Peep, Crack! ~ Hello . . .

Twenty one days ago we placed the eggs we had been saving to hatch into the incubator. (see Crazy.) Lon thought he was hearing things when on Monday night he heard peeping in the laundry room. But not so, as a quick check of the incubator told us the time was getting near. Peeping could be heard through the shells signaling that the time we had been waiting for was upon us. Just as if you had rung the starting bell, they began to hatch like clock work. We saw 3 peck their way to the daylight yesterday. Eight more new faces greeted me this morning. Looking into the incubator's window I could see 4 more trying to break free. Lon was working an extra shift, so frequent calls were made between us to report the progress of our peeps. We were like anxious parents awaiting the birth of multiples. Waiting to see how many of what we were going to get. Whether Rhode Island Red chicks or Black Sex Link. There was even a different twist in that the Black Sex Link chicks are born with specific coloration's that lets you know how many pullets or cockerels you have, hence their name. The tote board changed throughout the day with each new chick making it's appearance into the world.

We had already placed the Freedom Rangers in the B&B brooder days ago. They were growing so fast that they would need to be moved to the floor area, to make room for the new arrivals. So in between hatching, I set up their feed, water and a heat lamp to continue keeping them warm until they fully feather out.

Placing the newly hatchlings in a brooder tub under a heat lamp till I had their comfy home set up just for them. We needed to clean out the large brooder box before putting the new ones in. They are susceptible to several illnesses when first born. Clean shavings is a must, along with sanitized feeder and waterers.

We are quite pleased with the hatch, gaining 33 out of the 43 eggs incubated, a good hatch rate. I hate to throw away eggs, but know that if they don't hatch soon. There are not viable chicks inside. I always wait till the last minute before deciding that they need to be tossed. We had only one to die after being born, not sure why.

Final count is 22 Rhode Island Reds and a tie between the Black Sex Links, with 5 future hens and 5 future roosters. You can probably guess the fate of the roosters, as they can't reproduce themselves. Black Sex Link chicks are made from breeding 2 different breeds of chickens. Having to be mated as such to continue their species.

Enjoying the sounds of cracking & peeping,

Deborah

Crazy?

Some would say yes if asked to give an opinion of my travels yesterday. A need to make a run to buy groceries & take care of a few errands. Had me traveling under the blackest skies in order to stock our pantry and pick up some needed barn supplies. Severe weather was called for and it didn't forget to show up either. Thankfully I made it home before the deluge dropped upon us and the tornado activity started. That is one thing about living out in the country, you can see it coming for miles away. No high rise buildings to block your view. The approaching cold front was going to collide with the warm weather we were enjoying, no way around it. I did get soaked doing the evening feeding, even getting stuck in the goat shed for awhile during a heavy pouring of rain. But made it to the house before the worst of the weather dropped in for a visit. The sky had taken on that eiry yellow light that accompanies tornado activity. A sure sign that a dangerous evening was before me and our critters.


The second reason I would be considered crazy was that particular something that got added to my cart while I was at Tractor Supply. Now that I think about it, I believed my son did call me that last night. I had made a quick stop to get syringes and supplies for the upcoming births. I heard the commotion as soon as I entered the store, for they were being quite vocal. We had seen the signs of their coming weeks ago. Even discussing the option of buying, but deciding we would just wait for now. Nope! didn't happen, the sight and sound of the little fuzz balls spoke to this farmer girl's heart. A quick call to boss man sealed the deal and I brought home 6 new faces for our hen house. The sign said they were Light Brahmas, but the salesman wasn't 100% sure what was sent to them. They looked a little too golden to be Light Brahmas, more like Buff Brahmas.

Taking a chance I selected the ones I wanted, called Lon to check chick coloration's for Brahmas on line and paid for my purchases. Only to have to make a return trip to the store an hour later for some chick starter feed. In my zealousness of getting them, I had failed to purchase food for them!



Adding baby chicks to our flock is not something out of the ordinary. As we try to raise new replacement hens every year. The part that would have me labeled crazy is that we already have 43 eggs basking in the incubator right now. We had penned up the Rhode Island Reds separately to gather their eggs for hatching. Then added several Barred Rock hens to the group. Hoping for some good sex-link chicks also. Sex-links are wonderful layers and make good broody moms too. They come from a breeding between them and a Rhode Island rooster. Only time will tell how many of each breed we will get. So buying day old chicks would be considered crazy by some folks, I guess.



Do you think that are saying ~ go away?

Oh, I forgot to mention too that we have a shipment of 25 Freedom Rangers coming on Friday. They are a breed of broilers we are going to try this year. I've been reading some very good reviews from those who have raised them. Then found a supplier in the northeast that raises only this breed. Placed an order and wa-la our poultry flock will be increasing real soon. With our desire to raise all of our food, they should give us some mighty fine eating, starting about July. Just in time for full swing barbecuing season.

So all in all I guess to the urbanite, I WOULD be considered CRAZY to take on more chicks. But you have to have a heart for this type of living in order to appreciate it. Where others are busy commuting in traffic to a job within stone and metal walls. I get to breathe fresh air, feel the sun on my shoulders, snuggle a few baby goats, watch the antics of baby chicks and savor my cup of coffee real slow.

If I am crazy, I am not the only one around here. I've had a cactus sitting on my kitchen window sill since we moved here. It has tried to set buds only one other time, but failed. I had moved it from one end of the shelf to the other. When I took down my Snowmen decor at the end of January. Guess it got bit by the same Spring Crazy bug that I did. Because it has started to bloom at a time of year it is not known for doing so. Usually you can get Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter cactus in bloom during those holidays. But I think mine is confused as to what time of year it is. What do you call one blooming in Winter? Crazy? I don't think I will call it that. I am enjoying it's spot of color over my sink. Besides maybe it knows something about the upcoming season that we don't. Like Spring may be here before we turn around good. . .

Enjoying the daffy's sitting on my kitchen window sill,

Deborah

A Little Wet Around Here

Yes, things are a little wet around here, but it's not from any recent rain shower. You see, the air is infused instead with microscopic pods of pollen. That annual rite to Spring that brings the trees into bloom and my allergies along with it. Both Lon and myself have been battling the war with the invisible foe. Succumbing to it's drip~ drip~ drip, sneezing and head congestion. A good money maker for the tissue industry. You don't think? ~ Nay, they couldn't be responsible for the invasion each year. Anyway, over the years, as we have aged(gracefully I might add), we have found ourselves with an increase in our symptoms. We both have taken allergy shots over the years. But I had to stop my recent round after we moved. It is just too far to drive back for weekly shots. Even though I could give myself the injections, my doctor wouldn't let me have the serum (which I had already paid for). Not convinced they were working anyway. With all the viruses of the past winter still circling through family and friends. I am not sure if this present round is just that, a present from some one else. Or if the double dose of pollen is the culprit for my miseries.

Having been exposed to the outbreak of pollen around the farm the past week or so which = dose #1. I then made a trip to North Georgia this past Friday. My Mom had to have knee surgery and was coming home. Hence, I was in the fresh explosion of pollen up there all weekend too. DOUBLE DOSE!

I went up to help out, cook, and helping Mom get settled into the exercises and routine that will be her life for the next few weeks. Daddy had been doing the bedside vigil while she was in the hospital and needed to rest himself. So I packed up my nursing skills, a suitcase, a box of Kleenex, extra vitamin C and went to the beautiful mountains in Hiawassee, Ga. Everything was green, freshly colored against the clear blue skies of the mountain air. We had a good visit catching up with each other between physical therapy and naps (Mom's not mine). Mom is doing good getting around on her new bionic knee, with a little help from a walker and a cane. We are praying her recovery will go just as smoothly as the surgery did. She is looking forward to being able to walk without the pain she has experienced for several years.

I now find myself back in the swing of chores this morning, with a heavier head, sore throat, and sluggishness that slows my steps. Lon was taking care of the farm front while I was gone, (Thank you, Baby.) having to return to work himself today. A quick call to the doctor and I have an appointment for tomorrow. Guess I can drag myself through another drippy day. I don't want this to turn into something else, so I am hoping that the right prescription meds will do the trick. You can only live on OT (over the counter) meds for so long, then something has got to give.

I did manage to rustle up some energy for cleaning out part of the brooder coop today. The baby chicks that we inherited and those who snuck into our lives were needing a new place to hang out. The older ones had become able to fly up to the edge of their brooding box. Often hopping down to the floor and leaving little surprise packages for us. With the increasing temperatures, they should stay quite toasty under the heat lamp in there. It will give them plenty of room to run around, eat, sleep and poop.

Ready to feel better,

Deborah

Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick, Chick

When raising laying hens, it becomes an issue at some point to think about replacing them after they reach their peak productive years. It has been suggested by the "people in the know" to seek replacements after the hens reach 3 years old. Seems kinda of young for burn-out to me, but I guess if you are cranking one out a day it wouldn't take long to wear you down. We have 44 hens laying at different times right now, blessing us a whopping 3 plus dozen eggs a day! Most of them are under the one year mark, with only a dozen or so going into their third year. They are not a spring chicken,but not a slacker either. With the abundance of eggs we have found ourselves with at present we had decided to wait about raising any replacement chicks this year. Or so we thought . . . .

I had a dear friend call just the other day to inquire if we had interest or room for a couple of baby chicks. Her son and fiancee had purchased them for her daughter's two girls for Easter. Not knowing the amount of care they would require. Rene's granddaughters were thrilled, but their mommy wasn't too sure. For she works full time as a nurse and often at night. Caring for two peeping fuzz balls didn't quite factor into their lives right now. So knowing the country girl that I am and that we are already raising chickens ~ the call was placed. Lon agreed to take in the two, as we have a hen trying to go broody on us. The peeping package was delivered to him after work the next morning and made the ride to Alabama without a problem.

The problem came up when he took off to the feed store to buy them some chick starter feed. I then get another call, this time it takes on a different but familiar ring. Our favorite feed store has gotten in some baby chicks, Rhode Island Reds. Yep! He was calling to see if we needed to get some, since they were just sitting there in the store. Stating, "we are going to be raising 2, it wouldn't be any more work to add a few more, don't you think?' "I'm thinking a couple will do." Which by this time I've been bitten by the same bug and I'm not even in the store looking at them. To which I replied, "might as well get four so it will be an even half dozen." Now what is it about the number 2 that is not even? And how did we make the jump from no baby chicks, to 2 baby chicks, to 6 baby chicks? I understand the Easter chick thing and I admit that they are the cutest little things when first born, but what makes two grown adults do the very thing that they decided not to do? I can only suspect that the "farmer genes" are coming out in us. At every feed store around the country USA right now, these little temptations sit waiting for us to come in to buy our feed and supplies. And if by some chance you happen to miss out on these cuties, there are the ever present hatchery catalogs sitting in your mailbox to order from. It appears that they are just as much a part of Spring passage as the flower & veggies plants, seeds, fertilizers, gardening gloves and such. It is part of the Country life. Just mention their name and there will sure to be someone telling about the new chicks they just got. Then asking you if you've gotten yours yet. YEP, got that one covered.

We had our first April shower today. The old rhyme I've heard for years goes like this ~ April showers, bring May flowers. After the dry spell last year, we truly can't complain. Even though we have had more than our share of rain the past few months. When I see it coming, I keep reminding myself of this little jingle and that we are storing up water for our vegetable garden to come. All those little tomatoes and peppers will need plenty to drink. I had been using the two rain barrels we had set up to water the transplants and the fruit trees we've planted. Their level dropping almost to low for me to reach. Now they are topped off and I can use this abundance on more things around the yard. I love flowers and knowing that the rain helps them to bloom makes it easier to watch it fall to the ground. Especially when I rather be out digging in the dirt. I've been shut up in the house for too long this Winter and have a serious need to be out in the sunshine. But rains will come and rains will go and we will be the better because of their appearance.

Our Bourbon Red Turkeys are reaching their prime this Spring and the mating calls have been sounding. Thomas has been waiting for his girls to get old enough to breed. From all the activity it appears that all 4 may be laying. We have found one egg in a hen's nest in the silo and one in a brush pile by the creek. But the biggest mystery was the location of a nest that belongs to the hen who keeps disappearing for days on end. We were afraid that she had stayed out of the pen too long and has become a dinner for something. We are hoping that she has a nest that she is watching over, but where? And if we find it, then how are we going to move her to a safe location to raise her young? We lost Pearl, a Royal Palm hen last year when she made her nest too close to the creek. It would be great if this one could hatch out and raise her brood for us. There would be young birds ready for Thanksgiving this Fall. But in the meantime we've decided to try hatching out a few turkey eggs ourselves. A family friend has said we could use his incubator to hatch them in. We haven't done this type of hatching before and will be curious about it's outcome.

I have been keeping a list of first sightings this year.
Like the first time I saw~

~the Canadian geese return, a sure sign in my book that Spring is on it's way

~the first butterflies in the yard (they were Spring Azures), a lovely lavender blue

~first daffodil to bloom, usually showing up around my birthday in March

~first bat in the evening sky, sweeping around to catch the newly hatching insects

~our first Whip-poor-will call of the season, a spotted brown bird with a name sure to have a story attached to it

~first pair of Mourning doves, I love their cooing calls to each other and it always reminds me of my granny.

We were sitting on the porch last night and Lon spotted another first. Surprised by it's appearance as it is only April. I couldn't recall ever seeing one this early in the year. The first lightening bug of the season had arrived. I know we have been having some hot days lately and I wonder if the temperatures have called it out of hiding to seek a mate. Do you know that it is only the females that flash? Creating a sparkly seductive dance in an effort to find a mate.

Now when I stop to think about it, we've had baby chicks of some sort for the past 2 years every Spring. The first 16 arriving as my birthday present in 2008. Another batch last year before moving to the farm. So why break tradition? Hadn't realized we had one but it appears we do.

This chick is loving Spring and all it has to offer. Hope you are taking time to enjoy yours.

Deborah

Been Out of the Loop

Things always seem to come at you in multiples, especially when they bring disruption to your life. It appears that often life will not bring just one difficulty at a time. Not that having one thing always makes it any easier to handle. Have just one thing go wrong or break down and suddenly others issues need to be dealt with at that same moment. Pleasures on the other hand make better company when they show up together. Multiplying the joy that they bring to the party. But that was not the case around here for the past couple of weeks. WHEW! I wasn't sure we were ever going to see daylight there for a few days. Physical illness is never welcomed and a sure pain when it attaches it's self to more than one family member at a time. But I am glad to state we survived the bug that came calling uninvited. Sickness can be hard to handle anytime but when there are other issues going on at the same time it can make for some long difficult days. If this is as bad as it gets around here, we can't complain considering what other families are having to deal with. It is all a matter of your perspective, whether to grumble or give thanks. We are giving thanks!

A lot has happened on the home front and I wish I could have written the details down as they happened. Looking back we tend to forget the little details that gives the everyday occurrences character. And now my camera is acting up, just another item on the "difficult" list around here, so pictures can't even be posted to help tell the story. Arrrrgh!

(Good news I finally won the battle and convinced it to share it's pictures)

We were unsure for about a day whether we had another broody hen in the making. One of the R.I.R.'s found Big Mama's nest empty while she was out getting a bite and decided to take up the cause so to speak. Needless to say Big Mama was not happy upon her return to find a free-loader in her place. She quickly attempted to reclaim what was hers, by even sitting on top of the hen. After much shuffling I managed to move her off of the offending foe. Who by my thoughts was just being a good nanny to the unhatched eggs by keeping them warm in her absence. Especially since it was during one of the coldest spells we've had so far this year. Separation finally occurred with Big Mama getting her nest back and the wayward nanny being placed in another box with a warm egg to watch over.

From the look on her face she still wanted what was down below and decided to find a place on her own, more suitable to her liking. Restlessness finally settled down after I gave her more than one egg to hover over. All was at peace in the hen house once more.

But the itch only lasted till bed time when she decided it was warmer sleeping with her room mates and left the nest she had coveted earlier in the day. She is such a pretty little hen and may make a wonderful mother one day after she gets a little more mature.

Birth announcements did not get sent out even though Big Mama hatched out her babies right on schedule. Four little fuzz balls out of 6 eggs hatched on Friday, January 16. I feel that was a pretty good percentage for a first time mother hen and midwife (me). We did call "Fred" (the father) and his owner to let him know the good news. Right now they are solid black with a light colored spot on the top of their heads. We are hoping that they will take after their father and look like Plymouth Barred Rocks.

The first arrived about lunchtime with two more siblings being found snug under Big Mama next time we checked on them late that afternoon. Bringing them to the house to keep warm and fed, we left the other 3 eggs under her for the night. Thinking that she would not miss the little rolly-pollies taken from her. I guess she had to show us a thing or two, for low and behold the next morning as Lon opened up the pen for the ladies to get out. There she sat with another chick peeping out from under her, almost 16 hours after the hatching of the first one. From all that I have read this not normal, they should have all hatched within an hour of each other. I am beginning to realize that nothing is ever "normal" on a farm.

It has been only a week and already they are outgrowing the aquarium we are using as a brooder to start them in. Little feathers are emerging on their wings and show some black with white markings, so we may get out wish after all. Regardless of what they look like, we are planning on keeping them.The smallest of baby tail feathers are showing up as well. All four are scrambling over each other, jumping up at imaginary stuff in the air, eating and messing up their quarters on a steady basis. Active babies = healthy babies.

Now the challenge is to find them a larger dormitory for the remainder of their preschool weeks of learning and growing. Which is a tiring chore for one so young. Catching a nap every chance you get is a good thing, no matter where you find it!

We have not come up with a suitable name for our rooster yet. He is doing a wonderful job of watching over the girls and comes running anytime one of them sends out a distress call. His tail feathers are slowly coming back in and his coat is looking shinier and healthier every day. Although his crowing leaves something to be desired. It is not from the lack of trying, as he exercises it throughout the day. Causing us to smile each time we hear him. We don't know if it will improve or not and have considered calling him "Rusty" because of it. As he matures it may change in quality and we do not want to saddle him with a name that would no longer fit him.

Our search for more land has not left our thoughts as we have traveled back roads and highways all over the surrounding rural area within about a hour + ride from our home. It seems there are a lot of other people doing the same kind of thinking and looking, making available property kinda sparse. We do have our eye on one in a neighboring state that has potential and a piece closer to home, but that already has a contract on it. It would be great to have it but at this point in time we will just have to wait and see if it is the one the Lord wants us to have. Reading and research continues as we try to learn all that we can before trying things first hand. Though there are somethings you just have to jump right into the midst and start. I think my husband may even be willing to let me have a milk cow, if we can find the right place to support one. YAH, fresh milk, butter, cheese and cream with out any interference from mankind. I can see a great wholesome breakfast on the way ~ free-range eggs, pancakes with homemade butter and jams, raw honey in a cup of hot tea and a quite morning sunrise to savor it all. YUM YUM!

It will soon be time to start planting our Spring garden and the decision at hand is, how much do we want to plant here. If I could choose, I would love to start a large garden come Spring on our dream place. Looking through the seed catalogues leaves me with a list longer than we have space for right now. I may have to start one here and save a few seeds in case we get the chance to obtain a new garden spot in the future. For now it is quite cold and dreary looking outside, not suitable for tender young sprouts. Though to start some seeds indoors would give me a jump on getting an earlier harvest on some sturdy veggies and calm the itch I have to be back out scratching in the dirt.

Looking for pleasures this winter,

Deborah