Duck and Hen Share Nest

We have a duck that thinks she is a chicken (Mary) and a silkie hen that likes to be roommates. The two of them are sharing a nest of mixed eggs in the woodpile. Here is Ellen maintaining the nest while Mary is out and about. Actually, Mary is being chased by the puppy while I am snapping this shot.

Mary the duck is crazy about Fabio the blonde rooster. We hope there is at least one male in the batch of mallards so Mary can live a more normal lifestyle!

My Favorite Rooster

Sundance and his wife: Sundance has to stay in a pen of his own because he roughs up all the other roosters.

The New Puppy

Went shopping today for puppy supplies: flea shampoo, collar and leash, ear mite meds, brush, engraved nametag...

Now the puppy and Katie are playing in the sprinkler! I guess the new shampoo and brush will get a workout right away.

I love it that Katie is a "fashion girl" but she will also randomly show up with a toad in hand! She also loves the chickens and is a fearless "herder." Today she watched Wil kill a chicken for the first time. When she came in the house, she was ready to recount the event to me, but as she told it she grew pale and had to run to her bed. It only took a brief "life on the farm" discussion to get her right again, though. Much better than last summer when she watched Pepper give birth to the boys, and Katie turned GREEN and almost passed out! We are still holding out for her going to Vet school at Auburn!

Welcome to our new Blog!

We have been meaning for a long time to keep a diary of our adventures in farming. I finally was at the computer when the idea hit me to look for a blog site.

We are constantly amazed by our life on a farm. We used to live in Memphis, living the Yuppie life, driving a sports car, working the DINK lifestyle (dual income, no kids). Then we moved back to Alabama, and God finally blessed us with a child. When she was three, we took our daughter to a festival. In the petting zoo, she wanted no animal BUT the black banty rooster. She was fearless with the chickens, and it was difficult to get her to put the little rooster down and leave.

So began our lives with chickens, and over the last few years, a whole menagerie of animals.

Now we don't want to be anywhere but home with our animals. Well, Katie and I love our office/art studio. And now that we have Maggie May, our new pup, Katie has a playmate.

LIFE IS GOOD ON THE FARM!