joesmithreally

In Admiration of Animals

This cold is getting old. It’s -5 degrees today, Valentine’s Day, with a “feels like” wind chill of -23 F. It hasn’t been above 15 degrees for 10 days and it’s not supposed to “warm up” to a HIGH of 20 degrees until Wednesday. On a day like today, I can’t be out for moreContinue reading “In Admiration of Animals”

Bonding with Boz

When I got Boz, a mix of Kangal and Turkish Boz Shepherd, two very old landrace breeds of livestock guardian dogs originally from the Anatolian region of Turkey, my first goals were (1) bond well with him, (2) make him comfortable with new his surroundings, and (3) learn, respect, and stay within the boundaries ofContinue reading “Bonding with Boz”

Wild Turkeys & Mellow Boz

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LsVw4avqbmy5Ypgn6 At the slightest sound or sight of me, the turkeys dash off. Smart birds. I wish the wild turkeys would use the feeder I got especially for them. It’s been filled with 50 lbs. of cracked corn for over a month and is still 2/3-3/4 full. I’ve seen small wild birds on the groundContinue reading “Wild Turkeys & Mellow Boz”

Boz

Roger is Becoming a Rooster

Roger is sprouting pretty green tail feathers and has begun to crow. His crow is a little crackly, but getting stronger by the day. He’s 20-22 weeks old now, has grown a lot and is nearly the size of the plump Garys (the fully grown Barred Rock laying hens). He’s a pretty nice rooster, notContinue reading “Roger is Becoming a Rooster”

Spoiled Chickens

Every morning, the chickens gather expectantly behind their door, clucking and warbling, and, if it hasn’t snowed, come streaming out as soon as I open it and gather around me in expectation of a treat. Some of them go straight to the flat bowls of warm water, others will begin pecking and eating from theContinue reading “Spoiled Chickens”

Winter Beauty

We had rather thick, early morning fog for a few consecutive days earlier this week. Since it was below freezing, it formed a white rime covering all the trees and cold surfaces. It’s pretty. More or less. I miss working outside. Winter put a stop to my fencing, shed building, wire pile removal, and otherContinue reading “Winter Beauty”

Chickens Are Cool

And cold, I suppose, now that winter has set in. They don’t like walking in snow, but they seem pretty happy. No signs of frost bit yet, either. Very gentle, curious birds. Roger, the young Rhode Island Red rooster, and the 3 Barred Plymouth Rock hens, are especially friendly, approaching closely and expectantly when I’mContinue reading “Chickens Are Cool”

Wild Turkeys Return!

TURKEYS! So glad to see you! I used to see 9 wild turkey hens regularly. It was always 9, no more, no less, precisely 9, for 2-3 months. They would be out in the pasture, at the edge of the woods, and usually work their slow, methodical way up into the yard and feed aroundContinue reading “Wild Turkeys Return!”

Greatly Missing Green

I certainly miss the green of spring and summer, and the colors of fall. Winter is so drab and lifeless. I’m not cold hardy, either, so my daily outside projects — other than refilling wild bird feeders, opening the chicken coop door in the early morning, changing frozen water containers, collecting eggs, and closing theContinue reading “Greatly Missing Green”