New Peeps for Spring of 2012 and Other Goin' Ons

Last Sunday we picked up our peeps at the post office.  This is not the first set of peeps that we've raised (we've had plenty of peeps on the farm), but they ARE the first ones that we ordered and picked up ourselves.  We ordered from McMurry Hatchery based on their excellent reputation, as so far, couldn't be more pleased.  We got the message that they were shipped on Saturday, I was beside myself.  Glad we got that brooder done!  First thing Sunday morning I checked their tracking to see how far they had traveled.  They at one of the main post office hubs  in Pittsburgh!!  We live about 35 miles outside of the city, but I was willing to drive in if I could pick them up.  My first thought was, "It's a Sunday!  No one will be available!"  But we called all the same, and a return phone call gave us the answer we'd been waiting for, "Come and get 'em!"  And that we did.

Newly hatched chicks can survive for about 72 hours without needing food or water.  For mama hens, hatching her own chicks this is important.  She must patiently sit on her chicks until they have all hatched.  And this can take 48-72 hours.  So these little guys and gals absorb their yolk sac just before hatching to provide them with the nourishment to survive those hours before mama hen can take them out looking for food.  Pretty darn creative, don't you think.  This allows chicks to be shipped in the mail. However, warmth is another consideration, therefore typically they are shipped in no less that groups of 25 so that they can keep each other warm.  Larger birds, like ducks or geese, can be shipped in few numbers.  I'm happy to say that every last one of our birds arrived safely, and all seem to be happy, healthy, and thriving.

On another note, the weather here has been crazy.  Definitely an uncharacteristically warm winter.  I'm not really complaining.  I checked the weather this morning when I woke up (as I always do - I'm a weather junky) to find that it should be nice and sunny and warm all morning and into the first part of the afternoon, where then it will turn into rain....and then more rain....and then thunderstorms....followed by a wind advisory!  I had to laugh!  Folks, on any given day we have a wind advisory up here on the farm!  Don't believe me?  Stop by for a visit; I guarantee it will blow your socks off.  Guess I better get my outside chores done soon then.

This semester has seemed to leave a lot less time to blog.  So bear with me folks!  I'm trying to return to a bit of normalcy.

Spring Chicken Activity

Spring is upon us (finally), and there's been lots of chicken activity on the farm the past few weeks.  Three weeks ago we bought our first ever Cornish-Rock crosses for meat.  They are four weeks old now and huge.  I would never have imagined how big these birds get so quickly.  So big in fact that we had to move them outside into the cage attached to the chicken coop.  They seem to be adjusting to their new living arrangements quite well and are enjoying a little more room to stretch their wings and legs.   They've even been moving around a bit more than their typical 'step-step-plop'.  Perhaps in another few days I will see if they would like out to free range with the rest of the chickens.  They sure do like to eat - and poop - and eat  - and poop some more.  It makes me wonder what those large-scale meat poultry houses must be like.  On second thought, I don't want to wonder about that.  It must be a horrible mess.

We also picked up 16 Americauna (Easter Egger) peeps this weekend.  Straight run only.  I guess this means we are going to have a few more chickens in our freezer come winter.  The first 10 peeps were found on Craigslist.  We placed them under Pearl, my white silkie hen who has been sitting on phantom eggs for about a month now.  They were already 4 days old but she too to them like they hatched beneath her fluffy little self.  She's not quite the mother that Delilah was, but she's doing her part.  The other 6 were found during a trip to Tractor Supply a few days later.  Since we aren't 100% convinced that Pearl's peeps really are all Americauna, we grabbed this half dozen just in case.  They are in the basement.  By this time next year my egg customers should happily be receiving some more greenies.  Everyone loves to see a green egg.  Including me.

Let's Talk About Chicks

Well the farm has doubled itself in the past month; doubled in chickens that is. I suppose God heard me cry for my three dead hens and gave me 16 chicks. We now have 2 roosters, 7 mature laying hens (three of those with chicks, which means they're not actually laying at the moment), 6 immature hens, and 10 peeps (growing like weeds). Grand total: 25! How would have thunk it? The chicks above are from the first clutch that hatched almost four weeks ago from my black silkie hen, Delilah. They grow fast and are much larger that this picture now. She actually hatched 8, but we lost two. Sad, but such is the circle of life.

And speaking of losses, Mrs. Buns had her litter and didn't know what to do with them. We lost them all; all five beautiful little babies. It was a very sad day and felt like such a loss. I realize that these things happen, but it's still hard. I'm pretty sure that this was her first litter. Though it doesn't make the loss any easier to know that. We'll try again here in a few weeks. I think she'll get it next time. The poor girl spent days sitting in her nest box after the birth; like she knew she was supposed to be there but just plain figured it out too late. She will be a little smarter next time, and I will too. I know now to check her frequently around her due date. We'll get another litter.

For now, we are content to watch the little chicks frolic in the barnyard. They are more entertaining than any TV show could ever be! I'm of the firm belief that everyone should own chickens. It should be like any of those other 'decessities' that we own: refrigerator, stove, computer, dishwasher (wait, we don't own a dishwasher!) They are quite the conversation piece as well. I called my sister back yesterday and all we could talk about was (you guessed it) our chickens. She and her family are also new chicken owner. They didn't even have their chicks a month before they upgraded their coop! That's what I'm talking about! It's addicting, folks. After awhile you're not just raising chickens for eggs or meat, you're a "collector". Those few chicks you raised just aren't enough, and you find yourself devising ways to add to your flock. It's an addiction! But don't worry, there are much worse addictions you could have.

Chickens -n- a Basket

My week off was a whirlwind of events. And as always, it ended in a blink of the eye. It wasn't an uneventful week (certainly not), just fast and busy. My parents came down for three days the beginning of the week. The main focus (or I should say 'my' main focus) was for my mom to help me get my craft room organized so I could think creatively again. She didn't so much help as pretty much do the whole thing. I have a tendency to get overwhelmed easily when it comes to my own stuff. But in a few hours, she had it all taken care of. Moms are amazing like that, and we still need them even into our adult years. And thanks to the cleanliness and organization of a new room, I was finally able to finish a project. The basket you see above! Made for holding all the beautiful colored yarns that I've spun. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. Made from rope, scraps of fabric, and a simple zig zag stitch. Here's a picture of it during the works:

Most of the peeps are gone now. I had only intended to keep two of the Easter Eggers, but alas, there are six that remained: in addition to the two Easter Eggers, we kept 2 white egg layers, and two chocolate-colored egg layers. And being the fancy chicken farmer that I am (not), I couldn't tell you which breed they are. I seem to have forgotten. But they are getting big and growing fast, and I can't wait to get them all outside and reclaim my basement.

{One of the chocolate-egg layers - made it out to the coop already}

{the basement gang - 3 weeks old and outgrown their quarters}

Peepies!

Aren't they cute?! First time I've been involved in raising peeps! This is so exciting, but boy are they a lot more work than I thought! They do nothing but poop! These are not all mine. I am 'peep-sitting' for a friend, but I will get to keep two of these little yellow ones. They are supposed to be the Easter-eggers (green egg layers) I so desperately want! I sure hope so. I see the kaleidoscope of of colored eggs of other blogs I read and I have (I hate to admit) "egg envy". You know you're meant to do what you're doing when you covet thy neighbors eggs! LOL

G'day all! They sun's shining; get out and enjoy it!