FRANCIS'S BLOG 04/22/2026
Melt, ice, melt (and a video)! 😺
Good morning! It will hopefully get to 50 today!
Onslow jokes, “Well, what do you know? Liquid water!”
Iris says, “Maybe we’ll find a few shoots of new grass, now that most of the snow has melted.”
And it’s warm enough to open the coop window. The chickens say, “We haven’t had this much light inside in several days!”
Let’s listen to them coo with contentment:
Oh, finally. . .
Martha is scouting out a new place to lay an egg, “What’s this? A bucket of twine in RC’s old stall—nice and private!” 🐔
Let’s watch the horses! 🐎
A security camera caught the horses frolicking in the snow:
Who do you think is the “troublemaker?” 🐴
Jump, Onslow, jump! 😺
Good morning. It was only 12℉ this morning, but there’s little wind:
RC is vacuuming up Jewel’s “spillage.” It looks like he’s “striking a pose:”
And Onslow didn’t know the snow was so deep up there:
Let’s watch him jump, then dab-off his feet on the hay:
😺
Freezing Monday 😾
Buttons says, “Good morning. I know I look grumpy, but I’m actually doing pretty good: I just had a warm breakfast, and am soaking up the sunshine, out of the wind.”
It’s a great day for extra hay:
The chickens plan on spending another day indoors:
This hen says, “I picked a bad time to molt!”
“In a few more days, I hope I’ll have a nice new head of warm feathers.” 🐔
What do you know?—more snow! 😾
Good morning. It snowed about an inch or two:
Little Ruth and the other chicks have never seen it before:
Everyone except her is staying inside:
Here’s Betty, keeping the new seed block warm until they come out:
Buttons says, “I know breakfast is waiting, but I’m not budging.”
“If you don’t mind. . .
I think I’ll sleep until dinner time.” 😺
A little bit of snow 🐴
Good morning:
There’s snow on the manure:
There’s Onslow on the straw:
There’s a chicken on the hay:
There’s bound to be an egg this afternoon! 🐔
It’s an icy morning 🐴
Good morning. Our ice needs broken. Don’t worry, though: our other tank is heated, and Management will get a heater in this one, too:
It’s never too cold for a carrot:
I think this nest is over-capacity:
Hey, where did everybody go?
Meanwhile, in the other coop:
The weather is making everyone want to roost. 🐔
Movie time! 🦃
Let’s watch Basil and Paschal have some fun in the tub:
What would Thanksgiving be without football (like I care)?
The “football” in this case is a French fry! 🐔
The sun is shining and the hay is flying! 🐎
Chezzie, Jewel, and Chezzie are diving into the hay:
What are you looking at, Sophie?
Oh, the ducks are getting a pool full of sparkling fresh water:
OH NO! What is this horrible creature? 🙀
Oh, it’s just a close-up of Chezzie’s schnozzola:
He’s coming in close for a kiss (and a carrot)! ❤️
Dogs love cheese! 🧀
Good morning! It rained all night, so we’re having hay inside:
Here’s Betty, staying cozy in the little coop in the cat garage. What’s that, Betty?
Oh, someone laid an egg, two nests down:
Finally, Sophie and Dukie are having some cheese:
Aren’t they polite? Dukie waits patiently while Sophie is served, and vice versa. 🐴
Oh that Chezzie! 🐎
Good morning. I’ll be up in a minute:
Oh, on Saturday the chickens had leftover India food. It’s too spicy for me, but chickens (and all birds) aren’t bothered by capsaicin, the ingredient that makes food “hot:”
And here’s Chavez sneaking a bite of hay:
Let’s watch him in action:
Come on, Chavez—grain first, then hay. 🐴
Attack chicken strikes again! 😾
Oh, excuse me, I can’t stop yawning. Good morning:
Oh, Ruth! Stop chasing poor Onslow!
And if Ruth wasn’t bad enough, here’s Jane going after Betty and Schrödinger, in case you missed it on YouTube:
I wonder if they have Anger Management classes for chickens? 🐴
I know what to get the chickens 🐴
Iris says, “Good morning! Look where I’m standing!”
Red and Buttons are playing cat-and-mouse:
And I found out something this morning from one of my “Secret Santas:”
They are making seed blocks in holiday flavors:
I REFUSE to eat “pumpkin spice” (which I guess is cinnamon and nutmeg) in my grain, or “winter candy apple” (who knows) on my hay—but I bet the chickens would eat it, even though they get plenty of fresh apples every day. 🐴
A brilliant day for brilliant hay 🐴
Chavez says, “Good morning. It couldn’t be sunnier!”
Come on in for breakfast, Chezzie:
Nobody here but us chickens:
And look at this especially nice bale of Farmer Rich’s hay:
Yummy alfalfa leaves, stems and blossoms. 🐴
“Intriguing” horse faces (and Sophie!) 🐴
Thank you for the nice kiss last night, Sophie:
And here we were, posing for Ann:
This morning, I have a nice smile, just for you!
However, the camera didn’t quite catch Iris at her loveliest:
It didn’t do Rose any favors, either:
That’s ok, girls. We know you’re gorgeous. ❤️
Oh! What a scare! 🙀
Good morning!
I know the sun is in your eyes, but how about a kiss?
Iris and Rose say, “Good morning! Let’s eat!”
Wait a minute—why are you looking so concerned, Misty?
OH NO! THERE’S NO FOOD!
Oh, thank goodness—false alarm, Misty—more food is waiting in the car:
Get it out of the car and into our tummies, please! 🐎
A horse video, plus some fowl deeds 😺
Good morning! Let’s watch Jewel get some carrots. If you listen carefully, you can hear me whining for mine! Don’t worry, I and the other horses got our carrots, too:
Get off Iris and Rose’s breakfast, chickies, or you're going to go for a “hay ride:”
The cat-cops saved a little for Frizzle to lay her egg:
Finally, this molting chick is beginning to grow back her head feathers:
The new quills look like silver spikes. 🐔
Not my best side 🐴
Good morning! I have a smile for you, and lots of sunshine!
Hey, this is not a good picture of me:
Take another picture!
I don’t find this picture funny at all. 🐴
No news is good news (but we have a movie) 🐴
Good morning!
Misty, you’re probably eating more dirt than food:
I’m sorry, that’s all I have—but, you might want to watch this video Ann took of the chickens chasing after the bird with some food:
Oh those chickies! 🐥
Kitty Capers 😺
Sophie and her nose say “Good morning!”
Red is having breakfast in Buttons' spot:
Buttons is having breakfast in Betty’s spot:
And Onslow is up in the rafters:
“Nope—no trespassing sparrows here!” 🐴
Happiness is a clean stable 🐎
RC says, “Good morning, everyone! Go get some hay, Chezzie—I’ll check for leftovers.”
It’s chilly, but any sunny day is a good day:
And our friend, Jake, cleaned all the poopies from Iris and Rose’s stall, under the hay barn:
It will be especially cozy tonight. 🐴
Sick, or just lazy? 🐎
Martha says, “Good morning! It looks like one of the Easter-eggers couldn’t make it to a nest.”
Is that ball of fluff a raccoon? 🦝
No, it’s just Buttons. 😺
And why are you laying down, Iris? It’s time to eat.
Oh no! Why are you laying down, too, Rose?
OH NO! Iris is putting her head down! Do we need to call the vet?
Oh, thank goodness! It was a false alarm. As soon as they saw breakfast, they hopped right up!
They look fine!
You girls were just sunbathing, weren’t you? 🐴
Let’s go back to England and visit a castle! 🐴
Red says, “Good morning, all. It’s dreary this morning, Francis. Cheer us up with some more pictures from your trip, please.”
Why, sure! Let me have this carrot, and we’ll visit the Royal Pavilion!
Here we are at the absolutely over-the-top Royal Pavilion. It was built for some idiot cat-cop who would later become King George IV:
It has an Oriental theme throughout:
Lots of dragons everywhere:
Some people have more money than brains:
At least now it’s open to the public, so everyone can appreciate the artistry:
Oh, by the way, here is where Queen Victoria made a poopie:
The end! 🐴
More Onslow drama 😾
Good morning! It’s 10 degrees cooler today—but we’ll take it:
Oh, Onslow, don’t you look like an angel?
But an angel would let Buttons come down and have breakfast with the other kitties:
Don’t worry, when Onslow chases Buttons, the cat-cops bring her food to her:
If you feel like chasing someone, Onslow,
Go catch a mouse! 🐭
Oh that Iris! 🐎
What a nice morning! It’s already 65℉!
Iris, it is a “HORSE CRIME!” to stick your head through the fence:
But, you still get a carrot. . .
Because, when told, you were a good girl and pulled your head right back in. 🐎
Let’s recite a rhyme, and do some bird watching! 🐴
Good morning! The weather is supposed to be warm almost all week!
We put the Baldy's food in a pumpkin shell,
And there he ate it very well!
Finally, let’s watch the chickens greet the sunshine!
And frolic in the yard!
Happy hens lay tasty eggs! 🐔
Onslow is a great “chicken-cop!” 😺
Red says, “Good morning! I’m squinting, because we have a nice sunny morning!”
RC says, “I wish you good morning, too! I’d love to have helped Misty finish her food, but Chavez beat me to it.”
Yesterday, it was almost 60! The chickens did not want to go home. They seemed particularly fond of climbing on everything:
We even had chickens in the trees:
It’s a little hard to see, but our Onslow chased her back into the pen:
Here he is:
What a good “chicken-corraller!” 🐴
Kitties and tires do not mix! 😾
Good morning! It’s a little windy, but warmer (in the 50’s). Farmer Rich’s hay is especially tasty today:
The chickens won’t need their windows shut today:
“But we do need our door open—we need breakfast!”
Finally, Security Chief Betty demonstrates where not to take a nap:
Oh kitties, you may love tires, but tires can crush you. 😿
Onslow, behave! 😾
Security Deputy Betty says, “Good morning. I just heard a kitty screech. It sounded like Buttons!”
“What’s going on up there?
“Oh, you bad Onslow, picking a fight with poor Buttons! She never bothers you!
“Nobody likes a bully, Onslow—whether you’re a cat or a cat-cop!” 😾
Frosty Wednesday 🐴
Good morning! My teeth are out, ready for a carrot:
Jewel gets a carrot, too:
No carrot for Dukie, but she’ll get a nice piece of cheddar cheese when she goes inside:
And finally, no matter where our hay goes…
There will be chickens to jump up on it. 🐔