Farm life in rural North Dakota.
We live in Northeastern North Dakota amidst vast fields, rolling hills, and endless skies, offering an unparalleled connection to nature’s embrace. Here, life unfolds at the rhythm of the seasons, each one painting the landscape with its unique hues and textures. Our yard is surrounded by rolling hills filled with native grasses, noisy chickens, and grazing cattle. We find solace in the simplicity of rural living; I hope to share some of these homesteading experiences with you through this blog.

Niki, the Nubian 
a few of the cows 
William, the horse 
overlooking our pasture
Behind the farm
Hi, I’m Esther Donohue
I’m the voice behind The Phat Hen. I love the simplicity of living on our farm. My husband Danel is a fourth-generation farmer, and our kids will hopefully be the fifth generation. We hunt, fish, raise cattle, farm small grains, and raise a bountiful garden; the kids raise goats and are in charge of a large flock of hens; I have a dog problem (we currently have 5); and lastly, we have a horse named Sweet William. I look forward to sharing my homesteading expertise and our daily life on the farm with you.


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About our Animals
Silver Laced Wyandottes: A Beautiful Homestead Breed
Living in North Dakota, where winter is bitterly cold and…
12 reasons your hens aren’t laying eggs in the winter
Author: Esther Donohue Winter can cause a slowdown in egg…
How to Make Lilac Simple Syrup
If you are looking for a way to capture the…
How to Make Lilac Lemonade With Fresh Lilacs
My kids look forward to spring here in North Dakota…













