Farm Fowl: Beatrix The Hunter **Warning: Graphic Photos**

You may already know that chickens are omnivorous opportunists and, given the chance, they’ll devour a variety of protein sources: I’ve seen chickens chase down and eat small frogs (wince), along with a variety of insects. Recently, we were very surprised to see one of our hens running around with an unusual “treat” in her beak.

Continue reading “Farm Fowl: Beatrix The Hunter **Warning: Graphic Photos**”

Watching The Bottom Line: TSC Prices Can Vary By Store Location

Farrah likes saving money!

Unless you’re one of the (very few) very rich people out there, you’re likely feeling the pinch (bite) of rising prices. We definitely are. If you’re a bargain-hunter, you already know to comparison shop…but did you know that the same farm store may have different prices based on location?

Continue reading “Watching The Bottom Line: TSC Prices Can Vary By Store Location”

Farm Fowl: Cheered By Chocolate (Eggs)

Respectably reddish-brown in sunlight, but see the same eggs in indoor light below

Winter is tap, tap, tapping at the door – officially, still a couple of days away, but the temperatures here suggest that it has arrived already. As the daylight hours decreased and our layers molted, egg production dropped off. Way off. While I’m sad that the days of bountiful eggs are over for the year, our French Black Copper Marans have resumed laying (apparently not put off by the freezing temperatures) and I think you’ll agree that their eggs are cause for celebration.

Continue reading “Farm Fowl: Cheered By Chocolate (Eggs)”

Farm Fowl: Weathering The Heat

We’ve been suffering the effects of a “heat dome” here for about the past week. Temperatures have been in the 90s during the day (reaching 105F+ with the heat index), and it doesn’t cool off much at night. This makes for dangerously hot weather, for people and animals. We’ve learned some tricks over the years that helps keep our flocks healthy and resilient, and are employing them now.

Continue reading “Farm Fowl: Weathering The Heat”

In The Incubator: Managing Multiple Hatches

Yep, the top is upside down (on purpose) and don’t believe the digital temperature displayI use two independent thermometers to get an accurate reading

It’s the hatching season…well, I hatch year-round, but this is the busiest time of the year for hatching! With multiple incubators and hatchers, eggs with different incubation needs and hatch dates, it can be a challenge keeping on top of everything that needs to be done. In this post, I’ll share some tips for staying abreast of the many tasks associated with setting groups of eggs at different times.

Continue reading “In The Incubator: Managing Multiple Hatches”