I have a few posts pending, one especially on hatching eggs, but what’s more appropriate for a 20th “benchmark” post than some pictures of the newest additions?
These are my 9 wheaten/blue wheaten ameraucana chicks. I had 9 out of the 24 eggs I bought hatch, but more on that in my hatching post (later today??). One had pretty severe splayed leg, but after two short stints in a bandaid, he seems to have recovered splendidly and I can just barely pick him out. This was when they were new-new, only just barely fluffed out. These are my July 4 babies. I will only be keeping hens from this batch–so if you’re local to Maryland and will need wheaten/blue wheaten ameraucanas, contact me in a few weeks!
Meet Evie (Evelyn), a Silver Fox doe we picked up on Saturday from Skyview Acres. I will be getting another doe and a buck from them come October, but didn’t want to try and have 3 rabbits (and kits) for someone to take care of after and during the wedding. Picking up one was probably excess, but I love her already. She’s very timid (as rabbits tend to be), but she was the only one I was able to pick up. I tried about 5 other does, some so high-strung I didn’t want to get near them. She’s sweet, calm, but just very afraid. I’ll be getting her pedigree soon, but she is 8-12 weeks old. She will be ready to breed just in time for the wedding to be over when I get the next two rabbits–so it will be perfect timing.
She’s currently being housed in a dog crate elevated in our carport until we put the finishing touches on her permanent home. She was pastured her whole life, and so I’ve been giving her plenty of greens and hay to supplement the feed, and we are starting barley fodder for her and the chickens. We were in a bind Saturday night and put her in with some pine shavings used in the chicken coops, and on Sunday when I raked up some straw/hay to throw in instead, she immediately calmed down–she knows what her element is.
More on Evie and the chicks later!
Morgan Farms 
Evie is adorable! Please elaborate on “barley fodder.” What is it?
Thank you! I really do adore her.
It’s really just sprouted seeds–identical to how they make wheat grass, only with barley. This was one of my favorite articles about it: http://www.peakprosperity.com/wsidblog/80359/diy-home-fodder-system
A lot of people I have read make it so they have a fodder tray (or more) sprouted and ready to feed every day. For the time being and to maximize the likelihood I will keep it up, I’m thinking of making it every other day. That way, a chunk can go to Evie on Monday and Tuesday, with the rest of the tray to the chickens on Tuesday. Then another tray will be ready on Wednesday/Thursday, Friday/Saturday. I will still supplement feed with hay, pellets and crumble for the chickens, but this way I will have a bit more control over what they’re eating and where it comes from.
I will write a post once I try it out 🙂 I’m waiting to see the lead time on some organic barley before I head over to the local co-op for the regular stuff.