This is one of those “Dear Diary” blog entries that I’m writing as much for me and posterity as it is for your viewing pleasure. I received an invitation to attend the Royal Poultryville Ball at P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home in Arkansas this month and the story-line read better than Cinderella! While it included a handsome, charming gentleman and a Greek revival palace, it had the added bonus of heritage breed chickens, 175,000 daffodils and 650 acres of farmland. Notably absent were chores, fussy shoes, curfews and wicked step-sisters. The Chicken Chick in Poultryville began on an idyllic spring day in Arkansas… 
Mr. Chicken Chick and I flew into Little Rock and drove straight to Moss Mountain Farm to meet P. Allen Smith and his team. The Poultry Workshop was scheduled for the next day, but the producers wanted me there the day before to film some television and radio segments with Allen. The free-ranging, dust-bathing Buff Orpingtons were the preliminary welcome wagon, which made me feel at home immediately. Moments later, Allen’s assistant and producer/director warmly greeted us, offering an umbrella, hat and/or sunscreen. After the winter we had endured in New England, I passed on all three, opting for maximum sun exposure at my voluntary peril.
We were invited to enjoy exploring the property while Allen finished filming elsewhere. The following photos were from our self-guided tour. I wish you could have been there. Meet Amos. He’s a Buff Orpington rooster who kept a watch on his free-ranging ladies far from Poultryville, near the Garden Home.
These are a few of Amos’ ladies. THAT is what a Buff Orpington should look like!
The Garden Home is such a photogenic structure and I had trouble narrowing down the photos of it to just a few!
This view is from the porch of the Garden home, looking out over the sheep pasture, the waterfowl park and Poultryville (the red roofed structure in the distance).
Dinner bell at the Garden Home.
Getting closer to Poultryville!
On the way to Poultryville…
I fell in love with this tree.
These pics were taken in the gardens behind the Garden Home.
As I was photographing some of these tulips, Allen commented to me half apologetically that they were past their prime. The grey frozen tundra from which I had just flown would gladly have been brightened up by this color palette- past prime or not!
And…we’re back on the path to Poultryville.
Allen and I met with his production peeps to film some television segments in the brand new poultry barn. It’s ginormous! Allen wrangling a Silver Laced Wyandotte rooster. I had to put the iPhone down to grab a hen myself for the shoot.
Can I just tell you what a trip it was to have someone powder my nose to be camera ready? Surreal. Filming a little teaser for the Poultry Workshop the following day while Allen chats with his team behind me.
It is not the least bit natural to talk to a camera, but at least I had a friend to hold onto while doing it!
This is the view from Poultryville, the area where the feathered friends live. I’ll give you the full tour of Poultryville, it’s residents and the scoop on the Poultry Workshop next time!
Storicamente, le farmacie componevano i prodotti sterili internamente qui o si servivano di farmacie specializzate guidate dalle norme di compounding delle strutture di outsourcing. In seguito alla segnalazione di focolai di infezione, tra cui la meningite fungina, è stata aumentata la sorveglianza normativa.4,5
Kathy Shea Mormino
Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on
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This is one of those “Dear Diary” blog entries that I’m writing as much for me and posterity as it is for your viewing pleasure. I received an invitation to attend the Royal Poultryville Ball at P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home in Arkansas this month and the story-line read better than Cinderella! While it included a handsome, charming gentleman and a Greek revival palace, it had the added bonus of heritage breed chickens, 175,000 daffodils and 650 acres of farmland. Notably absent were chores, fussy shoes, curfews and wicked step-sisters. The Chicken Chick in Poultryville began on an idyllic spring day in Arkansas…
Mr. Chicken Chick and I flew into Little Rock and drove straight to Moss Mountain Farm to meet P. Allen Smith and his team. The Poultry Workshop was scheduled for the next day, but the producers wanted me there the day before to film some television and radio segments with Allen. The free-ranging, dust-bathing Buff Orpingtons were the preliminary welcome wagon, which made me feel at home immediately. Moments later, Allen’s assistant and producer/director warmly greeted us, offering an umbrella, hat and/or sunscreen. After the winter we had endured in New England, I passed on all three, opting for maximum sun exposure at my voluntary peril.
We were invited to enjoy exploring the property while Allen finished filming elsewhere. The following photos were from our self-guided tour. I wish you could have been there. Meet Amos. He’s a Buff Orpington rooster who kept a watch on his free-ranging ladies far from Poultryville, near the Garden Home.
These are a few of Amos’ ladies. THAT is what a Buff Orpington should look like!
The Garden Home is such a photogenic structure and I had trouble narrowing down the photos of it to just a few!
This view is from the porch of the Garden home, looking out over the sheep pasture, the waterfowl park and Poultryville (the red roofed structure in the distance).
Dinner bell at the Garden Home.
Getting closer to Poultryville!
On the way to Poultryville…
I fell in love with this tree.
These pics were taken in the gardens behind the Garden Home.
As I was photographing some of these tulips, Allen commented to me half apologetically that they were past their prime. The grey frozen tundra from which I had just flown would gladly have been brightened up by this color palette- past prime or not!
And…we’re back on the path to Poultryville.
Allen and I met with his production peeps to film some television segments in the brand new poultry barn. It’s ginormous! Allen wrangling a Silver Laced Wyandotte rooster. I had to put the iPhone down to grab a hen myself for the shoot.
Can I just tell you what a trip it was to have someone powder my nose to be camera ready? Surreal. Filming a little teaser for the Poultry Workshop the following day while Allen chats with his team behind me.
It is not the least bit natural to talk to a camera, but at least I had a friend to hold onto while doing it!
This is the view from Poultryville, the area where the feathered friends live. I’ll give you the full tour of Poultryville, it’s residents and the scoop on the Poultry Workshop next time!
Storicamente, le farmacie componevano i prodotti sterili internamente qui o si servivano di farmacie specializzate guidate dalle norme di compounding delle strutture di outsourcing. In seguito alla segnalazione di focolai di infezione, tra cui la meningite fungina, è stata aumentata la sorveglianza normativa.4,5
hi i have my chicken coop on the grass and im worried about foxes getting in i have fox proof wire and a house built in with a closing door but is there a way of keeping foxes out of my coop i hear its mating season thank you
I have learnt a lot from this page I am glad I read up on all of your great tips before I got chickens I no what to do and this page makes it easy to care for my chickens
I HAVE JUST WENT INTO MY CHICKEN COOP AND 1 OF MY CHICKENS HAS CAUGHT ITS WATTLE ON SOMETHING I THINK THE WIRE MESH ITS BLEEDING A BIT WHAT DO I DO IT KEEPS RUNNING AWAY IF I TRY CLEAN IT ITS OK IN ITS SELF
only when the chickens have been outside and I have to take the rain cover off but I leave the door open for them to get back in
Are you saying that your chicken coop is getting wet INSIDE when it rains?