Four years ago, when our naiveté surpassed the capacity of New Mexico’s high country (even a relatively moist portion of it) to support our agrarian ambitions, I built a pasture pen, and Sue ordered twenty-five heritage breed chicks who would inhabit the pen. We already had a coop for a number of other breeds of …
Sue and Scamp and I had a divinely quiet, uncomplicated, thanksgiving at home. While I was fixing our breakfast of hot, succulent duck, waiting in its Römertopf, and spinach (one bunch each) steamed to a brilliant green in ghee and duck juice — with a handful of frosty arugula from the cold frame — I …
Had to kill a chicken today. Miss Americauna was the only one of our birds with whom we could really be said to have a close relationship. Needless to say she was our favorite. Feisty, intelligent, full of energy, adventure, and will power, she liked us as much as we liked her. The other chickens …