Friday, February 22, 2008
Long Overdue Update
Posted in Critter Happenings
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It's been quite a while since I've updated the blog. Lots of happenings since the last post. We hatched some Narragansetts last year, but lost most of our hens to foxes or coyotes when they hid nests across the road. This year they will reside in a fully covered pen so they can safely brood their eggs. We attended shows in the Spring and Fall, and took Champion Turkey at the NH Poultry Fanciers show. I'm thrilled to also announce that one of our Dominique hens is famous! Her photo is featured in Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius. The book has lots of interesting and useful information on many poultry breeds, as well as beautiful photos. Her picture is also in A Pocketful of Poultry, by Carol Ekarius. It is a condensed version of the first book, and features beautiful photos of all types of poultry, with short facts and info on each breed. Either book is definitely worth getting! The winter has been especially hard this year, and we had many losses, both from the cold and old age (many of our first chickens that are still around are old timers now). But we had some hatches earlier in the year that gave us promising new birds in our Dominique, Silkie and Narragansett flocks. There weren't many, but the ones that we did hatch are looking very nice. We also added a pig to our farm. Wilbur the Lucky was about 65 lbs when we brought him home in June, and now he's tipping the scales at about 375 lbs! He's still a baby, so he has some growing to do! Hopefully not too much tho, since we are keeping him as a breeding boar. He is part Hampshire and part Poland China (he definitely looks Hampshire tho). Our main interest is the Tamworth, which is listed as "Threatened" in the ALBC Watch List, and we're looking into raising them on a small scale. Our latest addition is a pair of mixed breed meat rabbits that we purchased at a poultry swap this past Fall. Jack & Jill (named by Edward, our 4 year old) will hopefully give us a nice variety of colors in their offspring that also yield good meat. |
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
We now have Bantam Dominiques!
Posted in Critter Happenings
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We now have 16 new tiny babies peeping away in a brooder. Our order of bantam Dominique chicks arrived from Cackle Hatchery this morning. Our original standard Dominiques were purchased from Cackle Hatchery, and they have nice color and are excellent egg layers. Foremost Dominique breeder Mark A. Fields mentions on his website (http://www.dominiquechicken.com) that the Cackle Hatchery bantam Dominiques originate from his Unbeatable Beauty line, so I'm really excited to see how these babies develop! We're proud to be able to help preserve America's First Chicken in both standard and bantam size. Photos of the new babies can be seen here: http://othalaacres.photosite.com/dominiques/BantamChicks/ Update: The chicks that arrived from Ideal Poultry on April 7th are growing like crazy, and all now have wings. They're just getting into that awkward stage with feathers growing in and fuzz falling out, but they're still cute as ever.  |
Friday, April 7, 2006
New chicks are finally here!
Posted in Critter Happenings
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Our new chicks finally arrived from Ideal Poultry... 2 Buckeye pullets, 2 Buff Chantecler pullets & a trio of Partridge Chanteclers, plus 10 Red Broilers for our freezer. We will be adding Chanteclers to our heritage breeding program, so I'm really excited to finally get these babies. The broiler chicks are little butterballs & practically jumped out at me when I opened the box. The two Partrige pullets were chilled and huddled with their eyes closed, so I carried them around in my bra for an hour or so & fed them water w/electrolytes from a dropper until they perked up. Now they look a lot more lively and everyone is eating and drinking.  I just  the sound of peeping coming from the library right now!  Click the link below for cute chick pix: View 2006 New Babies album. |
Friday, March 3, 2006
Hunter the wayward duck is home safe...
Posted in Critter Happenings
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A few days ago I went out to check on the bird & noticed two of my
mallards, Hunter & Poe weren't in the pen. I searched the farm but
no sign. All the ducks had fully moulted & were happily winging
their way around the farm but never going far from the coop. I figured
they knew where the good life was so I didn't need to trim their wings
anymore... BIG mistake! Two days ago, the ACO called me and said he got a call that someone saw a duck shivering in a ditch and figured he'd call and see if it was mine. I jumped in the truck and flew down the street to where the duck was sighted, but no luck. Then a young couple waved me over and showed me a poor huddled duck sitting in their driveway. Hunter! I slowly walked up talking to him, but he suddenly flew away and up the street. I thanked them and followed in the truck, but lost sight of him. After driving and walking around shaking the feed bucket, I had to give up. Yesterday I went out for a bit again, but no duck. I had about given up, thinking he was coyote or dog bait, or that he wouldn't survive the bitter cold we've had the past few days & nights. Then today a town truck stopped by and the guy asked if I was missing a duck. Yes! He said a coworker at the waste treatment plant found a shivering duck in the parking lot & they had him in a milk crate in their garage. I flew down there and this time Hunter looked a lot happier to see me! I think he was done with that exploring nonsense! He wanted a nice cozy coop & fresh food. Meanwhile our poor lone female, Tori, who was smart enough to not follow and stayed home with the call duck boys, has spent the last few days pacing the fence line and calling for her flock. It was so pitiful... she lost her mate a couple months ago, then this. So once I had Hunter all cozy in a pen inside the ell with fresh food & water (and trimmed wing feathers), I brought her in to be with him. I don't think I've seen two ducks more relieved and happy. The ACO had mentioned he received a report of a duck on the road not too far from the farm a couple days ago, but when he got there, he couldn't find it. I think it was Poe. I went up and down the road, hoping someone from the trailer park may have found or seen her, but no luck. I hope she turns up too... there are a lot of predators out there and it's still pretty cold.  It's so much fun to see the ducks winging their way around the farm, but after this, I think they're safer grounded. |
Saturday, May 28, 2005
New Sheep
Posted in Critter Happenings