There has been a lot going on around here the past few weeks. Christmas and New Years, friends visiting, new chickens and more! We have had rain, freezing temps, sleet, snow and more freezing temps. We have been working hard to figure out keeping the animals warm and toasting. Here’s a few updates of the past few weeks. We have been relaxing, building, creating, canning, welding, freezing, chicken training and more!
Chicken coop expansion
New chickens meant more room was needed in the coop. Also, the pecking order needed to be worked out with Penny. After a lot of separation then slow visitation everyone worked it out and they are all together in a new expanded coop warming each other up and getting along great. The coop got more room in the house, new perches and a bigger run. Now its a double wide! More pictures once I paint it! Here is the work in progress before the rest of the roof and the new enclosure.
The little chickens spent a couple weeks in the garage until the hard freeze passed and they were monitored until we knew they were healthy and could go in with Penny. There is always that one chicken that pushes the limits….Here is Florence-chicken discovering she isn’t really all that locked up. Soon after this they discovered they can fly and I woke up to them roosting wherever they wanted in the garage…no. Time for the coop!
New Years Guests
Our friends the Kings visited for New Years and brought Milo the dog. He gets along great with Layla. On new years weekend went walking around the pastures and property by the pond. I forgot what a lab dog loves most….he was in the water (not bothered at all by the cold and ice) before I saw it coming. Layla enjoyed playing at the pond as well.
Yay for canning!
Thanks to a bigger kitchen I finally have more room and a pressure canner! Can’t wait for the summer garden. First thing I made was chili con carne. Turned out great. I even made soup stock from the Christmas turkey, canned and preserved.
22 degrees and a frozen, broken gate
Have I mentioned much just how awesome Clinton is?? Well he is. And I have to post a pic of him being amazing fixing our gate on a frozen day. To my disappointment we barely saw any snow. We did, however have a lot of frozen bird baths, pond, chicken waters, etc.
Wood stove in the shop
This shop stove was refurbished from a killer deal on Craigslist. With a few parts, some rust removal and fixing up its now keeping things (and cat and dog) toasty in the shop when we are working in there. Here is Layla helping build the chicken coop. She made sure the stove did not go anywhere the entire time we were building. Good thing for Layla keeping a close eye on things!
Pedersen Homestead 