The Phat Hen

The Phat Hen I live in rural North Dakota, close to the Canadian & Minnesota border. My husband farms (4 generation) small grains and raises beef cattle.
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The Phat Hen a Homesteading Blog, Author Esther Donohue🐓🧺
Sharing our farm-life and homesteading adventures.
📍North Dakota | 🫜Zone 3
Sourdough | Canning | Chickens | Cows | Gardening | From Scratch Cooking. We have three children. Our little homestead is tucked away in a valley. We raise chickens, have a small herd of goats, one horse, 4 dogs, cats, and will hopefully be adding quail soon. I can a

ll our produce, love gardening, and being as self-sufficient as possible. I am a professionally trained chef, teaching Culinary Arts full-time to high school students. When summer comes, I start my side hustle, my food truck. I love sharing my knowledge with others so I started The Phat Hen blog and I have been sharing homesteading content and chicken posts on there!

It's going to happen, just not sure when.Every homestead/gardener needs a greenhouse, right?
06/14/2026

It's going to happen, just not sure when.
Every homestead/gardener needs a greenhouse, right?

If anyone is looking for a tiny kitten I will have a few for rehomeing. All males.Started them on kitten mash.
06/14/2026

If anyone is looking for a tiny kitten I will have a few for rehomeing.
All males.
Started them on kitten mash.

06/14/2026

Barn kittens eating their first soft food.

The one kitten kept trying to chew on the plate, I had to pretty much pull him off the plate and put him in the food. He was very upset I was attempting to move him and he grabbed his sibling.

They made a mess but sure enjoyed the food.

Their mom cleaned them all up and they have fat little bellies and are sleeping now.

Double Columbine, it’s so dark it’s almost black. I planted this variety years ago! Love the dark color. The boys and I ...
06/14/2026

Double Columbine, it’s so dark it’s almost black.
I planted this variety years ago!
Love the dark color.
The boys and I were out cleaning up a flower bed that is now a grass patch.

We have to pull the plants out till, mulch and replant… it’s going to be a lot of work but so much better then it’s done.

Coral charm Peony is putting on a show! It’s one of my favorite peonies. I’ll be dividing this one and planting a few ...
06/14/2026

Coral charm Peony is putting on a show!
It’s one of my favorite peonies.
I’ll be dividing this one and planting a few more of the divisions so in a few years I have a lot blooming at once.

We may actually have 6 freezers.... Two are small.
06/13/2026

We may actually have 6 freezers....
Two are small.

So true.
06/12/2026

So true.

06/12/2026

My chickens are still laying pretty eggs and it’s mid June.

Hasn’t been too hot here in North Dakota. Which is great for egg production.

The Black Cooper Marans eggs have faded a bit, but a few of my back crossed Olive Eggers are still laying some nice dark eggs!

And of course the Welsummers are putting out those speckles.

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Pekin, ND
58361

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