Happenings on the Farm

Steel-toed boots

Movable chicken coop

I woke up the other morning to gusts of wind threatening to rip my tent right off the platform, a fate that fell on two of the other tents. Soon the skies opened up and rain flooded down. Thunder and lightning took over the night sky as we lay protected from the elements by pieces of canvas and a flailing plastic tarp. Should I have been worried about sleeping on a metal-framed bunk in a metal framed tent? Raven shish kabobs could quite possibly have been on the menu. Luckily we were not charred or drowned in the storm. We woke up early the next morning and continued the farm chores that we've taken as our own.

One of these chores, which I've become somewhat attached to is the chicken care. There are currently 20 adult chickens and 52 baby chicks and 1 rooster. We're expecting 40 more adult laying hens this weekend. Every morning, we have to feed, water and collect eggs. I decided to have a go at doing chicken duty solo one morning... a little team leader time out if you will. As I opened the coop door to grab the waterer, one of the hens pulled a Houdini and flew the coop. Josh, the animal guy, happened to be walking toward the pasture just as the great escape happened causing me to pull the profanity train to an abrupt stop. The hen kept running over to the rooster cage and then running away as soon as we got close. After a while, I'd had enough of her games so I told her that if she didn't behave, I'd put her in the cage and let the rooster rape her until her eggs were scrambled. Sure enough, she turned right around and walked towards her own cage. I only had to open the door for her to hop right in. Behold, the power of persuasion.

Another fond chicken memory came a few days later during a team outing to a local event... "Night Out with the Chicks." Locals filled the aisles of the feed store to listen to a chicken expert give advice on everything chicken related. The event included a number of door prizes. My team members won feeders, waterers, T-shirts, and hats. The big winner that night was none other than myself. I won a heat lamp and 2 BABY CHICKS!!!! They were put in a box and sent home with me. Honey and Mustard, names inspired by their color and my love of condiments, have been integrated with the rest of the babies and are now the coolest little chicks in the crate.

Caring for the chicks

Yesterday we planted the year's first seeds outside of the green house. Beets, Spinach, and Peas will all be growing thanks to our dirty hands. We're all very relieved that our project at Kayam wasn't cut short due to the goings on in Washington. It has been a great experience for all of us.

Planting beets on the farm