Crazy Rooster Farm: Animals, Insects and Humans

Bees

There was a hive of honeybees at the farm as well as plenty of bumble bees in the goldenrod field. I spent many a happy hour chasing them around through the flowers.

Grasshoppers

When I was walking through the pastures at Crazy Rooster, there was always a flurry of grasshoppers jumping away from my feet. However, I found I could get close enough to a few of them for a photograph. It was easier in the morning when they were still covered with dew.

Other Insects

I don't know the names of these insects, but a lot of the orange ones were intent on mating with each other. This pair also had a tiny parasitic wasp stuck on its back:

Sheep

The weekend included my first experience of herding sheep. When they found a way over the fence one morning, I discovered how hard it can be to get a herd of sheep back into a pasture they don't want to eat from. For more details (including video), see this blog post.

Horses and Chickens

Along with fresh eggs from the laying hens, there were also broilers  and a horse being stabled by a neighbor, who stopped by every day for a visit. Also, the crazy rooster himself.

Humans

We had lots of fun clearing paths in the wood (sorry, I was working too hard for photos), picking apples, making cider from said apples, herding sheep, eating breakfast by the fire and riding the four-wheeler around. We also spent two hours loading hay into the hay mow in the heat of the day via an elevator powered by a smoking two-stroke engine borrowed from a neighboring Amish man.

Sunset and other photos

Because sometimes the ending is the best part.