I am posting a picture of "Needy" and "Greedy", 2 baby Starlings. This was 14 years ago. These baby birds fell from a nest high above a door on a loading dock. They landed on a cement floor. The birds were tiny and had no feathers. A worker brought them to me. I did not think they would survive.
Look how they have grown. With a lot of care and the right food they were soon fully feathered. "Greedy" was rambunctious and bossy. "Needy" was smaller and quiet.
We loved these birds!!!!
And when they learned to fly, we set them free.
However, Anytime we were outside and "Needy" or "Greedy" saw us they would fly down and visit.
Thank you, Jen, for your comment. We have taken in many needy animals here...
Love,
Henny Penny
Dear Friends,
Three brand new baby chicks are here !!! What a surprise!!! I knew "little Jewel" was sitting on 2 eggs in the goat barn, but I didn't think she would sit still long enough to hatch an egg. She hatched 3!!!
"Jewel" is not like the other chickens. A couple of years ago she came walking up the driveway. I fed her and she stayed. I've heard of stray dogs and cats wandering up but never a little hen!
I named her "Jewel". She watches me and follows me around. If she wants out of the chicken lot before I let the others out, she flies over the fence!
It was beautiful here today. Warm and sunny. A good day for baby chicks.
Love,
Henny Penny
Dear friends,
It's amazing how my mood changes with the weather!! Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the sun was bright, the skies were blue! I was energetic. There were dozens of outside projects I wanted to work on. Today it is raining, cold, and gloomy. I cannot get in the mood to do anything but, (as mama used to say), "hunt and search" the cabinets for something to eat!! Maybe posting something will cheer me up and get me out of the kitchen...
I have loved dolls my whole life. My sister still tells the story about the time she wanted me to go to a movie with her and her boyfriend, and another boy. A double date. I was sixteen. My answer to her was, "I don't want to, I had planned to dress up all my dolls tonight". Imagine that!! Sixteen years old!! Not in this day and time!! Or maybe there was something wrong with me!!!
This picture was taken when we lived in Summerville, SC. My sister, my brother, and me (asleep on the end). Mid 1940's.
One of my first dolls. Looks like chickens in the background. I don't remember that.
I was about 10 years old in this next picture. Mama didn't go anywhere without me, if I had anything to say about it! I loved being with mama. She was my favorite person in this world!! She was just the BEST! Is this a 1950's kitchen or what??
This was in 1954. Daddy brought me this most special, beautiful, Saucy Walker doll from a New York business trip. (Cousin Pat, do you remember this day. That's you in the background)!!
It makes me happy to talk about mama and daddy. Thank you for listening. I do have one other picture. Poppy bought me an old Saucy Walker doll last Christmas. She is not exactly like the one I had, but enough so that it brings back lots of good memories.
Love,
Henny Penny
Dear Friends,
The new lot is finished and the bantams are moved in!! It's SO NICE to be able to walk into their lot. In fact, being in the lot, I noticed the little grey hen's leg and foot. It looked just awful!! All crusty, swollen, and two of her tiny toes were about to fall off, seriously! It's somewhat visible in the picture. Her left foot.
Everything I read sounded like "scaly leg mite". I had no idea how serious this can be . A burrowing mite causes raised encrusted scales on the legs and toes. If left untreated their toes can actually fall off.
Southern States, our local farm supply store, recommended using "Vet Rx". After applying the "Vet Rx" only twice, her condition has improved!
That old bantam lot was awful (guess who designed it)!! I had to crawl in and still couldn't get my hands on the chickens or even see them very well. The old lot is torn down and every board, nail, piece of wire, and the dog house put back in it's place!!!!
On a brighter note, I want to show you the lettuce growing in the greenhouse...I've never had any luck growing lettuce.
If you've managed to read this far, thank you. I can be pretty boring...
Love, Henny Penny
Dear friends,
I totally lost all track of time yesterday. It was a little before 10:00 a.m. when I went out to finish putting wire on the new lot. At 4:30 Poppy pulled into the driveway and I was still at it!!! It must be the Virgo in me, but I cannot leave anything undone once I've started it!!! I drive myself crazy!!!
Here's a picture. We had to build using the back and side of the chicken house, and fence posts, as the base. Nothing is square. We made it work though...
This is a side view. I don't really like using this dog house..plastic..yuk!! There was no way to get the heavy wooden house in here. I need to figure some way to build a small wooden house. I dare not mention that right now!!!
Maybe use materials from tearing down the other lot???!!
Going to town this morning. When I get home I will bring the bantams to their new, spacious home..Can't wait. Now I can get more bantams!
See you soon!
Love, Henny Penny
Happy Birthday to my special Lynn. Lets see, how old are you today!!! :0
Dear Friends,
I ran in to town yesterday to pick up a roll of poultry netting. When I got home the cats were in their usual places, Dumper on the bed asleep and Bickett looking out the front door. But, this is what I found when I walked into the sewing room!!!
And who do you blame??? Both cats looked so innocent!!!
Cousin Pat, are you seeing this??? :)
Love,
Henny Penny
Dear Friends,
Guess who came out, with level in hand, to check out the new lot??? That's right. Dear, sweet Poppy!!
I did get a brief lecture about being sure this is where I want the lot!!! "Mel, you need to put some thought into these things...look at the time and work we put into building that other lot...now it's got to be torn down!!" I said, "I know, and I promise not to do this again if you'll just help me get going here with these heavy boards!!!" We got this much done!!
Not fancy, but it will work!
The next step is putting up new chicken wire. Then Poppy said he would help me with the tin roof.
This dead tree was standing in our way. We finally got it to fall...The chickens had a feast while we worked!!
Spring is right around the corner. This Spirea (button bush), (a sprout from my sister's yard), is almost in full bloom!! The temperature is supposed to drop into the low 20's tonight though, with another full week of cold weather predicted!!!
Love, Henny Penny
