my very own micro farm

[birdman55]

holy egg batman

 

[attimus]

Ya its a whopper. Crashes a 100g scale. Can't wait to open it just to see what's inside.

Got the barrier leveled on the kelso pen and everything cut and in place. I'll screw it all back in today. Got all of the bedding spread except for a small amount I'm going to add to the mallards nest as soon as she gets up. It got pretty wet in the rain the other day and I'm sure she and the eggs are fine, I still feel bad.
Started repotting spicey globe and sweet basil yesterday. I hate those cardboard potters. Moved them to much bigger pots.
The dotte chicks are getting big fast. I drilled the food dish to a block this morning so they can't flip it over. Still scratching it all over but at least the dish is there. Lol
Well, in the immortal words of The Tick.
....SPOON......

 

[attimus]

Finished the kelso pen before work today. Well as finished as its going to be. There's always something I can improve on or add it seems. A bit more of the basil potted. Only couple to go. Counted 30 eggs in the first duck nest today while she was off. I might be a little off but that's still a lot of eggs. The other girl is holding strong and I think my cat has even begun to keep watch over her. And she doesn't seem to mind him in her space at all, but god forbid I even look at her to long lol. Gonna keep it short. Busy at work. Ready to end the night.
Adiós.

 

[birdman55]

oh boy your going to have yourself alot of quackers....lol

 

[attimus]

Added more oatmeal to the Second batch of worms which has produced its first two beetles this morning. Thus the cycle begins.
The potatoes are finally making their way to the top of the box. Gonna be some lush greenery popping out real soon

I've spoken with birdman briefly about his quail project and how we use them for specials. Although its not quail here's one from the other night.

Pan seared duck with roasted carrots and creamy polenta drizzled with balsamic reduction and herb oil(from my garden). not my ducks tho. But the reality of it is one day...sustainability and all that. Lol.
The lorps are getting big. Rebanded them yesterday.
And might have someone interested in a boy.

The silvers are getting big and their feather patterns are starting to emerge.

I'm planning on opening that big egg today I'll make sure and get a picture of what comes out big yolk or otherwise.
For now I'll leave you all with this. A friend made a fun piece of art as a gift to us before she moved to Montana. Fun reference and very fitting for any chicken owner.

Enjoi!

 

[birdman55]

very nice job....your expanding..pretty soon you have as many as me....im ordering another 100 jumbo quail eggs.....lol....maybe...and a bunch of pheasant eggs....lol

 

[attimus]

One of the kelsos is showing definite signs of broodyness. Which is blowing my mind cuase all these big heffers are being snobs about it. And I never expected one of my game birds to be the first. Lol. Im hoping she does. Sitting on 4 pure eggs now and if I can confirm it here in the next day or so I'll throw the mixed Flock eggs under her too. I'll shoot for a little over a dozen if I can. Going to get interesting with space. As the little silvers will need the outside pen soon so a new small something is on my mind for broody or dottes.

 

[darina]

Wow, so many exciting things going on over there! When you were wishing for broodies, I wanted to offer my tow bantams, who were both brood at the time. Not I have them back to normal again. They were fighting each other, so I had to keep them separated, and I still have the 14 week old Dorkings in another area. Her a pen- there a pen, everywhere a pen...

Sorry I have not written back about my experience processing one of my own chickens, I was trying to think of what to say. I selected a pullet that had stopped laying and I wasn't attached to her, because she was afraid of me. Actually, she was afraid of the other chickens too, very jumpy. I captured her and was holding her in a pet carrier for a several hours, so she was very stressed, which is a big negative. It was not as emotional as I thought it would be for me. I was probably running on some adrenaline, because I was a little jumpy myself. One thing I can't emphasize enough is you need sharp knives. I was wishing I had a box cutter handy, because chicken skin is pretty tough. The weirdest thing that I did not expect is chickens have long hairs in between their feathers! I have kept mine in the freezer for a month or so, and it is roasting in the oven now. I tried to burn of the hairs with a match, but I didn't get them all.

If it turns out okay, and I remember, I might post a picture of dinner.

 

[attimus]

Triple yolk! Hard to make out because two broke upon opening it but there are 3 distinct circles of yolk

Overloaded

And comparatively the smallest egg aside from the wind egg at just under 40 grams

@darina thanks for sharing that. I imagine my first experience with doing the deed will be similar, I mentioned before that I've helped with processing bit never swung the ax so to speak, with the realization that I have for growing roosters and a clutch of duck eggs on the way and now a broody hen reality is sinking in. And my profession requires sharp knives so im set there. Again thanks for sharing that experience. Hope the meal was satisfying.

@birdman55 gonna be running quail on Tuesday hopefully. Expect pictures within the following days to see what we can do with it.

Checked the kelso pen on my morning loop and Athena is broody! gonna draw something up for her and put it together today. I can't wait to get my day started.

Onward and upward.

 

[attimus]

Here's the new brooder. Athena has been moved and is sitting on 11 eggs. 5 kelso, 6 am crosses. Hope I didn't build that thing for nothing lol. Here we go birds. Lol.