| Rather than moving the rolling hen house weekly, setting up a new enclosed 56' X 16' pasture area, and covering it with flight netting, as we have done all year; we have gone lazy and low-tech. Taking our chances and letting the hens and roosters out around 10 AM to roam and range wherever they want in the upper garden area for the last two weeks. I planted a dozen white pine seedlings next to the road about 8 years ago that are now about 15 feet tall and the chickens love hanging out under them. They are all over my dad's cattle pasture and are happily destroying some over the hill patches of arugula. I noticed that a few of the brussel sprout plants on the end of the rows have been stripped naked and I see that they are diligently eating the rye and vetch cover crop seeds I sowed a week and a half ago and that suits me just fine. Best I can tell, we have only had one predator casualty. One little red hen was bound and determined to go free-ranging early and found a way out onto open pasture before I let them out and apparently became breakfast for an owl. Or would it be supper since owls work 3rd shift? She had talon marks on her back and her head was missing and that is what owls do. I have no idea what hawk poop looks like but I do know owls excrete pellets and being the curious sort and wanting to give you an answer on why owls would only eat the chicken's head, I did a google. Whoa! Owl pellets are not excreted but regurgitated bits of hair, fur, bone, etc... There is a website called owlpellets.com that sells pasteurized owl pellets. Apparently, you really can sell anything on the internet... Their motto is: "We provide the very best Owl Pellets at the very best prices. Try us and you will agree. " Prices do not include shipping and handling |
I've been reading Dean Mullis' farm diary for about a year now and am glad to see they've been recognized in the CLT Observer.
My regret is that I don't live close to Richfield or Charlotte anymore to take advantage of his bounty. But I always enjoy reading the newsletter - you can subscribe by going to:
Laughing Owl Farm
