For the love of all that's good: this is too much. | Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future published a study in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives that provided further evidence of the risks associated with the use of arsenicals in animal agriculture. Just in case anyone still needed convincing (Ahem! FDA, Pfizer and industrial chicken magnates). The study, which involved analysis of chicken breast samples purchased at grocery stores in 10 cities across the U.S., revealed .... |
Or rather: The rooster makes all the noise, but the hens rule the roost!
The workload of spring somehow carried over into early summer and then on into the heat of July, and I've completely lost track of time. I can't believe that the box of McMurray Hatchery Silver Grey Dorking chicks shipped back in February are already old enough to produce baby chicks themselves, but indeed...the "test" proved positive and 21 days later, this little guy popped out.
What to do for a lonely solo chick? Most of the summer, we've been busy building grow out pens in the fenced side yard. This yard also serves as geese breeder pens in the late winter and early-mid spring, so having multiple pens tucked into this space to keep different species and age groups separate will come in handy on a multitude of levels.
Like most retrofit operations, existing infrastructure made the whole plan a little trickier overall, but it has come along nicely in spite of the constant coastal jungle rain forest environment which has set up shop over Alabama this summer. Here's a shot of part of the entry and what will be a fenced yard...
 Ahh Spring!
Flowers blooming, birds chirping, bees buzzing, and CHICKS POPPING OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE...not to mention goslings and ducklings to boot! Chicks start out small, I mean like really, really tiny. And a lot of em can fit in one small plastic bin brooder box with a heat lamp, a little kibble on the towel, and a bottle of water. It's not complicated. Warm, fed and clean = healthy chicks. Fast forward 2 weeks. Man they grow FAST. And you look around and think "we're gonna need a bigger box".  Spring has sprung and peeps are popping out of eggs. Somehow I missed the vernal equinox marking the spring date with more or less equal hours of daylight and night., This year, it fell on March 20th which no doubt here in the South was cool and wet. But...the birds and the bees got the message. As did the grass and clover and flowers. Daffodils are almost a memory and azaleas are beginning to bloom. Rosemary bushes are covered in tiny purple flowers attracting honeybees and bumbles alike. Are you ready? Hello spring!
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Kelley Creek Farms is a small (micro really) hobby farm located in Central Alabama 30 minutes south of Birmingham. We raise heritage and rare waterfowl and poultry along with a myriad of other creatures that give the farm its life. In addition to the birds, we raise heirloom tomatoes and vegetables.
Each day is different and brings a new set of adventures. Some make you laugh and some make you cry. Some are just plain frustrating. But we persevere knowing that tomorrow's set of problems will be completely different than today. Still figuring all this out ....one day at a time and striving for a more sustainable way of life. ALL
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