Room To Roam

There was some fence building today ~ Yeah!!  Dad and one of the hired men came this morning and built a fence.  We expanded the big hen's fence and we're still progressing with the chick's.

While Dad was using the pay loader he also pulled out the close line which was interfering with mom's landscaping plans.

Home At Last....For Now.

We survived HYC!  On Thursday and Friday mornings we had hail storms at 4 o'clock and our cabin roof is metal!  I didn't need an alarm clock to wake me up.  Thursday afternoon Mom and Bea hiked to the top of Harney Peak.  Instead of Harney, I hiked on the Sunday Gulch Trail which was really cool.  I played the piano for the talent show.

Before camp we stopped by the Purple Pie Place.  Bea took her picture by the purple pig.  After camp we went to Wall Drug and got some fudge.

We came back Friday evening.  I was wishing to see chicks outside, but only saw fencing material and stakes.

 

 

The chickens survived another week with Dad and Fred.  Grandma had to stop by and criticize their caretaking.  She got the hens from laying their eggs on the ground.

 

In the kitchen, all my oatmeal bars were gone, some cookies were left, there was an open bag of chips on the counter,  and a lot of over ripe bananas on the stove.  So Bea made a banana cake and I made a Snickers cake for church.

 

The hens took a dust bath while it was drizzling, so now they're all muddy.

 

Things To Do Before Camp

I was busy this afternoon.  I made my Dad take down the heater because the chicks were roosting and pooping on it.

 I also had to remove the trash can that was filled with straw. The hens were sitting there instead of their roosts at night.  I cleaned the hen's coop today to use up the straw.

 

For dinner my Mom made waffles.  She had some extras so I tried to feed them  to the chicks.  I stood holding a waffle and the chicks just stared at it.  They were looking at me like "What is that!  I'm not gonna eat that!"  One chick took a couple of pecks and that was it.

 

Tomorrow Mom, Bea, and I are leaving "the guys" and heading to church camp at Custer.  I froze some M&M cookies and made oatmeal fudge bars for Dad and Fred to eat.

 

 

When I collected the eggs today there was some fencing wire by the coop.  So maybe when I return from camp there will be a fence and chicks playing outside!  I'll keep you posted.  Until next Saturday...

Surprise!!!!

This morning I looked down in my water bucket. I thought my dog, Otto, dropped another rock in it.  But, this rock moved!  It was a big fat toad!

 

 

Coop Cleaning

Yesterday I cleaned the chick coop with a broom, dust pan, and wheel barrow.  The chicks were going crazy while I was sweeping. 

 

 Dad put a roost up yesterday.  Here's the rooster on the roost.

 

 Today I put a board over a nest on the floor where the pullets were laying.  My next goal for the chicks is to get a fence up.

Back From Camp

Last week I went to the USD Music Camp in Vermillion.  I had a blast, but now I'm home and it's time for work.  This morning Bea and I hung clothes on the line and laid out pavers.  My Grandpa and Grandma came over and measured out a roost.  My chickies were trying to roost on the cardboard.

 

   My Grandma gave me a new green water bucket for the chicks. I filled it up and tossed a rock in it.

 

 

It's hot outside today and my leghorns are not too bright!  It's ten times hotter and stuffier inside the coop, and they're all inside!

 

Peaks and Peeps

The last day of our vacation ended with a trip to Harney Peak and Fred's birthday.  We hiked two days in a row and my sister and brother are knocked out.  Bea twisted her ankle on Crow Peak and Fred skinned his knee on Harney Peak.  Here's my two cousins and I climbing around on the rocks.

 

In the evening it was the big birthday bash.  It was my brother Fred's birthday and my Great Uncle LeRoy's 75th.  There was slow roasted beef brisket, potato salad, orange salad, coleslaw, chips & salsa dip and the big birthday cake with ice cream!

 

 

Today we got home.  The kitchen is messy from Dad.  Eggs are in strawberry baskets and coffee cans by the microwave and on a bench.

 

My chicks have grown a lot in 5 days.  Mr. Rooster has grown a bigger redder comb, and all of them are losing feathers and growing brown feathers.  And they all have grown big feet, when they jump off the feeder there is a big thumb!

 

 

The Hills Day 2&3

Yesterday we went to Reptile Gardens.  It was really fun to watch the gator, bird, and snake shows. 

Bea and I petted a tortoise, and Fred caught a gator.

 

Today we climbed up Crow Peak.  It rained the whole way up, but the sun came out when we reached the top.  Here is my cousins and me at the top.

Day 1 of Black Hills

It was a long trip to the Black Hills.  We stopped at Chamberlain and took a picture by the teepee. 

We also stopped at Wall Drug and had ice cream and donuts.  Then we went to our hotel that had a water park.  My sister and I were relaxing in the lazy river. 

Dad is at home taking care of the place.  I showed him what to do with my chickens, and he'll let the robin go.

Rinds & Grabbers

I threw a piece of watermelon rind to the chicks.  They were scared of it and didn't eat it.

So, I left it to the professionals and they ate it down to the core.

 

Well, we had another pregnant cat.  And guess where it had it's kittens?  In the motor of our tractor.

 

 

We got them out with a "grabber" from Menards.  Dad wasn't too happy.

 

My next post will be from the Black Hills!