Raising chickens here in the U.P. Michigan has been both a challenge and an adventure. We really need them to be of hardy stock with the ability to overwinter the laying hens.. Orpingtons are a heritage breed that we have selected to do the job! There is a good variety, and we have ordered Buff, Blue and Lavender. The baby chicks arrived on May 22nd 2014. Our specialty breeds are good brooders. Some of them will be raised for meat while others will be kept for eggs and chicks for the next season.
We took special care in our selection of stock and they are a great dual purpose bird about 8 lbs in size but very cold hardy. They lay eggs well and will hatch their own eggs, so no incubators are needed.
On April 12, 2014 we had the opportunity to pick up 22 chicks and 2 ducks (see the varieties and pictures at the bottom). Join us as we learn how best to care for them and we watch them grow. With no snow on the ground and warmer temps they are outside eating bugs. Raising specialty chickens will be a joy as they take their rightful place on our farm!
We took special care in our selection of stock and they are a great dual purpose bird about 8 lbs in size but very cold hardy. They lay eggs well and will hatch their own eggs, so no incubators are needed.
On April 12, 2014 we had the opportunity to pick up 22 chicks and 2 ducks (see the varieties and pictures at the bottom). Join us as we learn how best to care for them and we watch them grow. With no snow on the ground and warmer temps they are outside eating bugs. Raising specialty chickens will be a joy as they take their rightful place on our farm!
SILVER FOX rabbits are a specialty breed.
This boy and 3 girls arrived on April 29th, 2014. It will be a pleasure raising these rabbits that are on the threatened list and are quite unique. They are a very large breed and have their own pedigree papers.
"Blue Boy, Curiosity, Nudgie and Acrobat" as they are nicknamed, are lots of fun and are very docile. The 3 girls were born about March 4th 2014 and the boy was born about March 25th 2014.
Stay tuned as there will be more on these shortly.
This boy and 3 girls arrived on April 29th, 2014. It will be a pleasure raising these rabbits that are on the threatened list and are quite unique. They are a very large breed and have their own pedigree papers.
"Blue Boy, Curiosity, Nudgie and Acrobat" as they are nicknamed, are lots of fun and are very docile. The 3 girls were born about March 4th 2014 and the boy was born about March 25th 2014.
Stay tuned as there will be more on these shortly.
Can you say 'Feta'? Welcome to the farm, our 4 goats ... Yum FRESH MILK!
This girl is now a year old and is providing us with fresh goats milk daily. Having arrived in June 2014,
"Mocha" as she is called, has been a pleasure and it has been an experience learning to "milk a goat". There are two female goats "Latte" and "Cookie", about her age, but they have not been bred yet and are not providing milk yet ... we hope to have them milking by next summer. We also have a castrated miniature boy goat, "Macho" that was given to our younger child for a pet. All these goats arrived here in June 2014 and we welcome them to the farm.
This girl is now a year old and is providing us with fresh goats milk daily. Having arrived in June 2014,
"Mocha" as she is called, has been a pleasure and it has been an experience learning to "milk a goat". There are two female goats "Latte" and "Cookie", about her age, but they have not been bred yet and are not providing milk yet ... we hope to have them milking by next summer. We also have a castrated miniature boy goat, "Macho" that was given to our younger child for a pet. All these goats arrived here in June 2014 and we welcome them to the farm.
ROUEN, PEKIN, INDIAN RUNNER and SWEDISH BLUE ducks are a fun part of the farm life! Soon we hope to add in BLUE MAGPIE ducks!
COCO and EDWARD are an elegant part of the duck flock we currently own. They came to us as adults and their son LITTLE BLUE came with them. It is enjoyable for the children to spend time out doors with these wonderful critters. They have a very special place in the younger ones hearts who enjoy watching them swim in a small tub.
"Kate, Peeps, Puddles, Cuddles, Willow, Blacky, Scoodles and Bentley" are getting too big to carry around but follow us around the farm. On July 7th, 2014 we picked up 3 Indian Runner ducks and later acquired 6 more to join the flock. They will grow to be upright walkers that will eat loads of bugs ... keep watching for their pictures. Due to the weather 7 of our ducks (1 Rouen and 6 Indian Runners) didn't make it! ... We will miss them.
COCO and EDWARD are an elegant part of the duck flock we currently own. They came to us as adults and their son LITTLE BLUE came with them. It is enjoyable for the children to spend time out doors with these wonderful critters. They have a very special place in the younger ones hearts who enjoy watching them swim in a small tub.
"Kate, Peeps, Puddles, Cuddles, Willow, Blacky, Scoodles and Bentley" are getting too big to carry around but follow us around the farm. On July 7th, 2014 we picked up 3 Indian Runner ducks and later acquired 6 more to join the flock. They will grow to be upright walkers that will eat loads of bugs ... keep watching for their pictures. Due to the weather 7 of our ducks (1 Rouen and 6 Indian Runners) didn't make it! ... We will miss them.
Nothing is buzzing now in the
dead of winter … December 28th, 2014!
Three pounds of bees with queen "Carniolans" arrived on May 4th, 2014. Somewhere during the Fall of 2014, the bees swarmed and never returned. Now under severe weather conditions ... The bee hive is empty ... No more honey! Just before the cold weather, I gathered the frames and what little honey could be found. On December 24th, 2014 I made our first beeswax candle with a honey ring. Are you thinking of Spring 2015 … It looks as if we need a new batch of bees. |