Chickens and Sheep

This summer I raised our broiler chickens in the hayshed.  Once they had grown large enough I let them into the sheep winter yard.  The sheep have been outside the yard for most of the summer in various pastures enclosed with portable electric netting.  Since this area is richly fertilized by manure and waste hay during the winter, the grass grows thick and lush.  I periodically bring the sheep back inside for a few days to mow down the grass.  This was the first time I have ever had sheep and chickens together in the same yard.

It worked out very well.

Both the chickens and the sheep seemed curious about each other and showed no antagonism toward each other.

In fact it seemed that the chickens became more confident  and began ranging more freely about the yard.

It almost seemed that the chickens felt greater security in the presence of these large creatures.  Hey, these big guys go all over, so can we!

Our pond at sunset.  During the summer I swim in it nearly every day, and several times a day during hot weather.

Goldenrod gets unjustly accused by many people for causing allergies, but it does not. It relies on bees and other insects to disperse its pollen, not the wind.  It is actually an excellent late summer nectar plant for honeybees.