Total Cuteness
It was dark when Hannah closed the Banties in tonight. She panicked because she couldn't find the baby chicks - they are usually sitting in the corner tucked under Shadow. Hannah flashed her light inside the coop and saw mama on the roost. Then out...
Weekend Snapshots
It was a glorious weekend here. Sunny and seventies. It would have been perfection but for the black flies. Insidious little things. Did you know they have serrated teeth? My legs - a minefield of red swollen bites are proof. Lots of things...
Feeding Time
The Freedom Rangers just came out of the brooder last Saturday. I get such a kick out of watching Paul feed them - they get so excited to see him! http://youtu.be/ZfWs5vRJWHI
Flight of the Hummingbird
The hummingbirds returned on Friday. I put sugar-water out for them a few days before that, just to be ready in case they arrived early this year. But, like clockwork the hummingbirds returned on May 11 as they do every year. So on this Mother's...
Moving Day for the Freedom Rangers
Today was moving day for the Freedom Rangers. They've been with us for four weeks now and things in the brooder were getting a bit crowded. Now that they have feathers they can move outside to their new digs. Hannah moved the 50 chickens into the...
Under Water
This picture was taken during yesterday's torrential rain. The rain came down so hard that the duck's mortar box and play yard were under water. They were having a grand time frolicking in their new (albeit temporary) pond!
Kitty T.V.
We call this Kitty T.V. Cinder and Snape are watching Banty Chickens in the Front Yard. Clearly it's fascinating stuff.
A Little Garden Therapy
Instead of tackling my mile-long work "to do"? list I opted for a little garden therapy today. I don't often play hooky from my desk when there's work to be done, but sunny and sixty with a forecast of a rainy week ahead lured me outdoors. I did a...
Shadow’s Babies: Day Three
Shadow has turned out to be a good mama. Here she is with her babies on day three. http://youtu.be/RAu3CBv3lCM
Milling Our Own Lumber
"Assemble the Portable Sawmill" has been on Paul's to do list since parts for the mill were delivered seven years ago. The time and motivation were finally right for him to get this done?- we've got 50 Freedom Ranger meat chicks that are growing...
Baby Peeps and the Great Outdoors
The two-day-old peeps ventured into the great outdoors of the Banty B&B today. A bit soon for this type of adventure in my eyes. I suspect that they led their mama on a merry chase. Shadow seems to be a very conscientious mama, but when I...
Little Miracles
I've been on Shadow watch the last couple of days. When I poked my head in the banty coop tonight I saw an egg shell lying next to Shadow. Although I didn't hear any telltale peeps, I all but danced inside to get Paul and Hannah. We gathered up...
The Unsung Beast
It's been brought to my attention that there's one member of this family who has not had her moment in the blog limelight. Ginger is our 11 year-old Legal. That's a cross between a Lab and a Beagle. She has the lab fur mixed with the beagle...
Dilly the Broody Duck – Turkey Egg Update
Dilly's broodiness continues. She is defending her nest with more gusto lately, refusing to be chased off it when we want to collect the new duck eggs she's added to her clutch. She'll leave the nest for a dip and a nibble when she's good and ready...
Moving In
A curious sight caught my attention this evening. Our resident squirrel is building her nest and she's accessorized with this scrap of fabric from a long-forgotten scarecrow. Just a few weeks ago we saw her trying to pull this scrap from where it...
Night Sounds
The night is loud outside my window tonight. What do you suppose is making all this noise? https://www.downeastthunderfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Night_Sounds.mp3
Freedom Ranger Chick Update
We've had these little guys with us for nine days now. It's amazing how fast they grow. Look at the feathers coming out on their wings - and their tiny little tail feathers! They're too cute. I hope they get ugly soon - meat chickens need to be ugly.
A Downeast Thunder Farm Snowy Owl
This little owl is reminiscent of Hedwig of the Harry Potter fame. While we don't see Snowy Owls in our neck of the woods, there is a stuffed Hedwig living in Hannah's room. Click here to download this free Snowy Owl felt pattern. Purchase a...
Brownie the Broody Buff
Yet another one of our girls has gone broody. Brownie is our broody buff orpington. She's been sitting on eggs for about ten days now. It took us a while to catch on because nesting box five and six almost always have a chicken in them. They're...
The Not So Wild Duck Chase
I looked out the kitchen window this morning and saw this trio in my garden, madly nibbling away at anything green they could find. As soon as I stepped outside with my camera they were off and running. The jig was up. They knew they were in...
Ruby Throated Hummingbird Felt Ornament
Soon I'll be filling the feeders for the return of these little hummingbirds. Invariably they return on May 12 - give or take a day. A feeder right outside the kitchen window provides us with lots of free entertainment! You can download the free...
Woven Potato Basket
Not long ago, I saw a picture of large woven baskets sitting among raised beds in a garden. They looked so neat, that I thought I'd try make one for potatoes. Truth be told, I thought of making a couple - but these are a lot of work! I cut tree...
Baby Peeps Arrived!
Baby peeps arrived today! FIFTY-ONE of them! Well, that's what the invoice says - I didn't count 'em. These are Freedom Ranger chicks that will be raised for freezer camp. Aren't they sweet? And this little guy looks plumb tuckered out. It's a long...
Another Broody Girl!
Another farm girl has succumbed to Spring fever and has gone broody. Shadow, one of our two Ameraucana chickens hasn't left her nesting box for the past couple of days. Today was the first I'd learned of it, so I paid her a visit. She didn't budge...
The Easter Squirrel
This cute little guy caught our attention on Easter Sunday. We found him just outside the living room window tugging on a piece of fabric that was stuck in a bush - a remnant of a long forgotten scarecrow. He tried and tried, but couldn't work it...
