MAN VS. MOMMA.
Since we got our old flock of chickens back last month, we've had a broody hen: a hen who is in nesting mode and does nothing else. She doesn't lay. She doesn't eat (much). She doesn't leave. For the around twenty five days it takes for an egg to incubate, she just sits there. It's a bit like a trance and she will stay in it indefinitely, or until her eggs hatch. Unfortunately, all of the eggs we'd left under her weren't fertile (we feared our beloved rooster, Ellen, had not been mating, but that's for another post), and thus they spoiled and didn't hatch.But still we had a spellbound broody hen, not laying.With the arrival of our new chicks last week, however, we were inspired by the idea of letting her raise some for us. In terms of rearing, nothing compares to a momma. So the other night, I slipped a few chicks underneath her to make her think she hatched them herself with the hopes of breaking her broodiness and having her raise the chicks. And?At first I was a little skeptical because out of the six I gave her, only four survived the first day. However, I didn't give her our most vigorous chicks––momma got the runts, the sickly and perhaps the already doomed. The four that remain, however, are getting along wonderfully. After a few months, she'll get back to her egg-laying duties, but until then, she'll be helping us raise some of our birds--teaching them to forage and survive. Hopefully.- Jesse.
THE CHICKEN PARADE.
Meet the newest members of the farmstead!
These guys (gals, hopefully) arrived on Wednesday. They are a bizarre lot, and we have no idea what kind of chickens they are - although we have our speculations. We are pretty sure that the little brown one with the weird head will turn out being THIS! It is fun having a new project in our lives, but chicks are a lot of work, especially in the beginning. In fact, we have been keeping them inside by the constantly roaring woodstove, which is a kind of torture for us on these warm, sunny days! Jesse is building a brooder this week, and I'm looking forward to moving the little ones outside where they can start foraging and scratching in the grass, instead of heating up our little cabin and pooping on the floor.- Hannah.
THIS & THAT.
Some random photos from the past week.
Dirty drywall hands and some precious strawberries.
A naughty chicken in Jesse's truck.
Daffy the cow.
The one corner of the cabin right now that is remotely decorated and organized.
Picking out paint!
LITTLE SEED FARM HERD SHARE.
This winter we made some great new farmer friends, James and Eileen of Little Seed Farm outside of Nashville in Lebanon, Tn. (Remember all their amazing animals?) They run a small, natural farm there, punctuated by a brilliant herd of dairy goats from which they will be offering a herd share of raw milk cheese and yogurt this year. And we are thrilled to announce that we will be helping them with this operation! For twenty weeks, starting May 18th, we will be passing out their herd share at the West Nashville Farmer's Market, Saturdays at Richland Park.If you are interested in signing up, please read more about the share here. For what amounts to less than ten dollars a week, you get delicious cheese and yogurt from a responsible and blossoming young farm. Please join us in supporting these wonderful people in their hard work!- Jesse & Hannah.
