Monty and young Matti

It's been days of fixing and mending at our home. Dear husband has built, amongst other things, a new barn door, as the old one did not really work anymore. A door should not let in snow in the winter so even if it does look beautifully wonky, it has to be replaced. My job is usually to paint. This time I had four sheep with me as work leaders and general helpers. It was a little unclear who was who, but Molly was definitely the paint taster. She actually ate black paint when my back was turned! And survived.... Amazing animals....

As the weather was warm and summery this week, our hens were busy elsewhere. Little Ulla is growing up fast and Matti and Maja are starting to look like young, thin but grownup birds. They have all been roaming the countryside, enjoying the abundance of lingon berries in the forest. Ulla still beeps along so we can hear where they are but Matti and Maja have learned that by being quiet they can get away with a lot of things. Maja seems to be a sensible soul but young Matti has to be where the action is. This results in all the hens getting annoyed with him at one time or another during the day. As Matti is not a stoic bird, his protesting calls can be heard far and wide. (So much for keeping quiet....).

Credit: Dasha Dimitrova

Lotta was never a doting mother to Matti. She can tolerate Maja but that's about it. Pippi is a brilliant mother hen and both Eric and Ulla have had the benefit of a caring mother. Matti has been left to bob along, as best as he can manage, so even Monty woke up to the fact that the little chap needed company. Monty's style is not always so gentle so we have had words about how to guide a young son out into the world, and now they seem to be getting on better. Monty is changing his tail feathers at he moment and is looking a bit scruffy. This makes the hens ignore him for most of the day, so Monty has time for his son. It's ironic that when the father looks a bit tired around the edges, his son is growing up to be very handsome and sweet natured.

As young Matti and his companions now add up to 14, we have started to rearrange the hen house. W need more space to fly around, more indoors playing areas for the cold months to come and more sleeping places by the radiators. I decided that the potted plants should be young spruce trees, as they can be eaten by everyone and if planted in acid soil, should thrive in a hen house. (And if Molly starts snacking, I don't have to loose a night’s sleep over that, at least...). We are also hanging branches from the ceiling so that the hens don’t just ride around on the sheep, all winter. On the whole, we just hope for a very mild winter, the animals and I.

My sister popped over for the weekend and it was lovely. Monty wanted to show her how it's done and chased, caught and ate a mouse in front of my poor sister who was trying to enjoy afternoon coffee in the sun. This was the first time our funny cockerel did not share his food with the hens. It was obviously too tasty, and he did not even offer my sister a bit of the tail! Lina, the hen, was very upset about the whole thing and told him so, loudly. So if you have problems with mice, just give Monty a call!

Mr. Chip has started working again and is taking us out for long, invigorating walks. My dear husband then shares his work in turn with Mr. Chip, so he can be seen following the lawn mower around the place. Both as happy as the other... It's wonderful to watch and long may it last.

I checked and the book said that as chickens are omnivores, they will eat seeds, leaves, herbs, insects and small mammals like mice, if they can catch them. It's the gizzard, the part of the stomach that contains tiny stones, that then grinds up what they eat. Oh goody... I guess it is ecological food, locally produced and all that, but still not so nice, especially for the mice. We also have a huge badger that is turning over our lower field, looking for wasp's nests. At least that one is too big for Monty to cobble up.

Credit: Dasha Dimitrova

Have a nice week and join me in three cheers, as Dasha is back!!!

Birthday week

The morning of my dear husband's birthday went off with a bang. Literally....

The farmer next door, who had decided that enough was enough, blew up a huge stone that was in the field, just next to our house. All the maneuvering around it with a tractor takes time and where there's a rock, there is no crop growing. We were informed about this loud project so Mindy, Mandy, Molly and My were called back in to the stable while this was happening.

It's amazing to see how happy our sheep get, when asked indoors even though the sunny day has just started. It was like Christmas Eve in there, all snuggled up and smiling before I even get the door closed. They did lift an eyebrow when the loud bang was heard but that was all. "We're safe and sound indoors", seemed to be their view on special events. And why not?!

Monty went quiet for an hour or so and then got back to his tooting. The field looked a bit wild with sharp stones scattered far and wide. The rest of the day was lovely and dear husband got presents that made him smile. Apparently they are going to share the bones Mr. Chip gave him, which is fair enough.

It's apple-picking season and this year we have a lot of fruit to enjoy. This means that the elks pick apples from the trees, the deer population pick them from the ground and what they omit to eat, our barrel sized sheep take care of. Birds peck at the apples that are still on the trees and we hope to get a few, before they are all gone. So all hands, feet, and beaks to the pump, so to speak..... It is a lovely season, though...

Our vast squirrel community has once again had babies so now tiny tots are hanging around the oak trees. Thin, long tails whisking away and small faces appearing amongst the leaves. They are very sweet animals but it makes me a bit apprehensive, thinking of all the food we have to provide, this winter. Mr. Chip is standing under the trees hoping that someone will miss and fall out of there. With his luck it will be the tired mother squirrel and he will have to make a run for it.

Henrika the hen is laying her eggs somewhere in the forest, close to our house. I have tried to follow her to her nest but she turns and walks away when she sees me. Why she has moved her production line outside is anyone's guess but it's a bit unnecessary as there is enough space indoors, for everyone. The funny thing is that she has started turning up, small head sticking out amongst the long grass, squawking at me, telling me that another egg has been made. And I can't find them for love or money... One day the pile of eggs will be so high that even I will spot them!

We got a picture of little Eric and his ladies' yesterday. He is enormous and probably the loveliest looking cockerel I have ever seen. He was on his way to take a mud bath in a nearby stream and had a look of determination about him. It was lovely to see him again.... I still haven't visited our friend's, more because of lack of time than because I'm a wet blanket when it comes to saying goodbye to Eric, again. One day... He lives like a king with nice people so Eric is not complaining. Nether am I, we were lucky to place him with good friends, him being the height of a small dog, and all. Eric's new family kindly lent us a picture of him, for this text. I thought we all would enjoy seeing him again. As you can see, he still hangs out with the same breed of hens as before. This must make him feel secure, I think.

Sitting outside in the garden is like a computer game, at the moment. "Spot the hens," ten points extra for catching a glimpse of little Matti the cockerel. No points for Monty, as he informs us where he is. Autumn seems to be a busy time for our hens and now they have taken up running from one place to the next. It gives a sort of Alice in Wonderland feel to the place. We are expecting a white rabbit any day now, clock and all...

Mr. Chip is sunbathing and eating like a horse. Apparently older dogs are supposed to do that and food is extra important for them, or so he tells us. He is in a feisty mood, barking and growling when walking in the forest. He has taken to patrolling in the yard too, barking loudly as he goes. Maybe the bear is close by or maybe he is feeling inspired to be a guard dog now that he is 14 years old and should really retire. Whatever the reason, we enjoy watching him take over the world and when he barks the sheep answer so it all becomes quite musical and lovely. Monty can be heard muttering in between and that's nice too. The rest of the hens have no time for musical interludes, they are jogging...

Mice can apparently jump down 3-4 meters without injuring themselves. How do they get up?

Have a good week and enjoy all these lovely autumn days. We are eating apples...

Mindy

Monty is calling out loud and clear from the top of the manure-heap. He has found a spot where his voice echoes around the village so that we can all enjoy his jazzy sound. The air is crisp and it is one of those perfect days. Our hens are on a mission to make it around the grounds at least twice in one day so they can be seen rushing around. Mindy, Mandy, Molly and My are grazing and sunbathing, all at the same time. I'm on my third pot of coffee and enjoying writing this.

I have a little toe that is broken at the tip. It's so sore I could scream and it's all my own fault.

The mornings are beautiful at the moment and the animals are in such a happy frame of mind that I thought we should celebrate a bit. So I took some oats out to our sweet sheep while still wearing Crocs and feeling all hippy dippy happy. Oats are the best things ever for our ladies and I should have known better. Molly got over exited and butted me in the back of my leg. Mindy, on the other hand thought she would be left without her treat if she were not close enough to me. So she climbed up on my foot and snap went my little toe. Mandy and My take these kind of things in a much calmer fashion so they just stood waiting to be served. The result of my bright idea is me limping around, wishing I'd worn proper shoes for the occasion.

We started our exercise regime early today, Mr. Chip and I. Our lovely dog asked for a walk once the animals had been let out so off we went. Halfway through the walk I spotted a huge bird of pray heading towards our stable. It flew over the fields straight in to the yard. As I am limping and Mr. Chip has a wobbly leg there was not much we could do but to hurry home in our own, funny way. (We looked like a badly made sitcom about why exercise is good for you...).

Super Mindy

A few minutes later I heard Mindy, our brave, white sheep scream. Dear Mindy is, as I have told you, loud as a foghorn but this was her making a completely different sound. She went for it full pelt and no other sound was heard from the yard. I dreaded what we would find on our return but all was well and the sheep were showered with goodies and high praise. The hens had all gathered under a big spruce and Monty told me that all was under control. Little Matti and Maja had no clue as to why everyone was in the same spot for once but bobbed along happily in everyone's feet.

The week has had its ups and downs for dear Mindy but the hens were saved and my toe will get better, albeit a little more crooked than before. Mindy is our hero of the day and is very pleased with all the extra attention she is getting.

Hens are very practical souls, which meant that half an hour later they were off on their ramblings, once more. They really can't stay in one place for long. Our lot could enter a half marathon and make it - the way they work on their fitness routine...

I'm starting to dread the winter ahead when fourteen beaks are to share a house with four sheep. We will have to build (I say we but we all know it's dear husband who will be swinging the hammer...) a lot of entertaining climbing frames and maybe one more playhouse. We will also have to provide two sandboxes, otherwise they will end up queuing half the day.

I have been thinking if some big plants could be an idea. Monstera and some other big leafed indoor plants, just to make it more festive. I will have to read up on that... Molly would of course eat them but if they were kept in the henhouse, it might work. I wonder if other hen keepers have tried this? No cactuses, though....

The big autumn cleaning day is coming up. Dusting, dusting and more of the same.... Then we can try an alternative to sawdust in the henhouse. Hemp or peat, I guess. Hemp would be a more friendly option for the environment, so we will probably choose that. Less dust is what we are looking for.

For now we will enjoy the fact that nature is providing the daily entertainment for our animals and hope for a long autumn season. The snow will arrive soon enough and if the previous years are anything to go by, it will all turn up within a few days.

Dear husband is celebrating his birthday next week. We are all looking forward to cake and merriment and we have a present. Our dear sheep thought some dry bread would be an idea, the hens thought dear husband would like some nice, colourful feathers and Mr. Chip said that you can never go wrong with a small chewing bone. I thought it better to add something to that list.

We are not alone for long in the forest, at the moment. The deer ked or deer fly has started moving around. It was named Lipoptena cervi by Carl von Linne' in 1758 and turned up in Finland in the 1960s. We would gladly send it back to wherever it came from as it must be making life a living hell for deer and elk. Thankfully, it does not like sheep, though....

Have a nice week, be well and hopefully dry. The rain is pouring down over here, once again. Maybe time to think about that ark, yet again...

Last days of August

The mornings are getting a bit cooler and leafs on the trees are no longer perfectly green. It's that time of the year that I love the most, but unfortunately autumn is just around the corner. This morning the sun is out and there is not a cloud in the sky, a sky that is starting to show that pale blue colour of cold weather to come.

Mindy, Mandy, Molly and My are picking up speed. The warmest, sometimes really hot weather is over and our lovely sheep can breath freely, again. Their woolly coats are impressively thick and they are a bit too big where the waistline should be, so cooler days are a treat for them. They are eating the lush, deep green grass with such frenzy that I think they have had a look at the calendar too and know that summer is about to end. At he moment, their passion is the rowanberry. They have eaten all the berries they can reach so now they gather under a tree waiting for me to come and help them. Mindy knows that I can be slightly slow on the uptake so she tries to stand on her hind legs, just to show me what they are trying to achieve.

So I pick berries for them and first everything is calm and orderly and then they get a bit exited and greedy. I bounce between four very round sheep like a lottery ball, trying to keep my balance, sharp clippers in my hand and giggling madly. This makes them even more exited and the whole thing is just a bit silly and a lot of fun. The berries must be very good for them, so as long as we can reach them, we'll carry on picking. The trees are full of big, red bunches of vitamin so there is plenty to go around. No migrating bird will be left without a travel snack either. There are also a lot of apples for the bigger animals this year.

Our four sheep are still providing their nanny service to our tired hens. Lotta is using them as soon as she has a chance to get away from little Matti and Maja. I found Matti having a late breakfast with Mandy the sheep, one morning. The funny thing was that he felt that standing between her front legs was the safest place. Poor Mandy stood stock still for ages, while a little cockerel munched away happily. Maja is a bit more careful around her huge minders but she can always be found somewhere close by. The siblings stay together at all times and the constant beeping is a soothing soundtrack to the day. Matti's voice is not so hi-pitched anymore and Maja's voice was always calmer... Little Ulla stays with her mother most of the day but even Pippi has started to trust our nanny sheep.

They all tend to meet up under the Rowan tree in the afternoons and one day I saw the tiny, fist sized little chick climbing along on Molly's back. Molly was lying down looking a bit worried, but Ulla was enjoying her adventure and did not seem to be remotely nervous. Pippi the hen stood by but for once she did not peck the sheep or dance around like a hyper duster. Even Pippi needs a break from her chick, it seems...

The birthday boy

Mr. Chip celebrated his 14th birthday yesterday!! We never thought we would see the day but lo and behold, we did." And a very nice day it was", said the birthday dog. His Cushing syndrome did a U-turn on us. When we went for his blood tests, a week ago, they showed that he was completely devoid of cortisol, the stress hormone. So now we are having a weeks break from medication and then starting slowly again. The fact that Mr. Chip is so balanced means that we did not see the difference in his behaviour. He still ate well, asked for walks and slept normally. He rolled around in the bed as if he was possessed and chewed on hands, in a polite way.

After a weeks break we do notice a change in him, though. He barks madly if he's left behind for some reason, he has an even bigger appetite and he bounces on bare feet. This is a 14 year old dog who probably should know better...  His best friend would have told us that "This is the glory of a terrier". And so it is. My toes are a bit sore, though....

The swallows are meeting up in large groups, preparing to head off for warmer climates. This year they find our garage to be a good meeting point. My small car looks like a manure heap on wheels as I keep forgetting to park it outside. Yet another sign that summer is ending...

The Rowan berries are also popular amongst red foxes, badgers and squirrels. Makes sense, when you think about it... Deer and elks enjoy them too. Happy September!!

Family gathering

We had a slightly old fashioned family gathering at our home last week. That's why our blog was so late, as we were busy reminiscing about the day gone by. Some, who actually had a bit of class, sat with a glass of chilled vine in their hand. Me, I was drinking my 60th cup of coffee....

It really is a good idea to get relatives together now and again. It's easy to loose touch with people and while you don't want to live in each other’s pockets, it would be a shame to completely grow apart. They are nice people, as well...

Monty behaves politely when we have guests. He walks his grounds but gives way to victors. It struck me again, how lucky we are to have such kind animals. Children running around and tall men visiting the stable could easily be too tempting for a cockerel to claim his turf. Not our Monty, although he did keep the whole group of hens close to him, as long as the guests were around.

Mindy, Mandy, Molly and My did their usual sprint around the place, calling for help as there was "Something going on!"... They calmed down when I went out and had a little talk with them. Horsey people are a clever bunch. They have upbeat, cheerful expressions with a bit of go in them, when talking to their horses. I on the other hand sound like someone with a slight problem, when I calm down our sheep. It works but I do get funny looks.... The problem is that you can't walk up to a group of hyper sheep and tell them to "buckle up and tally ho!" That would frighten the daylight out of them so I end up sounding like an old hippy trying to hypnotise four panting, shaking sheep. But as I said, it works...

Mr. Chip had a ball. First he sussed out the most generous guest and shared the catering side of things with her. When he, once again, looked as round as a ball he happily wandered off to look for his men. Dear husband had our lovely dog as his personal shadow for the rest of the gathering. A group of men discussing whatever they do discuss, in calm, deep voices is as close to heaven as an old dog can get, on this side of the clouds. In the middle of all these men Mr. Chip slept soundly, feeling that he belonged. I bet he thought of his best friend, who I'm sure we all also remembered that day.

 

Ulla, the chick, looking for her fan club.

When everyone had left, four sheep plopped down like ripe fruit under the Rowan tree and for a few hours. All you could see of them was four heaps of wool. The hens left Monty's side and scattered all over the place and I'm certain that little Ulla, the chick, felt that her new Fun club had deserted her. Mr. Chip started eating again - his own, boring food this time. As I have said before, one charming feature in a fox terrier is that once they are happy and content, they don't do melancholy. "Hi ho, and on to the next thing!" seems to be their motto in life. It's very refreshing and helps a lot... (Elvira, our hunting dog used to look for people that had gone home and that was a bit trying, at times...).

Everyone had a lie-in, the next morning - everyone, as in Mr. Chip, the sheep and me. The hens had a fit, as they were not let out before 7.30am. They stand by the door, ready and waiting for the day to begin if it's light outside. I did try to tell them that life is not all about them but apparently I'm wrong. Mr. Chip suggested more gatherings as it livens up his diet considerably. We're of to the vet next week and they will be lively enough when they see the size of our dog... Mr. Chip turns 14 years old on the 27th and there will be cake.

Otter news - my sister's friends, the otters, are doing better. They turned out to be a girl and a boy so that explained why one was slightly smaller than the other one. They were seriously dehydrated so liquid and food supplements were put in as their first aid. They already got warmth on the way to their new home, being wrapped up in Mr. Chip's fleece blanket. Halfway to their destination my dear sister had to stop the car and have a discussion about the "no wrestling in her car" policy. At least not while she was driving hundred and ten to save them. It did show her that they were perking up, though... Now we just have to hope that they find their appetites and start growing. It would be lovely to see them return to us in the spring. They are staying with a kind couple that has done this sort of thing for the last eighteen years. They were feeding the elks when I called them... That's cool in my books!

The European otter, Lutra lutra, is the only otter we have here in Finland. It lives mainly on fish, is highly territorial and is also known as the Old World Otter. The average weight is between 7-12 kg but there have been sights of much bigger specimens. Otters can live along the coast and fish in the sea but they need regular baths in fresh water to clean their furs. The female otter gives birth to one to four pups.

Have a good week. We are having guest for the whole week and I really hope they will get better weather than all the rain we have had lately. Here's hoping... 

On Holiday and back

 We went on holiday, my dear husband and I. We left our little farm in the hands of my kind sister and her children. (I say children but they are all taller than me...). We visited good old England and went to a Bryan Adams concert. Seeing the band on stage, it struck me that Monty would fit in nicely. He could strut around with the best of them but B. Adams always hits the notes spot on. It was a really good holiday and I flew home after three days.

Mr. Chip thought it was Christmas time when we were away and took upon himself to visit the henhouse when he felt peckish. Apparently he's a great believer in healthy food so gorged on rice, corn and the dry food meant for laying hens. On my return I found him a bit rounder than before but extremely happy. I guess Mr. Chip had a holiday too...

Mindy, Molly and My gave me such a talking to when we met up again. It's not the done thing, this skulking off to fun and fairs they said. Mandy just gave me one of her most endearing smiles and hoped I had enjoyed myself. The hens told me their new friends were lovely and so much more into exercise and playing than silly old me. The fun they had running in the forest in the evenings and zig-zagging around the stable together; they were reminiscing... Not just going to bed every evening in the same, safe pattern, they continued. Little Ulla had grown just a tad and now she/he is sporting wings and a little tail with real, grownup feathers. Her mother Pippi is very proud and so she should be.

My dear sister's comment about their day's together was; "They all survived!" but she said it with a broad smile on her face. I think everyone had a good time and the famous five-hens thinks my sister rocks.

This week ended in the spirit of which this whole summer has enveloped itself. Dear sister had a visit from two half starved otters, young baby otters whose mother had gone missing and was clearly not coming back. The baby's had been crying all night and now they were hungry, cold and very unhappy about it all. So saved, warm and taken to an animal shelter, we are now waiting to hear how they are doing. My sister did a lot of driving last night as the shelter was not around the corner from us. And so the summer of wild animal stories continues...

Baby otters on their way to the animal shelter.

This week’s news will end with a cliffhanger and more about our new friends next week. Let's hope it's good news, fingers crossed... Toes as well, just in case...

Dear husband returned in the night and Mr. Chip can sleep soundly in the night, knowing all is well in his world again.

Holidays are fun but being at home with our gang is not bad either... Enjoy your week and more otter news to come. Dasha, the illustrator, is also now holidaying so all the best to her and her friends from us here in the sticks.

Photo break

The time has come for Nina and dear husband to take a well deserved holiday. Therefore, this early edition blog update will feature photos of us all wishing you a happy summer. The normal'ish blog will continue next week.
​

Mr Chip ready for action.

The ladies - Mindy, Mandy, Molly & My telling me to go away.

Monty with his ladies, Henrika, Lina & Darya.

Lotta with Matti & Maja, the chicks.

The teenagers - Jill, Jane, Trisha, Emma & Katie.

Pippi and newest arrival, Ulla.

Dasha, the illustrator at work.

And finally, us...