Expanding Our Brood

Well Spring is here officially, it has not felt like it:(  Thats ok we are in full Spring mode here.  We recently relocated to Tennessee from Ohio where while we farmed in Ohio it was not on such a level as being able to be self sufficent like we can in Tennessee.  We now have the opportunity to raise chickens, ducks and turkeys for our own use.  You might wonder why we could not do this in Ohio, well it is because we raised contract turkeys, basically, we raised turkeys for a large production company.  These animals while well cared for were housed in buildings that did not allow for room to roam and they were fed a simple diet of grains and oils.  When we raised these birds we were not allowed to have any other birds on our property because of possible disease problems.

We have been here in Tennessee for almost five full months and we love every minute of it.  When we moved here the previous owner left their chickens and we purchased a few more from a neighbor.  We now have a small flock of chickens, 22 I am pretty sure.  We get about a half dozen eggs a day, ranging from brown, white and green, since the weather is moderating we should get at least 12-15 eggs a day maybe more.  My husband and I have been trying to figure out a good way to start making some additional money from the farm and we decided we would expand what we have in the poultry.  We are going to raise and sell eggs and meat from chickens, ducks, and turkeys.  We intend to free range the birds and supplement them with fodder my husband will raise and his all natural herb mixture for health and worms!

Our kids have been in Ohio for the last week visiting family for Easter so we have had time to prep for our new additions.  My husband made a cool covered wagon looking table to start our new chicks until they are ready for the big coop.  Last night we ordered the first of our turkey flock from McMurray Hathery, http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html.  Today we went and bought 10 chicks, 6 ducks, an incubator(yes my husband is going to hatch our own eggs), and 2 rabbits that were a total impulse buy.  They are all settling in very well, but I am concerned about our cat Menace she has really taken to the little chicks and ducks, I hope we are not missing any in the morning!!!!!  I have some pictures I am going to share with you, this is an exciting time for us, its going to be really exciting Monday when the kids get home.