The Hens Get Winter Care

It snowed last night, a light dusting of Utah powder, glistened under the porch light as I opened the door to let the dogs out in the wee morning hours.  

 

In the morning when I feed, I love how the ice crystals , the hoar frost, glistens like bright silver stars on each branch and twig. The cold can be a wonderland if ice and steaming breath coming from the nostrils of the llamas. The air is crisp and invigorating provided you are dressed right. There are no wet puddles at this time, just frozen water and crystals. Lot's of crunch underfoot.

There is much attention to the well-being of our fur and feathered friends. Even the wild birds get their water renewed and new seed to eat. We look for steady bodies, clear bright eyes, a good appetite. during feeding, each dear family member is greeted with a smile and a blessing. Anything that needs tending to is done.

Florence has a large comb. We spotted some black spots on the tips. www.facebook.com/littleutahfarm

I saw that a few of the long combed hens had a slight touch of frost bite which blackens the tissue on the tips. After dinner I tippy-toed out to the coop where all 9 girls were nestled side by side on the roosts. I stepped into their sleeping den and passed the flow of infrared red waves from the lamp hanging just so, in the far corner.

It was cozy in there and I always breathe a sigh a relief* knowing they are safe and comfy. They look so big with their down and feathers fluffed to keep them warm. I took out my trusty tube of Vaseline out of my pocket and laid it on the north wall on the shelf.

 Florence was close by and I took her, gently wrapping my hands around her wings and body. She didn't seem to mind. Then I applied a bit of Vaseline to her red comb and wattles. She shook her little head a bit and that was that. I am sure it felt good to her. 

May our black Jersey giant has a large comb that flops over like a ladies hat. www.facebook.com/littleutahfarm

 I searched the line of roosting hens and saw that May was next. Her and Florence have the longest combs. By this time the hens were murmuring to each other. I leaned over and picked up May from the top roost and brought her down. She is our black Jersey giant. Her large powerful wings flapped against my face and I set her down on the shelf and brought her close to my chest and secured the other wing gently against her body with my hand. We both took a deep breath then I began to apply the Vaseline to her comb. I loved the texture of the combs and how pretty they looked with their treatment under the infrared lamps. Their heads are so tiny and to think that God desired a red rubbery comb to jut out right on the center top is an wonder to ponder. 

The hens bodies are full and soft yet you can feel some dominant 
 bones like the breast bone. I set her back on the shelf so she could find her way back to her roost. "Good night, sweeties" I cooed. I made my way past bun bun's rabbitat then ducked under the sharp long icicles at the doorway. The door shut and I latched it.

The white fields of snow crunched underfoot as I walked back to my warm house. I dreamed of an attached barn like a Noah's Ark filled with animals and connected to our home where I could feed them all in my leggings and socks and there is a large solar window to let the sun shine in and on and on the dream goes.

I am smiling as I walk up the back porch and off goes the light.

All is well on Little Utah Farm.

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Wishing you and yours a happy New Year 2016,

Until next time here is a quote:

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Deborah Moon Moen of Little Utah Farm

 

Chickens and Deep Snow

 

The snow reached a higher volume than my hens could handle. We had shoveled paths but the walls of the path were much too high to see over. Naomi one of my Giant Jerseys, flew into the white abyss and landed in a foot of soft Utah powder. She was stuck and looked all around for an escape route. But the white snow overwhelmed her and she stood still. 





Here is Naomi strutting through the snow when it was only 2". She is now on a greeting card to wish someone a Happy New Year. Click on the image to see this card.

Happy New Year Hen Greeting Card by LittleUtahFarm
See more Chicken Cards at zazzle.com

 

 

 I picked her up and her little body was cold and shivering. I warmed her and placed her back in the coop and closed the door. . The solution to this was to keep them inside their coop.

 My hens are tough and do enjoy tromping around in the snow. They cackle and whine a bit inside the coop, especially Winona. She sounds like a little girl with pigtails, saying Why ? Why can't we go outside?

Little Utah Farm has a hard working Kabota tractor. www.littleutahfarm.blogspot.com

Husband Paul made our winter wonderland a bit more animal friendly with his Kabota tractor. He shaved the snow down to 4 inches where the hens and dogs play in an enclosed back yard.. It is so much better.

 

We have a magical winter wonderland around us as far as the eyes can see so this does not diminish our beauty one bit. He did such a great job. So much easier to feed and care for our flock and herd and dogs. We let the hens out and they are laying outdoor in the sunroom on their sides, wing extended, leg out, soaking up the sun.
 

 

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Until next time

Wishing you a Merry Christmas
touched with wonder
and filled with love

 

Deborah Moen of Little Utah Farm
Farm-girl, Nature Lover, Photographer, Writer

 

PS

 

We have a Little Utah Farm Store on Zazzle and a Facebook page.

 

Greeting Cards and Express shipping are both 50% off till Sunday December 20, 2015 Zazzle always has a sale going on.

We have a winter Holiday Category on Little Utah Farm Store. Here is Starbuck our llamas peeking out of the shelter on a winter wonderland morning.

 

Llama In The Snow Happy Holidays Greeting Card by LittleUtahFarm
Make custom notecards at zazzle.com

Ice Bird

I found a treasure this morning. I was lifting the wheel barrel up off the hay and I heard a crack* I looked down in the ice and snow and spotted a beak and the head shape of a bird. I lifted the piece of ice up and it had the wings, body and tail of a bird. It was sturdy about 1/2" thick and almost a foot long.

I found this piece of ice and as you can see it looks like a regal bird.

I held the ice up to the sun and saw two willow leaves frozen inside it. I noticed how it had feather like details and a tail.

I wondered if it would sit on a branch so I took it to the backyard and place it on a snowy blue spruce branch. It balanced perfectly and I was able to take the photograph.

Ice Bird Treasure found under the wheel barrel.

This Ice Bird was as beautiful as a precious jewel. I placed it near a log and allowed the water and elements to take their course.


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Deborah Moen
Farmgirl, Nature Lover, Photographer, and Writer

Florence Ends This Chapter

Hello everyone!

 Yes ! Florence is embarking on a new chapter in her life here on Little Utah Farm.




Florence Ends this Chapter on www.LittleUtahFarm.blogspot.com
Florence has climbed up this hill by the fountain !

 I am so happy to announce that Florence has recovered from her leg injury.


 Day by day I let go of worry about whether Florence would be OK.

Worry never solved anything. Some of us I know have turned to  worry because maybe we thought it meant we care. Now we know the best care comes from a balanced mind and body and mindfulness of a state of love, kindness and compassion. 

We provide the care, good healthy food and shelter our animals need to flourish.  We let go of feeling sorry for our animals and replacing that with love and compassion to uplifted the mood of the barnyard daily.

For example, Instead of fretting and imagining the worst, I turned my focus to something positive like how her beautiful red feathers glistened in the sunlight.  I also appreciated how she patiently waited by herself under the rabbit bush while her intelligent cells were knitting and forming new connections in her body. I imagined it all in my mind the desired results.

A few days ago I saw Florence walking on two legs with such balance I had to take a second look to see if that was actually Florence. Indeed it was her. Needles to say I shouted for the joy of it.

I noticed at feeding time she gathered around the serving platters with the others and ate with them. She also roosted with them. This is a sure sign her body was transforming.
  

Hurray for Florence !

What a journey she has had since she came to Little Utah Farm and even before that she was...well...let's say she was like Huckleberry Fin having a free spirited adventurous life.


I thank you for sharing in our joy and visiting Little Utah Farm
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   Until next time,

Merry Be !

Deborah Moen
Farmgirl, Nature Lover, Photographer, and Writer

Allis Chalmer Tractor Pillow by LittleUtahFarm
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How to Make Zuchinni Chips



My zucchini chips are seasoned and ready to dehydrate.
Take 15 to 24 hours.
 #crispy # crunchy # delicious #nutritious

Whether you have an abundance of zucchini growing in your garden or want to eat healthier, this recipe is for you. Season it anyway you desire. I use a dehydrator for mine but you can dry these in your oven. But it gets so hot in the kitchen buy a dehydrator.  I have a small one and it has given me so much delicious food to eat from beef jerky and dried corn, to these zucchini chips.

This is my dehydrator and they have bigger ones also.

Dehydrated zucchini chips. Delicious

YUM !













Cut 1/8 " slices of zucchini here
Rub in 1Tablespoon of   EVO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Used your hands and sprinkle your seasonings over the slices then rub in really good on all the slices
I used:

•  onion power
• garlic powder
• salt
• pepper
• turmeric powder

Place each slice on the racks with a bit of space in between
Turn dehydrator on to 135 for fruits and leathers

It took my zucchini 15+ hours to make them crisp. Keep checking them until they are done. Careful not to eat them all they taste good at every stage ! Dehydrators and different elevations differ.

For a dip I made guacamole. I used half of an avocado and mixed in some fresh pesto ( 1/2 tsp ) that my neighbor just made and stirred in 2 teaspoons of parmesan cheese.


Enjoy !

Here is a wonderful post for 5 seasoning ideas. This is where I got the basic recipe at the Easy Vegan and then I used my own seasoning. The vinegar and salt zucchini chips sound really good.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2012/07/23/dehydrated-zucchini-chips/ 



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Until next time take care of you and enjoy your life.

Deborah Moen of Little Utah Farm


 

How I Made My First Corn Shocks



My First Corn Shock Little Utah Farm 2012

shock 2   (shk) n. 1. A number of sheaves of grain stacked upright in a field for drying. 2. A thick heavy mass: a shock of white hair. tr.v. shocked, shock·ing, shocks To gather (grain) into shocks. [Middle English shok.]

I had never heard this word, shock. I thought the shocks were called corn stacks. And I was pleasantly surprised when I read about the original use of the corn shocks. Further investigation gave me old stories about gathering the bundles of corn and tying them into bundles to dry. Farmers fed the shocks to the cattle as fodder for the winter and sometimes the shocks provided bedding against the cold wet or snowy earth. Farmers waste no thing. Every part of the rural life has a purpose and comes full circle. This is a part of living off the land. The part that drew me to this kind of life.

How to plant the corn  1-2-3

1. I planted the little kernels of corn so carefully.  I poked the holes with a heavy iron spike. Just read the package. Some say to bury the seed ½ “and some 2”.  It depends on what variety you have. I set the seeds 8” apart.
2.  I dropped the dried kernels, into their holes and filled the earth in over them. We had rented a rototiller and the clay was soft as cake flour so my rows were easier to form this year. 
3. I made my rows about 12-15 “ apart (just enough to step into) and 30 feet long. There were 5 rows.

Corn needs love:

You must plant corn when the earth has warmed to at least 60 degrees. The soil must have nutrients in it. Give your corn plenty of water as they sprout and grow. Baby them, tell them they are beautiful, whisper sweet nothings into their ears. Last year I got over a hundred cobs piled high in the wheel barrel. I had a jolly time parboiling and wrapping them up for the freezer. I shared some with my neighbors. Oh those Peaches and Cream kernels were so sweet and delicious.

Here is my crop from this year 2015 in a greeting card. Perfect for Thanksgiving greetings. I loved this corn patch too. Every year has its own personality.

Our mild winter tricked me into planting in April. We had some deep freezes and the ground really didn't warm until the end of June. My crop looked small and uncared for. Much of it did not reach 3 1/2 feet high. But something wonderful did emerge in my corn patch this year. I found some big fat worms at the end of the cobs to feed the hens and had enough good cobs for the hens to enjoy. Most of all I loved making my first corn shocks.

How To Make Corn Shocks:

The stalks are usually sliced off near the ground with a scythe. I pulled my stalks from the ground and left on the root ball for weight to keep them from blowing away. These shocks will be decoration for our hay wagon in the Heritage and Livestock Parade in October.

You will need:

• cornstalks (wait till the leaves on the bottom have turned brown and the tops are still green)
• cord to tie with and scissors
• a tomato cage
• some decorations are nice like pretty autumn leaves, flowers ribbon or dried corn

Instructions:

1. Set the tomato cage on the ground upside down so the big part is on the bottom.
2. Begin placing the stalks one by one balancing them against the cage till it is all covered  (the ends of the stalks will flare outward on the ground)
3. Tie the shock in the upper third of the bundle with a cord ( I used orange baling string )
4. I left my tomato cage inside to assure a good structure as my stalks were a bit flimsy. But if your stalks are strong you can slip the whole shock off the cage and set it down.
5. Now come more fun, Decorate!
   
   
   

70 years ago here's how it was done:

Often the shocks sat out in the fields all year long, and the farmer would use an ax to chop out the stocks he needed. That changed in the late 1920′s when a picking machine was made and technology began to really change things.

Farm Collector shares this story written by 70 year old Frances Steel in 1970. “My father and I would take eight rows at a time. I cut four rows and he cut four. He used a regular corn cutter and I used a sickle, which I liked better. We used a wooden horse to lean the corn together between the fourth and fifth row. The horse was a pole about three inches in diameter at the big end and 12 feet long. It was about two inches at the small end. It had two broomsticks for legs at the big end and the small end rested on the ground. And one and a half foot from the large end a hole the size of a broomstick or handle was drilled and a broomstick inserted. This is what the corn was leaned on to start the shock. And when we had cut a space eight rows square, my father would tie the shock. With either rye straw for a band, or binder twine, and as soon as it was tied, I would pull out the broom stick and pull the horse ahead and we would start a new shock. We mostly hauled the shocks in (onto) the barn floor and husked on rainy days or in the evening by lantern light. Major, my dog, would always be around. He loved to eat corn, and there would be mice in the field under the shocks when we hauled them in. And I saw him have a front foot on a mouse holding it down while he killed another one, but (he) never ate one. One man is supposed to cut 100 shocks a day. We never cut that many, and we did not lose any time.”*

Little Utah Farm 2012 Corn Shocks

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Deborah Moen
of Little Utah Farm

Skunked ! A Scientific Solution

Poor Walker got skunked.
www.littleutahfarm.blogspot.com 

It is 1:00 in the morning. The dogs beg to go outside. 
" Alright, alright." You crawl out of your comfy bed and open the door to let them out and they suddenly explode into a fast chase. after craning my neck to see what was the matter, a noxious smell fills the atmosphere. There is no escaping it. . Auwck !!!! SKUNK !

What do you do?

This post will give you the solution recipe for getting rid of the skunk smell. The sooner you get this made and get your dog washed the better the results. Use old towels and sponge because you may have to throw them away.

Skunk Solution www.littleutahfarm.blogspot.com

You will need:

• 3 gal bucket or larger ( this stuff bubbles to 3 times its size or more)
•  gloves, sponge, old towels 

1 quart of hydrogen peroxide*
1/4 cup of baking soda
2 Tbls of Dawn dishsoap ( I used Pamolive original)

* hydrogen peroxide may bleach your dogs fur so I used vinegar instead. You can use 1 quart of apple cider vinegar or white.

* I am using Fabreeze in the spare bedroom where Kollie ran and it helps. 


 Mix all ingredients in a 3 gallon bucket or larger outdoors and stand back because it bubbles up and expands. Use this mixture immediately. Sponge the mixture in really good to break up the oils. It soaps up nicely. Let sit for 3-5 minutes and rinse off. Careful not to get this in the eyes or mouth or nose. Do not store the solution in a closed container it will explode. Throw away any left overs.

Bend down and stick your nose near the fur and see if the smell is gone. If not you can mix another batch.

Kollie, our border collie, was clean with 1 wash and rinse
 and is back to work herding the hens. 

One wash with this solution left my border collie clean and soft and shiny and smelling sweet. She was the most effected and covered all over with skunk oil. Different fur types and situations may need a second or third wash.

Walker, my Aussie,  was not so easy. He is afraid of water so he is a bit touchy. The skunk got him right on the mouth and nose and side of face.  I still smell the skunk on him and will make another batch and wash him again.


Regular dog shampoo alone does not work and as you rub in the suds it spreads the skunk oil deeper into their coat.

Take care and good luck

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Until next time:
Stock up on these  because they seem to be the solution to many jobs around the home, garden and farm.

• hydrogen peroxide
•  baking soda
•  vinegar
•  lemon juice
•  borax
•  Dawn dish soap 
•  salt,

Your Truly,
Deborah Moen of Little Utah Farm

Good Morning ! Barred Rock Hen Classic Mug by LittleUtahFarm
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Challenge In The Llama Corral

Lakota Little Brother of Little Utah Farm one of our llamas
This is Lund, Utah. Photography and art design by DeborahMoen©
www.littleutahfarm.blogspot.com
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Lakota Little Brother is one of my llamas. He got a large branch wound up in his fiber. 

Llamas love to nibble and strip the bark of Elm branches. On this day my neighbor and I fed them several branches she had just sawed off her tree. 

 Hours later I fed the llamas their dinner inside the shelter and nearby the sky was blackening again with lightening and thunder. I noticed a branch trailing under Lakota and onto the ground and out between his back legs. My eyes followed the branch upwards beyond his shoulders almost all the way to his head. As he moved the branch stayed in place and I knew it was tangled in his fiber.

For a moment I watched him and tried to see where it was hooked or if it fell free as he moved. It was bound up tightly with his fiber. I felt the rain drops begin to fall. I felt alone for a moment then I remembered to take it one step at a time. 

 I reached out and pulled a bit on the upper part of the branch and it was steadfast, wrapped around an 8" length of 5" long of both the stiff outer coat and the soft undercoat or down . The limbs of the tree had been nibbled down making it a snare like many little crochet hooks. I wished I had my husband to help me or a friend that could help me. That was not possible at that moment. 

I ran to get the big branch clippers and some scissors and the halter. I had not haltered him in a long while and usually brought him into a sort of chute called a catch pen to make it easier. I came back with the clippers and some sharp scissors. I remembered to use my focus and mindfulness to communicate with him and also breathed to remain calm. I focused on Lakota's rear end to move him out of the shelter away from the others. I felt this ease as he moved out without having to trip over the branch. I also knew he was willing to communicate. We remained silently in sound and connected through mind.

I walked towards him and he walked on and I stopped and focused. on the thought, “We must get this done now.” He knew it too because he stopped at that moment.

 I got the halter into position. He remained calm and still. ( Llamas are not fond of having their heads touched but Lakota has been trained to be haltered and I drew on that image to complete the task). He continued to hold his head and body still as I slipped on the black halter with the purple lead rope attached. I buckled the strap behind his ears and we were good to go.

 I lead him slowly to the corral panel to tie him up with a release knot. Gracefully we worked as a team. His big black eyes knowingly looked down on me with confidence. No other llama I have met has this unique piercing gaze. It can signal get away or it can show he trusts you. 

I made some cuts in the tightly bound hairs and used the big old branch lopper to cut the upper part of the branch. Not one stir did he make as I severed it.  I began to pull the twisted bunched up hairs, a small clump at a time, away from the branch. Little by little we released enough for me to cut through with the scissors and the stick gently fell away between his legs and Lakota remained still. The whole experience was surreal like time stood still. 

In the moments to follow I savored taking off the halter with not a move of his head and feeling it slip gently off his nose. Lakota was free yet he remained standing. "Go, you are free" I said softly.  He turned and went back to his hay, undisturbed and calm.

Here is the branch that got stuck in Lakota's fiber.
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The storm had arrived and rain fell. Like so many times before I walked between the big drops to the hen coop and checked on bun bun ( my rabbit). I called the girls (hens) in to have some scratch while it rained.

I now have hope that I will indeed walk the llamas soon. That working with them everyday has changed our relationship and brought us closer. 

DeborahMoonMoen
of Little Utah Farm

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Until next time 

Believe in your dreams,

Deborah Moen of Little Utah Farm