Farmer Abby

Hmmm... sort of has a ring to it? Doesn't it?

It's never dull around here. I find myself laughing almost everyday at the things we deal with on the "farm". It's a small farm (if you can even call it that) and I can only imagine how as we add animals, we will also add drama. I'm excited though. My girls are still laying wonderfully. Every single time I find an egg (or 5) I get so excited! I hope that never ends.

Brent and I love the fact that we (for the most part) know which hen laid which egg. I love my chickens and I love knowing even more where my eggs came from :D Having chickens is definitely a learning experience.

I've gone crazy in the chicken department. We had originally bought 4 hens and 1 rooster (and 5 Americana baby chicks). Then, a few days later we had bought 2 barred rocks (who were sisters and had never ever been apart. They were always together and slept curled up next to each other). This past Friday, we had bought 2 Rhode Island Reds and 1 Buff Orpington from a local man. The Buff was so gentle and kind and would let us hold her and pet her. Dane was in love with her and we were calling her "Goldie". We had a good flock and were proud of them all. We stood out in the coop with them Friday night smiling with pride! We had a good looking flock and we accumulated them in about 2-1/2 weeks.

 We also have Hana, the great Pyrenees mix we rescued from the pound, to "protect" our chickens. She stayed in the backyard with them and did a great job with them. A few times we would catch her "playing" with them and have to reprimand her. We were gone Saturday for 13 hours and came home to 6 (out of 11) dead chickens. Our only rooster was killed. I could not believe it. We had come in and it was about 10:45pm. I looked out our bedroom window and saw our 2 new RIR (we had bought the afternoon before) dead. I told Brent and he didn't believe me. He came to the window and after seeing, grabbed the spotlight and headed outside. I felt so bad for those 2. I could see him walking all over the yard and I thought, "OH NO!!!! There must be more than those 2." Then, he picked up a stick and threw it at Hana screaming. My first thought was, "They are all gone." Then, I could see him looking in the coop and checking all over. I knew some had had to survive. He came in furious saying that 6 of our 11 were dead and Hana had blood on her paws. He was going to shoot her and asked what to do. I didn't know. I mean, I was upset too, but I didn't know what the answer was. He decided not to only because he didn't want to have to dig a hole big enough to bury her. He told me she was gone though. I sat inside crying for the dead chickens and for the fact we would also be losing Hana while Brent got the dead ones together. Brent ended up having to shoot the rooster. He was hanging on and suffering. We were hoping to be able to pluck out their feathers and at least salvage the meat of the hens, but they were stiff. They had been dead awhile. We had no idea what to do with 6 dead chickens??!!! So, Brent will be using them for bait on a hunt he is going on this weekend. 

After they were picked up, we went into the coop with the remaining 5 (4 of our original hens and 1 barred). The barred (who lost her sister) looked frightened and was trying to curl up next to our Grey Hen we call "Sister". Brent and I both started crying when we saw that. We apologized over and over to them for the traumatic day they must have had. We felt so responsible for leaving Hana in there with them.

The next day, I knew it was time to put my big girl panties on. No more mourning after chickens and a chicken killer. This is just part of the farm life and I know I better get used to it. So, after church and much debate the night before, we went to Home Depot to buy a shock collar for Hana and a replacement collar for Hank. We know Hana was just bored and was not trying to harm the chickens. We know she was just playing. We are going to give her 1 more chance and after that, she will be gone! While driving there, I found some more chickens for sale. We came home, changed clothes, and headed to look at them. The man gave us a great deal and we left with 4 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Campine hen and 1 Campine rooster. We even left with 4 new baby chicks (2 days old). They are light Brahmas and should grow up to look like this. 

(Our Americana chicks should grow up looking something like this and laying green eggs)

So in less than 24 hours we more than replaced our flock! The Lord is good :D Not only did he replace our flock, he gave us another kind and gentle hen like, Goldie, only this one is even more kind and gentle. She is one of our RIR and the boys affectionately named her Lily (after their cousin!).

Yesterday, I had Brent teach me to shoot a few guns. If I ever come home to a partially dead chicken, I want to know how to take it out of it's misery. A way other than the option Brent gave me of smashing it's head. YUCK!!!!! I can shoot it, but I can't stomp it. That's just gross. Not only that, he was going to be leaving for the evening and heading south to spend the night (to take national registry for EMT basic that he is taking right at this moment, so say a little prayer!) and I tend to get scared and I don't want to be scared anymore. I need to know how to shoot the 12 gauge he keeps in the closet in our bedroom and I wanted to know how to shoot this other shot gun that is in the basement (it would be what I used for a chicken and 12 gauge I would use for an intruder-- I even practiced what I would do if I heard an intruder at the door in the middle of the night.)

Here is the 12 gauge. I'm going to start shooting it more regularly so I am more and more comfortable 

I did pretty darn good (I'm better with a pistol!) if I do say so myself.

Yes, the target is the dot. That was the "man's" chest. So, I still hit him. All I have to say, is "Intruder's BEWARE!!"

I was scared, mainly because I was practicing with purpose. I knew I was trying to prepare myself for an intruder, an animal, or a chicken catastrophe. After a couple shots, I got less scared. When I shot the buck shot 3in magnum (there is some major POWER in those!!! It would blow someone's head or arm off), I got this little keepsake

Been looking into a dairy cow again. I think we may be able to get one sooner rather than later. I am studying up on it and making sure our barn is ready for one. I'm thinking by January of next year, we will have one!! I am sooooooo pumped!!!!

I am loving every minute of this crazy life!! :D