Keeping Score.

For those of you keeping score:

Duchess and her chicks are happy and healthy. She tries to keep them warm, but they don't seem to fit under her wings. This is due to the fact that we had her hatch out eggs from the larger chickens. The baby chicks follow her everywhere, chirping and learning all the 'big chicken' behaviors. 

One calf born yesterday. They are coming about one every five days now. We are waiting -a little impatiently, I might add- for the last three calves to come. Soon, we will have to work them, which means vaccinations and band castration for the steers. If we don't do it soon, they will be big enough that whomever pushes them through the alley into the calf table will have more work. And more bruises on their legs. This person is usually Maret, and she occasionally laments not being able to wear a skirt for a few days afterwards.

Four eggs yesterday.

I haven't seen a coyote since I put the rifle in the pickup. Always works like a charm. Time to put it and the lariat away. Calving is almost over. 

No rain for some time, but as can be seen in the photo below, plenty of virga. Virga is rain that evaporates before it hits the ground. It doesn't help the crops or pastures, but it makes the skies beautiful to watch.