I have discovered that
chickens do quite a bit more
than drop eggs. They have
other virtues as well. I suspect
for those who have
raised chickens the novelty
has worn off a bit. But for
me the experience is new
enough that every day
seems to present us with
interesting occurrences.
A friend bequeathed us
with a fancy metal, two tiered
nest box `condo.’
About a week before we expected
the `girls’ to start
laying I filled each box with
fresh cedar shavings. Cedar
is supposed to be a bit more
mite-retardant than pine,
according to the chicken experts
I consulted. Our first
clutch of eggs appeared
when we were away. Our
chicken minder discovered
the eggs and left a piece of
white paper stuck in the
door for us to see when we
returned. The message was
clear: ``Eggs!’’
Our neighbor took them
home where she and her
family enjoyed what I suspect
was some delicious
French toast. I had some
myself this morning and
can say without any sense
of false pride that homemade
bread soaked in fresh
organic eggs is about as
tasty as it gets.
Since starting this husbandry
project I have discovered,
as is the case with
just about everything, that
there are as many ways of
raising chickens as there
are chicken raisers. As my
close friends know I am not
one to gab much. At most
parties or social gatherings
I tend to hug the wall closest
to the either the darkest
wall or nearest escape
route.
I am not one to go out of
my way to ``make’’ idle conversation.
Oddly enough, I
find myself jumping at the
chance to engage friends
and neighbors in chicken
discussions in the oddest of
places.
For instance, I saw a
friend and neighbor at the
concert the other night and
leaped out of my seat to run
down the aisle to ask her
about her chickens. Are
they laying? Do you incarcerate
them for the winter
or do you let them out? How
do you keep their water
from freezing? Etc.? We
chatted a bit about tactics
and strategies and then she
said, with a slight hint of
bemused exasperation, that
she was in the market for
some intelligent chickens. I
suggested that there are no
chicken Rhodes scholars
and that chickens will be
chickens. Given my firm
adherence to evolutionary
theory, I suspect chickens
are about as intellectually
capable as they need be.
As I was leaving the gym
one morning I bumped into
another friend who has
been raising chickens for
quite some time. She had to
stand there in the cold, gym
bag in hand, while I queried
her about her cold
weather practices.
A wonderful and very
generous person, she offered
up the information
graciously. I settled into my
car and headed home feeling
a bit more comfortable
about my methods — and
my instincts.
This afternoon, weather
permitting, I will nail on
the siding to the winter entryway
to the hen house I
framed last week. I picked
up the lumber yesterday
and, lo and behold, the
neighbor from whom I
bought the rough hewn
lumber passed on some
chicken raising info he had
gleaned from his mother
who has raised them for
years.
The primary topic was
the necessity of plugging up
any openings that might allow
a draft to chill the girls
while enjoying their beauty
sleep.
My sheltie Gabby and
the chickens seem to be getting
on famously. The first
few days she barked and
they scattered. Now they
pay her no mind at all. Unfortunately,
she’s a bit too
enamored of their droppings
and will spend an inordinate
of time following
in their wake on the days
we let them out to free
range a bit.
The other day, while I
was working in one of the
gardens, Gabby was snoozing
in her favorite spot on
the hill while the chickens
pecked the ground around
her foraging for their protein
supplements. I wish
we could find ways of
achieving such peaceful intra-
species accommodations.
Columns
Hawthorn Hill: We’re experiencing chicken mania
- Columns
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
It is with sadness that we note the passing of long time friend, and distantrelative, Jane Patrick. Over the years we have worked with Jane in a number of organizations including Women’s Club and the Community Advisory Committee at Bassett. And, of course, in later years we joined her, along with the other Dinner Belles, for any number of delicious meals. But we do think that our favorite memory that we shared with Jane was when we discovered, having both married Cooperstown natives, that we shared Cooperstown Christmas plans.
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Up On Hawthorn Hill: Bird Feeder?
Bird feeder is a relative term. At least that is the case around here. A few mornings ago we spotted the first rabbit to visit the feeders. Normally, all we see during the winter are rabbit tracks crisscrossing the gardens.
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
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Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
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Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
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In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
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In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
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Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
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From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
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Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
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From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
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In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
