Good Fun!!!

We finally got some snow here in mid-michigan.  About 2-3inches that actually stuck around long enough for the hubs to haul out the quad runner, attach a rope and pull me and my son around the yard on a sled!!  Such fun!!  It was cold and the snow flew up into your face and the tall grasses/weeds wipped you in the face, but slidding around the yard at a semi-fast pace can not be beat.  The chickens seemed to enjoy watching us too.

the downside to the snow and cold was that the chickens did not lay as many eggs as they had been with the warmer temps, we got about 9 eggs where we had been getting about 10-12 a day (we have 17 chickens capable of laying at this time).  Earlier in the week plans were to make a sign and start selling the eggs, we sort of put that plan on hold because we ordered a sign from a local gal instead.  The sign should be ready today or tomorrow, so Wednesday it is, since I have the day off.  Can't wait, hopefully things go well.

Broody Hen

This morning when I went out to collect eggs/feed/water and just generally check up on the flock,  I once again found one of the polish ladies sitting on a cache of eggs.  This is the second time I have found her sitting on eggs.  The first time was when I was cleaning out the top layer of wet straw.  Today when I found her she was sitting the back cornor in a nest of straw so deep I could just make out the top of her head.  When I went to move her to get the eggs she pecked me pretty good, apparently she has guards too cause two of the other chickens came and pecked me too, I left her sitting on them for now, since I had to leave for work and did not have time to fight a broody hen this morning.  Part of me would like to let her sit on the eggs and see what happens the other part thinks it's still a little cold for babies and we do not have a brooder set up.

In other chicken news, we have enough eggs and they are big enough that we are going to start selling them, hubs and I will be working up a sign to put out this weekend when we are both home.  Hopefully we will get some customers.  So far, We have sold half a dozen to a co-worker of mine and have given some to family during the christmas holiday.  This feels like the next logical step and is the next step in getting the farm to pay for parts of itself.   Any profits from the eggs will go toward feed for the flock.  Pretty exciting for us here at Ridgetop.

In just over 2 months time we will be adding to our flock with some more chickens, turkeys and 2 gosling's.  I would like to do bee's as well, but feel like I should take a class on bee keeping before just jumping into that.  Looking into that as we speak.  Come spring we'll be looking like a real farm.

Wintering the flock

As I posted the other day, we lost another Chicken.  It has been a pretty mild winter so far here in Mid-Michigan however it does have a tendency to be in the teens one day and 40 the next.  In that frame of my mind I have decided to list what I do to keep the chickens warm and healthy in the winter.  If you have any questions, comments or advice please feel free to leave a comment. 

Feed:
In addition to their regular food, we offer then some scratch grain mixed with extra corn. The fattiness of the scratch will allow the birds to pack on an extra layer of body fat, which aids them in better combating colder weather. The scratch or corn should be offered as a treat, though, not as the sole source of their diet.  We usually throw some down in the morning and then again right before they head in for the night.

Water:

Yes, most waterers will freeze. We are fortunate enough to have electricity in our coop, so we have purchased an electric warming base (to be used with double-walled, metal waterers).  I still check the water ever day to make sure it's not frozen and there is plenty for them to drink. If you don't have electricity in your coop you will need to check the water several times aday.  One idea is to fill the waterer with hot water and then drop a chunk of ice or a good amount of ice cubes into the water to slowly cool it down over the course of several hours. While they will drink less during colder weather, the birds still need to be able to drink water, period.

Heavy bedding:

If, like me, you use the heavy bedding method for collecting coop droppings, now is the time to add an extra heavy layer. Placed over existing droppings, heat will be generated from the composting manure, as well as the birds own body heat at night. It does not raise the temps much, but, all heat is welcome heat when it's freezing outside!

Combs & Wattles:

A series of days with below freezing temperatures could result in damaging, painful frostbite on your bird's combs and wattles. My gauge is 4 days-if the weather is super cold for over 4 days, I have petrolleum jelly to rub on thier tender bits to help prevent frostbite.

A Clear Path:

when the snow flies and is more than an inch or so, we shovel a path to the feeders and waterer's to lessen the time they spend on the cold, and wet snow, which can cause damage to thier feet.

sad news

Lost another chicken today poor little lady.  I don't know if it was the cold or what.  Earlier in the season when the winter weather was still mild we lost another one in the same manner.  That's to say that we have no idea what happened to them.  Neither appeared to be injured or sick.  I have followed every source I can find about wintering the flock.   Hoping not to loose any more.

Happy New Year

2011 is over!  Was your year good, bad or the same so-so mix?  Are you dreaming big for 2012 or just wishing for improvement on 2011?  Did you celebrate with a bang or a quiet night in?  For me we celebrated by joining some friends at their house for some Chinese take out and board games,  we played a new (for me anyway) game called "Farckle" (a dice game).  The hubs, Dj and I left early though as I had to get up for work this morning had to be to the hospital by 7am which means I had to leave the house at 6am, needless to say I was in bed by 11pm and did not watch the ball drop in Times Square NYC.  Dj stayed up to see the ball drop on TV.  2011 had a few sad moments but many more glad moments so I am hoping that trend contiunes on through 2012.  Big plans are underway for us hopefully a fix up of the barn, a remodel of the bathroom and perhaps a vacation.  I am starting (this very day) a 365 photo project in the hopes that it will boost my photography business and of course some serious weight loss.  Please wish  me luck in both these ventures. 
Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!!!!!!

Seeds and Chickens

We have recieved 2 new springtime pursuit catalogs this month, the Murray McMurray Poultry Catalog earlier this month and last night the Burpee Seed Catalgog!!!!! Looking through these has me so excited for spring, because really what could be better than baby animals and seeds growing in the garden.   In fact we have already placed our poultry order for pick up on March 21,  we did not use Murray McMurray this year instead we are using a hatchery that is here in Michigan and allows us to pick up the birds so we can have a smaller order.  What did you order you ask??? we ordered 15 Silverlaced Wyandotte's, 15 Goldenlaced Wyandotte's, 5 Buff orpington's and 5 Aracuna's (these ladies lay colored eggs like Easter eggs) in additon to the chickens we ordered 4 turkey's (2 for us and 2 to sell to a couple of people) plus and I am oh so excited about this part I ordered 2 geese.  Can't wait to have a few to browse the seed catalog and decide what is going in the garden this year, hubs has made me a few more raised beds and perhaps in the spring when we clean the livestock barn out we will be able to make a few more.  Last year's garden started with a bang but didn't end up working out very well in the end, mostly because of time constraints and Romeo the cat who ate all the begining plants.  I am hoping that this year I can make the garden grow enough to can some stuff that I grew myself instead of what I was able to buy at the Farmer's Market.  It would also be awesome if Thanksgiving Dinner 2012 could come enitrely from the backyard. 

Happy Christmas

 There was no snow, which the chickens appreciated.  We slept in a bit, tended the animals and then had fun opening presents and playing with our gifts (the hubs got me a first edition copy of "Gone with the Wind") before geting ready to go to my aunt's house for a big family Christmas dinner.  In addition to supplying the turkey, we brought deviled eggs and apples with a carmel dip.  It's a grand compliment indeed when the food you have brought is gone within the first hour of the party.  Lot's of complients on the taste of the turkey.
I hope that you all enjoyed your christmas celebration as much as I enjoyed mine.

Victorian Farm Christmas

Turkey's and Santa

I am pretty sure it won't be a white Christmas on the farm this year, the sun was out this morning melting away the light dusting of snow we recieved last night.  Oh well I am sure the chickens appreciate it, they do not like walking in the snow.  This morning I opened the coop door and nothing.. usually they all run out to peck the ground... then slowly a couple of the ladies started inching thier way down the ramp, concerned I opened the big door to find them all standing in a line waiting to get out.. guess those first girls really didn't like the snow.

The turkey's we bought and raised over the spring and summer grew up big and healthy!! One supplied us with a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and the other has been dropped off to my aunt's house and is being prepared for a Christmas Feast!!!  Many people have asked me how I can I eat something I raised from a baby, "wasn't I attached to it" "didn't it upset me" (these were the more tame comments I recieved) my answer is I live on a farm I respect the lives of the animals that I raise in the sunshine, tall grass and clover, give them treats of fresh pea's plucked right off the vine, and in return the animal supplies my family with fresh, delicious chemical and hormone free food, that not only do I know where it came from but what went into it, and the added benefit of knowing that the animal had a good life, with shelter, good food and lot's of time to run around and be happy!  We had several people who asked if they could get a turkey from us next year too, so all in all not a bad response.  We did decide to purchase 4 turkey's in the spring 2 for us and 2 to sell.  It should prove interesting, turkey's were lot's of fun to raise.  I learned a lot from those two birds.

It's Christmas Eve, at the farm we are all ready for Santa to come tonight!!  We've been watching his progress on the Norad Santa tracker.  I am currently at work, a little bummed as I won't be able to join my husband and son at the in-laws house for good food, laughs and grandkids.

Hello!

Well, Once again it has been a while since I shared any news or farm going ons.... for some reason I have had a serious case of writter's block as well as a lack of stories or funny inccidents to share.  One of my many descisions/resolutions ect..for the upcoming new year, is to be more vigilant in posting, either news, recipies, farm stuff or just stopping by to say hello. 

So... Hello