The Pursuit of Hap-peep-ness!

A big storm coming in today has allowed me to go into work late. For some reason people aren't as excited about coming in to buy things when there is snow on the roads (go figure). Although the weather is poor, there is a flurry of activity going on in the living room brooder, a chick party if you will. Fluttering, chirping, and pecking noises are driving Daisy absolutely insane. So far the chicks are doing great and growing so fast that every morning I can see new mature feathers growing in. Our neighbors decided to add 6 chicks to our flock so they'd have some eggs too. Now the flock has grown from the original three to eleven with only three left to arrive next Thursday. Come June we should have enough eggs to keep our fridge stocked and have enough left over to sell to friends.

Meat Chickens: We are gearing up excitedly for this years meat bird flocks. This year we've decided to do multiple smaller flocks and try some of Joel Salatin's intensive grazing techniques but with more of a free range flavor. We will do the Freedom Ranger chickens again since we had so much luck with them last year. Since this property is thickly packed with manzanita we will utilize the cover to send out our meat flocks in the relative safety and protection of electrified netting. I'm thinking we will keep the space available small, so the chickens are forced to range the ground intensively. Their manure will fertilize the ground and hopefully improve the red clay with time. Since reading Joel's books, I have really begun to think of how the animals can do the work of improving the soil for us while turning a small profit at the same time. We will begin the free ranging chicken experiment with the meat birds first, then adding the goats to brush the manzanita back a bit. The pressure will be healthy for the soil and add nutrients back that have been depleted during the heaving rains and snow we've had this winter/spring.

Goats: The girls are doing great. They are both enjoying their coats right now especially with the extra chilly night here. Justin was worried that Buttercup was too cold, so wrapped her up in Ayden's extra dog coat. She's one toasty little goat now!

Now it's time for me to head to work. I cannot wait until I can just stay here at the farm working outside with the animals, making things grow, and providing gourmet locally grown food to customers. For now I'll just have to be happy with the small steps that comprise my pursuit of Hap-peep-ness!