinach with a few carrot peels from dinner last night, oatmeal and an egg, and then a dessert of scratch and meal worms.  Yummy!  The chickens don't always eat so well after a school day, but Mama Hen was feeling quite generous with her time today.

If you look closely at the next picture you can see Bruiser's tongue.
Not THAT close.  Gross!


Sunday, May 11, 2014

It's Raining Eggs

It was a rainy weekend at Red Door Coop.  Mama Hen was doing chores as the Real rain, as opposed to on and off showers, began.
The weather did not stop the eggs.  We've got oodles!  Here's what's in our fridge this morning.

Lou Lou

Cute as a button!

Flagstone Path Day Three

Papa Hen and Friend worked on the flagstone path yesterday, trying to get as much done as possible before a rain and snow storm blew into town.  Friend got started nice and early.

A lot was accomplished!  The project will continue next weekend.


Monday, May 5, 2014

Mozart Makes Eggs

Who proved that hens have a thing for Mozart?  A young farmer in Nova Scotia, that's who!
Read This to find out.

Thanks, M!

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Four Views of Day Two

The plate compactor has been returned to the store after four lifts of gravel.  The Arkansas Flagstone is all laid out and ready for next weekend.

Here's the truck being loaded with flagstone.

And here's the path.


Your job is to guess which U.S. state each stone most resembles.

Flagstone Path Day One

With the help of a friend, we are building a flagstone path from the house to the coop and garden area.  It is replacing the flagstones we put down at the end of last summer.  The Hen family has never made a flagstone path before and are so grateful for the help of a friend.


The girls helped too!  They pecked their way through dirt piles, finding every worm and other bug imaginable!



Thursday, May 1, 2014

View From Below

The chickens have gone to bed, but Mama and Papa Hen have not and they are spying.
What's going on up there on the roost?
Just some curious chickens trying to get some shut-eye!

Old MacDonald

Dear Judy Sierra and Matthew Myers,
Thank you for this wonderful book!
E-I-E-I-O: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm [with a Little Help from a Hen]
From Mama Hen, the Librarian.

*******************************************************
Dear AM and BS,
Thanks for the new book!  We are learning about the great potential of all hens and hope that our four birds will be inspired!
The hen in this book knows all about composting and gardening.  She's amazing!
Love, Allison