April Farm Updates

Hi all! We're staying busy here at Edgington Farm this month. We've been planting and grooming our yard furiously, and we're not even finshed yet! I've found a little farm sure can keep you occupied in the spring.

In our garden beds and areas we have planted:

Cauliflower
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
Kale
2 types of lettuce
Swiss Chard
Peas
2 types of onions
Parsnips
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries

We still have to plant radishes, spinach, and arugula this weekend!

Our animals are all doing very well. Our first batch of chickens are almost 10 weeks old already! They should be laying eggs in approximately 10 more weeks (Eeek! How exciting!) We will be processing our last 8 "real" meat chickens in about 2 more weeks. But, we do have about 6 "packing peanut" freebie male chickens we will be processing in about 10 weeks. Our newer batch of chicks are doing well and feathering out nicely. We should be combining everyone in a couple more weeks.

Bacon is very content bunking in with the chickens, but unfortunately he is stil very hesitant about people. I am trying though!

Our ducks are coexisting very nicely with the goats. I'm very happy that I don't have to clean up so much after those little stinkers! We just wormed our goats and treated them with probiotics to boost their digestion. They're doing well. We are keeping our fingers crossed for some goaty romance so we can have a goat baby!

We have a lot of tomatoes and peppers started, along with a few other "mystery" plants I will be talking about eventually!

Come back soon as we are always up to something here at the farm!

Thanks for reading!

Cute Spring Happenings

Hi all! I just wanted to share a few snapshots of some cute little spring happenings here at Edgington Farm.

Nothing says spring like daffodils blooming.

Our 8 wounded and picked birds were doing well enough that I decided to combine all of our new chicks (except the still tiny little bantams) in our handy brooder box. 

We've been letting Bacon bunk in with our older chicken flock, and judging by this picture, everyone is adjusting well. This was bedtime, and everyone seems comfy and cozy!

These were some of our Easter colored eggs. We had lots of fun doing them.

Toby had a nice upsetting faceplant in a puddle. 

These little bantam chicks are like feathery little ping pong balls. They love being held too. So cute!

Thanks for reading!

More chicks?!

Hi all. Ok, I'm big enough to admit it when I have a problem. I have chick fever.  I love raising the ones I've got so much, when I heard that TSC was desperate to get rid of chicks from chick days, I had to check it out! Yes, say it, even I'm thinking it. I'M A SUCKER FOR PEEPING!

So, as you may have figured out, we bought more babies. I bought 3 white leghorns at the price of $1 each! We got 4 ducks for $2 each. We bought 4 bantams, 2 ducks, and 2 golden laced wyandottes at regular price. They had a lot of picked and wounded chickens and I managed to get 8 white leghorns for free. If you're good at chicken math, you've figured out that we brought home 23 chicks.

They're all thriving and happy! I decided it's good since they will take places of our meaties we just butchered and the ones we intend to butcher in the next month or 2.

Thanks for reading!

Chicken Update-2 weeks old 2013

Hi all! I just thought I'd give a quick chicken update since their 2 weeks old.  My once tiny little chicks have just shot up! The meat chickens probably weigh at least a pound already! They are going through the uglies. :)

Right now the chicks are in the process of molting which means they are losing their cute fluffy baby feathers and growing beautiful adult feathers.  Now,  these states are lovely in full feathers,  but the molting stage? Not so much. They look like awkward teenagers! They are really learning to fly now too, so we'll have to cover their brooder.

Mitch spotted this little rebel roosting on the edge of the brooder! Those little Wyandottes can really fly. I just knew they would be the first to venture out! 

Just for reference, their brooder is about 2 feet tall. 

Here's another little bird roosting on the water bucket. Tsk tsk. We'll have to hang these feeders and waterer's. They are pooping in them and roosting. That's no good!

In addition to their awkward molting, they eat like little piggies! The big meat chickens often sleep on or near the feeder. It amazes me how much these guys can put away! We went through a 20 lb bag of food in a little over a week!!

Here are the 2 types of meaties we have side by side. The white one is a jumbo cornish x rock and the red one is a red ranger. 

So, here are some countdowns to more entertaining chicken updates:
* 2 weeks-the chickens will be allowed to have treats and it will be highly entertaining
* 3 weeks-we are moving the chickens to their new coop and they will get to range in the grass
* 5-6 weeks-we are processing the 4 cornish x rocks
* 10 weeks- we are processing the 8 red ranger broilers
* 18-20 weeks-we can begin to expect eggs and we will process the 7 or so free "packing peanut" male chickens we got to keep our order of chicks warm.

Yay! Come back soon to learn the gist of potting up and leggy plants!

Thanks for reading!

Got Our Chicks-2013!

Most people don't know the merits of owning backyard chickens.  They are not only a source of eggs and meat, but they are also good for insect control,  decreasing kitchen waste, and increasing compost benefits.

We are beginning our very own journey with chickens this year. We ordered 30 chickens,  and were pleasantly surprised when we recieved more than that in our order!  We ordered them through the mail from a reputable hatchery called Mcmurray Hatchery. My experience with them has been great! We got meat and egg chickens. I'm not sure how hard it will be to eat these guys, but I know we'll be giving them a good life and in return they will serve the noble cause of nourishing my family.  I can't wait to share this experience with you!

Well enough blathering. It's time to bask in their cuteness!