I have been attempting to get to the point where my chickens would produce their own offspring so I might stop buying fryers for the last three years. To that end, I have both encouraged the few hens I have that have gone broody and chose to sit eggs and I purchased an incubator to hatch some of my eggs myself. Sadly, I have not … Continue reading the story "The mysteries of incubation"
Post Archives from the ‘Chickens’ Category
Now it’s for real
Unexpectedly, my husband lost his job last week. This causes all the usual panic and monetary considerations, and we certainly are no different. Fortunately, we started looking around and realized that we were not too badly off.
In January we chose to slaughter all of our pigs due to the nuisance they had become; the freezer still contains many, many pounds of pork. We have eggs … Continue reading the story "Now it’s for real"
Spring Expectations
Some may remember that I was very interested, last spring, in incubating eggs and having my chicks arrive not through the mail but from our own hens. I bought an incubator (after failing to build one) and made several attempts to hatch my own. My success rate was never more than 30%.
Thankfully, one of my hens did a much better job, sat 9 eggs (not … Continue reading the story "Spring Expectations"
Back in the Groove
So, its been far too long since I sat down to write. A lot has happened since last summer... Sadly, not all of it was good and 2014 was a very personally challenging year for my family, my husband, and myself. Happily, we are moving forward.
While I try to get back in the habit of posting, I thought a short update was in order.
Too much … Continue reading the story "Back in the Groove"
Spring critters
Things are greening, I've been planting, the windows are open, and there are more animal calls to be heard-it is definitively Spring.
My hatchling and the new additions
I could not let my one surviving chick from my first attempt at incubation grow up alone, so my youngest and I drove over to … Continue reading the story "Spring critters"
Incubation
I feel an update is necessary on this issue; my first attempt at incubation did not go well.
We started the incubator with 21 eggs arbitrarily chosen (mostly by my almost 4 year old) from all of my hens. I had purchased a Styrofoam incubator from my local Tractor Supply, because the "plans" for the homemade model began to get complicated and were not getting implemented. … Continue reading the story "Incubation"
Planning for Chicks
We have 15 chickens right now in our flock. I have a variety of breeds, most bought at my local feed store. I have 2 Australorpes, a Buff Orpington, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Americanas, 2 Barred Rocks, and 5 Freedom Rangers including my 2 roosters. The Rhodies, Rocks and Rangers were bought because they are considered to be dual purpose birds (meaning they provide … Continue reading the story "Planning for Chicks"
Waste not, want not…
This past weekend I had the good fortune to make a neighborly connection at the Farmer’s Market in town. I was there peddling some tasty jams and jellies and doing a bit of socializing with the other vendors about their wares. It turned out that a family member of one had far more pears than they knew what to do with. This was fortuitous for … Continue reading the story "Waste not, want not…"
Considering where we are in homesteading…
My life is very home-centered. I have been a stay at home mom since 2007, with the birth of our second daughter, and that time has brought my attention to minute details of what comes into and what leaves my home. Always concerned with health and environmental issues, I became obsessed with making certain that only the best came into my home and that I … Continue reading the story "Considering where we are in homesteading…"