The older four week old enjoys the company of the younger chicks.
The chicks have been the brooder house for a week already. The two week olds are feathering out nicely.
The re-purposed playhouse (formerly the infirmary) is now the Brooder House.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
4 & 2 week old Red Golden Pheasant Chicks
Sunday, June 16, 2013
New Red Golden Hatch
We were sitting around the dining room table last evening having cake and ice cream with the family when there was heard a few loud 'peeps'. At first I thought it was the two week old Red Golden chick who has been upstairs patiently waiting for the newbies to arrive. I then realized it had to be coming from the office where the incubator is set up. The first peep hatched out around 10 PM. By 1:00 AM there were 4 and now at 8:00 AM there are 6!
Another egg just pipped so after the zipping is done, number seven will be added.
Here are the six 16 hour olds in the small brooder already.
This has been a very successful hatch. The incubator allows for more control of the hatch and keeps the peeps protected after they hatch. These little ones are so darn cute.
Another egg just pipped so after the zipping is done, number seven will be added.
Here are the six 16 hour olds in the small brooder already.
This has been a very successful hatch. The incubator allows for more control of the hatch and keeps the peeps protected after they hatch. These little ones are so darn cute.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Weed Eating Chickens
With recent rain and new mulch, the chickens have become the yard weed-eaters and earth tillers.
The red golden pheasants have laid their eggs for the season. I also have an incubation going that is into the last week's stretch. This year presented its challenges. The mixed bag of early Spring weather caused the hens to get out of synch. Eggs began to appear however they weren't sat on until after the cold snap was gone. Have one peep from a live hatch, and looks like five developing in the the bator.
Pearly the Buff Orpington, mysteriously came up lame, not being able to walk. I put her in isolation for three days. Her appetite was unaffected, her general appearance had not diminished, no bumble foot or other signs of any open cut or wound. She even laid two eggs, during her three days of r & r. By day three she was itching to get back with the flock. Still do not know what happened to her. She thankfully still remains my faithful morning greeter.
The Country Chicken Wellness Clinic
This old kiddie play house worked out perfect to keep the cats and others away while Pearly convalesced. Had to make sure all the shutters were closed including the ones on the back.
The garden is coming along. The Stonehead cabbage is very hardy. The Yukon Gold potatoes are doing well. The tomato and pepper plants from the neighbor are coming back strong. (Shortly after planting, the starlings came along and snipped the young plants close to the ground).
Looking forward to seeing how well the acorn and straight neck yellow squash will do this season. The starlings even went after the young cucumber plants which had to get re-seeded. The squash was planted in a different spot in the garden.
The red golden pheasants have laid their eggs for the season. I also have an incubation going that is into the last week's stretch. This year presented its challenges. The mixed bag of early Spring weather caused the hens to get out of synch. Eggs began to appear however they weren't sat on until after the cold snap was gone. Have one peep from a live hatch, and looks like five developing in the the bator.
Pearly the Buff Orpington, mysteriously came up lame, not being able to walk. I put her in isolation for three days. Her appetite was unaffected, her general appearance had not diminished, no bumble foot or other signs of any open cut or wound. She even laid two eggs, during her three days of r & r. By day three she was itching to get back with the flock. Still do not know what happened to her. She thankfully still remains my faithful morning greeter.
This old kiddie play house worked out perfect to keep the cats and others away while Pearly convalesced. Had to make sure all the shutters were closed including the ones on the back.
The garden is coming along. The Stonehead cabbage is very hardy. The Yukon Gold potatoes are doing well. The tomato and pepper plants from the neighbor are coming back strong. (Shortly after planting, the starlings came along and snipped the young plants close to the ground).
Looking forward to seeing how well the acorn and straight neck yellow squash will do this season. The starlings even went after the young cucumber plants which had to get re-seeded. The squash was planted in a different spot in the garden.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Red Golden Pheasant eggs
It's definitely that time of the year! Now there are seven eggs deposited in the nesting box. Watching to see when the hen will go broody.
Found a loner egg in the other pheasant location and placed in the void in the picture above.
This evening while shutting all the doors to the birds, I ducked in to see if there were more eggs. Now there are nine!
Tonight maybe we'll get a glimpse of the Northern Lights! ...
Wonder if anyone in these parts saw them. As for me, I feel asleep. Haven't seen any Facebook or Twitter chatter about.
This evening's nest inspection, another pheasant egg.
Found a loner egg in the other pheasant location and placed in the void in the picture above.
This evening while shutting all the doors to the birds, I ducked in to see if there were more eggs. Now there are nine!
Tonight maybe we'll get a glimpse of the Northern Lights! ...
Wonder if anyone in these parts saw them. As for me, I feel asleep. Haven't seen any Facebook or Twitter chatter about.
This evening's nest inspection, another pheasant egg.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Springing into Spring!
Finally, we were able to enjoy a warm Spring day. Took in a local farm estate sale. It was the first day people could think about spending some time extended time outside. Amish and English were in full number to canvas the old homestead of a friend.
After the auction, it was a trip down the Ohio River, before heading home.
The garden was tilled, to get ready for some seed planting! The chickens loved getting into the freshly exposed ground, full of earthworms and other chicken delights. The pastures are starting to dry out. Slowly the muddy mess will go away and the green grass will overcome.
Last weekend I had a hand of hauling round bales. It was fun!
One of the hens with the Golden Pheasant, has started to lay some eggs! It was a surprised to discover these four this morning. They are smaller in size in comparison to the chicken eggs. I'll be watching these closely. Hopefully there will be more eggs laid and then one of the hens will sit.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
After the auction, it was a trip down the Ohio River, before heading home.
The garden was tilled, to get ready for some seed planting! The chickens loved getting into the freshly exposed ground, full of earthworms and other chicken delights. The pastures are starting to dry out. Slowly the muddy mess will go away and the green grass will overcome.
Last weekend I had a hand of hauling round bales. It was fun!
One of the hens with the Golden Pheasant, has started to lay some eggs! It was a surprised to discover these four this morning. They are smaller in size in comparison to the chicken eggs. I'll be watching these closely. Hopefully there will be more eggs laid and then one of the hens will sit.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, March 29, 2013
Mockingbird; Seasons Change
If one looks and pays attention there continue to be signs of Spring. The Red Winged Blackbirds are back. Wild flowers are perking up out of the blanket of Autumn leaves. Saw a lot of Colts Foot over the weekend.
Tomorrow is suppose to be in the 50's. Need to start thinking about tilling up the garden and getting it ready for at least some lettuce seed and some beets. It is hard to image it is the end of March and there are no seeds planted in the garden.
Here's what the peeps looked like last year when the Barreds were 5 wks old and set out in the coop.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Snow Drops & Amish Friendship Bread
A former resident of the farm house at some point in time planted some galanthus elwesii bulbs.
These small flower stalks began appearing a few weeks ago peering out of the snow. I discovered them somewhat by accident a couple of years ago after I cleaned out what looked like a small flower bed bordered by old now displaced bricks. Here they are again, and are commonly known as Turkish or Giant Snow Drops. This picture was taken yesterday afternoon. Research shows the flowers bloom in the Winter before the vernal equinox 20-21 of March and are not necessarily an early sign of Spring. They are a cheerful sight and though not the true heralds of Spring, they inspire it's anticipation none the less.
Two years ago I was given some Amish Friendship Bread starter. Since then there have been several batches made and shared. I would typically freeze at least one of the extra starters. One of them was discovered yesterday afternoon. So this is day one of a total of ten before the batter will become bread. It is a sweet treat to have on a chilly night. Until then there will be the aroma of the activity of fermentation.
The Recipe
These small flower stalks began appearing a few weeks ago peering out of the snow. I discovered them somewhat by accident a couple of years ago after I cleaned out what looked like a small flower bed bordered by old now displaced bricks. Here they are again, and are commonly known as Turkish or Giant Snow Drops. This picture was taken yesterday afternoon. Research shows the flowers bloom in the Winter before the vernal equinox 20-21 of March and are not necessarily an early sign of Spring. They are a cheerful sight and though not the true heralds of Spring, they inspire it's anticipation none the less.
Two years ago I was given some Amish Friendship Bread starter. Since then there have been several batches made and shared. I would typically freeze at least one of the extra starters. One of them was discovered yesterday afternoon. So this is day one of a total of ten before the batter will become bread. It is a sweet treat to have on a chilly night. Until then there will be the aroma of the activity of fermentation.
The Recipe
Friday, February 15, 2013
How about a Little Bull!
Here's the new addition to the farm. He is a little bull calf. (Verified)
He was born during the warm break in the Winter weather in the middle of January just before it turned into single digits.
Nemo, the Snow Storm, missed us and this weekend will be on the sunny warmer side. The snow and ice has been thawing and freezing. Since the ground hog saw his shadow, it is hopeful thinking Spring will show earlier signs of its arrival. Until then it is going to be a muddy mess.
This Red Bellied Woodpecker was out front, picking around on the big old maple tree. It was a delight to see with its brilliant color against the dormant palette of Winter.
Here's the indoor round pen, with the ride-in gate. Until it gets warmer and drier, this is the training round pen. It is a take off of the Amish round pen where Reina was trained. The panels are interlocking and movable which offers flexibility as to where it can be placed.
Summer 2012 was very dry and affected the yield of hay baled required to take care of the horses and cattle during the colder months. Thankfully the alfalfa field did well enough to provide feed for the horses which should last through the remainder of the Winter, leaving all the hay for the cattle.
Thoughts advance to Spring!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
He was born during the warm break in the Winter weather in the middle of January just before it turned into single digits.
Nemo, the Snow Storm, missed us and this weekend will be on the sunny warmer side. The snow and ice has been thawing and freezing. Since the ground hog saw his shadow, it is hopeful thinking Spring will show earlier signs of its arrival. Until then it is going to be a muddy mess.
This Red Bellied Woodpecker was out front, picking around on the big old maple tree. It was a delight to see with its brilliant color against the dormant palette of Winter.
Here's the indoor round pen, with the ride-in gate. Until it gets warmer and drier, this is the training round pen. It is a take off of the Amish round pen where Reina was trained. The panels are interlocking and movable which offers flexibility as to where it can be placed.
Summer 2012 was very dry and affected the yield of hay baled required to take care of the horses and cattle during the colder months. Thankfully the alfalfa field did well enough to provide feed for the horses which should last through the remainder of the Winter, leaving all the hay for the cattle.
Thoughts advance to Spring!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Winter Chickens and Horses
No pictures to post with this entry. It has been a good while since I have posted something to this blog of mine. The chickens continue to lay eggs during these darker months, some days 7-9 and then on others up to 12. No artificial lighting is being used. Pearly- one of the Buffs continues to run and greet me whenever I open the coop door or when the gang is allowed to free range, she will always come running and let me pick her up.
These chickens sure do eat the feed. They love the horse feed that has oats and molasses in it as well as some ground corn. That's their treat in the evening when they come back to the coop. I have noticed some of the Barreds are now roosting up in the rafters and not on the roosting perches provided. It makes for more clean up since the roosting perches have a 'landing pad' making clean up a breeze. These gals sure can mess up a coop pretty quick. 2 Weeks is about all it can go before a deep clean is in order for the coop and the dormant garden gets some fertilizer.
Reina the Saddlebred has been home and has presented challenges once she got back with the 'herd'. I continue to work with her and hope to have her in 'shape' in the Spring. The Winter weather here has been mild and very wet. The immediate pasture is a mud-hole. We have had VERY warm weather for the Winter.
The Spring Red-Golden Pheasants whose hatching I documented here earlier are all doing well. There are more males to females. Looks like I have another Yellow Golden and a couple of Splash (mix of Red and Yellow Golden) males to one hen. They will be separated in the early Spring and more than likely sold since that many male roosters can't co-exist together.
These chickens sure do eat the feed. They love the horse feed that has oats and molasses in it as well as some ground corn. That's their treat in the evening when they come back to the coop. I have noticed some of the Barreds are now roosting up in the rafters and not on the roosting perches provided. It makes for more clean up since the roosting perches have a 'landing pad' making clean up a breeze. These gals sure can mess up a coop pretty quick. 2 Weeks is about all it can go before a deep clean is in order for the coop and the dormant garden gets some fertilizer.
Reina the Saddlebred has been home and has presented challenges once she got back with the 'herd'. I continue to work with her and hope to have her in 'shape' in the Spring. The Winter weather here has been mild and very wet. The immediate pasture is a mud-hole. We have had VERY warm weather for the Winter.
The Spring Red-Golden Pheasants whose hatching I documented here earlier are all doing well. There are more males to females. Looks like I have another Yellow Golden and a couple of Splash (mix of Red and Yellow Golden) males to one hen. They will be separated in the early Spring and more than likely sold since that many male roosters can't co-exist together.
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