We’ve “organically” settled into our roles here on the farm. Nothing was pre-decided or dictated either way but after 40 years, we (luckily) know our strengths and “our chuthers” strengths as well.
SHE naturally pursued healthy, organic ways to grow our produce and raise our critters, so has taken the lead in those areas. I jump in enough to stay abreast of things but she’ll often do all the chores herself.
HE (I) contribute in other ways. Usually more (physical) effort jobs or infrastructure related to the whole operation. Building, electrical, plumbing, fencing, gates etc. There is always another project I need to complete.
NEITHER of us are into ornamental stuff (flowers, shrubbery etc.). I am more likely to pull healthy stuff out if it’s in the way, and my input on such matters is simply limited to how I would mow around it.
Now, since Sherry headed north to see family and friends, I decided it was a good opportunity to document the daily todos that need to be done. Even though these are laid out by time, it is more related to sunrise, sunset etc.
- 0500-0600: Wakey time. Let Jack and Cooper out. After starting the coffee, step out the front door and feed our 2 domestic cats their kibble, who are by now peering at you in the window awaiting breakfast.
- 0700: Wake up the puppy (Lyddie) and let her out of her kennel in our bedroom. She immediately runs to where my socks are laying, grabs one and proudly parades around the house with it.
- 0701: Retrieve sock and let Lyddie out to pee.
- 0702: Feed the 3 dogs their kibble.
- 0705: Open all 3 of the chicken coops. The birds all rush outside. While doing so, take inventory (count to be sure all present and accounted for) and collect any eggs.
- 0800: Prepare breakfast by cracking 3 or 4 eggs (w/shells) in a pan w/butter and lightly scramble. When nearly ready, mix in 1/4 stick of creme cheese and mix thoroughly.
- 0815: Take pan to the coop “narthex” in the barn to mix up with their feed. Using an oil drain pan, scoop 2 coffee cans full of feed into the pan. Sprinkle in a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and then dump in the pan of eggs/creme cheese. Again, mix thoroughly breaking up the cheese and eggs as much as possible.
- 0820: Measuring 1 cup per bird, scoop out the mixture into 2 trays for the established coop (6 scoops) and set down in their run.
- 0822: 1 tray for the bachelor roosters (2 scoops).
- 0824: The remaining (should be 10 scoops) goes into 2 trays+ 1 frisbee. The 2 trays go down first and the frisbee is for the picked on bird in her safe space. Remain for a few minutes to protect the picked on bird from the mean girls. Once she slows down and has had her fill, you can leave.
- 0830: Check all water dispensers. 1 in the main coop, 1 with the boys, another with the new girls and another for the ferral cats in their kennel.
- 0835: Feed the ferral cats their kibble.
- 1400: or middle of the afternoon: Give all 3 groups of birds their treat for the day. Sometimes mealworm grubs, sometimes scratch grains, sometimes something special and is often something too spoiled for us to eat.
- 1600 (while still light out): Collect all eggs you can find.
- 1700: Feed the dogs. For evening meals, they all get a smaller portion of kibble plus we add coconut oil (guard against worms) and some hot water (melts the oil and hydrates them). Then, all 3 share a single can of wet food mixed into everything. Jack (the old man) also gets a capsule of Deep Blue mixed in to alleviate his aching joints.
- 1715: Feed the domestic cats. They also share a single can of wet food in the evening. Once in a while we also give the ferals a treat but don’t want them to get lazy and need them to feast on mice as much as possible.
- 1720: Typically by this time, the sun is down, the yard lights have come on and the chix have all gone inside so we walk through one last time and close the coop/barn doors and shut/latch the windows. After a quick rendition of “Goodnight Sweetheart“, we turn out the lights.
Update 12/28/2023: With the new hens now moved in with their guardian roosters, mealtime is slightly easier with only 2 flocks to feed instead of 3. The new flock still gets 3 dishes in the morning, since the roosters were used to sharing a single tray and the hens always had (at least) 2 available. We no longer need to watch out for the picked on hen. With her special treatment, she healed up quickly and grew into one of the prettiest of the bunch, who no longer seems to be intimidated by the mean girls as she is right in there with the rest getting her fill at mealtime. Unfortunately, she seems to have lost her “broodiness” so we’ll continue our search for an egg-sitter.
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To make a short story, long. Sheesh, what a McGyver you are! Well done