Our backyard chickens

I was out in our chicken run one day and saw three girls in a nesting box and Panic was waiting in line to use the nesting box.  I could tell she was getting impatient; she had her neck stretched out to see what was going on in the nesting box and making all kinds of noise.  She waited a little longer, but she was done and pushed herself into the box.  Well, apparently Goldilocks thought four girls were just too many and bailed out.

We have six chickens and just one nesting box wasn't enough.  I have been in line to use a restroom during halftime, and I know exactly how Panic felt waiting to use the nesting box.  It was time to build a new one.  Mike built a nice new  nesting duplex using the wood from our old fence.  But do you see how many nesting boxes are in use?  Go figure.

I've read that fresh or dried herbs are good for the chickens.  The herbs reduce stress, help with fly control, have a calming effect, and many more health benefits.  I have plenty of herbs growing in my garden so once a week or so I add some fresh herbs to the nesting box.  I don't have any way to measure the effects the herbs have on our chickens, but I love the smell when I gather the eggs.

Here I planted some mint in our chicken run.  It is guarded by chicken wire and some logs.  So far it is working and the girls have not been able to dig up the roots.  Having plants in the chicken run is a good idea because it attracts different bugs, gives shade and places to hide.

    

When we went backpacking last week a chipmunk ,or maybe an army of chipmunks (I was asleep so didn't see), chewed through by backpack and got into my nuts.  It was probably no big deal if I ate the nuts, but I just didn't feel like sharing germs with a chipmunk.  When we got home I thought our girls might enjoy them.  I broke them down into smaller sizes for the girls.  Oh my goodness, they loved it.  I saw Cole pecking at the empty plate the next day.  I am pretty sure if she had a tongue she would have licked that plate clean.

I heard that chickens love to stand on logs.  I picked up these logs just for that purpose.  Maybe other chickens love to stand on their logs, but not my girls.  This picture is staged; they don't care about the logs at all.  Goldilocks was a good sport though,  but as soon as the picture was taken she was ready to go back to her normal stuff.  Probably thinking, "things I do for my human."

Hiking trails near Boise

After reading an article in the Idaho Statesman about "Boise's hiking Grand Slam" in April I decided that this was something that Mike and I could do.  Summer was still a bit away, but I get this itch to go hiking, but at the same time I am a casual outdoor person who is not quite ready to stay out all night.  So I thought this is a great solution.  All four trails are located close to Boise and are not terribly long so that we could easily hike in and out in a day. 

May 6th: Cervidae peak
Total: 5 miles

  The trail head was easy to find and easy to follow.  It went up, up, and up some more all the way to the top.  The view was amazing; we could see the Lucky Peak reservoir and Mores creek from the top.  There was a register at the top for signing your name which I thought was nice.  It gives you a sense of ending.  On our way down it started to rain and we could see lightning hitting the hill just next us.  We walked out of there real fast to avoid getting struck by lightning.

This was my second favorite hike of the four.  The hills are so steep that hiking poles are a must have item, especially for coming down the hill. It took us about 3 hours including a lunch break.      
     

Looking down to Lucky Peak

A pretty view of rolling hills

The view from the top

Walking down the trail with the storm following us 

May 13th: Kepros
Total: 11 miles

This was another Saturday afternoon hike.  The trail head was a bit challenging to find.  The article we read said the trail head was 9 miles after exiting the free way, but it turned out it was actually 11 miles.  Right from the beginning we had to climb over a few very steep hills.  It was very windy and cold when we started out.  After a few miles the trail connects to a hunting road and from then on it was an easy walk to the top.  The weather was great and there were plenty of wildflowers to enjoy.  There wan't much shade so I wouldn't hike this in the summer.  There were numerous bypasses that you could follow to avoid steep hills.  The total mileage would be different based on which, or how many, bypasses you follow. 

This was my third favorite hike of the four.  It took us about 6 hours including lunch and two breaks.  

Lovely view

Following a hunting trail

A lone tree at the top of a hill

We've made it to the top

May 27th: Lucky peak/ Shaw mountain
Total: 15 miles

The person who wrote the article said 10.2 miles so I really don't know where our 5 extra miles came from.  Maybe they know a short cut to the top? 
The trail head is located within the city limits and because of that this was the busiest trail of the four.  The weather was perfect, and we forgot our sunscreen so by the end of the day we looked like cooked lobsters.  When you look at the foothills behind downtown Boise this is the tallest peak there. After the hike whenever I look at the peak while I am driving it just amazes me that we were crazy enough to climb it.  

This was my least favorite hike of the four.  It may have been because of the hot weather and sunburn.  It was a very, very long hike on a very hot day.  It took us 8.5 hours including lunch and a lot of water breaks.         

Looking down at the city of Boise

Loved this part of the trail.

The view from the top

Heading down 

June 3rd: Heinen
Total: 12 miles (Did not make it to the top)

We knew before we left home that this would be the most challenging hike of the four.  The first mile or so was extremely hard, steep climbing on loose rocks and dirt.  I wouldn't even dream about hiking this without hiking poles.  But, can you believe it? when we got to the trail head we realized that we left mine at home.  Now we each had one hiking pole, not a pair.  It was manageable, but it would have been much better if I had my own.  The trail wasn't very easy to follow so we got off the trail a few times.  This was a beautiful hike and I am disappointed that we didn't make it to the top.  Mike was showing symptoms of heat exhaustion, and we were running short on water.  We poured some water on Mike's head to cool him off.  We took a long break under a tree and after drinking more water he was well enough to hike out. 

Even though we didn't finish the hike this was my favorite of the four.  There was an abundance of wild flowers and great views of the river.  I am guessing we completed 90% of the hike and it took us about 9 hours.  I'd like to try this one again next year. We need to go earlier in the spring and take more water than we did.                  

Looking back to the trail head 

What am I going to do if he can't make it back?

This is why I hike

He feels good enough to carry his own backpack.