MJ : Hi, i just moved to a farm and am lovin' it. I have 23 chickens all in good health. one day was so cold with 8 inches of snow in their pen. They did not want to come out of the coop and who could blame them for that. So I shut the sliding door on the coop so they would stay warm but I had to keep something in there so they would not pick on each other. I bought 2 heads of cabbage hung them up and they had a blast picking at the cabbage. They had a toy to peck at and could eat it too. This is all new to me but I'm enjoying every minute taking care of the chickens. I'm going to try broccoli next I think they will like that also. Can't wait to read more about chickens.

Judy : In response to Carol H in Massachusetts…I live in Michigan and if you would like a nice rooster, let me know…I have at least 15 at the moment and everyone of them will let me pet them and does not attack…though I've know a few who attack and it's scary…if you like roosters, keep trying…you'll get a nice one soon…Judy in Michigan

Charlotte : I have had hens for about a year now and they have really grown to love me and anxiously await my visits. They free range part of the day and are penned in a very large area for part of the day because of hawks. Recently, I was out by my garden checking the peas coming up and one of our cats started toward me. My "girls" all came running and at first it puzzled me but as they got closer it was clear that they ran to confront the cat that they thought might me trying to do me harm. They've done it another time since, I just think it's so cute that they want to protect me. Thanks for the newsletter!

Sara : I do have one tip that I recently happened upon. I have a 3 gallon plastic waterer for my flock, had it for about 2 years. As time as passed, it's gotten harder and harder to open. It had gotten to the point where I needed to kneel on it and really put some serious pressure on it to get it open. One of the last times filling it, I remembered one of my husbands tricks when building natural drawer slides. I cleaned and dried the waterer and inside the lid then lubed them up with shortening. I also lubed the rubber seal, removing the excess. That lid goes on like a dream now and I don't need a vice to get the lid off or on. It tightens with no effort. Thanks for your newsletter. Sara, Franklin, CT