Rumsfeld charges Rose. Rose holds her ground. (2)
Posted At: Sunday, January 25, 2009 9:36 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
Rumsfeld the ram was the first to butt Rose, and she was startled, then dug in went nose-to-nose with him. He regretted it. He backed her right back up to the pole barn and nipped him in the butt for good measure.
Mutiny on the Pasture!
Posted At: Sunday, January 25, 2009 9:32 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
January 25, 2009 – Rose was holding the sheep up as grain was distributed to keep us from getting overrun by excited sheep and donkeys. Rumsfeld the ram and five ewes mutinied and butted her and ran right over her to get to the grain. She ran after them, backed them right out of the grain trough and up the hill. The donkeys joined in the rebellion and Rose had her hands full, butted, kicked and run over. The fought back and regained control and held the sheep back until we were r eady.
Chicken Chronicles (2)
Posted At: Sunday, January 25, 2009 8:22 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
Rose had a major brawl with Rumsfeld the neutered ram this afternoon. She was holding the sheep back while Corinna Aldrich, a neighbor and photographer was distributing grain and the sheep, perhaps because of the extreme cold, charged her, led by Rumsfeld. Six of them ran over her and got to the grain feeder before she got up, shook herself off and took off after them charging and nipping until she got them back. Rose has a tough job sometimes, and I have a couple of photos of the battle, which I will post tonight.
The Chicken Chronicles
Posted At: Sunday, January 25, 2009 8:17 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
January 25, 2009 – It is cold here, and I and my fingers are tired of shooting photos out of doors, or doing anything much out of doors. I’ve been in the barn for as long as I can stand it each day, studying the hens and their strange behaviors. Chickens are industrious, not into hanging idly around. They are laying eggs or marching around industriously, pecking at nothing in particular. They seem to have springs in their knees, and are efficient eaters Sitting quietly in the barn with Lenore, I liked listened to the clacking sound the beaks make on the concrete floor, after I throw some bird seed around.
I miss Winston. I miss his crowing, and his sober presence. I enjoy the chickens, but they lack his gravitas.
Rose, on the job
Posted At: Sunday, January 25, 2009 3:13 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
I think this is Rose’s favorite position in the world. Asked to work, she tears out the back door, up the driveway, to the gate, then up the hill where she awaits instructions to bring the sheep down. She holds them in place while grain is distributed, then brings them to the feeder, and keeps an eye on them when they eat. She loves what she does, and does it faithfully and competently every day. Usually she stares at the sheep, but here she awaits instructions.
