Today was simply beautiful. I woke up late and headed to the barn. The sun was shining directly into the kitchen windows and lighting up the entire room. After changing into my barn clothes I filled up two 10-gallon buckets of water. We usually carry a good 40-50 gallons of water to the barn everyday. The barn is probably 200 feet or more so carrying a 10 gallons bucket of water, one in each hand, isn’t the easiest thing to do. After I fill the water buckets I usually go get the goat and chicken feed. While I am doing this, Rachel gets the dog food (eggs, bacon, oatmeal, chicken) ready. I then head to the barn to spread out the chicken feed and then go feed each of the goats. When I’ve got the goats taken care and satisfied, I let the chickens out. They usually bolted through the door when we open it, so you have to do it rather fast. So about 60 or so chickens all run out and start pecking at the pieces of grain. I’ll usually find an egg or two inside their pen in the morning.

After I finished feeding, I helped Rachel carrying down the water… a few more… and filled up the goats’ water. While Rachel refilled the chicken water, I cleaned out the goat stall, which took a good half hour. Then we carried the manure out to the field, and spread out some dry hay for the goats. I think at least two of the goats are pregnant, though I am not sure. If they are I am expecting (probably) four kids in late March. We didn’t plan on breeding them until January but the bucks accidentally got out their pen and ended up with the does (that’s why we’re not sure who is expecting or not).

I took some pictures of the chickens if you’d like to see.

I love the chickens. Next to goats they’re my favourite barn animal, I think. You should see some of our roosters. We have over 60 chickens and about 8-9 roosters. The roosters are quite ornery and will chase the hens. They also fight with each other, which is quite hysterical. Two roosters will fly at each other with their hackles up. And in the morning (and all throughout the day) you will hear the crowing of a rooster or two. (don’t tell them, but they always think it’s morning)

I have a rooster that I claim as mine. His name is Mr. Bennett (yes from Pride & Prejudice). I do a Mrs. Bennett impression and I always call him in my high-pitched, loud, annoying voice. Haha. I know exactly which rooster is Mr. Bennett because (1 he’s a Rhode Island Red and (2 because on both his feet he’s missing the middle toenail. He is a large rooster but has a very poor set of tail feathers.

Here is a picture of his head.

I had to hold him to take the picture so I couldn’t get his body. I had a hard enough time catching him as I chased him around for several minutes before I actually got a hold of him.
I made an icon with him too! Haha If you want a picture of a rooster on your blog, you can all have this icon just email me for the code.

As for eggs, right now we are getting at least a dozen eggs a day, which is good for us because we eat a lot of eggs and they are at our disposal now. It really is fun to go down to the barn each night and find several eggs. The other night I came up with fifteen eggs! Omelet anyone?

You know chickens are quite harmless. When you pick them up they will just sit with you. Some will try to run away from you and fly out of your arms, but most are very relaxed. Before we got chickens I was “afraid” of chickens. They are birds, you know, with beaks and claws, but since we’ve had them I find they are harmless and quite amusing. When ya’ll come for a visit we can chase chickens around together. Haha.

Everyone ’round here seems to be sick… Hannah had been sick last Sunday until about Tuesday and then Amanda wasn’t feeling good. Yesterday I slept in because I wasn’t feeling good either. Caleb and Hannah each threw up yesterday too…Ick! Right now Caleb and Eric are lying down. Caleb has been asleep all day, and boy has it been quiet around here. Rachel didn’t get up until 2pm because she didn’t feel well. Lucy had a light fever today as well. Poor baby.
I sure hope this passes - whatever it is - so we can get back to normal. Hannah and I fed all the animals today. I carried down about 4 5gallon buckets of water, fed the horses, chickens and goats. Hannah helped me fill up the chicken waters and collect eggs (I found 15 eggs tonight). I just finished dinner about half an hour ago and have done all the dishes all day… and they seem to be endless as the the dish-tubs are already filled up!

I sure I hope don’t get sick. I hate being sick. So please pray for the Dixon’s. Once a year we all get sick - usually in December or January - probably because of the weather. Ick!

Thanks for your prayers! Blessings!