Healthy Flock

Just an update on our chickens.

The Babies
The newest chicks are now 3 1/2 weeks old. We lost 5 in the first week or so. Since then we have had only one loss. I did have another incident with that cat getting in the garage and I have reason to believe he may have got one too. Still I consider our losses low. for those interested, Meyer Hatchery in Polk, OH is our supplier this year. We are selling another 100 or so of the pullets from this batch.

The Kids
The other chicks are now 10 1/2 weeks old. I delivered 20 of the Black Austrolorp pullets to my feed supplier in exchange for some organic feed this morning. The demand for their organic pastured eggs is outpacing the supply. Once customers compare farm fresh organic eggs to factory eggs they are sold. And consumers are really waking up to the health and environmental costs of factory farming.

The Broilers
We have begun dressing out the broilers. Besides the two resident roosters, they are the biggest birds on the farm. Some of these birds are dressing out over 6 pounds! My neighbor got some from me and invited me down for fried chicken Tuesday. Folks, you just don't know until you try it. I put a whole one in the crock pot overnight last night (it barely fit). Mmmm, mmmmmm! It would not break my heart if I didn't sell any of these and had to keep them all for myself. But I have 50 heritage breed chickens coming due in a couple weeks and 100 more of these cornish cross broilers right behind them. I just can't eat that much chicken.

--I have a few more of the current batch of broilers for sale. $3 / lb. Each bird weighs between 4 1/2 and 6 lbs.

--I will be taking orders for the heritage chickens to be butchered in the next 2-3 weeks. They will be a bit smaller, probably 3-4 lbs., and will be $3.50 / lb.

--Also taking pre-orders on the next batch of broilers coming due in 6-8 weeks. Should also be in the 4-6 lb. range at $3 / lb.

Worth mentioning again that all of these birds are raised on organic feed, organic pasture and rainwater. We also use vinegar as a disinfectant and cleaner, no bleach or harsh chemicals.

The Adults
The free range flock is doing well. They are fairly carefree, bringing themselves home to roost everynight. The reds in the chicken tractor are still the hardest working, not only providing us with 11-14 eggs a day (out of 14 hens) but also doing a wonderful job improving the soil beneath their mobile pen where some of next year's garden will be.

Injured Pullet
I had another pullet get injured about 2 weeks ago. Just a small predator wound, obviously made through the chicken wire. When I found her she was also hobbling on one leg. I put her in a nice new pan bottomed cage given to me by a friend, now dubbed the "chicken infirmary". Now she can rest away from the other birds and out of the elements. At first sight, my uncle suggested I "thump her" to end her suffering but a week later she is eating and more active. She still hobbles but these birds have proven to be quite resilient.

That's the chicken update for now.


Email jake@grandprairiefood.com for more info on buying organic broilers, chicks or eggs.