Friday on the Miller Farm Archives - Page 29 of 35

7 03, 2014

Guest Chickens – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-03-07T06:00:13-06:00March 7th, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our soon-to-be neighbors stopped by last week to see if they could leave a child’s playhouse in the yard between our houses. They would have to temporarily take down the fence (the infamous privacy fence, that is) to move it into the back yard and planned to do that after they officially moved in.

That was no problem.

They also brought their chickens and wondered if we could keep them with our flock until they could build a chicken coop. This was also no problem.

They were already in a cage so we simply moved the cage into the back yard and planned to put the chickens into the coop after dark. We’ve discovered that chickens loose all their memories at night so when they woke up they would think they had always lived in our coop. The only drawback to this plan was the dachshunds. They were fascinated by the new chickens and while they could not actually get to them, their barking was very stressful for the birds.

So we moved the cage into the chicken yard behind the shed. It was much calmer for the chickens.

Now those of you with chicken experience may have noticed that the darker bird is actually a rooster. Our neighbor assured me it was a friendly rooster and indeed it was – until it came time to clip wings.

Wing clipping is an event at which I have only been the holder of the chicken. Rachel or Beekeeper Brian always wielded the scissors.

Since Rachel moved to college and Brian was at work, it was up to Chicken Wrangler Sara to expand her wing clipping experience and do the holding and the clipping.

It was harder than I expected.

I clipped the hen first and she pooped on me. Fortunately this was a day I did not have to go to work and had time to clean up properly.

The rooster, on the other hand, bit my arm. Actually, it was kind of a pinch since I’m not sure chicken have teeth.

In any event, it was somewhat painful, but I survived.

After the chicken scratch last week and the rooster bite this week, I’m going to ask for combat pay.

The next morning I discovered the hen roosting on the privacy fence. Obviously, I had not clipped enough off her wings.

That night, while she was roosting in a tree, the more experienced wing clipper Beekeeper Brian grabbed her and did a better job.

Now everyone, including the guests, go into the coop at night.

And stay.

28 02, 2014

Silly White Chicken – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-02-28T06:00:49-06:00February 28th, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I’ve come to the realization that white chickens are the most trouble to keep. At least that’s true of our white chickens.

If you remember, one of our white chickens went over the back fence and led us on a wild “chicken hunt.” If you don’t remember, read here.

Then there was the “hen in a hive” who laid her eggs in an empty bee hive for several weeks. Read all about that white hen here.

Fortunately, our white hens lay regularly and their eggs are extra large. It makes them worth the trouble.

One morning this week I went to open the coop and made this discovery:

The silly chicken had managed to get stuck in the quail cage.

She was quite distressed and kept pacing back and forth which is why the picture is so blurry.

While I was standing there one of the other birds landed on my shoulder on its way out of the coop. I forgot how uncoordinated chickens are first thing in the morning.

Of course, I was dressed for work, in a white shirt, which now had chicken prints on the shoulder. I wiped it off and hoped no one would notice – which they didn’t.

As I was putting on my swimsuit the next morning, I noticed a scratch on my shoulder.

That gives a new meaning to the term “chicken scratch.”

21 02, 2014

New Toys for Tucker – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-02-21T06:00:53-06:00February 21st, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

We had company during the Christmas break. Dog company, that is. Miller and Jengo spent a week at the Miller Dog Hotel.

Things went remarkably well considering the dogs outnumbered the people.

Tucker was even happy to share his toys with Jengo who, as a puppy, is destructive. The beloved orange jingle ball lost its jingle. Holes were chewed in the barbell toy making it a choking hazard for the other dogs. We had talked about replacing the toys for months. Now we had no choice.

When Rachel was home from college last weekend, we took Tucker to our local pet store to get a new ball and toy. He was more excited about all the other dogs in the store than the toys, of which there were many (dogs and toys that is).

We eliminated anything that made an obnoxious noise or was made of fabric. We settled on a purple barbell toy that has completely replaced the old one. It does make a noise but only if you squeeze it or it bounces just right.

Tucker loves it. He will run and fetch it more times that I am willing to throw it. Being purple, it is easy to spot when he leaves it outside.

We also found an orange ball. It doesn’t jingle but it is the same size as his old one so Tucker can carry it around.

The best part is it came in a package of two. So now we have a BUB – back up ball – just in case!

If only all it took were a ball and a barbell to make teenagers so happy J

14 02, 2014

Letter to My Chickens – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-02-14T06:00:33-06:00February 14th, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Dearest Ladies,

I have noticed some undesirable habits in the chicken yard lately and wanted to remind you of the rules and procedures of Miller Farm.

Do not peck at my hand when I am getting eggs. I know my hand has been cold these last two weeks, and I am sure it is uncomfortable for your warm underside. However, this is the hand that feeds you.
While we are on the topic of feeding, remember I feed you – you feed me. That’s the way it goes. I do my job every day when I give you food and you are to do your job by laying eggs. And please leave the shells intact. I prefer to crack them myself so do not do it for me.
Do not poop on my head when I am in the coop and you are perched up high. The screaming and flailing that would ensue would be unpleasant for everyone concerned.
A note to the roosters: Be quiet or be dinner. Do you remember the three noisy guys that disappeared last month?
Do not fly over the fence in any direction. The grass may appear greener, but the dangers are greater. Bella is just waiting for someone to come “play” with her.

We have done our best during the last few months to protect you from chicken-eating possums and deadly hawks. We only ask that you follow these simple rules.

Thank you,

Chicken Wrangler Sara

7 02, 2014

Winter on the Farm – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-02-07T06:00:38-06:00February 7th, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

In the past seven days, we have been under two different winter storm warnings.

While this may seem normal for those of you who actually have winter where you live, in Texas winter is anything below 60 degrees. Any chance of freezing precipitation causes great panic.

Last Thursday the weather began to get nasty and by Friday morning we awoke to what for us was a “Winter Wonderland.”

Now I have lived in the northeast and have actually been stranded in a blizzard in Deep Creek, Maryland, so I understand how silly this seems.

However, for the chickens, that have never seen a white ground, this was very disturbing.

They were much slower to exit the coop and some decided to wait it out in the safety of their nest boxes.

By afternoon, the snow was gone and the chickens were out pecking the ground as usual.

By Sunday, we were in short sleeves again making it hard to believe the weather forecast for Tuesday which was predicting up to 2 inches of snow.

Sure enough on Monday, the wind shifted and the temperature dropped.

I bought more chicken and quail food and made sure all feeders were full. I even filled the waterers knowing they would freeze. I planned to pour hot water over them in the morning to melt enough ice to prevent any bird from dying of thirst.

We have been watching a TV show called “Alaska: The Last Frontier.” I thought about how they prepared for their winter as I warned the chickens of the impending storm.

By the end of the day on Monday, the private school where I teach had cancelled classes for Tuesday. The public schools delayed opening for two hours. The pool even closed so we all slept in.

Tuesday morning arrived with no snow and little ice.

Children were disappointed, but I didn’t mind. I’ve seen enough snow.

The weatherman says it will be 70 degrees by Friday. Gotta love Texas :)

31 01, 2014

Fence Update – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-01-31T06:00:51-06:00January 31st, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

For those who may have missed the “Under Construction” blog, our neighbors have put up a privacy fence.

I don’t believe it was their idea as they are moving. I imagine the real estate agent suggested it to make the house easier to sell.

After all, no one wants to live next door to chickens.

Anyway, the morning after the fence was complete I walked out back to let the chickens out and found Gus, the neighbor’s dog looking through a hole in the fence.

I guess he didn’t like not being able to see his friend Tucker any more than Tucker liked not being able to see him.

It turns out that the contractor used the wrong sized nails and had to return and fix the mistake.

We found out this weekend that the house has sold. The new owners are friends of ours – who have chickens. We’re so excited! 

24 01, 2014

Tales from the Dark Side (of the chicken coop) -Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-01-24T06:00:07-06:00January 24th, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A guest blog by Beekeeper Brian

Warning: The following story is a true account; only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

It also contains tales of death. If death of vermin upsets you, STOP reading now!

On Monday nights, Chicken Wrangler Sara teaches ladies about God’s Word. Therefore, I pull double farm duty.

Since my bees are snug in their hives, they are not a duty problem.

As you might remember, the chickens go into the coop when the sun goes down every night. However, a chicken wrangler or beekeeper has to go close the door to the coop. We haven’t been able to teach the girls to take care of that.

I went out to keep them safe and close the coop.

You would not believe that living in the city, we would have all kinds of uninvited dinner guest. Word should be out that there are no more dinner parties on the Miller Farm.

Yet, as I drew close to the coop door, I spotted the glowing eyes of an uninvited dinner guest—the chicken eating opossum! This was the fourth opossum this winter that planned to have chicken as his main course!

In case you have never tangled with an opossum, once they find fresh food, they keep coming back for seconds.

Since Chicken Wrangler Sara was not at home to bring me a lead slinger (air-powered since we are in the city), I had to grab what was at hand – my flashlight.

Unfortunately, I only had the small one.

Fortunately, there is a nice rock right outside the coop, which would do the trick. Several hits later, the chicken thief was unaffected!

I needed to find something else. (Don’t be fooled. Opossums play dead, but they do have a very strong tail, which can be used to carry them some place to secure a bigger club.)

I grabbed his tail and hauled him out of the coop, heading for the woodpile. I grabbed half of a wooden bee pallet to use as a club. That was a little more effective at subduing him, but the rascal was still sniffing for chicken dinner.

I spotted a shovel blade by the shed and carried him to the other side of the yard to finish the deed with the shovel blade. It was crude but effective.

The hens were safe for another night, none the wiser that there’d been an intruder intend on eating them.

I posted on FB: opossums 0, Beekeeper Brian 4.

When Chicken Wrangler Sara arrived home, I told her of the evening adventure. All in a day’s work on an urban farm.

17 01, 2014

Under Construction – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-01-17T06:00:29-06:00January 17th, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our neighbors are moving. It is a good thing for them, but sad for us. It means their house is for sale and real estate agents get grumpy when they have to sell a house next door to chickens.

We’ve been through this with the neighbors on the other side. We prayed and prayed and God sent a single woman who loves the chickens. She even comes outside to watch them.

The new neighbors on the other side will not have that pleasure. A privacy fence is going up.

I don’t take it personally. Not everyone loves chickens the way we do.

The process is actually very stressful for the entire Miller farm. Strange people are walking around next door, which requires a certain amount of barking on the part of the dachshunds. Of course, some of the dachshunds (Bella) believe that life requires a certain amount of barking all the time.

Then there is the dreaded air compressor.

Fortunately, I have experience with air compressors. Experience being that there is one in the garage, which moves on the front porch when Bee Keeper Brian is building something.

I know that it randomly comes on and makes noise so I’m not startled. The chickens, on the other hand, have never seen the air compressor in our garage and so when the one next door started making noise, they all rushed to the opposite side of the yard.

The fence is finished now.

No more strange people or noises next door. We actually can’t tell what is next door. All we see is this beautiful fence.

Tucker is confused. He can’t see his friend Gus, the miniature schnauzer who lives next door, anymore.

Bella keeps barking at the fence hoping to scare it away.

The good news is the chickens won’t be flying into the neighbor’s yard on that side. They can’t see that the grass is greener.

As I stood in our back yard I couldn’t help but think of the show “Home Improvement” and wonder if our new neighbors will be named “Wilson.”

10 01, 2014

A Dog and His Ball – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2014-01-10T12:31:08-06:00January 10th, 2014|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Linus has a blanket.

Christopher Robin has a bear.

Tucker has a ball – an orange jingle ball to be exact. He actually has several balls – a blue one, a green one – but the orange one is his favorite. Perhaps it’s the jingle noise it makes that is so attractive.

Whatever it is, Tucker has been known to fall asleep with this ball between his paws. Whenever he is feeling stressed, he finds his jingle ball.

If you throw the ball, he will bring it back – again and again.

Rachel trained him to drop it right at her feet.

For a while, our morning routine consisted of whoever sat in a particular chair threw Tucker’s ball for him. If I happened to be in the kitchen fixing breakfast, the thrower would yell “incoming” as a warning.

On several occasions they forgot and I got pegged by the infamous orange jingle ball.

If he is feeling ignored, Tucker will throw his ball under a piece of furniture or the stove. Then he will bark until someone retrieves it. I would say he has us well trained.

One time a visiting young boy accidentally threw the orange jingle ball on the roof. Tucker was inconsolable. We lasted about two days before someone had to climb up and get it.

After that we insisted that the orange ball be his inside ball.

Unfortunately the green ball was too difficult to see outside in the yard, so I allowed Tucker to bring his orange ball outside for me to throw as I took care of the chickens. I did accidentally throw the ball into the chicken yard a couple of times. The chickens thought it was food.

This fall the leaves in our Texas town were particularly pretty. Not quite as stunning as when we lived in Connecticut but beautiful for here. It did present a problem – though. The orange jingle ball was difficult to spot.

We have begun the search for a replacement ball in case this one really disappears.

So far we have had no success. So we will continue to guard Tucker’s security ball for everyone’s sake.

20 12, 2013

Hawk Saga Chapter 2 – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2013-12-20T06:00:46-06:00December 20th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

A hawk is using our chicken coop as an all-you-can-eat buffet.

So far, the predator has carried off two of our bantams and tried to carry off a big hen, but apparently the hen was too heavy. The hen has tale-tell signs of claw marks on its back.

Another hen, named Little Gray Hen, died of unknown causes. I’m blaming the hawk.

Thanksgiving morning I looked out to see the hawk with another one of the bantams. My husband took his pellet gun outside and the hawk dropped the hen and flew off leaving the deceased hen on the ground.

My son asked if there was such a thing as hawk bait. Apparently, bantam chickens work great.

The hawk stayed away for a few days.

Then when I got home one morning this week, I heard a familiar cry from the chicken yard – “hawk, hawk!!!”

I raced out in search of the hawk, but couldn’t see it.

I saw no chickens either. Even the bantams were hidden under their coop. All the big hens cowered under the trees.

As I checked on them, the hawk flew away. He’d been somewhere close by watching and waiting.

A friend recently asked me about the intelligence of chickens. I’m not sure about their intelligence but something allows them to sense danger when humans cannot see it.

There have been no hawk sightings in the past few days.

Just in case, the chickens are keeping an eye on the sky.