Pick on Someone Your Own Size!

For almost three weeks now (or is it 4?!) the sheep and goat and a few chickens have been living in the garagebarn. I moved them in there before the big blizzard, and they've been in there since. It's pretty convenient, because Purl was expecting and so is June. Plus, at first, they couldn't even walk in the snow it was so deep. Now they're still in there because June is thisclose to kidding, and I like being able to monitor her at night. I can't turn the sheep out yet, because June would be lonely. Plus, it is unbelieveably muddy outside, and I like that they're not out on their pasture tearing it up.

I guess Cogburn was tired of being cooped up inside, so two days ago he made his way out the door while I was filling water buckets. I figured he'd be fine, and he'd come back if he really wanted to be inside. That night I went to look for him at dusk, and I saw him wandering out near the sheep shelter. I didn't really think anything of it, because that's where he'd lived before coming inside the garagebarn.

Well, yesterday afternoon I went looking for him. And I found him. He'd gotten in a fight.

Contender #1: Cogburn.....a little bantam rooster


Contender #2: Rochester....a large Americana rooster

**Warning** The pictures below look worse than it really is.**

I found poor Cogburn in the hedgerow behind the chicken coop. Rochester was keeping Cogburn away from the coop and blocking him from going anywhere. He'd probably been doing this for quite a while. I was able to walk up to Cogburn, and he didn't even try to get away from me. I swear, animals know when you're trying to help.

This is what I found.

Poor guy was all bloodied up. He's a third of the size of Rochester, so he really doesn't stand a chance in a fight.

So I brought him inside and ran a sink of warm water to clean him up a bit. Cogburn was so thirsty he immediately started drinking from the sink.

I washed his feathers and comb and wattles to try to get the dried blood off. I think he really enjoyed it. Poor guy was finally able to relax.


After his bath I wrapped him in a towel.

Then I brought him back outside to the garagebarn, where he's the boss. He immediately did his studly rooster dance for the girls...and the boys. ;)

He'll be fine. But now I need to find a permanent solution for this problem. Maybe I'll build a separate run off the big coop for the bantams.


After I got Cogburn squared away, I spent some time with the girls. This is my favorite thing to do. After I get home from work and let the dogs out, I feed the animals. Then I sit and visit with them. I think I have the gene for this. I remember my mom telling us as a kid she'd go visit her uncle's farm and sit with the hogs. I remember when we got our first chickens. I was 10. I'd go and sit outside and just watch them. Of course, I won't tell you how I tried to dress in all brown and wanted to figure out a way to make a comb out of a red glove...you know, so they'd think I was a chicken too. I won't tell you that because that's kinda embarassing.

Anyhoo, I enjoy sitting and watching the girls. Darla and June fight over who's going to get scratches. Usually a chicken or two will come to see what I'm doing. The lambs take turns sniffing me and running away.

Yesterday the little ram lamb decided he needed to take a nap, and the most comfy place to do that was in the hay feeder (a storage bin).

Poppy, the ewe lamb decided she wanted to see what chickens tasted like. I love the look on that pullet's face.

After a while, I went and layed down in the kennel on the fresh straw. Then I was accosted.

Darla wanted to know why I wasn't petting her.

C'mon pet me! Look how cute I am!

How can you resist my big fluffy head and cute little nose?

Then she checked to see if I was hiding anything edible in my pockets.

Then June got in on the action and tried to eat my jeans.

As you can see, June hasn't kidded yet. She's teasing me. Taunting me. She knows I'm an impatient person. It can't be long now....she's huge.