Who knew how much time it would take being a chicken grandma. Three girls + ten eggs + 21, 22 and 23 days = 6 new baby chicks. A nursery area was set up in the coop to keep the broody hens and their future babies out of harm’s way. On the morning, afternoon and evening of the eve of the due date, I anxiously kept listening at the nesting boxes for any peeping and looking under the girls for any breaking in the eggs. Day 21, which was Saturday and not so much of a working day, found me lingering, I might even say loitering, around the nesting boxes, still listening, still watching until a teeny peeping could be heard. I now know that new born chicks are ventriloquists as I couldn’t tell at all which box out of the three held the sound. Once the baby chick emerged the peeping was so loud I had to wonder how it could possibly come from that tiny creature. It was about as big as the egg from which it pecked its way out. Several hours later this little bundle of yellow fluff was jumping around up and down and making its presence known. There’s a barrier between each nesting box so the two without chicks could hear the sound but each had question marks on their faces. None of these girls have been moms before. Another one hatched the morning of Day 22. Two more appeared first thing on Day 23. I checked with Kate wondering if that was it out of the 10 eggs, she told me to wait another 24-36 hours after the last hatch. On Day 23 two more hatched. By Monday all the hens and the six chicks were out of the nesting boxes, eating and drinking on the floor of the nursery area.
They are fascinating to watch. The moms take turns teaching the newbies how to eat and drink. They growl softly at them if they’re getting out of reach. They growl at me when I do a chick count but they’re getting used to me and my camera now. It’s a good thing I do check because twice now one has ended up caught in the feathers of one mom. She seems to have something sticky on her belly feathers and her heat causes moisture so I had to gently remove one from the other. I also had used caging to separate this bunch from the other girls but the little ones could hop back and forth through the cage, so I found some cardboard to use to stop this.
The next couple of weeks should be interesting indeed. I have a feeling the chicks are going to grow very fast and will run out of room in the nursery. I hope everyone gets along once they all meet each other in the coop and pen. I’ll take pictures and keep you up to date, in case you’re not on facebook.
Oh ya, vegetables is why we’re here.
I am kicking myself for not planting another row or two of salad greens two weeks ago but who knew we’d have such wonderful fall weather for growing. We did plant more last week. However, the arugula is the best I’ve ever seen growing here. You might think arugula is strong flavoured. It is if you’re just eating one leaf. If you try some recipes you can find on google you’ll be surprised how mild and lovely arugula is, especially since it’s pretty young right now.
We started clearing gardens this week. All of the stakes and strings are now gone from the tomato garden, as well as the pepper garden. We took advantage of the rainy Tuesday morning and cleaned up and organized pots and trays in both greenhouses.
Oh and I bought four more 40-pound bags of apples from AppleStock Orchards on the weekend. J
Last evening we were at Shawn Yakimovich’s Flu Prevention talk learning about more ways to stay healthy this season. If you missed it, he's having another talk soon. Give him at call to book yourself in. Kemptville Naturopathic Clinic - 613-897-1000.
So … for your eating pleasure this week we offer:
Applesauce $4 500mL jar sealed, can be stored for a year
Baby Arugula $3 bag
Beets $3 / pound
Celery $2 / bunch
Chard $3 / bag
Garlic $3, $2, or $1 each
Garlic $12 / pound
Granola, with fruit $8 /500mL jar I’ll make it when you order
Granola, with nuts and fruit $10 /500mL jar I’ll make it when you order
Herbs, fresh: cilantro, citrus thyme, dill, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme $2 each
Kale $3 / bunch
Leeks $3 / bunch
Onions, yellow $2.50 / pound
Onions, sweet Spanish $2.50 / pound
Potatoes $2 / pound
Radicchio $2 each
Salad Greens $5 bag washed and table-ready SOLD OUT
Salsa, canned $8 500mL jar sealed, can be stored for a year
SHOOTS, Pea $2 / bag
SPROUTS, Sandwich Booster (clover, alfalfa, radish & mustard) $3 / bag
SPROUTS, Spring Salad Mix (broccoli, radish, red clover & alfalfa) $3 / bag
Tomato Sauce $6 500mL jar sealed, can be stored for a year
Vegetable Stock, tomato based $3 pint jar I froze it right away
Day Brighteners is a non-certified organic farm, where we practice sustainability and environmentally-friendly farming. We always use non-GMO and organic/heirloom seeds. We use no “cides” of any kind. You are very welcome to drop by most days, but if it’s picking/packing/delivery day (Friday) you take your chances on getting the tour. Calling or emailing first is a good idea. We do appreciate your business very much and would like to hear from you with any comments or questions you have.
Please call or email me with amounts you’d like and any questions you may have. Remember you can order any day. Give us 24 hours to pick freshest for you. I deliver to Ottawa and Merrickville either Saturday or Sunday each weekend.
Thanks.
Until next post, have a great every day.
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