Rooster's Crow

If you have ever had chickens, you know how amusing it is when the roosters try to crow, well, at first; it gets kind of annoying after a while. We all have to start somewhere, don't we?

It is actually how I feel right now. I am more of an er-er-er than a cocka-doodle-do. So many things to do, judge yourself on and find out how much you really don't know; that is annoying too. But with a little practice, patience and persistence, it will fall into place.

As summer days are getting shorter and the feel of autumn is in the air, I look back and wonder what I have accomplished. I have to remember to look at what I HAVE accomplished, not what I have NOT. I have to keep in mind, what my goal was, what my goal is and am I moving in the right direction?

Practice, patience and persistence.

Vacation

Bruce and I went on probably our last real vacation for a while. The kids decided they wanted to stay home so as not to miss school and help by taking care of the animals.

The kids and animals survived just fine. Although I did have a good time, it was not the same without the kids.

We are back now and hopefully renewed mentally to get back into the swing of things. We still have to finish the goat shelter, clean out the greenhouse, butcher at least 13 roosters and order a few more for the freezer before the next month is out, fall cleanup in the garden and yard, finish the new rabbit hutch in the animal yard, etc...not to mention trying to catch up on the paying job, catching up the laundry that the kids didn't quite get to and try to create and stick to a realistic routine for the school year that doesn't have anyone in the household running down the road screaming-okay, just me. As SpongeBob would say, "I'm ready!"

Chicken Hawk?

Yesterday afternoon I went out to check on the animals water and make sure all was well. Well, there was not a soul in the chicken yard. Every chicken and rabbit was inside the house. It is such an unnerving site and sound (or lack thereof). In the middle of the yard there were a few feathers, nice tail feathers. My heart sank a little. Another chicken gone. Well, when I get inside the gate, the chickens come out slowly one by one and get back to chasing bugs and eating cracked corn. All but one rooster came out. After some coaxing he stepped out into the sunlight. Poor guy, he had a hole where some of his tail feathers used to be. At least he survived, he was one of the largest birds. Greedy hawk!

By the time I had gotten everyone fed, watered and checked on there were three more chickens on top of the blue barrel that holds their food. Apparently, they are the daredevils of the group, sitting up high in the middle of the yard, just shouting to the hawks, "Look at me, look at me!"

I think we will go back, at least after butchering day in a couple of weeks, and clip everyone's wings again, both sides this time, just to be thorough.

Goat Shelter - part I

Now that the goat fence is up, it is time to work on the shelter. Obviously, I want to have this done before we breed the goat, so we have a safe place for her, her kid(s) and a place to milk. Right now she just has a tarp to protect her and her food from rain (which is nominal at this point in time), and trees for the same.

I have left the planning of this building in Bruce's hands. This must require a lot of thought and sometimes calls for some backup. A couple of hours after hearing the saws and hammering, I went out to check the progress.

Why do I get the feeling this is going to take a little longer than I had hoped?

At least I am not contemplating breeding Suzy for another month or two....

Random Thoughts #2

This has been a busy time for me with my "paying" job. I have not had much time to "smell the roses," which I promised myself I would do. I do get little moments in the day when I have to stand up, stretch and walk. It is in those moments I try to remember that this is just a job, not a life and try to remain in the present. It does get hard when the stack of bills is right in front of me...maybe I should move those off to the side.

I do enjoy watching the hummingbirds and butterflies that land on the flowers just outside my office window. I have been able to enjoy the snowy egret and the majestic Great Blue heron that have frequented the far edge of the pond. But only in passing it seems.

And the animlas. Suzy is a bit lonely without Bella, but we are working on that situation. I have had to give her some water soluable vitamins to help with the runny nose that I am sure is caused by the stress of losing her friend. The rabbits are getting used to us coming in and out of their area. The chickens, oh those chickens, always entertaining. One evening, I went out to lock them up. They were already in their houses. It was just light enough to see four rabbits around the upside down water bucket. I wondered how long it had been flipped over. It must have been a while and those poor bunnies were so thirsty to gather around the bucket. I went in and lifted it up. Out ran a chicken...poor thing, ran into the chicken house as fast as his little legs would carry him. I had to laugh. He shouldn't have been trying to be the daredevil walking along the edge of the bucket...I wonder what the rabbits were really thinking? Were they laughing too? Ah, always entertaining.

Moments like that keep life in check. That is one thing that I love about homesteading-keeps life real. I have been in the fast-paced world, working 8-5,(really, is there a 9-5 job anymore), having the money but not the time or energy to enjoy it, eating out because I was too tired to cook, buying the kids techno gadgets to keep them entertained because I was too tired to listen. That, to me, is not life. It is a shell of a life. I am so thankful for the direction my life has taken. It's hard, oh, it is hard. I have neither time nor money now, but I have so much more treasure that can't be measured.

R.I.P. ISABELLA

Today is a day of sadness. I come in from burying Bella. Yesterday evening a large limb fell onto the new goat fence, giving Bella the opportunity to hop over. Unfortunately, we don't know what happened whether it was the dogs, or if the limb actually caused an internal injury. We found her in the driveway unable to move with one large puncture wound and several smaller lacerations. We put her in a quiet area, did what we could for her wounds and checked on her a few times throughout the night. Each time, although breathing heavily, she would move a bit, drink some water and cry. This morning at 5 a.m., however, we found that she had not made it. It is with a heavy heart that I write this morning.

The Greenhouse and Fall Garden

It is in my hands at this point. The greenhouse. Poor, poor plants. The kids separated the dead from the 'possibly still alive' plants. Sarah and I have been watering it daily to keep it going. It is actually more of a practice thing at this point. There are houseplants and hanging baskets that I will be bringing inside, so we are keeping those going.

I started a few more vegetables for the fall garden. I am still unsure of how this southern garden works, but from what I have heard, the fall is the best garden in these parts.

I had a run in with a mouse or lizard or something wanting my cucumber and zucchini seeds. I planted extra and am keeping them domed at night.

I have planted one row of green beans and a half row of peas. Nothing yet. I am afraid it was all for naught.

I have officially transplanted zucchini and tomatoes, and traditional fall crops (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, etc.) into 4" pots and 6-packs.

But the garden. I am trying to figure out how to deal with the garden. It was overrun with morning glories, weeds and grass and so we mowed it all down. Now what at this point? I am considering raised beds for this time of year until winter when I can revamp it. I could be acting a little too impulsively, but I really, REALLY wanted to have something to show for this fall. So, still "considering." But I guess I am going to have to officially decide something quickly. Time isn't slowing down for me. With the extra peace and quiet time with the kids off to school, that will help my thought processes. Hmmmm???

Delegating

I have been overwhelmed with all of the things that need to be done: Finishing moving things in and out of the house, making it a home, taking care of the animals we have bought, brought and inherited, yard, garden, greenhouse, bees, cooking, cleaning (HA!), paying job, getting ready for school, so on and so forth. These are things all working parents and homesteaders understand, I am sure.

I wanted to be able to do everything, but that is really just unrealistic. ( I am a dreamy pisces, right?) All it is doing is making me tired, stressed and aging me inside and out and I am not accomplishing anything.

Well, I am going to do something different-delegate. I have chosen my top four priorities. These include cooking, keeping the house, maintaining the budget (not by my choice), and working the greenhouse/ garden. I think these meld well for me. Maintain the budget so I know how much to spend on food, household items and greenhouse supplies, cook so I know what to grow and preserve from the greenhouse and gardens and how much I can shave off the budget--you see where I am going with this? This leaves all the animals and outside work and maintenance for the rest of the family to divide up. Of course, everybody needs to know how to do everything enough to get by and everybody has to help. That's the way it is supposed to work.

I will still be helping milk the goats, make cheese, butcher the chickens, wash the eggs, work the bees and extract the honey, etc. And I will have help getting the clothes off the line, unloading the dishwasher and grocery shopping. But everyone has their own responsibilities and I have to let them have it. I can't control everything and I think that was part of the problem. I felt like I needed to. No, I don't.

A friend of mine, who in a two years time span has made a beautiful homesite that I am completely envious of, said focus on one thing at a time. She is right. Otherwise, everything gets started and everything gets left undone. That is one of my biggest concerns, the one thing that I want to change for my sanity, as well as what I can teach the kids. Without focus, I am constantly in another time-should have (past) and need to (future) or in another place (what needs the most work today). I am not living in the present and that is a large reason for this homestead, to enjoy every moment, good, bad, beautiful that life has to offer.

So, we will see how this "letting go" goes for me. To be honest, I feel lighter in mind and spirit already. Ahhh!

Canning Season

We did get a few tomatoes canned this season so far, but not what we had anticipated. With our being busy this summer, the lack of rain and the horrible heat, it has not been good for garden production. There is also the fact that I am still trying to learn about gardening in the South versus Midwest.

While mom was here we did have an assembly line going enough to get a few jars on our shelf.

It was wonderful to have both Jake and Sarah help in the process. Hopefully they will continue to do this with their families as well.

For now, I have mowed down the garden. As I said, with lack of attention and rain, it was an eye sore and bug haven. We are trying the late garden in the South to see how that fares. I have begun more tomato seed (along with other cooler crops) in the greehouse to see if I can get one more batch before the season is completely over. *fingers crossed*

My Improving Phobia

Not scared of the dark. Not scared of being alone. Not scared of snakes. Not scared of spiders. Although this little critter did give me a bit of a surprise, but we let him live another day.

My biggest fear is Vesipidae--any flying stinging insects. Yep, bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets. Makes one wonder why I have honeybees. I always swore I could out run them, and must have. I have had honeybee stings from going barefoot outside as a child. I have had one sting on the top of my head from a bumblebee. But nothing else has kept up with me when I have taken off full sprint and screaming. One story that my husband loves to retell at my expense involves me and a wasp in the car many years ago. I was driving, well, actually stopped at a stop sign and there was a wasp perched over the sun visor. He was looking at me. Staring at me. Eye to eye. I had nowhere to go. Couldn't scream, could barely whisper to Bruce it was watching me and I was serious! I got absolutely no sympathy of any kind from him and still do not!

Since being at Valley Creek for just over a month, I am getting more and more used to stinging insects flying around. Honeybees, of course, do not bother me much and am getting more comfortable around them. Since the huge oak tree that overhangs the chicken coop was filled with every bee imaginable, including hornets, the past few weeks, I have gotten used to the buzzing that would send me into a frenzy of flailing arms and closed-mouth screaming -not going to have anything fly down my throat. Now I just shudder a little.

Just last week, in fact, I was hanging towels on the line and grabbed a clothespin from the line behind me, and to both of our surprise, I grabbed one with a wasp on it. I guess I grabbed the head enough it didn't have opportunity to sting me. One of us fell to the ground, bounced back up and took off, stunned into silence...nope, wasn't me this time. I did make an intelligble noise through closed lips, but not a true scream by my recollection.

Yep, I am getting better. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks or at least modify her behavior a bit.

Change is the Only Constant

I can see where planning on the homestead is probably going to be somewhat of a moot point. Well, the daily planning that works for my "paying" job. There is still LOTS of planning, but a bit more broad. I might have to depend a little bit more on common sense when it comes to what has to be done and what has to wait. Oh dear, this could be difficult for me...Things change. Expect the unexpected. You know the cliches, ones we have memorized to give a word of hope when something surprising has happened to someone else.

Well, change has occurred. My mentor, my friend-my mother is going to be leaving our beginning of a homestead. She has decided it would be a great time for her to travel and enjoy herself since we are here to take care of things and I am all for that. She has spent a good many years (we'll just leave it at that) caring for plants, animals, me and all of her family, as well as friends and even strangers, who all become friends. Now it is time for her to spend some time to care for herself and enjoy herself.

Besides missing my mom, I will miss my teacher, my sounding board, my animal and plant encyclopedia all wrapped in one. I will have to spend more time in books, magazines, online and just getting good old hands-on-experience, I suppose. And that is not a bad thing. I know there is information out there and it will be trial and error. It will be good for my mind to actually have to do the learning myself.

It makes me sad for me and scared for all of us, including the plants in the greenhouse, but I know this will make her happy, and that is all I could really wish for her. I know she is only a phone call or text away, but its not the same.

On the brighter side, I will have a growing magnet collection on my refrigerator from all around the country.

I love you mom!

State Bee Meeting

I was priviledged enough to attend one day of the State Beekeepers Association's meeting held at Clemson. Yes, only one day of the three day event because of other priorities at this point in time. I am SO glad that I did go. As I have said before, I took a class over a year ago and mom and I have some hives. I have never been all the way to the brood to see the queen and drones and brood patterns, etc. Nonetheless, I have been in the hives enough to know a little bit more about them. When I attended Day One of the bee meeting, it was wonderful. Everything made sense. I could actually visualize what they were talking about. The first part of the day was in an auditorium listening to several speakers / experts. My daughter came with me. Although she said, and I quote, " it is summer and I should not be sitting in class all day," I think she picked up quite a bit and may have even enjoyed it. I took lots of notes...on my Blackberry...I completely forgot a notebook and pen/pencil.

The second half of the day was at the bee yard / apiary and it was wonderful to have hands on experience. I finally saw a drone cells, the queen. Okay, I have to admit it was not "hands on" to the point that I passed around the frame of bees with my bare hands. I was in the front row with my dark jeans, flip flops and
short sleeved shirt. Once again, not prepared for what we were going to do. I thoroughly enjoyed it, however, and look forward to learning more! But I do see my own pattern of preparation needs a little work. Good thing I am not a queen bee, I would be replaced quickly !

Random Thought #1

Whether it be another blog, an article in a magazine or something I have seen locally, it, well, flabbergasts me sometimes. How? How can they do everything they do and have everything they have? It makes me feel inadequate from time to time in many ways; physically (I must be lazy), mentally(why didn't I think of that), fiscally (how much?). I bought a magazine recently in which there was an article describing how a few farms started and what they had for assets in the beginning. Most of them had $100,000s in the bank, 100s of acres of land paid for, and of course these amazing skills. I am not begrudging their fortunes or God-given talents, I guess I am still trying to figure out where my talents lie. Seriously, is this the majority... it can't be. It wouldn't be in a magazine if it were, right? Attitude. All in the attitude. I know those articles aren't there to make me feel inadequate. They are there for inspiration and guidance, and, yes, they even gave me hope to get to where I am and who I am now.

So, who am I? I am your average run-of-the-mill girl, grew up in the Midwest in a small town, worked since I was 16 years old, married young, had my kids early, and am still trying to make ends meet weekly with Bruce and I working full time jobs, although mine is an at-home job. I love my life and especially the direction it has now taken. It has been my dream for...it seems like forever to homestead / live on a hobby farm with my family. Unfortuantely, I did not get an early enough start, as Jake is almost 17 and Sarah is 14. I am enjoying every moment of the experience, whether its being jealous of Jake's uncanny ways with the goats-they love him and always go to him first- or Sarah's calm demeanor around the bees or mom's greenthumb or Bruce's ability to make things so simple or watch the chicken with the bug run for his life away from the other 40 chickens who want that bug and that bug only. There is always something going on to enjoy if I take the time to look. I think that takes a little practice after living in the "modern" society.


More than likely you will never see me and mine in any of those "country life" kind of magazines with pictures that take your breath away for a moment. But you will find me here in my little blog, telling you about how my day was and hoping you find some entertainment or even some little tidbit of information you didn't know that makes you say, 'really, I didn't know that," and also those tidbits of information that make you just say, 'really' and shake your head. A great example of that is...I finally got a pair of boots and no longer have to clean the chicken coop in my Nike flip-flops...things such as that I get very excited about, you...probably not so much. But thank you for listening anyway.

Suzy and Isabella

Lordy, Lordy. This homestead is really happening. And quite fast.

Meet Suzy and Isabella. The newest addition to our little homestead. They were a bit unexpected but when a friend told us of a Nubian goat needing a good home, mom immediately got the number, I called and voila. Here they are!

Apparently it was quite a ride home in the back of mom's old Dodge truck with the camper. It was about an hour from their home with a herd of over 30 goats and acres of fields to roam, to our little chicken coop, which is temporary. We had only planned on bringing Suzy home, but as all goat farmers know-pshhh, which obviously I am not since I did not-that they do better with company. They are "herd" animals.

Unfortunately, I did not witness the following events. Bruce, Sarah and I ran to the feed store to get some goat chow, minerals and alfalfa for them (as I said, this happened fast, all within an 8 hour time frame). Jake and mom took the goats home to unload. It began to rain and storm as soon as the goats were in the truck and continued all the way home. So mom and Jake were trying to get them out of the truck in the pouring rain while keeping Hercules and Abby from attacking these strange animals on their property. By the time we got there, the rain had quit, the goats were in and everything was peaceful...okay, somewhat calm.

Suzy, the original Nubian goat we were going to buy, is older and rules the roost. She immediately took up with the rabbits side of the shed. We watched her, one by one, butt the Angora rabbits out of there. They are now in with the chickens on the other side.

Isabella, whom my mom calls Izzy and my daughter and I call Bella (we are of the Twilight era), is one year old and not big enough or bad enough to hold her own. Bless her heart.

Suzy refused to let Bella in her new "castle." Bella begged and pleaded, waited patiently into the night and it just didn't happen.

We will just let them work things out. Besides, we have our next big project, getting the goat fence and shelter up and Suzy will have to start all over in fighting her way to be "queen of the hill." Of course, fighting is really a strong word when she is really just standing there blocking the door.

Busy As A Bee

It has been busy, busy, busy. Trying to move, trying to work, learning a new routine to include animal chores. A lot to try to wrap the brain around. I do see the light at the end of the tunnel, however. And there are little things to enjoy along the way. This week Mom, the kids and I have been able to put up 13 quarts of tomatoes; the kids and mom put up 8 quarts of peaches and 9 quarts of honey. The vegetables aren't producing very well since we have been in a drought. We finally got a bit of rain that we have needed for so long just last night. How much of a difference it will make? We will wait and see.

Mom has finally found some workers to put in her septic and carpenters to build a home to her specifications (20x24). We are just waiting for the carpenters to call back with estimates and to mark the location specifically. Once that is done, the septic people will get their part done. Progress, slow, but progress nonetheless.

We have two more weeks to finish our move from the large two-story house (pictured below) into a much, much smaller home-albeit not a 20x24, but lot of stuff will be left behind. We will be having quite a yard sale soon! I am not one to hold on to "things" or collect anything so this is not a big deal to me. There are a few sentimental things I will hold on to, but nothing for "value."
This weekend we are going to the state "bee meeting" at Clemson. We actually have a local meeting tonight at a fellow beekeeper's farm for a honey tasting contest. Should be wired for hours after tasting all that honey...be a good time to do some more packing!

Valley Creek Herb Farm Greenhouse

The greenhouse. That is mom's baby and thus the name of the farm. Everywhere she goes she leaves a greenhouse, each one a little bigger and better than the last one. I think she has finally found "the one."

Her greenhouse has been up for several years and keeps improving season by season. Around May, when the almost-summer sun starts to heat the greenhouse around 120 degrees or so, it is time to put the shade cloth on so the plants can survive, as well as mom be able to work in there.




Bruce, our resident maintenance mechanic, and my husband, had to do some tree trimming in
order to put the folded shade cloth in position. The kids got in there and helped too. Bruce was also the one who directed the folding of the large cloth for correct positioning once it was in place.




We used heavy washers and ropes to throw it across the greenhouse and then tied it down into place.


Once it was on mom was ready to get back in there and get to work.

She grows all kinds of plants: herbs, vegetables, house plants, annuals, perennials, plants for the bees, plants to dry and I think we even have some pine trees in the shade house now. She sells them around local little towns and the occasional flea market.

As I said, the greenhouse is mom's baby and I don't really know much about it-yet.

There's No Place Like Oz...click, click, click

Okay, close your eyes, imagine Little House on the Prairie theme. Caroline putting the fresh peach pie on the window sill to cool. Laura and Mary feeding the chickens in their little floral smocks and smiles. Charles coming in from the fields after plowing his 40-acres of wheat. Ahhhh...yes, the quintessential homesteaders.

Now open your eyes. The peach pie has made a bubbly mess in the oven, flour and peach juice coat the counters and table. A rogue fly is trying to land on the pie. I finally get the kids to feed and water the chickens and now they come in with chicken poo shoes on and track it as far they can before I start yelling at them. The husband comes in after working, yes, but then throws his sweat-soaked shirt anywhere after trying to give me a hug. Ewww on both accounts. So, we are not there yet, are we?

Today was one of the days I could have flipped the switch and fed my "city-slicker" ways. A nice mani-pedi, sipping a verde White Chocolate Mocha while facebooking at Barnes & Noble. Nope, didn't work out that way. Instead, let's start the day feeding the chickens and stepping in a pile of fireants. There is three months of scratching my itchy left big toe. Around midday going to check the chickens again, didn't remember if I turned the light off, and they are all huddled in the corner. Why? Couldn't be that 5 foot chicken snake that already ate one for a midmorning snack, could it? I am ready to find the axe, but mom comes in and catches him and lets him go. "He won't be hungry for another month or two and he keeps away the other snakes like water moccasins and copperheads." And, of course, if you have to handle a chicken snake, they leave a wonderful essence on your hands to enjoy-base of burnt rubber with an overtone of skunk. At dusk, Bruce and Sarah were out frog fishing (that is another story) and heard bees in a tree. Mom and I went out to see if we had a hive swarm. That would not be a good end to the day. Nope, it wasn't our bees. It was HORNETS! Not a nest of hornets, just a mass of hornets flying around an old oak tree. I went out to see if it was light enough to get a picture, which it was not, and there was not a buzz to be heard? So on the way back up to the house, a HUGE beetle, like something out of "Land of the Lost" fell out of the tree or off the roof of the tool shed, wallowing around right next to me.

I think God was just showing me a glimpse of what to expect, not enough to scare me into metoprololis, but enough to make me realize that Little House on the Prairie is just a well-directed, tear-jerker television show that gives you a fuzzy feeling--much how it feels when a tick crawls on your scalp and you lose it, thinking 'never mind, I will get it when it itches.'

Nonetheless, I will take homesteading, the good, the bad, the ugly...

Novice Honey Harvesting

Last year I took a class to learn about bees, at my mother's request. She was so interested in having hives, but there were no classes near her. So, I went to a local one, every Tuesday for six weeks. I enjoyed it thoroughly. At the end of the classes, we took a written test and were supposed to take a practical/field test to become a certified beekeeper. I still haven't taken my practical test. We ended up buying 3 hives from a commercial beekeeper who was going out of business, as many people in the class did. That "once-in-a-lifetime chance" to get hives already booming is still talked about today...not in a good way. We were actually one of the lucky ones who did not lose ALL of the hives they bought. We only lost one, one classmate bought twelve and had naught to show for it.

Mom did get a "package" of bees and a brand new hive last year and they are flourishing, whereas the two surviving hives are somewhat weak. We are really trying to keep them as "natural" as possible without chemicals and medicines. I figure they have been around for centuries without us, so...

Not really having any experience in harvesting honey, we just took a shot in the dark at it. We attended one beekeeper meeting where a long-time beekeeper showed us how to extract the honey. It was great to see. But we didn't have any of that fancy-schmancy equipment, nor the funds to just buy it. It can be a pricey venture. He had the extractor, the hot knife, so on and so forth. We just had a honey super (the smallest level on top of the hive)that was so full that we were afraid the bees would swarm. That means the queen and thousands of her closest friends will find a better place to work, usually in someone's yard who doesn't want them there. And that would be the end of our investment.

So, we suited up. We do have hats. I just don't want a bee flying up my nose or stinging me in the eye. After the bees and I get to know each other, then we will see what I wear. To be honest, I wanted a Hazmat suit to begin with, but I have calmed down now---a little. I have a hat and I use inside out latex kitchen gloves ( I figure the more white the better???) Mom has the real bee gloves since she is the only one who has really gotten in the supers. I stand back and hold the smoker, which is an important job. We wear our classic white T-shirt and light jeans, and mom has a long-sleeved jacket. It is great attire for June in the South.

Below you see mom pulling out a frame full of honey. We replaced that with a new frame.

We took out two frames full of honey. So...now what...

We had honey everywhere, in a pan, on the counter, on our fingers : ) Mom took a regular knive to uncap the cells and the honey oozed into a
pot we had them sitting in. She ended up doing "crush and strain." It is not the best way for the bees because it destroys the wax foundation they have built and they have to work 8 x as hard to rebuild it-that is what were told by another beekeeper. Unfortunately, that is what we will have to do until we can get the proper equipment.

From those two frames we got 3 quarts of beautiful honey.

I am, however, considering a new label. I don't know. What do you think?

Chickens

As a youngster, we had chickens. I remember throwing kitchen scraps over the fence I could barely reach over. I used to gather the eggs and play daredevil with the basket, testing if the force of gravity would really hold all the eggs in the basket if I swung it all the way around and upside down. (By the way, it did. Thank goodness.) I remember my great-grandparents, Mamaw and Papaw coming over to help us butcher/dress the chickens. Mamaw would take the chicken by the neck give it swing-not unlike my egg basket swinging-and in seconds it was over. I also remember the smell of wet feathers-not one of my favorite smells.


So there is some experience with raising chickens for eggs and meat. I haven't been ALL that involved until this year, however. This year we ordered 50 White Rocks per my request. A new breed for mom and the most she has ever had at one time. I do tend to be overzealous on new things (something I need to work on). I chose the White Rock because of the decent size for meat and the apparent good laying all wrapped in one. Not the best of both, but good in both.

The 50 White Rock and the 1 "rare" chicks arrived from McMurray Hatchery to our post office. The post office called us at 6:34 a.m. and off we went to pick them up.



We had their coop all cleaned with fresh straw, newspaper (so their food wouldn't get lost in the straw until they learned to scratch) and chick starter food in the feeders and two chicken waterers. We had the heat lamp hung and ready go.

As soon as we got home, we woke the kids up, as they are not yet accustomed to "farm hours," and we all went out there for the dipping ceremony. We took them one by one and put their little beaks in the water until they got a taste of it. It really did not take long, even with 75% novices, to get all 51 done. We watched them for a while and then let them be, checking on them every once in a while throughout the day.

So far so good. We have only lost 1, probably due to heat. We did make the decision to buy the chickens a little later in the year than traditionally. Even though mom says the chicken yard will be "boring" because they are all white, less the little black "rare" bird, I think everyone is pleased so far.