Tex helps Himself

Tex helps himself to a snack this morning while I was feeding all the caged chickens.

Protecting myself from Bing

Bing is the Polish Rooster that wondered into my neighborhood and he is the reason we both came to the Dancing Goat Farm. When we first arrived at the farm when it was time to clean Bings cage you had to be careful because he would protect his new ladies with his life. It started to become a problem to get into the cage to clean, feed and collect the eggs. Every time I went in I had to take a trash can cover in with me to use as a shield this was hard on us both and I did not want Bing to get hurt during his fury. If I have learned one thing on the farm you have to be able to think outside the box. After a few days of thinking about the situation of controlling Bing safely I decided to use a plastic milk crate as a temporary holding cage. When I came in the next day I got a plastic milk crate and went to Bings cage as I opened the door Bing approached me but instead of having to protect myself I calmly placed the milk crate over him at which time he just sat down and started to complain. This was a great moment because I now was able to clean, feed and collect the eggs with no problems. I have been using the milk crate for months now and Bing is used to it and calmly waits under the crate until I am done. Well it is the end of another weekend and I will be back on Tuesday so check back soon with the City Boy on the Farm.

Morning Snack for Jackson

Jackson is a 200 lb English Mastiff who really enjoys his morning snack.

Pam returns Home

Well it has been a long and hard two weeks at the Dancing Goat Farm while Pam has been away in West Virginia visiting her family but everyone pulled together and everything worked out great. While Pam has been gone I made sure to get to the farm by 6:30am every morning so I could check on all the animals to make sure they were all doing alright after being alone throughout the night. It has been dark and very peaceful when I first arrive at the farm in the morning but the moment the chickens realize I am there they start to crow and move around it is a little surreal to hear all that chicken chatter coming from out of the darkness. Since I have been getting to the farm so early and it is still dark I have been starting my day inside the barn by visiting with the goats and also feeding the farm cats and the two horses their breakfast. After about twenty minutes of working in the barn the sun would start to come up so I could start doing my work outside for the day. These two weeks without Pam have given me a greater appreciation for what she does at the farm. To maintain the farm everyday is very hard work, you must also be patience and very resourceful but most of all you must love the animals and I know Pam loves the animals very much because she will do anything for them to keep them healthy and happy. Well now that Pam is back I will be able to write in my Blog more often so check back soon for more stories and pictures from the City Boy on the Farm.

Coach Enjoys the Afternoon

Well it has been a long and hot week at the Dancing Goat Farm and everyone misses Pam who is visiting her mother in West Virginia. Today we were lucky because all of the rain had made it much cooler and I could tell all the animals were happy. I did all my usual work today plus on Saturdays I always clean out all the large chicken enclosures. When I am finished with the cleaning I put fresh hay into the enclosures and right away all the chickens let me know they appreciate it by crowing, clucking and doing a few silly dances. On Saturdays I also spray out the small cages located in the front of the farm. Sometimes while cleaning these cages there will be a chicken that needs to get out and spread their wings for a little while and today that was Coach. Coach is a little fancy rooster with a great personality who is about two years old. About six months ago after a serious infection in his foot we had to remove Coach's leg to save his life. After a few weeks of rehabilitation Coach got stronger and now he is doing very well and hops around on his one leg with no problem. I could tell Coach wanted to get out today so I let him spend a few hours running around the farm and when he was done he let me know it was time to put him back in his cage where he settled down for the afternoon. Well I will be back again early in the morning so check back soon with the City Boy on the Farm for more pictures, stories and interesting information. ALSO VISIT MY WEBSITE: www.cityboyonthefarm.com

Sneaking a Snack

It was raining this morning at the farm but it was a lot cooler and all the animals were enjoying the break from the heat. I did my usual work cleaning, feeding and gathering the eggs. When I am feeding the chickens I go from cage to cage and take the time to visit with them. While I am visiting with the chickens I am also making sure everyone is doing well and looking healthy. Today when I went into the Coronation Sussex's cage I set down the feed scoops to clean the nesting box. As I started cleaning and replacing the hay I noticed out of the corner of my eye that two of the Coronation hens were sneaking a snack out of the feed scoops. I stood there for a few minutes and let the ladies enjoy their special snack and when they were done I finished my work and went on with my day, Well tomorrow I will be back at the farm so check back soon with the City Boy on the Farm to see how we are all doing.

The Morning Egg Collection

The eggs are gathered in the morning and again at night these eggs are from this morning.

Tex and the Goats

This morning I was greeted at my car by Tex and a few of the other free roaming chickens on the Dancing Goat Farm. As soon as I got out of my car I gave out a few snacks and as I was walking up to the farm those chickens followed me hoping on getting something else to eat. The weather was overcast and there was a nice breeze which all the animals seemed to be enjoying because of the cooler temperatures. I was in a hurry today so I got right to work cleaning, feeding and gathering the eggs. When I was done I made sure to take the time to check on all the animals as well as hand out a few more snacks to my special friends. As I was leaving I noticed Tex in one of the outdoor enclosures visiting with the goats he is very social and I guess that's also one of the perks of being a free roaming rooster. Well I will be back tomorrow so check back soon with the City Boy on the Farm for more pictures, stories and interesting information.

Stripes Loves his New Home

This is Stripes he is one of the new rescues who now calls the Dancing Goat Farm his home.

Impossible to Resist

It was a nice morning today and I started the day by feeding, cleaning and gathering eggs. When I was done in the front of the farm I went out back and when I got there I noticed a bunch of goats standing up in their pen trying to get my attention it was as if they were begging for their breakfast. Usually I just take care of the chickens and quails but I love all the animals on the Dancing Goat Farm plus the looks the goats were giving me made it impossible to resist their requests so I stopped what I was doing and went into the barn to find them some food. When I got into the barn I was greeted by several dozens more goats all looking right at me wondering if I was there to feed them also. I luckily found the goat food right away and got a few scoops and quickly got out of the barn. When the goats outside saw me coming back with food they all got very excited and as I started to put their food into their feeder all their heads popped out at the same time it was quite a funny sight. I stood there and watched the goats enjoying their breakfast for a little while and then I went and finished my work for the day with a big smile. Well I will be back again tomorrow bright and early so check back soon with the City Boy on the Farm.

Moon over the Farm

When I come to work at the Dancing Goat Farm I arrive early in the morning usually just before the sun comes up. I get to the farm early enough to be there just as all the animals are waking up and starting their day. This morning when I arrived at the farm the moon which was full was shining right over the bunkhouse. The farm looked very mysterious under the glow of the full moon with the bright moonlight shining on the bunkhouse, barn and cages. All of a sudden out of the darkness I saw three little figures approaching me it was the three new rescue kittens that now call the farm their home looking for their morning snack. Slowly the farm started to come to life next chickens started crowing and then the free roaming chickens made their appearance. Then out of the darkness the rest of the farm cats started appearing also looking for their morning snack. Another morning was starting on the farm and as the sun was rising I took one more look at the full moon to enjoy the last moments of it's wonderful glow. Well I will be back again at the farm in the morning so check back soon for more stories, pictures and information from the City Boy on the Farm.

Taking Care of the Chicks

These are three orphaned Rhode Island Red chicks that I take care of everyday.

Weekend on the Farm

It was another wonderful weekend at the Dancing Goat Farm and all the animals are doing well. The weather was overcast helping keep the temperature down making it easier to get work done. I did all of my usual work which is cleaning, feeding and gathering the chicken and quail eggs. I also had enough time to finish the watering system we have been building for the cages located at the front of the farm. The watering system has a large rain barrel which can hold and collect enough water to keep the chickens watered for several days. The new system also eliminates the need for having to change and clean the water bottles daily. At first the chickens were a little confused with the new way to get their water but with in a few hours everyone had figured it out. It felt good to not have to worry about the chickens water bottles anymore and now all the chickens cages on the farm have the same system making it easier for everyone. Well I will be back again tomorrow so check back soon with the City Boy on the Farm.

Muffa the Farm Foreman

Most mornings when I come to the farm within a few minutes I am greeted by Muffa who is a domestic short hair cat that Pam rescued about two years ago. His life started with a family that did not care for him and he was left to roam the streets in the neighborhood of one of Pam's friends. Muffa was terrorizing Pam's friends cats and made her life quite miserable but Muffa's owners did not care. So a plan was put together for Muffa to be saved from his neglectful family and brought to live on the Dancing Goat Farm. After a few weeks Muffa started to become more comfortable with his new surroundings and turned quickly into the Farm Foreman. Muffa likes to join me while I am cleaning and feeding the animals. When the cleaning and feeding is done I get a wheel barrel to put the fresh hay in so I can clean the egg boxes. As soon as I have the wheel barrel full of the hay in jumps Muffa wanting to tag along for a ride. Muffa's is short for Mustafa which means "the chosen one" and Muffa was surely meant to be the Farm Foreman at the Dancing Goat Farm. Well I will be back again tomorrow so check back soon with the City Boy on the Farm.