Self-taught farmers confidently raising chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs. Our focus is on practices that are environmentally harmonious and respectful to our livestock. We appreciate the beauty around us, clean eating, fermenting, and responsibly utilizing the bounty of the land. If you like thinking for yourself, continuous learning, and connecting with the homesteader lifestyle, check us out.
I tried hatching several sets of shipped Lavender Ameraucana (a rare breed that’s not available locally) last year, with dismal results: of three set of eggs from two different breeders, I only had 2 hatch successfully – and that was 1 in each of 2 sets. But those birds are so lovely and sweet that I couldn’t help ordering more eggs – from a breeder in a different state – and hoping for better luck this time!
Continue reading “In The Incubator: Lavender Ameraucana #1 (2022)”
The first hatch of the year is over. The hatchers have been cleaned and disinfected and the chicks are warm and safe in their brooders. Join us for a quick look back on how the hatch went!
Continue reading “Post-Hatch Recap: First Chicks of 2022”
On Christmas Day, I filled an incubator with eggs from our flock: dark brown eggs from our Black Copper Marans and blue eggs from our Easter Eggers (hatching Olive Eggers). It’s been a couple of weeks now, so our first hatch of the year is just around the corner!
Continue reading “In The Incubator: First Hatch of 2022”
Having raised both purebred and mixed breed poultry, I’ve seen the benefits of genetic diversity, such as heterosis (also known as “hybrid vigor”). When we crossed Easter Eggers that laid blue-green eggs with French Black Copper Marans roosters, we expected that the pullets would eventually lay olive eggs…and they did. And these girls turned out be some of the nicest birds we’ve raised to date.
Continue reading “Farm Fowl: Omnifarious Olive Eggers”