Summer is in the air and we’re officially open for farm gate sales complete with a fresh coat of paint on our sign! We’re offering free range eggs, goat milk soap, bee’s wax candles and artwork. In the weeks to come we’ll also have produce, herbs and cut flowers. We’re a bit behind in the season as the kitchen garden was accessible to the chickens until a couple of weeks ago so none of the early season greens and other crops were planted on time. Now that we have proper fencing and the seeds are in the ground we should be good to go in a few weeks. For farm gate sales we’re open “by chance or by appointment” so drop in or call 613-275-9901 to see what is available when you are planning to visit.
One of the nest boxes has had eggs in it for about a month and the hens have been taking turns sitting on the nest. We were giving up hope that anything would hatch but boy were we wrong! Yesterday the first duckling was spotted, followed by another later in the day and a chick this morning.
We won’t know how many chicks and ducklings are under there until the hen leaves the nest to take them around. Once she gets off of it, that’s her signal that nothing else will hatch or that she’s had enough of sitting.
There is a black chick in the clip too, barely visible behind her beak. She’s teaching them to eat by showing them some good grain.
That’s Pitou coming into the coop towards the end, the duckling isn’t quite sure what to make of the grunting so she hides under Mom.
We’d been planning for some day old chicks for Spring since January and finally the big day came. Dark Brahmas, Buff Orpingtons, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Barnevelders, Silver Grey Dorkings, Cuckoo Marans and more Ameraucanas made up the order from Performance Poultry near Belleville. They specialize in heritage and unusual breeds so if you want something more than the basic feed store offerings this is the place to go.
Here they are in the box as they arrive home. It was a bumpy
2 1/2 hour ride for them but they all arrrived fine.
The first order of business was to get them into the brooder with water and food and heat. Without the mother hen they need extra heat. They also need to be taught how to drink by dipping their beaks in the water. They all seemed to be eating and drinking within a few minutes but they need to be monitored to make sure that they are all getting what they need. The yolk sac will keep them going for a day or two but beyond that they are on their own.
The variety of colours is amazing and will get more interesting as they grow. We chose the breeds for variety of egg colour too, some will lay dark brown eggs to go with other shades of brown, green and white.
Of course there’s always one trouble maker who has to stand in the food and make a mess of things! More photos to follow as they start growing.
