Bunny Rescue

As I'm sure you've read Isabella, Tim and August added two adorable bunnies to Red Bird Farm. Isabella has a knack for gathering animals around her and I seem to have a knack for following in her footsteps. One of her two cute bunnies, originally adopted from our friend Hilary, has made its way over to our yard.

Unfortunately, after a successful entry into Isabella's coop the bunnies while getting along well with the chickens were not happy together. Peter Rabbit aka Cottontail aka Peekaboo otherwise known as the black bunny (the poor thing probably has identity issues he's been renamed so many times) was attacking the other Peter Rabbit aka Flopsy otherwise known as the brown bunny.

To make a long story short we came to the brown bunny's rescue by agreeing to take the black bunny.

Peter Rabbit is now living in a new hutch in our backyard.

He seems very happy snacking on papaya, carrots and yogurt bites. I go out and check on him numerous times throughout the day. Especially with this cold weather as his water dispenser freezes and needs to be changed at least twice a day.

His next move will be into our coop. We intended to put him in there right away but the hutch I bought quickly --without taking any measurements, doesn't fit through the door of the run. My husband had graciously offered to dismantle part of the run so we can squeeze the hutch in.

Hopefully Peter and the chickens will get along I'd hate to have to move him again. Poor thing. He's like a foster kid with one too many homes. I'm hoping to make this recent move his last. Will keep you posted!

We are happy to have him. Izzie LOVES her bunny!

Animal Friends

Sometimes my husband amazes me. A year ago he didn't know how to build anything. Now we have a finished coop and run that he basically built (with the help of some friends).

I asked him to build me a bunny ramp... and voilà! He built it quickly and installed it. I was so impressed and grateful. Thanks, Tim. You must love me a lot :)

Here one of my Orpingtons - curious gal that she is - braves the ramp. The bunnies haven't quite figured it out, but the chickens immediately were curious.

I am not exactly sure how chickens and bunnies become friends, but I followed my friend Terry Golson's instructions/advice on her blog. She's my go-to gal for all backyard animal farming information.


Here the bunnies pose - we took our Christmas card photo this morning. Cottontail is on the left, Peter is on the right. August renamed them even though their original names are Floppy (left) and Peekaboo (right).

I also realized today what a wonderful dog I have. He drives me crazy sometimes with his needy golden retriever traits, but he's remarkable. He didn't bark at the rabbits. He wanted to play with them. He kept circling the run, but when I told him to lie down, he did.

Here the chickens eye him. I wanted to get all of my animal friends in one photo... some day!

Snow Birds (and Bunnies)

Today we had our first big snowfall in Concord. The snow has since turned to freezing rain, but we had enough accumulation that the chickens wouldn't leave the coop.

I shoveled their ramp, and then they were willing to look around.















Only one of my Aracaunas would actually venture out into the snow.

I get asked a lot whether chickens are winter-hardy. Lisanne and I selected breeds that can weather a harsh winter without heat - Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, Aracaunas and Crested Polish. We knew that Drumlin Farm had these breeds and did not have heated coops, so they informed our decision.















I adopted two bunnies this week too, from my friend Hilary (who incidentally has 5 children - no time for rabbits). I put their hutch in the chicken run and will build a ramp for them so that they can run around freely. They're very very cute and friendly - the caramel colored one is Flopsy, and the black one is Peekaboo (he's a little shy).

My farm is expanding!