On one hand I feel that I should apologize for not checking in this past week. On the other hand I was so busy that things couldn't be helped. I suppose you could call this an update on the progress of our little slice of "heaven". At this point I'm thinking that any and all things I'm getting ready to tell you is almost "bragging". It's been one hell of a good week.
The weather is the only thing that hasn't been co-operating. Dreary cloudless skies that spit out cold wet precipitation regularly. I know we need the rain. Boy do I know we do, but things need to dry out enough for us to get the fertilizer (horse poo) worked into the soil. The forecast looks good though and we just need a few days of sun and we should be good to work the garden. Anyway.... it's coming on time to plant around here and I'm getting "itchy". I know that this year is probably going to be a learning experience and the soil needs to be "conditioned" but I still have some pretty high hopes for a good garden season. LOL Mars says that if we plant all that we have planned - something is bound to come up! Now THAT is a positive attitude!
I have news! Really big news! (well for us it is anyway) We are now officially raising chickens. Sweet, yes? I don't know what kind they are but I'm prone to guess barnyard mutts, courtesy of our neighbors. He's been telling us that when we are ready he'll be more than happy to give us a few chickens. Well, finally, last night was the night. After a wonderful cookout of some awesome Mexican food (authentic bwt) we went out to the barn and proceeded to do some chicken rustling! We had taken a cage down to transport them in and before long we had our very own chickens. Now, I might remind you that part of the "deal" with the chickens was that we would take a couple of roosters off his hands. I took him literally at "a couple" and we came home with two pretty roosters and 4 hens. Of course he was quick to tell me that we could have more roosters whenever we want them. They don't butcher anything down there so there seems to be quite a few plump roosters that might need a "hot bath". LOL
Anyway.... we brought them home and they settled in pretty well. They have been free range chickens till now, so they weren't real happy about the pen. They were looking for an escape hatch.... I'm sure they will settle in soon though. Its not like chickens have very much grey matter!
This morning when I went out to feed them I just had to stand there looking and grinning. We finally actually have our own chickens. Out of our "plan" for our little set up this is a real big deal. That makes 2/3's of our livestock in the barn, so to speak. Coming soon... Goats!
Anyway.... There have been several other big things ( to us) happening around the homestead and I promise to try and post more frequently. We've just seemed to be on the road alot this past week, which isn't really what either of us like, but what with getting ready for the chickens to come to their new home and grocery shopping and working on the things around here and ... and... Yeah, you know what I mean!
I have lots of things to share with you guys and a cool give-away coming up soon to so stay tuned....
Oh, and anyone want to venture to guess what kind of chickens these are? I'm clueless. BUT I know one thing.... one of them left us a pretty green tinged (kinda) egg this morning. Can you believe it???? Our first EGG!!!! I'm a danged chicken farmer now!! :D
~~~~~~ Hey ... I'm Just Sayin' .... ~~~~~~
Good for you, Sci!
ReplyDeleteI know what kind of chickens they are ...fat, healthy, FREE chickens. The perfect breed!
: )
LOL Yes ma'am! I think it's wonderful that they are already laying! Instant eggs!
DeleteNow that's awesome! Congrats on the first egg. We're jealous, ha! Can't wait until we can have some egg layers of our own.
ReplyDeleteThanks 1st Man! I think they are going to be alot of fun too. Ya'll will get there I know.
DeleteCongrats on the chickens! I remember how giddy and happy I was when we got our first batch of chicks!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you got a barnyard mutt mix in there, but obviously one of them has Easter Egger in her, I'd say the hen all the way to the left in the picture. They are usually golden'ish colored with ear muffs, and sometimes with little or no tail feathers.
Regardless of what they "are", as long as they keep laying eggs, they're keepers in my book!!
Did you guys fight over the first egg??
Girl I was so excited (and still am) Laughing like a kid on Christmas morning when I saw that first egg! Believe it or not we haven't eaten it yet but we did get two more this morning. One more and we won't have to fight! LOL
DeleteCongrats new chicken keeper! Lookin to do the same here when the weather warms a bit. Jealous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Casey. Like you I am waiting (impatiently) for warmer weather. So much to do you know?
DeleteCongrats! I agree with Carolyn Renee abut the Easter Egger. But tinted eggs are FUN! I can't get a good look at it but the head of the one behind the rooster in the photo looks like one of my Wyandottes. But, it could be anything. But my thought is... does the kind matter so much... they lay eggs!!
ReplyDeleteI hope that first egg was tasty!
Judy
Those Easter Eggs are so cool! A real bonus too. And I'm with you, as long as they are healthy and laying it doesn't matter much what kind they are!
DeleteYAY!!! for your first egg! And YAY!!! again for chickens and the goats you will soon have. Wish I could give you one of ours to get you started, but it's been a good week here, too. We keep selling all the goat babies...especially the wee bucks!
ReplyDeleteI am hoping this will be a better year for ALL of us, especially in the gardens!
Lamb, you guys are rocking and rolling with the goats! Sure glad that things are going well there. As for the gardens, last year WAS a tough on most of us. I'm sure hoping that things are better this year!
DeleteLet me add also add my congratulations. You are now well on your way to a great farm.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dizzy! We're getting there for sure, and actually faster than I thought we would. Woo Hoo!!!
DeleteNothing like home fresh eggs! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteNow if the roosters don't start waking you up at sunrise...!
Good news for you both!
Yes Sir! Yummy for the tummy! The poor roosters keep crowing to the ones down the hill like they are yelling "Hey OVER HERE, Get me outta here"
DeleteThanks for stopping by, my friend
Yea!!!!! Chickens!!!!!! Even better, yea eggs!!!!!!! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Yea!!! I'm a happy girl :D Thanks SFG for stopping by. Oh and we miss you in chat. Come visit will ya???
DeleteAwesome news! I do believe a heart congratulations is in order. Now if I could just convince my hubby to let me have some goats.... :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I feel like things are really coming together now. As for the goats... good luck! That's next on our list.
DeleteDon't know what kind of chickens they are, but, that's is one fine looking rooster in the picture!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon! He is quite a "looker" isn't he!
DeleteSci, Woooohoooo, I'm just a psyched as you are about your new farm hens and roosters. And.......the icing on the cake, the 1st egg. I say, don't share, lol.....just teasing. Congrats Girl! Enjoy, the little critters are so much fun to watch. Soon they will be following you around. Can't wait to hear all your updates. Yes, I'm with you on being antsy about getting the gardens going. Catch you later!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like to me you have some Game Chickens. They lay little bitty eggs kinda greenish. My neighbor has some and his son raises them. They will roost up in the trees if you have any in your part of OK.
ReplyDeleteI remember when we first got our chickens. We were also gifted some by our neighbor and my childhood friend. We sat in chairs outside the run and just watched them. we are very easily entertained.
We let ours our to free range then put them up every night. We find that works best for us and they lay better if they get out and scratch around for their own extra food.
If you decide to try that I would keep them in for a while until they get use to you then give it a try. I also have a special little ditty that I whistle and they know that means "Come and get it!".
- Genevieve
* We are very easily entertained.
ReplyDelete* We let ours out
I hate it when I find errors after I post. - G
oh Sci gurl - congrats! congrats! congrats! i am super happy for you and just did a little chicken dance in my computer chair! don't worry about being too busy to post...just post when you can! but please come back and fill us in on the rest of the good news that you mentioned! i can't wait to hear more good news!
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber