I love Dragonflies and Damselflies! Let me preface this I am in no way, shape or form an expert on Odenata. Everything I know about dragonflies and damselflies came from observations in my backyard or from the Internet. Besides being beautiful and wonderful pollinators, they also are master mosquito eaters!! Native Species of Dragonflies/Damselflies in…
Continue ReadingThe Wyandotte chicks are all grown up Maybe it’s just a mother’s instinct to have a hard time letting her kids grow up….the “baby chickens” as I still call them are definitely not little chicks anymore. After the Polar Vortex, little sick Bluebella went back out with the flock as if nothing was wrong. However,…
Continue ReadingThe barn cats Felix and Oscar have adjusted well to the barn. They sleep in a covered bed of an old pick up truck and get to roam the barn during the day. In the morning and evening they go out in the yard to explore. If we had a cat door (or should I…
Continue ReadingTo make me crazy! Remember that temporary fencing? It was a great way to keep the chickens contained yet able to be out of the coop. Then one day, I come out and find all the babies cozy in the coop. They were so relaxed….where were the big girls?? Zombie started flying over the fence…and…
Continue ReadingWinter in Chicago really starts in October I always think I’m more prepared than I am….we had some snow in October and we survived. Crispy is on the mend and back in the Coop with all the girls. Then they predicted a blizzard. Those weather people always over react, right? Not this time. When we…
Continue ReadingThe flock is Integrated…I thought Even though we were letting everyone hang out in the run during the day, it was time for the next big move…co-habitation. I was tired of chasing the little ones to separate them at night. First, we put up some temporary fencing to make a more enclosed run. The big…
Continue ReadingEating our first eggs We finally ate some eggs!! Of course they were delicious. We are still getting one a day and occasionally two…I wondered if our rooster, Soup, was part of the problem. So long dear Mr. Soup Oh Mr. Soup….I love you so much, but you are stressing everyone out! …
Continue Reading24 weeks to get an Egg About a month ago, we went to Tractor Supply and bought some ceramic eggs. The theory being if they see the eggs in the nesting boxes, it might be a hint to use them. Everyday we would check the coop, but no real eggs. About two weeks ago, the eggs…
Continue ReadingIntegrating the Flock When the new wyandottes turned six weeks old, I knew it was time to start thinking about introducing the new chickies to the older girls…and Mr. Soup. I was a bit nervous because I had read a story about an introduction that wasn’t slow enough and an older bird violently killed a…
Continue ReadingBarns need cats! It’s a fact. Barns have mice. The hubby has been complaining about mice in the barn for quite some time. We have talked about getting barn cats, but I thought it was just talk for now since I have my hands full with chickens, chicks, dogs, and kids. Little did I know…
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