Miller Farm Friday Archives - Page 34 of 47

9 10, 2015

Turtles and Squirrels and Cats, Oh My! (Part 2)

By judythemorgan|2015-10-07T14:12:35-05:00October 9th, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I recently found two baby squirrels under a tree in our backyard. One was no longer alive but one was.

I immediately called in animal rescuer Rachel. She had recently rescued a baby squirrel in a friend’s backyard making her the resident squirrel expert.She brought it inside and began the process of rehabilitation and posted on Facebook: What is it about my house that screams to animals, “An animal lover lives here!!!! You should stop by!!!”Today I found yet another baby squirrel, this time in my backyard. Thankfully, I got her before Bella did. Here’s to saving the world, one orphaned baby squirrel at a time!

Next she contacted her friend who had taken in the other baby squirrel. The friend was having to take care of an orphaned calf and was not able to take in another squirrel. So Rachel researched the best formula options and began feeding the squirrel with a syringe.

She named it Alexandra and it seemed to revive. Then it started wheezing and sneezing. Thus began the search for remedies for sick squirrels. She treated Alexandra and we hoped for the best.

It was touch and go for a couple of days then Alex seemed to turn the corner and began to improve. Before long she was holding her tail up and developing quite a personality.

She got comfortable with Beekeeper Brian and did what all babies do – fell asleep on his chest.

Alex needed a safe place to stay so Rachel got the extra dog kennel and put rags in it. Alex seemed happy – especially when she was getting her bottle.

Then one day she started growling at Rachel. I didn’t know squirrels could growl. Alexandra was apparently no long enamored with her life in captivity. Now what? She was still too little to set free.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story…

2 10, 2015

Turtles and Squirrels and Cats, Oh My! (Part 1)

By judythemorgan|2015-09-28T10:24:21-05:00October 2nd, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Miller farm has been inundated with wildlife in the last few weeks. This would be expected if we were out in the country. However, we are in town.

We suspected something had taken up residence under the shed in the backyard based on the way the dachshunds were circling and sniffing. Bella went under the shed to try to get it but came up empty. We felt pretty certain that it was a possum – or a cat. We have several stray cats in the neighborhood.

We were wrong.

Rachel saw Sadie chewing on something and went to investigate.

It was a turtle.

Sadie thought it was a chew toy. Fortunately the turtle stayed inside its shell and survived the experience. Pretty tough shell!

Rachel carried the turtle to a nearby creek and let it go. It was last seen “hurrying” (as much as turtles ever hurry) away.

Check back with Miller Farm next Friday to read Part 2 about the squirrel named Alexandra.

25 09, 2015

Chicken Sweeping

By judythemorgan|2015-09-06T09:15:38-05:00September 25th, 2015|Guest blogger, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

The chicks are finally big enough to join the big girls.

Rachel and I moved them one evening. We found it works best if they spend the night in their new home and wake up thinking they had always been there. The challenge comes in the evenings when they forget where they are supposed to roost for the night. They all gathered by the fence separating the big girls from the bantams.

Rachel found an effective way to encourage them to go into the coop. She used a branch as a broom and “swept” them into the coop.

Actually they went around the coop and then some went in. The rest would go back to their spot by the fence.

Rachel would “sweep” again and I would stand near the coop door to encourage the chicks to go in. It took several tries but eventually we got all the chicks into the coop.

Rachel was gone this weekend so I took Beekeeper Brian out to help sweep the chickens. They were all already in the coop. I was thrilled.

I texted Rachel to let her know her chicken sweeping career was over. She was not at all sad.

18 09, 2015

Melon Hurling

By judythemorgan|2015-09-06T09:08:49-05:00September 18th, 2015|Guest blogger, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

The food pantry where I volunteer had an abundance of honeydew melons last week. I got rid of as many as I could, but some still got too soft to eat.

It was time to treat the chickens. I discovered if I hurled the melon just right, it split into pieces when it landed.Then the birds could easily get to the yummy inside.

After several throws, I decided this could be a new Olympic Event – melon hurling.

I might even get a gold medal.

11 09, 2015

Bee Research

By judythemorgan|2015-09-04T21:49:51-05:00September 11th, 2015|Guest blogger, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

by Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

There are many wonderful things about living in a university town. There is a lot of energy and excitement created by the young, enthusiastic minds at work. There is also a lot of traffic but that is another matter entirely.

Part of being near a major research school is having research conducted all around. In fact, my husband was approached by a graduate student studying bees. He asked if he could use our bees in part of his research.

I didn’t think much about it at first. There are always random things going on at Miller Farm. Then our son made the comment “it is so neat that there is a research study happening in our back yard, literally.”

When he put it that way, I decided I should find out more about this research project.

The graduate student put a pollen collector on one of the hives.

Once a month, Brian puts the guard down so the pollen is scraped off the bees legs as they enter the hive.

The graduate student then comes and collects the pollen. He also uses a pipette to extract nectar from some of the cells in the honey comb. He actually wanted to collect wax as well but the bees had not drawn any comb. The nectar flow had been interrupted by the rain in May. The pollen and nectar are analyzed to determine if there is any residual pesticide. The student also determines where the bees collected the pollen. It is all very interesting in a scientific research kind of manner.

So the next time you are perusing a science journal and see an article about bees and pesticide, think of Miller Farm. It is where all the action is.

4 09, 2015

Empty Nest?

By judythemorgan|2015-09-02T08:00:52-05:00September 4th, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

We have another hawk terrorizing the chickens. It was hovering over the chicken yard and the girls were all squawking in terror. I ran out and it flew into the neighbor’s tree.

This is the neighbor with chickens so I quickly texted her “Hawk alert.”

The hawk came back and sat on our fence until I came out the back door. Then it flew off and I haven’t seen it since.

This morning the chickens were making all kinds of noise before I had even let them out of the coop. It was their “Help, something is after us!” cry so I hurried to the chicken yard wondering what I’d find.

As I approached, I told them “I’m coming, I’m coming.” They quieted down. There was nothing there but chickens. I guess they were just ready to get up.

It reminded me of when our kids were still in baby cribs. They would wake up and make noise until one of us came in to get them out of the crib. We sent the youngest off to college this month.

I was thinking, though, that as long as we have chickens, we’ll never really be “empty nesters.”

28 08, 2015

“Eat and Grow” – Chick Watching

By judythemorgan|2015-08-22T11:34:10-05:00August 28th, 2015|Guest blogger, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

The chicks have gotten too big for the long cage. This is good. It means they are growing.

This is bad. It means we have to move them.

Rachel and I decided to move the larger ones first. I chose 14 hens and gave them to Rachel who clipped their wings. Then we put them in the bantam coop. There was lots of noise initially but eventually they calmed down.

The chicks remaining in the long cage on saw horses still seemed to be picking on each other. This was not good.

We decided to move the long cage to the ground in the bantam yard. Then we open it during the day and let the chicks run around. At night, we put them back in the long cage and close the doors so they are safe.

Watching 32 chicks run around on the ground for the first time in their short lives is hysterical. They tend to stay in groups. One will run across the yard and others will follow.

Bella finds their activity particularly entertaining.

She spends long periods of time just watching them. Fortunately, none have come over the fence to “play.” The bantam yard keeps them entertained for now.

The next step will be moving them over with the large hens. They need to be a little bit bigger. I tell them every day “Eat and grow, eat and grow.”

21 08, 2015

Facing Morning

By judythemorgan|2015-08-13T13:34:20-05:00August 21st, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

Three of our four dachshunds sleep in kennels every night. Tucker is not one of them.

He has had “kennel phobia” since he was a puppy so he sleeps in our room. Every morning he waits patiently for someone to let his girls out of their kennels.

Bella and Sadie are quick to oblige just as soon as their door is open. Coco, on the other hand, is not a morning dog. Usually she comes running out barking at anything in her way. Sometimes, though, she doesn’t move.

I’ve learned not to force the issue. She eventually comes out. I figure she’s just not ready to face the day yet. I can relate.

Last week I was going through my morning routine, which includes several cups of coffee, when I discovered this:

– a fly in my coffee cup. I was not happy.

Move over Coco, I’m coming to join you. I don’t want to face today either.

14 08, 2015

Five Little Ducks

By judythemorgan|2015-07-25T16:49:11-05:00August 14th, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

One morning while in Colorado, I went fishing with Brian and my father. Actually I didn’t fish. I took a book and soaked in the scenery.

I was joined at one point by a chipmunk- not something we have a lot of in Texas.

Then I spotted a momma duck and her babies. I watched as they walked into the water and swam among the plants. I even saw the momma duck put her head in the water and tail in the air.

There is a children’s chant about that:

“See the little ducklings swimming here and there; Heads down in the water tails up in the air.”

Soon they headed out across the lake – momma and the four little ducklings close by.(I couldn’t get all four ducks in the picture. Just like family photos when the kids were young – someone didn’t cooperate.)

That too reminded me of a song. I sent the picture to Catherine, our daughter, who is in music school. She also thought of the song. I’ve trained her well She has heard the song and seen the book from the time she was born.It is one of my favorites and in fact my copy is falling apart. Perhaps I need to invest in a library edition.

In all it was a pleasant morning. I could think about my job without having to do it and smile.

7 08, 2015

Chick Update

By judythemorgan|2015-07-25T08:00:41-05:00August 7th, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

While Beekeeper Brian and I were in Colorado, Rachel was on chicken/dog duty. She did an outstanding job especially considering the 32 chicks quickly outgrew the brooder. That meant Rachel had to move them out to the chicken yard. This is no easy process and usually involves two people Rachel grabbed one of the girls next door to come help. They are all experienced chicken handlers.

Since they were too small to go directly into the bantam yard, she put them in the long cage that originally had quail in it. She started with it on the ground but discovered what appeared to be bug bites on some of the chicks the first morning. She blamed the infamous Texas fire ant.

She moved the cage up onto sawhorses. When we got home the chicks looked great and had adjusted nicely to their new home.

They stay all together as one chick pile, and I worried at first that they would crush each other. So far everyone has survived. I guess they take turns being on the bottom.

The next step will be putting them out in the bantam yard. Since there are so many, we are considering options for keeping them safe at night because they will not all fit in the bantam coop. We have another week or so to come up with a solution.

I’ll keep you posted. . .