We’ve tried flexible chicken fencing, we’ve tried modern style cow fencing, we lately tried construction fencing (!?), hoping that was high enough. But there are always those chickens who fly like the eagle and would do anything to get to the other side!
 
Sometimes it’s their inner compass and sense of direction: they want to go where they were before (as our chickens roam around the paddocks and move every few weeks to a new pasture). The trouble is, all infrastructure is in the new area of the paddock, including water pipes and fox protection (a.k.a. Maremma’s). Big problem for the daily hunt for eggs as well.
 
I somehow need to remind them: your grass also looks greener – from the other side!!!
 
#green #pasture #fencing #problem #escaping #freedom #pastured #eggs #runaway #chickens #greenerpasture #otherside #greenergrass #grass #pasturedeggs
 
-Photography by Tom

"The storm hath passed;
  I hear the birds rejoice; the hen,
  Returned into the road again…
  The country smiles;"
 
It’s all clear skies and the storms have passed: the whole farm smiles! We gathered up some fallen branches, in the path of where we want to move the caravans next. Wonderful red box gum, it would be heartwarming in the fireplace – probably very soon, as the morning have become quite crispy here!
 
#gettingcold #coldmornings #fallenwood #boxgum #clearsky #pastured #eggs #hens #freedom #poetry #green #pasture #farmlife #tractor #jobs
 
--from the poem "Calm After Storm" by Count Giacomo Leopardi, the Italian 19th century Romantic with the longest name in the world (you don’t believe me? Try Count Giacomo Taldegardo Francesco di Sales Saverio Pietro Leopardi)

Photography by Tom

The tempest and the hail storm left our water tanks full but put holes in the roof of one tools shed:

Lucky for us, the path of the hailstorm miraculously spared all our animals and other infrastructure on the farm! However, Boorowa town was badly hit, and we hope everyone is safe and well.
We just take the holes to the tools shed as ventilation and carry on! All water supply is welcome.
 
#hailstorm #hilltopsregion #water #summer #hail #eggs #water #pasturedeggs

"The heat’s a fire in the sky,
It makes the trees and people cry.
I’d leap in water, if I could,
But all the lakes have dried for good!”
 
..if not in the lake – jump in the watering bowl! 😂😂😂We’ve had a fair share of sizzling days this February, but our Maremma dogs always invent ways to leap into the water. Makes us want to jump in too! 😁
#keepingcool #water #hotsummer #pastured #eggs #farmlife #Maremma #dogs #cooldown #wateringbowl #invention
 
—Photography by Haydn
 
—from the poem “Sizzle” by William Blake