finally friday

This week seemed to have an extra day added in for some reason. It just drug on and on. So it was quite the treat to have an amazingly well behaved pony when we worked today.  

But let's back up a little. . .

Last weekend, Whitney Houston was brutally murdered by a raccoon. She went missing in the morning and was found after work. Not going to lie, I am still a little sad about this. She was just getting to be super friendly, laying eggs every day, and being such a talker! Terry decided to give her chicken away so she wouldn't meet the same fate, but overnight she was unfortunately taken as well. We have decided to not get new chickens with winter coming, but to start anew in spring. And work on redesigning the chicken coop. 

Oh, then my car broke down on the way home from Ohio and I had to get that fixed, after being stranded on the side of the freeway for hours. 

One of the most frustrating things about the place where I board is feeding time. They like to feed right when I get there from work. I have two options, either wait until Shyloh is done eating with the herd before we do any work or take her food, work her, then wait for her to eat it on her own before turning her back out with the herd. Either way, I am waiting. 

So, today I waited patiently, while picking burrs off of her. I did these amazing braids earlier in the week. . .

And they actually work!  Even if they look worse as each day goes by they still keep the burrs out! I can hold off on the roaching for now (evil grin).

Shy did have a couple burrs on her forelock, but nothing like the previous mess. The hard part is finding and picking the burrs out of her ever growing body hair. And her ears. Shy hates her ears touched. This caused a bit of commotion when I was trying to maximize my time with her as I tried to pick them off her swinging head as she ran and tried to eat at the same time.  (And I have the nerve to call others crazy!)

After that fiasco, I tacked Shy up in her line driving gear and went for a spin around the barn. I could not have asked for a better horse (except that she ever be that good with a cart attached!). I was able to line driving using only one hand and a loose line. She responded to the slightest movement. Nothing bothered her today as we went around the property and through the woods. And we even worked on minute movements, stepping "gee" and "haw" one step at a time. It was wondrous! Stopping and standing was great and she did not give me any trouble going past the tack/untack spot, where we usually have a fight. 

That was some much needed work time spent with the pony and she got some carrots for her good work. I say this a lot, but maybe there is hope for Shy yet!

Or not. . .

chicken update

Since day one, we were aware that Jaime did not want roosters on her farm. Roosters don't just crow in the morning, they crow all day and all night. So when Foghorn began developing a comb and waddles, it was time for Terry to take him home. I said that Whitney Houston could come along to keep him company. Terry lost track of which chicken was Roy Orbison, so she took a smaller chicken along, too. 

First order of business was building a coop in Terry's yard. Terry lives on an island, which sounds weird, but it is its own township. It also has lots of wildlife there and is subject to different rules than where I live. 

The original. Later, Terry added a chicken wire cover, right over the top because they kept flying out.

Terry scored some free pallets from Tractor Supply and bought some fencing and other chicken supplies. We ended up making a ghetto fabulous coop. But at least it contained the chickens and kept them safe from her dogs and other wildlife on the island. 

I made up this for fun one day

Since Foghorn was a rooster and Whitney lays brown eggs, we assumed that the white eggs that kept showing up were from Roy. Jaime asked for Roy back because she seemed to be the only hen laying eggs. Strangely enough, after Roy was returned, we still kept getting white eggs. And there was no way Whitney was laying them. After some research, turns out Leghorn hens develop large combs and waddles. Interesting. . .Further research showed that Leghorns lay eggs early and Barred Rocks take longer to start laying. So, Foghorn is a hen. 

Free ranging for earthworms

This coop worked for the time being, but I had better plans. I also had a rabbit hutch my dad made me that was no longer in use. We took the Labor Day Monday to modify and biggify the coop. The rabbit hutch is great because it had two drop down doors so we can collect eggs. Then we built a ramp and used an ond sled to put sand in so they could "bathe". We added some supports to make the roof higher and put in some branches for roosting. 

They immediately took the the roosting branches

Yoshi keeping watch over the finished coop. 

The hens loved it! They checked it all out. I showed them how to go up the ramp to the nesting boxes. I think they will be some happy hens. We repurposed most of the fencing and all the wood was free. It is not the prettiest coop I have ever seen, but the hens are safe and happy. And I am hoping Whitney starts laying soon! 

Gorgeous Whitney!

Shyloh update soon, I am having trouble getting some video edited. 

slightly dirty pony gets clean

This week I attended a work conference in my favorite place, Traverse City. 

The bay

So, Shyloh was on her own for a while (with Jaime's help of course).  Shy wasted no time getting herself nice and dirty for me, which I find odd. . . Until recently, Shy is a pretty clean horse. She is not a mud roller and won't nap in mud or poop. But lately, she has had mud on her back, neck, face. . .places where I usually don't find mud on her. 

Not a lot, but more than usual. I still consider myself lucky that this is the worst.

But I cleaned her up all nice and pretty. And since I had time and the weather was nice-ish, I washed her tail to get it ready for the clinic this weekend. I also used the Trophy Line Mane-ly Long conditioner and polisher I bought at Equine Affaire. That stuff is great! 

Modeling

Since it had been all winter that Shy has not had running water on her, she acted like it was hot lava running out of the hose to burn her, which consisted of trying to run quickly step away from the water's reach. She quickly realized that it wasn't going to hurt her and behaved herself so I could wash the mud off of her legs before I started on the tail. Horses. . .

What is this? Why are you washing my tail?? Show season!!!

I brought Shy back to the round pen and made her look pretty and fussed over her for a bit. I think she secretly likes that.

Even put in a ribbon

Then I tied a lead rope to her halter and hopped up on her. Well, actually, she kept walking to the mounting block, I swear she was saying let's go for a ride! We putzed around the round pen. I laid over her neck and Shy took a little snooze. Then we walked around some more. She kept pointing herself to the door, I think she wanted to go out. Maybe soon, pony, maybe soon. 

Pointing out

It must have been when I was laying on her that I picked up a tick. Yes, they are back. Ugh. Me and Jaime released the chickens hoping that they will gobble some up and leave less for us to worry about. Whitney Houston continues to grow! 

Good chicken, all signs are pointing towards hen!

And the Bantams that Jaime has have started laying mini eggs!

This weekend will be busy with the clinic and raffle. Fun times ahead!