Chicken Rescuer Extraordinaire

I have spent too much of my time this week rescuing really, really stupid chickens. This is where dog boarding and farming do NOT mix!
I am caring for a big Rotti right now. He really is the nicest rotti I've ever met, but watch out chickens! About three days ago, a chicken escaped from the coop. Rocky got it. He's fast for a big guy! Somehow, I wrangled the chicken out of his mouth- while at the same time, I was trying to keep ANOTHER dog from grabbing her,( I still am unsure as to how I did that...!)  and told the chicken she was stupid, and threw her back in the coop.
The chicken survived being chomped by a Rotti!
Yesterday, another chicken escaped.  Rocky got this one, too! This time, I was able to grab him by the tail before he got a good hold on her, put him inside, and then grabbed the chicken and told her she was stupid, and threw her back into the coop.
Later that day, the same stupid chicken got out again.
This time Reckless and a whippet were running about. They both saw the chicken at the same time, and were both on her before I had time to blink. Somehow, I had to hold BOTH dogs back, then with a third hand grab the chicken. Sound difficult??? It was! At some point, I managed to grab both dogs, throw them back a couple of feet, then grab the chicken REALLY fast, before they could grab her again. Amazing how quickly you can move when you have to!
I took the naughty chicken inside, and clipped her wings before I put her back in the coop. Then I had a discussion with her as to how stupid it was to ever, ever leave the coop. Next time she may not make it back alive!

During all three chicken attacks, my three girls were out, too. I do have to mention just how proud of them I am. They kept a respectful distance from the chickens each time. They have become true farm dogs. When I was holding the last chicken, I let all four of my dogs sniff it, yes, even Reckless. I wanted him to get used to sniffing without grabbing, and it's easier to do when the chicken isn't squawking and flapping about. He did really well, and it was a great learning experience for all the dogs.

CSA Again...:-)

I am picking my CSA shares a bit early this week, as I am actually going away! I haven't been away anywhere, in so long, I can't even bear to think about it. Reckless and I are competing in the AAC Agility Regionals in Abbotsford. We are not really ready for regionals yet, they came up way too fast, but it will be good experience for the both of us! I've been going crazy all week, making sure the dogs are all taken care of, the schedule is set, everyone knows what dogs are coming and going, and so on and on and on... takes a lot of work! I'm sure I've forgotten a thing or two, but hopefully I've managed to cover all the major bases. I think I will be just be glad to get home next week and relax.... if there is such a thing! Dog boarding is non stop busy right now (which is wonderful, I can actually pay my bills!) and the gardens need constant tending and planting and slug-controling. We are FINALLY supposed to get some sun starting this weekend, so hopefully things will really start growing out there.

This weeks' shares:

mild mesculin
chives
peppermint
pea shoots (sounds odd, but this is my new favourite veggie... I go out daily and munch on pea shoots... they are delicious!!! Try it sometime!)

Catching up

Well, the turkeys were YUMMY. They are super-lean, not really any fat on them to speak of, anyway. I do have to admit that I was quite disappointed in the size of them. For the length of time it took the bloody things to grow, and how annoying they were, I would've hoped for a bit more. The one tom I had, Tasty, turned out to be not a bad size. All the rest were females, and were barely the size of a chicken. I have decided to hold off on doing any more turkeys this year, and just concentrate on the chickens. I am going to to both heritage and hybrids, so people can have a choice, and the hybrids will bring in a bit faster cash. Maybe I'll try turkeys again next year...

I now have 10 new garden beds built, and will be able to do a bunch more over the next week or two. I got my first couple of deposit cheques from my CSA members, and am just chomping at the bit to get planting. It has been so MILD this year, it is tempting to just 'try' a few crops early, and see what happens. But I won't! I know as soon as I put a few seeds in the garden, there will be a cold snap. I am trying hard to be patient, but for those who know me well, will realize just how hard it is for me to do! Patience may be a virtue, but it's not one of my virtues;-)

I am starting to expand my orchard a bit. I got an Anjou pear, made a raised bed for it (which is a good thing, seeing as the water table is only about a foot under the soil line these days), planted it, then realized I put it in the wrong spot, so had to build another bed, and replant it where it was supposed to go. I am also hoping to get another apple and plum in this year as well. Then I will be 3/4 finished the orchard, and will hopefully be able to finish it by the end of the year. Yay! Fresh fruit! Love it!

I had my busiest weekend EVER in the dog boarding side of things. It was insane. Luckily, almost all the dogs I had in I've had before, and they were all really well behaved, and everyone got along. I now know the limits of my little house... I had 14 dogs in on Friday nite, PLUS my own four. I truly could not have squeezed another dog in here if I had tried! I am now back down to a normal level- 6 dogs- and if I could hold steady at that, I would be really making a living, instead of just eeking out a living. It's very encouraging!!