We have had some overnight temperatures below 50°. It’s time to start preparing for winter. The first step this year was getting straw for winter bird bedding. No one had small bales locally, so we trekked to our favorite provider in Almena. We were floored by the destruction we saw on our way out.

The roads were mostly open, but so many buildings had been damaged…including at the farm where we buy straw. But in that inimitable resilience of farmers, they were working to salvage what they could, conducting business as usual, and pleasantly helpful. We got our straw, paid a fair price, and came home to our own farmstead.

Checking our load on the way home at a convenient Lutheran Church parking lot. Every day I rejoice with in the beauty of Wisconsin.

We moved the chickens from their summer digs to the winter coop that same day. We only have three old hens to teach the new chickens the ways of being “upstairs.”

We have more roosters than hens this year. Luck of the draw!

We will let them out of the gated yard soon and see how the roosters treat the hens. We want one who will call the hens over when he finds something tasty, will protect them from the cat and other predators, and who will not beat up on them. Longfeather was such a good rooster. We still miss him. He is pushing up garlic. Fluffy, on the other hand, was a terrible rooster. He became sausage. We need a good rooster.

One who will know enough not to harm this chickadee. Longfeather was always such a gentleman with her!