Introducing the Girls

Many people enjoyed fresh eggs from my small flock of chickens last year. The girls just turned one year old on March 31st and are coming into high production this year. More on how you can enjoy eggs from this organically fed, free range flock later. The flock is primarily Black Austrolorp hens with a few Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Golden Comets and Araucanas (one is Phoenix, pictured above) mixed in. I was so pleased with the hardiness and disposition of the Black Austrolorps that when I decided to increase my flock this year I chose them again. There are 2 large Black Austrolorp roosters keeping watch over the girls. With a current ratio of 1 rooster to 14 hens, there is no fighting between them. But there is definitely a dominant one (more on Big Boss later). They are all beautiful birds!


Out of the Frying Pan...
This winter some red pullets escaped from a local farmer who also has a hunting club. I was told they were on their way to the frying pan soon so one night (with the farmer's permission) my uncle, cousins and I found a bunch roosting and rounded up 22 birds. I kept 15 and put them in a pen isolated from my flock. The other 7 went to one of my brothers to start his small flock. The 15 I kept have since been moved to a run with attached nest/ perch house and switched to fresh, high quality organic chicken feed. The run is moved about once a week to give them fresh pasture. Their actions enhance the soil. They are also great layers!

The Next Generation
The eggs from my flock were so popular last year I knew I would have to get more birds if I wanted to satisfy demand. Having been off of store bought chicken for years now, I also wanted to raise some for eating. So this Spring I ordered more chicks: 100 black austrolorp pullets, 50 cornish cross broilers and 50 mixed standard breed cockerels (for butchering). They wer all hatched out on the last day of Winter. There have only been very slight losses but still it is disappointing to lose a chick. This is only my 2nd attempt at raising chicks. {Last year I successfully raised 52 out of 52. I didn't lose a bird until I butchered an extra rooster at about 10 weeks.} If all continues to go well, I will order more chicks later in the Spring.

Are you interested in keeping chickens? Let me know and I may be able to provide you with some organically raised chicks and organic chicken feed.