FRANCIS'S BLOG 01/20/2026
Birdies and doggies and kitties, oh my! 😺
Buttons says, “Good morning! It’s a great day for breakfast outside!”
Now that all my winter hair is gone, I think I’m looking rather svelte, don’t you?
There’s a second generation of swallows on the way:
The first set of babies are all over the stable!
“We’re sticking together!”
And here’s our friend, the Eurasian collared dove. We know him from other doves because he calls like a crow:
Finally, Sophie, Calla and Nixie are here!
That means Mary and Mara are here too! ❤️
Muddy Saturday (and a chicken video) 🐴
Good morning. Notice the mud around me? The flies will be out in force, so I’m glad I got an extra spray on my ankles:
I suppose “management” should have put back this hay door as soon the last storm blew it out:
Too late now, because we’ve got swallows having babies. . .
It will have to stay down until they’re flying.
Anyway, let’s watch the chickens in action…
…combing through poopies (what else)! 🐔
The chickens are broody, and the rest of us, moody 🐴
Good morning. It’s very dreary:
Dukie is trying her best to cheer us up. She’s always happy to be here and we’re always happy to see her:
Wyandotte #13 has been spending all her time on the nest. She is being broody:
Most of the time, they lay their egg, hop off and look for food, or, take a dust bath:
These girls are broody, too:
They plan on staying on the eggs until they hatch (but that won’t happen, because the eggs are gathered, and the birds put back in the coop every night). 🐔
I hope you don’t get too tired of videos of me eating carrots:
I certainly don’t get tired of eating them! 🥕
Chickens love eggs like I love carrots 🐴
Good morning. It’s a little cooler today:
Dukie is keeping Jewel company:
Yesterday we told you how Paschal was picked bloody by some wicked drakes when they got in her pen during the night. So the cat-cops put cardboard to hide her from their view. She can still keep company with Ferdinand. He’s a nice boy.
Now, let’s watch the chickens have an egg:
Egg recycling is underway! In case you missed it, here is a rerun of our egg recycling video:
🐔
What mean ducks! 😿
Good morning. We’re out in the front pasture now. . .
But just a while ago, Jewel and I were discussing what a very mean thing the drakes did to Paschal:
They got into her pen overnight and pecked the back of her neck until it bled!
Poor, poor, Paschal! What bad ducks!
Well! The cat-cops better make sure they can’t do that again:
Here’s a nice tub of clean water, Paschal. Take a bath and try to feel better. 🐴
Another noisy chicken 🐔
Did you know, that sunflower blossoms follow the sun as it moves across the sky?
There’s not much sun this morning:
Yesterday, Stormy lost his mask. . .
And so did Jewel. . .
What a mess! 🐴
Anyway, here’s Eileen, taking in the view!
Time to go in and lay your egg, Eileen. 🥚
Noisy Indira 🐔 and bad Jewel videos 🐎
Good morning. It’s not much warmer than yesterday, but the breeze is gone.
Misty is wearing a new mask, fresh out of the box:
Somebody plopped an egg on the floor of the barn:
And somebody pecked a “dimple” in it. 🐔
And why all the racket, Indira? Did you just lay an egg, or are you celebrating the fresh sawdust Jake put in yesterday?
And here’s a security camera video of Jewel being a bad girl. . .
With added sound effects! 🐴
Fowl deeds 🐔
Good morning! It’s a little cooler today, so we’re grateful. I’m afraid all I have for you are three chickens crammed in a nest:
Maybe you’ll spread out more after our friend, Jake, changes out the sawdust today.
Oh, I also found some quiet time with the chickens:
Stale or not, they love bread. 🐔
Run, Onslow, run! 🙀
Good morning! Jewel and I are first out:
Oh my, someone knocked over the nesting bucket. I hope there’s not a chicken under there:
Schrödinger says, “I’m not dead. I’m just hot.”
Here’s a video of Iris getting a carrot:
You’ve seen Iris get a carrot before, but did you notice Onslow getting chased out of the stable by swallows?
Boy, those are some angry birds! 🙀
How we appreciate our friends! 🐴
Good morning! I’ve got lots to tell you today!
Soon the chicken yard will be full of sunflowers. . .
And pumpkins!
Somebody laid an egg where Stormy can step on it:
Our friend Officer Mike just mowed the front pasture. He cut down all the tall weeds, uncovering lots of grass:
Misty says, “That’s nice, but the breeze is back in the stable.”
“I want to enjoy it for a while.” 🐎
Oh no, no breeze today! 😿 But we have kitty videos! 😺
Good morning. It rained yesterday and this morning it’s hot and steamy. This nice cold carrot will taste especially good:
Anyway, let’s watch the swallows dive-bomb Schroeder, Betty and Onslow:
And we have Betty and Onslow fighting:
But we know they’re playing, don’t we? 😺
Swallows here, swallows there, swallows everywhere! 🐴
Good morning! We won’t be out in the front pasture too long—it’s just too hot!
Keep an eye out for those kitties, baby swallow:
Everywhere I go, there’s a baby swallow somewhere:
This Easter-egger says, “I know I’m dust bathing primarily in manure, but it’s nice and cool—so I’m not leaving!”
Finally, this Wyandotte says, “Ah! Jewel’s water has just been changed! It’s so cool and clean, fresh from the well.”
“I may never leave!” 🐔
Breezy and warm, with a 100% chance of dog!
Good morning!
Dukie says, “Good morning! There’s a nice breeze blowing through here today.”
Remember we told you Ann rescued a baby sparrow? Here’s a picture just before its release:
I know it’s hard to see, but before it was let out (it’s in the red circle), one of its parents (blue circle) landed right on the cage! 🐦
Orphan of the storm 🐦
Good morning! I’m having a piece of carrot for myself, and another piece for you!
Yesterday afternoon, a brief but violent storm blew through. Ann found this baby sparrow about to be pecked to pieces by the chickens. Is there any hope? 😿
Can you believe this is how she looks after she dried out? 😺
She’s ready to go back to the farm:
Successful rescue! 🐴
What a bad horse! 🐎
Let’s watch Paschal get a cool bath on this hot morning:
And now, let’s watch a security camera video of Jewel being a bad horse:
Horse crime! 🐴
More little swallows 🐦
Good morning!
Jewel has left some carrot crumbs in my dish:
The chickens will clean them up. They like bits of carrot, and grains of horse food.
Today we have more swallows out of the nest:
It looks like one of the babies has yet to take wing:
Here’s a video of the parents encouraging it to fly:
Maybe we’ll try again tomorrow. 🐴
Be careful, swallows and chickens! 🐴
Good morning. Oh, my goodness! Is Indira OK? Did a horse step on her?
“I’m ok, Francis. My eyes are open, see? I’m just sunbathing.”
Phew! You gave me quite a scare. Please make sure you keep your head up where I can see you, like these two good girls:
If worrying about the chickens wasn’t enough, the baby swallows are beginning to leave the nest:
Please stay up near the roof, babies, and out of the way of those sneaky kitties! 😺
I prefer carrots 🥕 to mice 🐭
Good morning! I have a smile for you!
And look what Buttons has. . .
A mouse!
I must say, Buttons, I think my smile is a nicer gift. 🐭
Iris says, “Good morning,” too:
And so do the swallows!
🐦
Buttons is a cool cat! 😺
Good morning! Just-laundered masks are waiting for us on this hot Wednesday:
They’re cool, clean, and sweet-smelling:
Remember, last Sunday, when I told you Chavez got locked in Jewel’s stall? Well, yesterday the same thing happened to Chezzie again, plus Rose, and Stormy!
It’s not their fault. “Management” needs to stop forgetting to lock that gate! 🐴
Finally, here’s Buttons walking nonchalantly under some unhappy swallows:
Why get so excited, birdies? Buttons is going nowhere near your babies. 🐴
Release the hens and move the feed bin! 🐎
Good morning! Can see see me? I can see you!
“Stop playing peek-a-boo with Francis and feed us, please.”
Speaking of feed, someone’s shoved a feed bin too close to the fence (again):
It wasn’t me. 🐴
Anyway, let’s watch the hens come out to breakfast!
Yummy-yum. . .
Scratch feed, layer crumbles, and mealworms! 🐔
Berries are on their way, but I’m a little slow 🐴
Buttons says, “Good morning! It’s a great day for breakfast outside!”
The chickens are helping Jewel clean up her leftovers:
These two are looking for bugs around the blackberry blossoms:
In a few days, the raspberries will be ready:
As for me, I’m in a mood. . .
I had to be bribed before I came to breakfast. 🐴
Stall problems 🐎
Yesterday afternoon, Chavez locked himself in Jewel’s stall. “Let me out! There’s no food in here!”
Rose says, “Good morning. Before I go into breakfast, can I ask a favor?”
“Can you chickens please find another place to dust bathe?”
Don’t spend all day inside, Misty:
Join us in the front pasture:
It’s hard to tell, but there’s lots of yummy clover to eat.
And even yummier carrots! 🐴
Am I being good or bad in this video? 🐴
Here’s a video of one of our hens doing what they do best!
And, am I expressing my affection. . ?
Or saying, “Get a move-on with my breakfast?” 🐴
The investigation is complete! 😺
Good morning! I appreciate “catering” picking up the piece of carrot that I dropped...
…but I always take my time and thoroughly chew my food (and so should you)! 🐴
Iris says, “That’s an important tip, Francis.”
RC says, “I agree!”
Anyway, if you recall, Security Chief Schroeder was going to try and find out who turned on the water outside the stable. What is your report, Chief?
“I reviewed the security camera footage, and can report that Rose accidentally did it while scratching her butt.”
Yes, the picture may be blurry, but that’s you, Rose. 🐴
Who turned on the water? 🙀
Good morning! Here’s a nice picture of Buttons, keeping me company last night while I ate dinner:
This morning, we have one of many baby swallows waiting to be fed, while the busy parents are flying about:
Oh my, it didn’t rain a drop last night, but there’s water in the paddock:
Someone turned on the water and let it run unattended!
Security Chief Schrödinger says, “I’ll start an investigation.”
“I should have a full report tomorrow.” 😺
The chickens get a treat 🐔
Good morning! We’ve got a lot of mud:
I’m going out to the front pasture:
Oh my, we have a blue egg by our gate:
Speaking of chickens, last night they had fruit for dessert. . .
Mulberries from our tree! 🐔
Oh those chickens! 🐔
Betty says, “Good morning! All our water pans have been rinsed and freshly filled.”
“Francis will be right with you.” 😺
Thanks, Betty. As you can see, I’m scratching my butt. . .
Don’t worry, I’m ok. It’s just an itch. 🐴
Anyway, here are the chickens, making a big poopie into dust:
And here they are having an egg for breakfast. It was laid in the duck garage last night and only discovered this morning:
And this chicken has picked up the whole egg, and is running off with it! 🙀
Don’t be a greedy buzzard, chicken. We all share at the farm! 🐴
Who did it? 🐴
Good morning! Good carrots!
Buttons says, “Sometimes I’d rather eat breakfast by myself in the barn.”
“There are far fewer chickens.” (Don’t worry, the other cats get their fill before the chickens are let out.)
And who pushed the feed bin into the fence?
It was probably somebody scratching their tail. 🐎
The grass is tastier when you’re not where you’re supposed to be! 🐴
Yesterday was our food delivery, so I sneaked out for a little grass:
This morning is a clean mask morning:
Ferdinand says, “Every morning is a clean water morning, but today my splash-tray (an old toboggan) is clean, too!”
Finally, not only is Dukie here today. . .
But so are Sophie, Nixie, and Calla!
Our doggie friends! 🐴
We are nature’s lawn mowers! 🐎
Good morning!
Like I always say, Happiness is an empty manure cart. What would we do without you, Farmer Rich!
Yesterday, Ann tried to mow the front pasture. . .
But the tractor overheated! 🙀
No problem! We’ll handle it!
We’ll have this grass cut in no time! 🐴