First Line of Chicken Defense and Another Pathetic Life Form Joins the Menagerie

It was a perfectly beautiful day today. Not over hot, very little humidity, a nice breeze and few clouds after about 10 AM. I spent most of the day reclaiming the section of the barn around the chicken coop/stall. This section hasn't been cleaned or worked on for almost 20 years. I also added a flimsy fence and pieced together a gate out of scraps to keep the dog from getting all the way to the coop and worrying the hens through the cracks.

There are actually a couple of reasons I put this inside fence in. The chickens can get through the cattle panel I used for the gate. I designed it that way not so much to keep the chickens in but to allow them a quick escape rout. This fence will also direct the hens out into the main part of the barn and the barn lot instead of out the front.

The dog I discovered isn't so much aggressive towards the chickens anymore as he is interested in the squabbling he hears while they work out their pecking order. It literally makes him want to get involved otherwise he leaves em alone.

Truth is I didn't make this fence and gate anything strong. I used some t-posts, 2x4's and plastic trellis I had laying around. I just wanted to stop the dog and kinda give the hens a first line of defense.

Another couple of days and one more gate to make and we will find out how well it works.

As for the pathetic life form well the story as it was presented to me was that this sweet old lady was diagnosed with cancer that is supposedly too far gone to be operable. The water works were flowing as I was asked if we could take in her miniature goat.

 "Does it have horns" was my only question.

"No" was the answer.

They lied. They lied right to my face. I must say however she is the sweetest, cutest little thing though.

The first thing the little girl did was hop off the truck they had her in lower that head of hers with those horns and chase the dog away. Then came back and started nuzzling Mrs. PP for all she was worth.

I knew I was screwed at that point. We now have a goat isolated in the big four horse trailer.

We kept her tied out eating all day and she is leash trained quite well. The only problem is she is also used to living in some old woman's house too and I am afraid that just ain't happening here.

There is also those horns to deal with. She knows how to use them too and that isn't going to fly with all these polled lambs and nursing ewes either.

But of course the wife is in love with her. I actually let her off her leash for a bit while I was feeding and walking around the barn lot and she followed me around like a dog. Ran right into the barn and immediately knew what the scoops and cans were all about. Jumped into the large feed can and looked at me like "Thanks for all the grain dude"!!!

Needless to say she wasn't very happy about the horse trailer isolation space though. She bawled for about half an hour before settling in to eat the hay I left for her. She didn't start bawling until the grain was gone I noticed.

At this point we are vaccinating her tomorrow and I am looking into removing her horns before allowing her to go in with the invalid flock. 

Ya I know I am a big pushover when it comes to women and animals.

But I have to admit she is damned cute.

Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!!!