Heirloom Seeds: A Simple Breakdown

 

I wanted to write a post about heirloom seeds and why they're so great and should be the only type of seed you plant. I started to do some research to get my facts straight and within five minutes I thought my head was going to explode! The articles I was reading were full of scientific terms and were just absolutely confusing. Then, it dawned on me, this is where a lack of knowledge about food begins! Alas, my friends, I shall break down into simple terms why you should choose heirloom seeds over Genetically Modified (GMO) seeds.

 

     Last years garden

 

YOU CAN SAVE SEEDS

 

This is where other more confusing blogs would start explaining open-pollination but, I'm not because it's boring. The point is you only have to buy your seeds one time. How great is that?!?! I'll get into the process of seed saving in a later post. For now just soak in the fact that with heirloom seeds you're going to save a ton of money.

 

                                                     Baker Creek Seeds: Our favorite heirloom

                                                      seed distributor

     

 

 

THEY'RE SAFE

 

When you start comparing heirloom vs. GMO seeds all you get is controversy. One study tells you one thing and another study tells you the first is wrong. Here's my view, if you want to eat a GMO plant that's been modified to produce it's own pesticide, by all means go for it. As for me, it just doesn't sound safe and I'm convinced that these foods can only do harm to your body. Heirloom plants have NOT been genetically modified in any way. Some heirloom seeds are as old as time and they consist of the same exact genetic make up as they did from day one.

 

                                                                Heirloom tomatoes



 

HERITAGE

 

 

I love knowing that the plants in my garden are the same plants that we're grown for generations. Heirloom plants have a history and it fascinates me. Who knows, some of the fruits and vegetables that I harvest could be the same ones that were laid out on the first Thanksgiving. Or maybe some of my own ancestors sowed these same seeds. When you plant heirloom seeds you're preserving a piece of history.

                                                                  Heirloom corn

     

Once upon a time food was simple. People planted seeds that provided nutritious, natural, chemical-free fruits, vegetables, and grains. In an effort to grow bigger and better crops as quickly as possible, we've filled our food with all kinds of toxins. If you sow heirloom seeds into your garden you can rest assured that your harvesting pure, simple food. Happy Homesteading!

Weekend Update: New Additions

Happy Monday! We had a busy weekend  on the homestead but, it was full of fun and unsuspected surprises. Our third hatch didn't go so well. We're still trying to figure out what went wrong, a lot of the chicks needed help hatching.

                               

                                              Here we are about to help a chick hatch

We ended up with 11 chicks so, we're counting it as a blessing.
 

Later, we went into TSC for some chicken feed and of course came home with some little fluffy butts!

                                                Our two newest ducklings
 

The duckling on the right is a Black Swedish. I initially thought the duckling on the left was a Khaki Campbell but, now it looks more like a Blue Swedish. The ducks we're in a mixed brooder and the staff at the store sadly had zero knowledge on duck breeds. The lesson here: if you're going to buy any chicks/ducks from TSC know what breeds you're looking for and how to identify them. For more info on duckling care click here Getting Our Ducks in a Row

                           

                                                   One of our Cornish Rocks

We've also added four Cornish Rocks from TSC. These are meat birds that'll be processed in about 8 weeks. They are eating machines and they're growth rate is unbelievable! For more info on brooding chicks click here Brooding Chicks: The Basics

                                                         The tomatoes are sprouting

 

On top of all that we got some seeds started (we're way behind) and I'm hoping to have a more detailed post up about this later in the week. Leave a comment and let me know what homesteading projects you tackled this weekend. Happy Homesteading!

 

P.S. I've made some changes to the blog and I hope you like it. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of the page and add your email address to get updated posts sent directly to your inbox. It's totally private and your email address won't be shared.

Brooding Chicks: The Basics

If you've been to Tractor Supply lately you'll have noticed that the store is chock full of baby chicks. While those tiny balls of fluff are absolutely irresistible, they do require a brooder, heat, food, water, bedding etc. But, don't let that overwhelm you. With a few supplies and some prep work brooding can be simple and rewarding.

BROODERS

 

I have seen people use all kinds of things as a brooder from rabbit hutches and boxes to old dressers and bird cages. What you use is all up to you. There are really only three things to think about when choosing a brooder. It has to keep your chicks in, pets out, and it must be large enough. From 0-4 weeks old your chicks will require 1/2 sq. ft. of space per bird and from 4-8 weeks they'll need 1 sq. ft. per bird. That's it...seriously. Now, go dig through your basement and search your garage for something you can repurpose into a brooder.

 

                                                           A bird's eye view of our brooder

 

HEAT

 

As with a brooder there are many options when it comes to a heat lamp and with a little research you're sure to find the one that's best for you. We simply use a clamp lamp (not the real name, I just made that up). I'm not sure what they're actually called but, you can see it in the picture above and can buy them at any hardware store. We put a 53 watt halogen bulb in it and it works perfectly. The brooder needs to be 95 degrees for the first week and you simply lower the temp by 5 degrees each week after that. Don't start whipping out thermometers and checking the temp every 10 minutes just watch your chicks. If they're all huddled under the lamp than it's too cold. If they're as far from the lamp as possible and\or panting than it's too hot. If they're spread evenly around it and there's no panting than it's perfect!

 

 

WATER & FOOD

 

 

As far as feeders and waterers go you can just simply pick one up from TSC. For the first week we give our chicks luke warm water just to help keep they're body temps up and we add a capful of unfiltered apple cider vinegar (ACV) for the first few  months. ACV gives the little chicks an immune boost and it's also a natural dewormer among other things. For food we use a medicated starter & grower for 16 weeks. When choosing a feed just make sure to read the label.

 

 

Your ACV must say "with the mother" on the label

 

BEDDING

 

Options seem to be the theme of this post because as with everything else there are quite a few bedding options. The only thing you want to stay away from is cedar shavings. The fumes from the cedar can cause respiratory problems for your little chicks. We use pine shavings but, recently I've looked into sand and it seems like it would make clean up pretty easy. For the first week you'll want to cover your shavings with paper towels because your chicks will attempt to eat the shavings. Only use paper towels! Never cardboard or newspaper or anything else for that matter. These things make too slippery of a surface and you'll risk injury or splayed legs (not good!)

 

 A thick bed of pine shavings...

 

 covered with paper towels

 

 

Now that you now what you need get out there and brood some babies!!! Because no backyard is complete without a couple of chickens...and ducks...and turkeys. Ha Ha! Happy Homesteading! 

 

 



 

 

                              

 



 



 



 



Homestead Update

 I'm so excited to be blogging again! Now that we're somewhat settled in our house I'm hoping to have more time to devote to writing. We've made a lot of progress on the homestead so, let me catch you up.

  About two weeks ago we added some new members to the flock. Our very first pair of turkeys! Having these guys on the property has been interesting to say the least and I can't wait to do a more in-depth post on turkey care.

             Our Bourbon Red tom

 Along with the turkeys we'll be adding some new chickens and ducks. We've done two hatches already and we'll be doing at least one more. 

               Here's our first hatch

                  And our second

   We've done some rearranging on the property, started working on a third coop, and of course started seeds for the garden. Phew! That's a lot for a short few months and there's so much more to come so, stay tuned! 

Happy homesteading!

The Pros and Cons of Roosters

There's a constant battle between my husband and I about whether we should keep a rooster or not. I know I've mentioned in a previous post that I've been flogged multiple times by roosters so, I have a bit of a grudge against them. As for my hubby, he absolutely loves them! If it were up to him, we'd have roosters running around everywhere. What better way to settle this debate than to write an unbiased, informational blog post all about roosters.
 PROS
There's no denying it, roosters are stunning! Their bright red combs and their long colorful tail feathers are just eye candy wandering in your yard.

                                                Our Sussex roo, Big Daddy, is stunning

Okay, that's all I've got for pros. I'm kidding roosters have plenty to offer. The fact of the matter is, your hens won't lay or live forever. So, at some point you'll need to replenish your flock. Of course, you can always go out and buy new chicks or hatching eggs but, with a rooster you have the benefit of gene selection. By this I mean that you can pick out your best layer with the greatest personality and hatch her eggs with the hopes of passing those characteristics down to the next generation. This is exactly what a good breeder does. Now if you're like us and have an open run or your chickens free range, a rooster is a must. One of their most basic instincts is to protect their flock! I have read many stories of roosters giving up their own life just to keep their hens safe. They'll also find the best foraging spots and if they come across something delicious, like a cricket, they'll call the girls over and give it to them.
CONS
If you live in the suburbs a rooster is a definite no, no. Crowing is unbelievable loud and your neighbors will loathe you! I know some people probably think roosters just crow as the sun is coming up and as cute as that would be...it's completely false. They crow ALL DAY LONG!

 

   A video of our Polish Tophat roo crowing

 As I just mentioned roosters are very protective of their girls and sometimes they'll confuse you for an enemy. This is when they fly at you with their extremely long spurs directed at your face! Ahhhh! Now, my husband swears that you can over dominate a rooster by spurring them back and showing them who's boss. If you're brave enough, go for it. As for me, I just run away screaming. If you're trying to run a low cost homestead having a rooster might not be they way to go. Roosters can get quite large, depending on the breed, and these big birds require a lot of food.

                                                   Our Langshan roo is an eating machine!

 

All feelings aside, roosters do have a lot of great characteristics. Whether to keep one or not really depends on each homesteads specific needs. As for my husband and I...the battle continues. Let me know your feelings on rooster in the comments below. P.S. I'm over at The Prairie Homestead for the Barn Hop, make sure to click on the link and check it out. Happy Homesteading!

Rabbit Care 101

     Rabbits are an excellent addition to any homestead. They don't take up much space and they really don't require a whole lot of work on your part. You can breed them for meat and sell the hides or use them for crafting projects. If you have a homestead than you have a garden and rabbit poop is a great fertilizer. You can throw it directly on your plants no need to compost it first. Rabbit care is also a great way to get your kids involved in homesteading. Our kids, including a two year old, handle the majority of the rabbit work themselves.
    Now there are a few things to take care of  before bringing your rabbit home, housing being the most important. The exact amount of space your rabbit needs depends on the breed but, to sum it up, they'll need between 3 1/2-7 1/2 sq ft of living space. there are plenty of rabbit hutch plans online and I see prebuilt hutches being sold on Craigslist quite frequently. We're cheapskates so, my husband built one from scrap wood and old cabinet doors. If you're planning on breeding your rabbits then you'll need nest boxes for the does. They sell chicken nest boxes at the feed store and they would work great. Again, we built ours from scraps. I think it's important to remember that any animal housing you build needs to just serve its purpose. It doesn't have to be perfect.

                                                               Our rabbit hutch

                                                   Old cabinet doors made a perfect and free
                                                   door for the hutch!


    Just like any other farm animal rabbits need fresh water readily available. You can buy a water bottle at your local feed store or any pet supply store. If you figure out how to make one from scraps let me know. Rabbits eat a standard rabbit pellet which can be found at a variety of stores. The main ingredient in most rabbit pellets is compacted alfalfa and/or hay. As with space, how much you feed your rabbits depends on the breed. They'll eat between 1/3 cup and 1 1/4 cups per day. Make sure you research your breed to know exactly how much to feed! Overweight rabbits will have a hard time breeding and that'll put a big damper on your plans.

Our American Sable

Our Dutch

 Hay provides essential roughage to the rabbits diet so make sure to provide them with fresh hay or alfalfa often. My favorite thing about rabbits is that they can eat all kinds of scraps (apparently I love scraps). Rabbits are strict vegetarians so, no meat. Also stay far away from gassy foods such as, beans, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower. Rabbits can't fart or burp so, there's no way for them to expel gas. I don't know what would happen if a rabbit had gas and quite frankly I don't think I want to know! On a lighter note, my rabbits love carrots, apples, bananas, dandelion greens, clover, and basil among other things. The key is moderation and variety when giving rabbits any treats.

                                                     A bowl of scraps for the bunnies

   With some thorough research on your breed of choice and a little prep work, you'll be ready to bring your furry friend home in no time. Happy Homesteading!!

Molting

We're going through our first molting season with our hens and boy the lack of eggs is a real bummer. I decided to do some research on molting in the hopes of making this process a little easier for all of us.

Our empty egg basket :(

First of all, molting is when chickens lose their feathers and regrow new ones (roosters molt too). It usually starts when the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler. Molting serves two purposes, the new feathers keep the chickens nice and cozy warm over the winter and it allows their reproductive systems a chance to rest. I know what you're thinking, "How did we go from feathers falling out to reproductive systems?!"
Let me explain, feathers are 80%-85% protein and eggs are 13% protein so, there isn't enough protein in the chickens system to grow new feathers AND lay eggs. Therefore, their reproductive system stops until the feathers grow back. As for roosters, they'll either not be as fertile or not fertile at all during molting. Who knew chickens were such complex creatures?
Wait...there's more! There's actually a molting system! The feathers will start to fall out on the chickens head or back of the neck first and then work its way down. They're are two types of molt, a hard molt and a soft molt. A hard molt is when the chicken has giant bare spots all over. A soft molt, which is most common and what I'm seeing in my girls, is when a few feathers fall out here and there. For us, it was hard to even tell that the girls were molting.
Molting is stressful and painful so, do your best to keep your flock comfortable and try not to handle them, the latter is very difficult for me. You can help with the molting process by increasing their protein intake. Since we have starter feed on hand, which is high in protein, we've been adding a little to their regular layer feed. Here are a few other high protein foods you can add to your chickens diet...

CHICKEN- Weird, I know but, chicken is high in protein and your birds will love it. Turkey works just as well.

EGGS- Again weird, I know. Just make sure to only feed cooked eggs or your chickens will be eating their own eggs faster than they can lay them. I like to scramble a couple extra eggs at breakfast just for my flock.

PUMPKIN/SQUASH SEEDS- These are a great source of protein and you should have plenty on hand after carving jack-o-lanterns!

                                                  A protein rich treat for my chickens, scrambled eggs,
                                                  garlic, and grapes!

I apologize for the lack of pictures but, as I mentioned earlier the molting on our girls is difficult to see and we're trying not to disturb them too much. I hope this post helps. Happy Homesteading!