I was noticing the chicks today in the weasel proof pen.  They are starting to get feathers and look more distinctive.

Now I am starting to wonder what breeds they are. We got 25 of the Heavy Assorted Group (which are Australorps, Brahmas, Cornish; Giants, Orpingtons, Reds, Rocks, Sussex, Turkens and/or Wyandottes) as well as 2 Bielefelders, 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes and a surprise chick.  So I am wondering if any of these are the surprise chick.

The young peacock is sure growing up.

In the growing up department, there is also growing old.  This is Jewel. She is quite old, blind and thin.  But she eats and gets around OK.  I sheared her today because I know the wool was bugging her.  But she didn’t really like getting sheared.  Hopefully she appreciates it more after the fact.

And Ryeleigh is growing up too.  She is getting less puppy-like and more like an adult beagle.  She is still a joy to share our lives with.  I was watching the movie Julia this evening with her sleeping next to me.

In the turkey saga though, this is where the eagle got our bird 2 days ago.  It is quite a small space.

Yesterday Tom added to the string netting and put nails in the posts so there wouldn’t be a place to roost.

But this morning another turkey had been killed.

So I prepared a pen in the barn for them.  We will have to put up netting again to keep them safe.  The problem with netting is that the winter snows always destroy them so it is a waste of time and money.  But we are not seeing another good choice now.

Hopefully the remaining four turkeys will be able to grow up.

Finally you can barely see the sheep with the grass so tall.

That is the news from Schoonover Farm.