What Can it Mean???

We have chickens, young females (pullets) that are approximately four and a half months old.
Three are White Rocks and three are Gold Sexlinks.
One of the White Rocks is much more vocal than all the other chickens.
Whenever I go into the coop to feed, she starts cackling noisily and making a screeching noise whereas the others keep up their tock, tock, tock as they steadily feed or meander around. Occasionally, one of the Sexlinks will quickly run over to the noisy chicken and give her a quick peck as if to say, "Pipe down!"
This morning while we were out by the garden working with the ponies, my husband and I heard a great commotion coming from the coop. I quickly started for the coop to see what was the matter. My husband shouted to me that it may be a snake causing the chickens to fuss and be careful.
When I got to the coop, the lone, noisy White Rock chicken was the only one in the coop. She was perched on one of the roosts, flapping her wings, and cackling noisily. I walked in and looked around for any sign of an intruder but none was to be seen.
Hmmm, what could it all mean???
Later, while we were eating breakfast, I called a good friend that has raised chickens for ages.
I asked her about my obnoxious little chicken, trying to get some insight into her odd behavior.
The friend asked me several questions concerning the overall health of the bird and then said she may just be a very vocal bird.
"A very vocal bird?"
Surely, there had to be more.
But my friend laughed at me and said I may be reading more into the chicken's behavior than what was really there.
((Gasp!)) Me...reading more into the situation than what is really there...surely not!
I mean, I guess it's possible. I have been told I tend to over analyze things...think too much.
And by the way, have you ever noticed the first four letters of the word analyze are anal.
Hmmm, I'm gonna stop there.
The end...
And if any of you happen to have some input on my overly vocal bird, I would appreciate it!
Curious and Analytical in OK,
Julie

Free Indeed

A couple of days ago, Tim took our little Strawberry out to the pasture to meet the other horses. I was sorely dissappointed in those girls!
Talk about cliquish, goodness gracious those girls were snotty!
Poor little Strawberry couldn't bear the ostrasizing those girls were dishing out and with a toss of her gorgeous blonde head broke away from Tim and ran back to the house and barns.
I of course gave her plenty of lovin', told her she was special and soon enough those goons would figure it out on their own.
Not being a part of the group can hurt and somehow I think I'm reading way more into Strawberry's predicament than is really there.
There will be a few scuffles, kicks, and nips and before we know it, Strawberry will be a part of the horsie crew.
But isn't it interesting what we will sacrifice, give-up, or comprimise to be a part.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36


Blessings, Julie

Harses, Harses, Harses!

Here at Forty Acre Farm, the pace has picked up a bit these last few days.
By that I mean we've begun to pay much more attention to our equine friends.
As of this past Saturday, we had two resident horses, Bella the large, black quarter-horse and Trixie our little Welsh pony.



Bella is lame, but is papered with a great lineage. We hope to have her bred, sell the foal, and Bella. She has the most wonderful temperament but her days here are numbered. It's just not practical to keep her.



We bought Trixie, our little white Welsh pony, last fall. And as ponies go, she was every bit as stubborn as we were warned she may be.
But Tim has done an excellent job in working with her and encouraging the girls to ride.
I have been so pleased with the progress that our little Trixie has made along with both girls learning how to ride.



Early on in their training, (both the girls and the pony) one daughter was thrown, but her love for horses was not to be deterred and she immediately got back on. I've admired her dedication and at the end of this month she will show Trixie at our county fair.



The whole family is excited but there is still much to be done as both girl and horse are still in training.
Of course, with only one pony and two girls wanting to ride...there have been some moments when one girl had to be left out. Not a big deal really, but this past Saturday that little difficulty was remedied when I received a phone call from a friend that was at a horse auction.
She told me about a deal that was just too good to pass up. I headed out into the hay meadow where Tim was swathing (cutting hay) and we conversed. With Tim's blessing and an ultimate bid the kids and I headed to the auction so I could get a gander at this little pony that I was called about. Wonderfully, there was a gentleman there, a friend, that has all the horse sense necessary in judging a horse of worth. He declared the little roan mare to be sound and near perfectly "put together." I valued his judgement and prepared to bid.
With temperatures above 100 and the auction being performed in full sun we waited for the little mare to come up for bid.
Once she did, the bidding went fast and we had a horse.



I was told by another gentleman there that he believed the little horse to be a mixture of Quarter-horse and Welsh pony. I can totally see that as our little Strawberry (the name we've given her) is very quick-footed like our Trixie.
Another thing she has in common with our Trixie is stubborness.
So we've begun training our little roan Strawberry to have good manners and to get used to having a saddle on her back.
It definitely hasn't been easy but we're already seeing progress and it's encouraging that she's obviously very smart.
So that's what's up here along with a multitude of other things...just like your place, too, I'm sure!
Hope your week is going great!
Julie