Grazing Pigs and A Pet Duck

We really enjoy watching the animals graze the pastures. It’s not uncommon to see our men ‘listening’ to them graze especially when they are let in a new paddock. You actually hear a crunching and munching and they call it a beautiful sound!
Here are the large blacks enjoying a new paddock. They have become quite friendly and are thriving in their healthy environment.
        
Ducky Boy has been a favorite around the farm for over a year now. He wonders around at will not causing any problems at all. At night he roosts in the lean to with his friend a a black chicken. Well…. one day we found a different looking egg…and came to the conclusion that Ducky Boy needed a new name. We now call our her Ducky Gal.
                 

It’s been a busy week here at the farm…..broiler chicks were moved out to pasture, more garden planted and weeded, hay mowed, a visit from IL Grandparents, and town mowing and landscaping jobs are a few things that come to mind. Titus and Courage were sent out to dig 20 thistles each yesterday (deeply to get the long roots). After while they came in and reported they dug a total of 300! They dumped them to the horses who actually ate them!

Egg Mobile

 

We converted our old pop up camper into an egg mobile!!! The boys gutted it and made nest boxes and roosting areas. They also boarded up some of the flimsy sides and painted it. The grain mix and water are kept in the egg mobile. We plan to have the chickens follow after the cows grazing. Many have had success with this and it is a very ideal situation. They seem to accepted it as their ‘sleeping quarters’ but still want to run up around the farm buildings a lot. We want them to hang out near their home and of course lay their wonderfully nutritious eggs IN the nesting boxes.  Maybe when it is time to graze out back they will be less tempted to stay visiting near the buildings!

                

The terrible conditions the factory hens live, breathe, and eat in require routine antibiotics and medications to attempt to keep them alive. Out here on the natural farm in the fresh air, sunshine, and with their natural diet and habitat, health reigns and there is no need for medications.

As happy and healthy as these chickens are, there are dangers lurking nearby that we much watch for. An owl, hawk, coyote, raccoon, or fox can mean great danger to a flock chickens. Camping near the cows  and horses help with the four footed predators, but seeing a hawk floating around up in the sky causes great alarm around here! We also hope our dog, Annie, is helping: although there is some disagreement here on her effectiveness.

New Chicks

 

The first batch of broiler chicks of the year just arrived. It’s an exciting time!

The chicks are so fluffy and cute. VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

The chicks leave Hoover’s Hatchery in Rudd, IA the day they are born. They come to us through the postal service. The next morning we go into the Mediapolis Post Office to pick them up. What a lot of peeping!!! The postal workers are probably glad to see us come…and go!

With great care, the chicks are brought to a cozy home prepared for them by the boys. Warm heat lamps and a draft free environment greet the little chicks. Each one must have it’s beak dipped in water.   

                          

The new chicks are carefully monitored. Heaters are adjusted and the heat lamps lowered or raised depending on the temperature and actions of the chicks. 

                            

Daily chick chores include providing them with fresh water and feed. We get our organic grain mix from Kalona, IA. This not only provides organic gmo free feed, but is also free of the medications put in the typical bag of starter feed. The last job of the night is to check on the baby chicks.

    

    These chicks are enjoying their fresh bedding!

     In two weeks they will be old enough to put out

      on grass. That will be an exciting day also!

   

 

 

 

How can chicks make the trip though the mail? Right before they hatch the chicks draw the yolk into their abdomen. This yolk is very rich in food value and liquid and provide the baby chicks with all they need for a safe journey to our farm!