George In His Love Nest
April 28, 2009 By
George, has not been to happy with us since we have sentenced him to his love nest. The hens on the outside aren’t to happy either.
They have been trying hard to figure a way to get to George. This morning I found two or three chickens digging under the barn. They were looking longingly for a way in to their honey. It must be great to have that kind of magnetism. Imagine having that kind of luck with the chicks.
April Showers Bring May Flowers
April 7, 2009 By
The showers may bring flowers, but it doesn’t help for getting much outdoor work done around here. It’s cold, and damp and no fun to do anything outdoors.
This morning I finished the chemise I had started a couple days ago. It turned out to be just what I wanted. It will be added to the Thornton Square line of clothes.
We are getting over two dozen eggs a day now. The chickens are out everyday, and having a ball. It is fun to watch them run all over the yard chasing things. Thank heavens the cats don’t chase them.
The cats do however chase every leave that blows across the yard. They are having fun, and we have fun watching them. I was sure they would be upset at us for making them outdoor cats, but I think their fun makes up for it. They have acres and acres to run and scamper after things that move. Puca, who we thought was going to be “wild” has tamed out well. Pyewacket is sweet, but now prefers to chase Puca over being in my lap. Oh, they grow so fast.
Saturday we are helping out at the library with the kids Easter Egg Hunt. We are donating the eggs for the kids to color. I have hard boiled some white eggs, green eggs, and brown eggs. It’ll be alot of fun.
It's A Tiring Job
April 6, 2009 By
Yesterday, we finally finished processing the last of the chickens. You wouldn’t think it was that hard, but when we were done with the 7th chicken, we were tired. Our backs were sore, and my legs were throbbing.
By 8 o’clock, we were ready for bed. That is a wee bit early, but our eyes were heavy and our bodies tired. If you put the dogs out too early at night, they wake up that much earlier in the morning. So I went off to bed, and Michael stayed up for a bit. I closed my eyes, and the next thing you know it was 3 a.m. and I was wide awake. I knew it. Going to bed at 8 is far to early. I switched on the TV to see if it could lull me back to sleep, and Law and Order SVU was on. I have to admit that has been one of my favorites. I like to see how they solve the crime. I didn’t get to see much, as I drifted off to sleep again. I woke up at 6 a.m. as the sun rise over the hill. It is always so beautiful so see. Although the sun came out, it was short lived. I rained the rest of the day.
A Whole New World
March 27, 2009 By
Today, our newest chickens got to see the world for the first time. They were quite shocked to find that there was more to life than just their coop.
We had bought them in September, and by the time they were old enough to be out from the heat lamp we had snow on the ground. It
While I was in there cleaning, they were all huddled in the corner clucking this and that. I clucked back, but it didn’t seem to reassure them at all. It was such a nice day, I felt that this would be a good day for their first trip outdoors.? I opened up the coop door, and they all ran to the corner again. I knew I was never going to get the coop cleaned so I took one and guided it to the new world. Then I took another and another. Only the first one seemed to like it out there.
Our Brood Is Growing
September 24, 2008 By
Today, we expect to receive our new flock of baby chicks. We ordered 25 NH Reds from Murray McMurray hatchery a couple months ago. Plus, we get a “free rare exotic chick”. We can’t wait to see what that one is. It seems like we have been waiting forever for them??to arrive. This will give us one rooster and 49 hens. By March, we should get around 50 eggs a day. By then, we will also have out goat, and possibly a pig or two. In spring, we will add to our flock to have a fresh supply of free range organic eggs, as well as the meat. We will not only sell the eggs, but the organic chicken by the pound.
Our First Egg
September 21, 2008 By
The End of Summer?
September 2, 2008 By
The unofficial end of summer is of course today Labor Day. The kids will go back to school and most vacations have ended.
Around here, summer will not end until September 21, which according to history is the Autumn Solstice.
From then forward we will prepare the gardens, animals, and house??for the coming winter months. Not an easy task. It the spring tasks in reverse. Putting the hoses aways, tilling in the compost and other such chores. This year, we will build a chicken coop for the new chickens as well. We will too get ready for the goats that will arrive in the spring.
While summer vacation is over for most, life here on the farm is as busy as ever.
