This chicken (right) has the strongest passion to survive, than I have ever seen, compared to any of our other birds.  During the trying times of our Bobcat plague, we were forced to move chickens to different locations every few days in order to try to “fool” the cat and keep it from finding the chickens while we were constructing a Bobcat proof chicken house (the other housing was Coyote proof but we didn’t imagine a hungry Bobcat would be at our door).  Anyway, each evening, before we could catch this bird (which is not an easy task with any chicken), it would go to the highest branch of our tallest tree and sit at the outer most edge (where the branches were thinner and couldn’t hold the weight of a Bobcat) to roost for the night.  And, if we came out earlier to round the birds up, this chicken would just settle in earlier to avoid being caught and relocated by us.  Those were trying times but this girl prevailed and still lives to this day.  I have never slaughtered a chicken yet but, if it ever had to come to that, I don’t think I would have the heart to let this girl die anyway but naturally.  Furthermore, I couldn’t tell you what breed of chicken she is because she came with a batch of Araucana chicks but she didn’t grow up to look like the rest of them. 

(If you know her breed, I’d be curious to know)

Jan / 2009  - Here are some of the girls looking for any bit of green grass—they like to forage the septic line (that is why it looks like they are in a line) because they have more chances of finding green grass there.  The next picture shows them in a leaf pile by the back deck.  At first, I thought the girls were getting together for a private meeting but then realized those leaves probably offer some extra warmth.  We feed the hens cat food, with their chicken feed, in the winter for extra protein which helps them get through molting without stopping egg production completely.  We still have a few dozen for outsiders but, combined with the winter slow down and extra eggs needed for holiday baking, most of the eggs stay here.  We (along with our customers) wait with anticipation for our spring explosion which is when our new chicks start laying for the first time and our existing stock start laying more abundantly.  As we lament the decrease in production and increase in cost, at the same time, we happily embrace our new baby chicks.  We order replacement stock in the winter so they will be ready to lay by spring.  We put a lot of energy into keeping them warm and growing healthy. 

 

We have had some crazy weather here with a few days of freezing temperatures followed by some 70-80 degree days.  It was a hard time for the baby chicks because they, too, went through those extreme temperatures.  As a result, we lost a few birds.  It was a sad time.  But, as we now know from our farm experiences, there is much life to see and, with that, comes death as well.  We are glad that their feathers are now in so they are not as vulnerable as they were.   

 

 

EGGS:  If you received eggs from us in the past, please contact us by phone or e-mail to place a new order.  Note:  Egg prices go up by .50/doz from Oct—Apr due to decreased production and increased food costs for the chickens during the colder months.   

If you would like eggs from us and have never ordered before,  please contact us to be put on our waiting list.  We will provide eggs to new customers as they become available and if the logistics can be worked out.   Therefore, your addition to our waiting list does not always ensure you will receive eggs—we will notify you if that becomes the case. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ferdie was given to me as a birthday present (with a batch of other ducklings) after I lost most of my first flock to the bobcat.  She is everyone’s favorite because of her “fluff” head.  She has been the only one to produce baby ducks.  Her first attempt at raising eggs to their hatch date was completed by a hen that took over sitting on her eggs.  Then, the next month, she hatched two of her own eggs. 

The hen and “her ducklings” went to another home (I didn’t have the room to house that many extra ducks in their night quarters).  I have a photo of the duck babies with their surrogate chicken mom below.  Notice the one with the “fluff” head like it’s mom!

       Ferdie in the pond

<————These pictures are of the same chicken.  This girl is so ugly when she molts.  The picture on top is before molting and the picture on the bottom is the same chicken during molting season.

When the sun is out, these chicks now go out for fresh air and sunshine.  They still go in the brooder at night and on very cold or rainy/cold days.

I rec’d an update on this flock ———> about six months after they went to their new home.  I learned that the ducks have all grown up nicely and happily follow the father to the barn every day—if he is late, the ducks wait for him.  The chicken, named Oprah, layed two eggs but another hen took over sitting on them.  So, just as she took the ducklings in, another hen (a silkie) took her chicks in.  I guess that can be a common occurrence on the farm—it was new to me.  I was so happy to hear they are all doing well.

So cute and fluffy when they arrived (above pic) —not so cute anymore (pics at right).  They sure do go through an “ugly-duckling” stage before they mature.  

They are about a month old now and have lost their fluff in place of feathers.  It may not be as cute but it is a welcome sign because they are not as sensitive to cold when their feathers come in. 

Our baby chicks:

It’s so hard to go out to breakfast anymore.  One time, I even brought my own dozen of eggs and asked if they could use my eggs in my order –but, they just looked at me like I was crazy.  Well, I am—crazy about our fresh, delicious eggs!  This coming from a person who, at one time, thought eggs only came in white shells!  ; )

 

 

An array of shades of brown, blue and green—the yolks are even a vivid orange!