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By Lynne Boudreau
Oh the farm animals can hear the sap running through the
trees and they are rejoicing the coming of spring.
Winter can be hard for the animals. Baled hay is not
as yummy as green grass, the strong howling winds all
but blow the chickens around and the cold wet snow just
doesn’t feel so good under toes and hooves. On particularly
cold and windy days, when I go out to do the midday chicken
chores, Brita whinnies and nods her head up and down as
if to say, “I am ready to come in now. I have either
eaten my morning hay or the remains have blown outside
the fence and are beyond my reach. Please bring me in.”
And usually I do.
Violet has been very busy wearing a circular path around
the chicken fence as she runs round and round it up to
three times a day. Not that I have counted, but she can
run up to 50 circles around the perimeter of the fence
while the chores are being done. As mud season approaches
you can only imagine the challenge of having her in the
house after she has run her laps. She is also working
very hard at trying to get the sheep to respond to her
herding instinct. She is very insulted when they do not
listen to her.
Muffet prepares herself to put up a fight and bows her
head ready to butt. Bo Peep just runs around in circles
not quite sure what to do but wishing to rid herself of
this obnoxious 4 legged creature. Hopefully, Violet’s
mother will come and visit in the spring to train the
sheep to respond better. Soon we will be getting eighty
1 day old chicks and trying to keep them warm until the
warmth of the earth becomes more constant.
And… in the works is our very own milking cow.
We will get a heifer and raise her for about two years
before she calves and we can reap the benefits of amazingly
fresh milk. An added plus, she will be an additional companion
for Brita. There are always new projects, ideas and improvements
in the works and we too are rejoicing the coming of spring.
The animals look forward to the return of summer and the
students who brighten their days.
Brita loves her new wagon!
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