The chicks scratched around a bit and began eating with gusto. They always eat with gusto. They are Cornish Rock X. They literally eat and sleep, oh and eat again. These pictures are not the greatest.
The hens came in to check out the peeps. I was hoping that the motherly instinct would be stirred in my girls. I would love to have a broody hen. Please...Please....Please
This hen we call Lady. She was from our first set of chicks that we got last year to start our laying flock. We lost several chicks to Avian Encephalitis. One girl survived but is cripple. She is able to get around the coop by walking on her whole legs, not her feet. She lays an egg a day and is available to be loved on. The other hens do not like to be petted. She probably should have been culled but I don't like to eat our hens. There is just something wrong with eating something that provides us with eggs. I'm sure that there are plenty of folks who would disagree but that is my theory. They all have homes for the rest of their lives.
Finally, we got sunshine this afternoon. We were able to install one gate. Now we can get Fuzzy into her new pasture home on Monday. I should have put my mud boots back on and waded over to take a closer picture of the gate. However, I am just tired of mud this afternoon. Please forgive my laziness.
We have so much mud, that the sheep are getting muddy just hanging out at the barn gate. The hens don't seem to mind, I think it helps them find more worms. Ted has been moving some of the crushed rock here to help with all this mud. Notice the puddle? There are more.... Many, many more.
This hen we call Lady. She was from our first set of chicks that we got last year to start our laying flock. We lost several chicks to Avian Encephalitis. One girl survived but is cripple. She is able to get around the coop by walking on her whole legs, not her feet. She lays an egg a day and is available to be loved on. The other hens do not like to be petted. She probably should have been culled but I don't like to eat our hens. There is just something wrong with eating something that provides us with eggs. I'm sure that there are plenty of folks who would disagree but that is my theory. They all have homes for the rest of their lives.
Finally, we got sunshine this afternoon. We were able to install one gate. Now we can get Fuzzy into her new pasture home on Monday. I should have put my mud boots back on and waded over to take a closer picture of the gate. However, I am just tired of mud this afternoon. Please forgive my laziness.
We have so much mud, that the sheep are getting muddy just hanging out at the barn gate. The hens don't seem to mind, I think it helps them find more worms. Ted has been moving some of the crushed rock here to help with all this mud. Notice the puddle? There are more.... Many, many more.
The work never ends. We are happy with this work. It brings a smile to our faces.
We are working for the next two nights so we will do maintenance on the farm until we have something more to blog. This is the time that I get to browse and enjoy all of your blogs. Have a safe and peaceful weekend. Much love and prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.
Kelly
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2 comments:
Mud is always such a problem on a farm with livestock. After trying expensive gravel and french drains, we finally settled on wood chips from tree services. These chips are free and available by the truckload. They are often looking for places to dump their loads when working in the area without traveling far so that they can get back on the job. The wood soaks up the water, adds to the soil structure, is free, is light weight for handling, and can easily be renewed whenever it sinks in, and it smells so darned good. The chipper isn't usually set fine enough to use for stall bedding, but it's great in those muddy areas. Try to avoid cherry, oak and walnut, especially for horses and cows. We have never had problems.
Everything looks so good! I am keeping my fingers crossed that you get a broody or two.
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