Chickens, Pigs and Cows - Oh My!

We had three of our chicks killed by our dog.  I was so sad!  They made it to 2 months old without casualty, but I let them out to free range in front of the barn a little, and they went into the dog kennel - dumb birds!

We lost 2 Americaunas, and 1 Buff Orpington.  We are now down to 19 birds ( 8 Americaunas, 9 Buffs, and the 2 chicks we hatched from the incubator, and they are 10 weeks old and MEAN!  They are part Buff and part Banty, and did I mention MEAN!  They will rush the fence and try to fight and peck.  They must be roosters!

I'll be working on cleaning out the coop this weekend, and hopefully getting the wire fencing up for the new chicken yard.  Once that is done, the "plan" is to order 25 Freedom Ranger (meat birds).  These will be in a brooder for a couple of weeks, and out in the tractor during the nice part of the day.  I'd love a chick room, like a friend of mine has...basically a permanent chicken nursery.  Some day (sigh).

We pick up our calf next Saturday.  He will be 6 weeks old by then.  I believe we will still have to bottle feed him.  I am not looking forward to that task.

We will also be getting our piglet soon.  I must work on the pen for it.  Not sure if it is a boy or girl yet.
This week has been busy.  We have been in a flurry of activity from schoolwork to errands to stacking wood.  We had really cold temperatures this week from 35-41.  We used the wood stove each evening so far, and had to use the kerosene heater last night as it dipped into the 30's.   Wow! It's only early November.  This does not bode well for the Winter.

I managed to can my chicken stock this week.  I will have more to do because my anniversary gift (beautiful Americauna rooster) went to chicken hell this week, and his carcass is in the freezer.  He attacked my 2 year old one too many times and PH had to blast him one.  PS#2 was very shaken, and is still wary of walking in the yard.  He hightails it for the nearest person when he sees the hens.  I've given him the job of tossing feed to the hens, so maybe he'll get over the trauma.

House progress is still ongoing, and I am getting very excited.  I can hardly stand myself!