Re Rustica

Our geese will knock their beaks against our ford, tapping off a rythm that is actually quite groovy.  They also like to bite on the tailpipe and the fenders to make a grinding sound.  Harmonizing like this occupies our geese for quite some time.  They used to like to tap on the roof of the chicken coop (especially when chickens were inside - then even better noises are made!), and on the wheel barrow, and on any other hard, noisy surface.  But the truck, they've discovered, is best.  One or two of them will honk out rythmically as the others tap and grind.  We're going to try to get an audio recording of it...

Chickens will burrow out holes for bathing

Chickens rely on us to provide clean, dry, safe coops, to take care of them if they get sick or injured, and occasionally provide a healthy and delicious treat or a hug. However, chickens also need us to allow them the space to play and run around so they can digest their food (exercise is as important for people as it is for chickens and other animals), the nutritious pasture for them to find grass and other vegetables (and the occasional mouse or insect). They also need dirt for baths. They LOVE baths.

Rodney, our new Head Rooster, the first day of his freedom reacted as most (recently) cooped birds do upon liberation. He cowered inside the coop, then gradually began to explore with the other birds, and then relaxed. He romped and tasted new things, and then he had a VERY execllent bath. Chickens like to bathe with friends, and his new sweetheart, the crazed Americana we call “Crazy,” came by and splashed him with dust. He splashed her with dust and they then had a good sun nap, laying on their backs, sunning their bellies.

Our former head rooster, Scuttle, likes to hide behind the bathing tree and pounce on unsuspecting bathers. He gets a lot of enjoyment out of scattering the hens and other roosters.

Baths are as fun as they are important for the health of our birds. Dirt baths reduce disease and improve egg production.

Quick! Catch her!  Our Head Goose almost makes her getaway with the collards!

What do the geese like almost as much as our specially mixed bird feed? Collards.

The geese love the flavor so much that, while they normally share EVERYTHING they find (except for the bird food we mix them), they refused to share the delicious collards.

A chase game quickly developed when our Head Goose’s sisters grew envious. Though there were enough collards to go around, they loved to chase the Head Goose! She eventually was pursuaded to share. Reluctantly.