I'm molting

not melting,

I'm molting.

Lately I have been collecting mini sized eggs from my hens. Not only that, but only one or two eggs a day (compared to an average of seven awhile back). I actually had to buy white eggs from the store to keep up with my family's breakfast order, which kinda freaked the kids out. "Mom, what's the matter with this egg, it's white?!"

I thought my chickens might be sick, but turns out they need a "reset" time. It's called "molting." It's normal for chickens to stop laying eggs for a bit this time of year. They put all that egg-makin' energy into rejuvenating their feathers and bodies. Less daylight and colder weather tell them it's time.

Maybe it's the time change, the cold weather, the shorter days, but it feels like I'm taking that big deep breath before hunkering down for winter too. Time to wind down from harvest, and step into the snowboots.

Just molting.

Harvest Moon

Last night the moon was so bright it lit up my bedroom. How convenient I thought, because as I looked across the fields I saw the headlights of a dozen tractors. The sun was long past setting, it was around 10 pm, but these guys were still working, also appreciative of the harvest moon.

You see, right now is harvest. Around here harvest is a serious verb. It's crunch time - most of the crops are out of the ground and into the cellars, but the sugar beets are last on the list. What are sugar beets you ask? Well they make sugar...but that's for another blog.

Anyways, it's a rush around here because wet weather is on the way and if the fields get too muddy, the tractors get stuck. Stuck tractors...no more sugar beets...not good! That's why it's so urgent that all the work get finished up. The tractors get diggin' before sun up and aren't finished until after dark. I'm not a real farmer, but I am fascinated with this stuff. Many of my friends are the real deal (i.e. they make their livelihood by it) so I dedicate this post to them and to their lonely families that are anticipating a post-harvest reunion :) I love living in a community that prays for a safe and productive harvest!

FYI, during a "harvest moon" there is less time between sunset and moonrise. Harvest moons were said to help the working farmers bring in their crops. They could continue being productive by moonlight even after the sun had set. thanks wikipedia

farm fiction

This is Ben. He's a cow in the movie, Barnyard. Ben has a cow son named Otis, and the two of them are the leaders in the barnyard. They are in charge of keeping all the other farm animals safe from the coyotes. I realize there are obvious fallacies with talking cows, but can you identify something else misleading about Ben and Otis?
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Yes, obvious to most of you, our boy Ben here on the left has the wrong anatomy. Perhaps the movie producers blushed at the thought of animating the correct body parts? But gosh, I feel like all those city kids need an accurate education.

FYI for all you city slickers:
bull - full package male used for breeding and rodeos, no udder
steer - snip snip male used for hamburger, no udder, no package
heifer - female before having babies, no milk, not a prominent udder
cow - female after having babies, milk producer, prominent udder
if you didn't already know this stuff, don't feel bad. I had to learn it too!