Category Archives: Chickens

Chickens, Farm, Eggs

The Chicken Lady

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Overheard in the market one day:

“Gram, don’t we know her?!”

“Shh!  Don’t point!  And yes, that’s the Chicken Lady!“

This is me, as illustrated by very talented Sarah Jane. I believe I am holding Emma Grace, our sweet little hen-that-could!

Farmer Tam, the Chicken Lady, as illustrated by Sarah Jane in 2010. Here I am, holding “Emma Grace”, the little Buff Orpington that could.

I could be called worse things.  Some women, they have a thing about shoes.  For me…

Over the weekend, I outfitted dear friends with some new hens after something, probably a fox, made off with four of theirs.  We had a lovely Easter Eve stroll through our poultry, shopping for “colors” to go with the 3 they already have.

I sent them home with an Araucana, 2 “Wing and a Prayer Mix”, and a Columbian Wyandotte.

I popped by yesterday to drop off some Hot Cross Buns and check on everyone.

“How are the girls?” I asked.

“Oh, they’re great – loved the Easter Egg hunt, wired from jellybeans, came home and had great naps” replied my friend, referring to her adorable toddlers.

“Right!  Of course!  Yes! That’s super!”  I refrained from further querying, “But, how are the GIRLS?” (You know, the feathered ones.)

Yesterday I’d also received a series of passionate emails from friend J that has only recently become a chicken farmer.  She bid on 4 hens & a little coop at a fundraiser last fall and won, much to her husband’s chagrin.  She came by our farm and selected her 4 girls  in late October and I stopped by a few times to see how things were going.  Oh gosh, my hens had stepped into chicken-heaven.  The digs are posh.  J does EVERYTHING right, attending to their smallest needs.  A chicken-mama couldn’t be happier.

But two days ago, she & her family had returned from a sunny vacation to find Winnie, an Araucana she’d gotten from me, was probably suffering from a vent prolapse.  J sent me emails and texts with photos and I coached her through some home remedies.  I was going to take her to nurse for them last evening if things weren’t going well.  Sadly, she emailed that after they’d bathed and soaked her and were about to treat her with some Preparation H (to attempt to shrink the swelling tissue), dear Winnie departed on them.

I mourn with them. She & her husband are beating themselves up for missing an earlier detection, but I tried to reassure her that these things happen to all of us.  I know how sad it is to lose a hen, a beloved pet.  I offered a new hen in her place, but they declined, saying they’d like to have some time to grieve.  I understand.

The incubator has 4 days to go before 42 eggs reveal new loves.  I’ve been candling and monitoring humidity and temperature for 17 days.  I’ve got Faverolles, White Crested Black Polish and Wing and a Prayer Mix chicks on the way.  Most are pre-sold, but not all.

There’s always room for more chickens.

The Girls

Agriculture, Chickens, Dogs, Eggs, Farm, Morning, Photographs, Vermont

Fresh Eggs

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We wash the eggs the day we pack them for sale.

Last night I was busy painting our bathroom. I’d hoped for a night off in the kitchen but it didn’t quite work out the way I’d envisioned.  Dinner was exquisite anyway.  I cooked two delicious and very fresh eggs.  They were perfect.

We’re just spoiled rotten around here.

Taking the daily eggs out to the road side.

Taking the daily eggs out to the road side.

Fresh Eggs sign boasts a Barred Rock on one side, a Rhode Island Red on the other.

Fresh Eggs sign boasts a Barred Rock on one side, a Rhode Island Red on the other.

I stand at the side of the road all day long and yell "Fresh Eggs!" (Only yoking, folks!)

I stand at the side of the road all day long and yell “Fresh Eggs!” (Only yolking, folks!)

Jackie will lick you if you steal 'em!

Jackie will lick you if you steal ‘em!

This is how we sell eggs in the country.

This is how we sell eggs in the country.

Hard working hens having a nibble of grain on a winter's day. They are free to forage as well, though winter foraging is a bit slimmer than the rest of the year.

Hard working hens having a nibble of grain on a winter’s day. They are free to forage as well, though winter foraging is a bit slimmer than the rest of the year.

Sassy Wing and a Prayer Farm Sultan-mix hen is very comfortable with me and Cricket

Sassy Wing and a Prayer Farm Sultan-mix hen is very comfortable with me and Cricket

Hmmm, wonder how these would stack up in a taste test?

Hmmm, wonder how these would stack up in a taste test?

Barns, Chickens, Eggs, Farm, Health, Horses, Lambing, Night time, Seasons, Shetland Sheep, Vermont Sheep and Goat Association

Monday Night Minus Football

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We watched the Superbowl last evening.  I’m not an ace where football strategy is concerned, but I enjoyed the game.  I’m still wondering what I thought of the halftime show…

And here we are, the Monday-night-after.   Our Paint gelding, ‘Ruger Jac’, didn’t want to throw his weight around amongst the girls when it was time for dinner  this evening- a sure sign he wasn’t feeling well.  He had to be convinced to take his rations and convinced to come into the barn.  The girls tired of waiting for him, so they motored past to get to the hay.

I called in my reinforcements to help me complete the chores.  Jim & Char came out to help finish filling water buckets and then Char and I observed and inspected Ruger’s locomotion.  The ground is so darn hard and frozen everywhere that it’s tough to get a read on his gait and what exactly is going on.  There are ice-filled depressions in the footing around the barn and in the pasture so that moving evenly over the terrain is tricky.  We are sure he is in discomfort because of his tentative behavior and so we filled a stall full of shavings for him, loaded him up with rations and treated him with a dose of Bute as an anti-inflammatory for the night.

In the morning we’ll spend more time trying to assess what’s up, calling the vet if necessary.

I hope he’s right as rain tomorrow -it breaks my heart when my kids and my animals don’t feel well.

Ruger Jac's typical clownish behavior with SJ

Ruger Jac’s typical clownish behavior with SJ

Char had a pile of homework to attend to so Jim helped me with sheep-wrassling and we de-wormed the flock before I move them into new pasture in a couple of days.  This is our attempt to keep the flocks parasite-load down and to rotate pastures, allowing the freezing winter temps to kill any shed worms.  This is a way to minimize grazing in infested pastures.

I was able to do some exams on the ewes, too, to see who was approximately how far along and I think that the race is on between Ruva & Maggie for who will lamb first.  Fat bellies on those girls!  I’m so excited for lambs!

Last, but not least, I had Jim assist me with the dark-of-night covert chicken-wrangling.  We ferried fat hens from one coop to the other so as to empty the smaller coop, readying it for a new purpose.  Then, from the large coop, we retrieved the Faverolle Rooster, ‘Almonzo’, and his girls to the Love Shack.  We’ve got an order for Faverolle chicks to fill this spring and in order to ensure that the eggs we hatch out are purebred, it was time to sequester the micro-flock to their own quarters.

I’m not showing favoritism to the Faverolles, it’s just that there is this special request.  However, they are a delightfully tempered, beautiful and hardy breed so it will be fun to have more of them this year.

Join me in praying that they’re not all roosters when they hatch…

Our Faverolle Flock, last summer at 2 days old

Our Faverolle Flock, last summer at 2 days old

Cats, Chickens, Daughters, Farm, Health, Inspiration, Maine Coon Cat, Mothers, Outdoors, Vermont, Weather

Not Chicken…

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I took this photo yesterday morning of a little Sultan that I’ve had for 4 years.  She pops out of the coop every day to scratch around, bustle with the biddies, play her part in the flock.  She always looks great, even if her outfit is akin to a luxurious bathrobe and slippers.  We’ve had below & hovering around zero weather lately, but Sal doesn’t turn tail and run like some of the other girls. Nope, she’s out there.  Taking it all in.

Sal, the Sultan Hen

Sal, the Sultan Hen

Next we have Schill, the glamorous Maine Coon Cat.  Schill is short for “Schilling”, as in Curt Schilling, who helped our favorite Red Sox win the 2004 World Series.  We call him the “Big Schill” and he has so much presence in our home, amongst our other cats and dogs.  Here he is, surveying the front yard from his rooftop perch yesterday afternoon.  Bold move, Schill.  Way to be the Big Guy!

the Big Schill

the Big Schill

And here are Char & myself & friends, this past Saturday.  The air temperature was about 9 degrees above zero at plunge time with a brisk and steady wind.  This was Char’s 4th plunge and my 3rd, and our team consisted of my Youth Group and friends raised a little more than $2,000 for Vermont Special Olympics.

Everyone asks, “Why?  How?  What was it like?”

It’s for a great cause.  We’re crazy fun people, also. As you can see, we have ridiculous costumes which were supposed to be some sort of scholarly owl-look.  We didn’t win any prizes.

When it’s actually time to plunge, you don’t want to spend much time analyzing.  It’s all a blur and you just go for it. You can’t see it, but the water we’re jumping into is surrounded by thick ice that had to be chainsawed to carve out an opening.  And yeah, its super cold.  But we did it.

And we’ll do it again next year.

Because we’re not chicken.  No, I know what we are.  And now that I realize it, I’m really grateful.

We’re brave.

Team Healing Waters ready for the Plumage Parade

Team Healing Waters ready for the Plumage Parade

Char hit the water first, though I thought this year it might be me!

Char hit the water first, though I thought this year it might be me!

Teammate Kati in the middle, Ahmad(from Palestine!) on the left, me on the right(reddish hair flying)

Teammate Kati in the middle, Ahmad(from Palestine!) on the left, me on the right(reddish hair flying)

The team splash

The team splash

Mother/Daughter Pre-Plunge

Mother/Daughter Pre-Plunge

Mother/Daughter Post Plunge

Mother/Daughter Post Plunge

By the looks of it, I'm having a great time!

By the looks of it, I’m having a great time!

Agriculture, Chickens, Ducks, Family, Farm, Goats, Horses, Morning, Neighbors, Seasons, Turkeys, Weather

Grain run

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H.N. Williams, Dorset, Vermont

Here is where you’ll find me once a week, early in the morning, to stock up on organic grain for my turkeys, chickens, sheep, goats, ducks, horses & bunny.  Inside this fine establishment, a jury of gentlemen are assembled with coffees and donuts, cordial greetings and conversation ranging from the price of gas to whether you should fib when your wife asks you if “this dress makes me look fat.”  Sometimes I am the consult on certain topics, and so I weigh my words carefully in response to the chat-du-jour.

It’s out of my way, but they take great care of me here.  I’m grateful to live in a part of the world where you can pick up a car full of chow for your livestock and a freshly baked scone-to-go, get the bottom line on politics and the weather, and lean on the counter to share a farmyard story or two.

My family and I are grieving a recent loss.  My youngest brother.  A frequent compliment/condolence was that he lived a hundred years in his 50. He was the type of guy that had a thousand friends in the community.  He was just such a fella that took the time to chat.  They jokingly called him “the Professor” in his town, at his job, because of his knack for throwing himself into lectures and debates with his neighbors and co-workers, but finishing always with a joke and a smile.  I hadn’t recognized the value, the importance of my weekly grain-run ritual, spending time with this micro-community, until I sat down to write and fell to thinking about Larry….

I’m not sure how long I’ll be feeling so reflective, friends, so bear with me.  I’ve got a lot of blessings to count.

Barns, Bass Fishing, Cats, Chickens, Daughters, Dogs, Driving, Farm, Freedom Rangers, Goats, Horses, Maine Coon Cat, Neighbors, Outdoors, Photographs, Pies, Pigs, Pumpkins, Recipes, Shearing, Shetland Sheep, Travel, Turkeys, Vermont, Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Bass Fishing Team, Weather

10-11-12

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Thought I’d throw 33 photos out there to catch you up on the past month around here.  Thanks for visiting the farm!

Son Jody and some little fans: He took 3rd place in the FLW Northern Regional Conference Bass Fishing Tournament at Philpott Lake in Virginia.  He has qualified for the second time, now, for the National Championship in his 4 years at Virginia Tech.  He is excited to represent Virginia Tech, with two other teammates, in April, 2013 for the FLW National Championship.  Some adorable youngsters brought their t-shirts to him to autograph after Day 3 in Martinsville, VA.  He was speechless!

Freedom Rangers ready for processing -this was their last day of the good life before we put them in the freezer.  We sell them as meatbirds, and they are also all the chicken that we eat throughout the year.  It’s a good feeling to be able to put your own food on the table, especially knowing that they had a great life running around, foraging, comfortable and clean.

Turkeys are constantly getting themselves trapped in the garden.  They know how to get themselves in, but then they forget out to get out.  This is a daily thing.

Some intense cobwebs in the rafters of the barn.  We did a BIG clean this past week to prepare for an annual barn party.  It’s so much more satisfying to clean when you can really see the difference, don’t you agree?!

Morning Glories still blooming in October.  They certainly do make us happy going in and out the front door.  Sadly we will get a killing frost sooner than later and it’s difficult to cover them when that happens.

Lucky for Char & I, the Virginia Tech botanical gardens are gorgeous any season.  These Calla Lilies were all abloom in front of the water garden.  We try to take the gardens in every chance we can when we are in Virginia.

Char & I were very much rewarded in a quest for ice cream one evening while college-visiting in Asheville, NC.  Here is the menu at Ultimate Ice Cream.  I had the Brown Sugar, Bacon & Maple +  Piney Branch Pear ice creams.  Amazing!

Loved these container gardens outside a cute cafe in Asheville, NC

Puppy prints on the tile of “Three Dog Bakery” in Asheville, NC – We asked the lady at the counter if they actually sold all of those decadent dog biscuits.  She astonished us by saying that one woman orders $200 worth of biscuits each month!  It was a very fun store to visit for pet lovers like ourselves.

Piggies were our fave at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC.  Sadly, the class that Char was going to visit was M.I.A..  We still don’t know if it had been cancelled or what, but we sat around waiting for the teacher & students to show up for about 15 minutes before someone came and told us that for some reason, the class wasn’t being held that day.  Well, we did enjoy the campus and most especially, the piggies!

Abe gets the whole backseat to himself.  This dog has had an amazing month, fighting a nasty infection that had him pretty seriously set back.  In spite of the slew of meds he’s on now, it was all worth it for him – he is on his feet in a flash when you say, “Abe, do you want to go see Jody?!”  Visiting his boy in VA was the reward for quiet riding in the backseat for 2800 miles.  You may notice the wet window behind him – rained almost non-stop for the entire journey.  Yay.

Apple, Pear Ginger, Pumpkin, Raspberry Currant, Cranberry Apple, Blackberry, & Blueberry Pies were happening and happening and happening!  We are now at a pause for the season as the market that carried our pies is now closed for the season.  The pies will be back on the “shelves”, so to speak, for Thanksgiving CSA shares.

“The Park” in our backyard -Ruger is glad to have been freshly shod, everyone heading out for afternoon grazing.

Trunk full of Mums

Shaftsbury, Vermont is a beautiful part of New England – sometimes we feel like hobbits.

3 week old hen chicks in their new coop – settling in for winter.  Sold about 60 hens this past year and am replenishing our flock.

Schilling likes to type – hence, I don’t get around to it sometimes.

Iz had a salon visit with Char one afternoon – pretty girl!

Big sister SJ & her friends’ motivational posters for Char before her SAT

Caramel Apples – SJ & her crew of college friends made a batch this past Columbus Day Weekend.  They were delicious.

Martha, the indispensable personal assistant, taking a breather after helping me to prepare for the Myers Road Pumpkin Party.  It was so much fun, without about 100 neighbors & guests, and this gal is my amazing sidekick to keep it frolicsome!

SJ gives Caroline, a college friend & Floridian, a lesson on Ruger Jac.

The turkeys attend the Myers Rd. Pumpkin Party – and yes, I did have to hose everything down after shoo-ing them away.

Giles, experiencing his first autumn.

Jackie & Cricket in the front seat on the way to their vet check – they were fine but they act like they’re going to die every time they get there.

Azalea blooms in October!

Char’s comfort food choice on a sick day.

My choice for lunch – energizing Minestrone that I’d made the day before.  It’s so delicious I eat two bowls at a time!

Kitties curl up

Shaggy Shetland Sheep, day before shearing!

Goats mug the camera!

Turkey time of year – they are underfoot everywhere you go outside

Apple Crisp Cookies for choir night – made up this recipe myself!

Bass Fishing, Chickens, Farm, Freedom Rangers, Inspiration, Singing, Travel, Vermont, Virginia Tech

Sunday Churchin’

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Pies are happening around here.  Though I’d dropped the Farmer’s Market this summer, I picked up a retail market called “Clearbrook Farm“ which is conveniently 5 minutes away for deliveries.  Lovely folk to work with and the feedback is so far positive.  I’m organizing our schedule and pantry to provide 3-5 days a week’s worth of fresh-baked fruit pies for the summer and exploring potential pie shares as part of their CSA program.

Blueberries, Cherries, Peaches -just some of the fruits we put in our pies.

Pitted 329 tart cherries for 2 pies, yes I counted.

This is the strategy for Pie-Lady. She maps out the locations for about 20 different pies so that she doesn’t forget when she removes them and labels them for market. It is extremely high-tech.

Pies in the oven

Baby pies. (Awwwww!)

Meanwhile the turkey poults and Freedom Rangers are growing like little weeds.  They are happy and healthy, each and every one of them, and for this I am grateful.

Fifty Freedom Rangers – these are our favorite type of meatbird to raise. They really enjoy free ranging and have a great health track record.

Two week old Turkey Poults

Yesterday I celebrated in upstate New York with some of my family on Lake Champlain because son-one had a successful FLW College Fishing tournament with his team-mate and they placed high enough to move onto another tournament held on Lake Philpott in Virginia this coming September. Char-the-fantastic turned our cell phone footage into this great little video.  You will hear my enthusiastic fan-mom sounds in the background.

Virginia Tech teammates David Bryant & Jody White place in the FLW College Fishing Tournament on Lake Champlain. In spite of boat difficulties and white cap waves, they pulled enough Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass to make the Top 5. “Yay!” says a proud mama.

This morning I trundled off to Landgrove, Vermont to sing with my church choir in a wee country chapel that hosts us every summer.  There is neither electricity nor plumbing in this summer sanctuary and it is in my Top Ten of Places to Visit in Vermont if you feel like experiencing New England culture.  A wedding from the day before had it bedecked in white calla lilies and an urn of 600 (!) white roses on a pedestal of marble in front of the building.  Following the spirit-raising, song-filled service, we were invited to help ourselves to a bouquet as we left.  Oh extravagant!

Having been a florist, I completely appreciated the simple beauty and elegance of the floral choices.  I imagine the wedding was divine.  However, I’m partial to indigenous and in-season botanical displays as ironically, this morning, I had picked a large bouquet from my own garden, arranged it and dropped it at our family church en route to Landgrove.  And interestingly enough, also en route, I paused to take in the gorgeous road-side alpine wildflowers that were in bloom.

However, I’m not beneath this beautiful bunch.  I hope this day is good to you and yours. Lastly, if you’re an animal lover like I’m an animal lover, will you add my friend Megan’s kitty “Greta” to your prayers for a safe return to her family?  It is heavy on my mind, of late.

Some of the 600 Roses arranged in front of the Church at Landgrove

The Church of Landgrove

Great Big Windows to bring in the light

Callas from the wedding the day prior

Some pretty morning sky

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Chickens, Dogs, Farm, Inspiration, Neighbors, Photographs, Vermont

Why my (people) house is a mess:

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I began my day with the nicest visit from a neighbor and her little one and then sent two of my hens home with them to add to their flock.  After finishing the barn and coop chores, I took 50 photos of the Faverolle chicks and our dog Cricket.

The Faverolles are at that awkward “tween” stage of life, but I love them anyway.

Cricket is my favorite sidekick.

And that’s why I’m not likely to have a tidy home to accommodate our out-of-town guests next week.  It has less to do with my perception of the lack of household help, and more to do with my free-ranging whimsy.

Which would you rather?  Clean closets or gaze into puppy’s eyes?

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Related articles – the following articles tickled my fancy.  The first for the author’s practical application, the second because the #1 tip is to “Hire a Maid!”  That made me smile.
Cats, Chickens, Eggs, Farm, Health, Morning, Neighbors, Vermont

Hens and kits

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It was a very busy morning relocating 20 of our layer hens to True Love Farm which is about a mile from us.  While there, I received 4 unwanted roosters  and enjoyed visiting the pullets we had hatched earlier this year.  I also witnessed the first eggs being collected from the young gals.  Sort of a “full circle” a.m. for me.

new home for 20 of our year old layers

thriving and beautiful pullets which Wing and a Prayer had hatched out earlier in the year

Karen is starting to collect a few new eggs now!

Niska & Wasabi, our barn kitties, also had an outing this morning.  Wasabi had been missing for almost a week and yesterday I was planning her funeral out, in my head, and thinking of making the call to the vets to cancel her appointment when she showed up in the aisleway of the barn, mewing “hello.”  She & Niska are not fond of the cat carrier nor the truck. Collecting them for the ride was a more dangerous endeavor for me than catching 20 chickens.  I had to stalk them in the barn loft, scaling the hay bales and balancing on the beams in pursuit.  I’m covered with cat scratches now, but they’re up to date with vaccinations and that’s what is important, right?

Wasabi surveys the outside of the veterinary hospital from the front seat

Niska, wondering which way is “out.”

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Birthday, Chickens, Farm, Lambing, Shepherd, Shetland Sheep, Weaning

The Report from Bo Peep and, also, Peep

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I did write the other day that I would report back when the lambs had hushed.  And they have.

The mamas took a day to quiet down, the lambs took 2 days.  Aisling, the bottle lamb, took 3 days and in actuality, it may be longer because after all, she thinks she belongs in the house anyway.  So this whole weaning/barn/pasture thing isn’t really her cup of tea.  But she’s got 9 great buddies who’ve been real troopers.  It seems that above grain, above pasture, cuddles with their shepherdess and a manger full of hay is what makes them happiest.

10 Weaned Woolies

But just as the lambs stopped crying, a new peeping began in the kitchen, next to the coffee maker.  Eleven chicks have hatched since yesterday afternoon and a few more are pipping in the incubator.  Praying for all hens.

Araucana egg, pipping

Brand new chickabiddies

Last, but not least, my husband turned 55 yesterday.  A late summer supper on the back porch, with a quieter pasture, was the stage for some silly singing and tasty treats.

Merry band of troubadours

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