A Livestock Guard Dog

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I am about to embark on a new adventure. First, let’s start at the beginning.

On the morning of May 12, 2020, I discovered the gruesome sight no chicken owner wants to see. An unknown predator killed 2 of my grow out roosters that spent that night in a wire dog kennel with 3 others. I immediately took inventory and thankfully both pullets were present and unharmed.

NOTE: This page or post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase I earn a portion of the money you spend at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

I dreaded the task of sitting up late waiting for the creature to return so I could make sure no further attacks happened. Now I know why the faithful heeler barked incessantly last night. He is getting on in age and I do not allow him to run at night. I fear for his life in a fight with a coyote.

Earlier this week, I had all but decided I am too busy to undertake training a puppy in the coming months. I know the kind of time, commitment and patience it takes to train a faithful loyal dog. Seeing the feathers, a single chicken foot and the other with its head eaten off still laying in the cage changed my mind.

I cautioned myself though, because I have exhibited a tendency in the past to make a decision when an emotional event prompted allowing it to override the big picture. I would ask my spouse to gain a different perspective.

He said something to the effect of how we had been talking about it. He affirmed and reaffirmed when I raised my objections. He believed a livestock guard dog was a good next step.

I readily agree a pup had been on my radar this year. I feel apprehensive of the undertaking. Is it the time involved or that I have refused to become friends with another dog since needing to lay Ringo to rest in 2015?

At 15 and a half years old, he had proved his love and loyalty. A new puppy seems to me a bit of disloyalty to him. Of course, we generally out live our dogs or when truth be told we hope to. He was the first dog I raised from a pup, trained and shared all those years full of change and struggle with. I still miss him.

I also bemoaned the money it would cost for a new puppy and that I was not sure I wanted to spend it that way. An investment, he said, “You are protecting your investment in the chickens. How much money do you lose when something kills a chick?”

I guess… I will figure how to carve out the time to learn about training Great Pyrenees and implement what I learn. I connected with a local farm who has pups available Tuesday night to set up a time to see her pups.

For the first time this morning, I felt excited about the coming plans to visit and potentially pick out a female puppy. Let the research begin.

I spent around an hour or more reading online about the Great Pyrenees breed. I wanted to learn the traits in a puppy who will develop into a working livestock guard dog. I never came across a specific guide to help me decide.

I arrived to meet the pups armed with an abundance of questions about the parents, the breed in general, and my unanswered question of the day, ‘What puppy traits indicate a quality working livestock guard dog’?

I ask questions. I listened. I learned about the parent’s background, how the owner kept her dogs and her experience with the breed.

At last, I met 2 puppies. I set to choosing and asking questions. One female demanded attention the other hoovered in the background. In the recesses of my mind, I recalled Rhingo, too being a shy puppy. Side note: He became a wonderful protector to me, but he was a Blue Heeler with different genetics. I feel keenly aware of my need to learn before I teach.

I found myself attracted to the shy puppy. I voiced my concerns about her not wanting me to touch her back. I looked at the poop in the pen. I watched her urinate. I tried forcing her to allow me to pet her. I went into the large dog house with her only. She seemed curious about Brian.

Over an hour later, I stood to leave. She made eye contact with me ever so briefly and wagged her tail. In that instant, I said, ‘I will take her’. I did not even think before I spoke the words. I simply knew. She would go home with me. In that instant she stole my heart.

As a breed the Great Pyrenees like to wonder and in all I read no one shares a way to train them to the yard. A fence or shock collar, or wondering dogs sum up the only info I am able to find. Yet I struggle to believe no one has figured out how to teach them to stay home. To me, the desire to wonder compares to a Heeler’s desire to herd (i.e. chase livestock), yet, they are trainable. Be forewarned, I am on a mission.

Survey
I like to climb
A happy girl
First day off leash

She has a name as of today. Follow her on Instagram as I document her story. Click on the following link:

https://www.instagram.com/aneta.pyr

Do you have any advice or experience to share with me? Please leave a comment below.

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April 25, 2020April 25, 2020

5 Reasons to Shop Local Farmers Markets

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I recently learned of a story telling how a great uncle hauled cucumbers into a local town about 7 to 10 miles from the homestead. Here sat large wooden barrels where cucumbers soaked to be hauled off on the train as pickles.

A picture of the place my great uncle hauled pickles. I wonder if my Grandpa did too.

It must have taken an entire day to drive with horses pulling a wagon loaded with cucumbers almost 10 miles, unload the cucumbers and drive home. Imagine the time involved in hand picking all those cucumbers before somebody in the family needed to spend an entire day hauling a load to town. Yet, in those days it was worth it? Our American society needs were different during that time.

I heard my great uncle had the following to say about hauling pickles:

“He said his Dad was one best pickle sorter and the pickle factory knew it. They always had him unloaded ahead rest of the wagons they knew he always had the best sorted pickle.”

These ‘days gone by’ marked the beginning of the industrialized and global market we know today. While some changes are good, others sadden me. Why does a farmer today need money from the government to survive when he or she produces one of the most important commodities for human life: food?

In our current crisis why does a farmer find themselves reliant on a global economy for income when neighbors need to eat? These same neighbors purchase food that may or may not have even been produced in our own country.

Table of Contents

Why Local Farmer’s Markets Today

CG Heartbeats Farm table at a 2019 Market

Here is where I see a huge value in a local farmers market, not only do you support families in the community where you live, you are also able to gain first hand knowledge of practices used to produce the food you eat.

I am not sure how you think about this, but I hate it when I read ingredients on a package to realize there are several that I do not know what they are or why I want to put that inside of myself.

Does it take longer to cook your own food? Maybe, but not always. It is rather, a mind set shift. I would like to use garlic as an example. Until I began raising my own garlic, I always used the dry stuff that came in a shake out container.

Fresh Garlic vs. Dried Store Garlic Powder

Easy to open the cupboard and dump. But not much more work to use real garlic once you have a process in place. Mine looks like this:

Granted this does involve a few additional steps. Key in this process is a good garlic press. I have tried a few different ones. I highly recommend a quality hand garlic press to help the process go smoothly. The whole process takes me less than 5 minutes.

We just decided that it takes about 5 minuets or less to use real garlic, so what is the motivation behind adding a few more minuets to cooking a meal?

Health Benefits and Flavor

Health benefits first prompted me to start growing my own garlic. I found that it grows well here at CG Heartbeats Farm and most varieties grow rather large.

Order Garlic

Grown with no chemicals at CG Heartbeats Farm

Excited to offer shipped garlic.
Now order and pay for online.
Garlic ships in September and October
Limited to the lower 48 states in the US.

**Click Here** or on **above picture** to order / pre-order garlic. 2020 garlic crop ships in September or October.

Order Today

Using fresh food enhances flavor dramatically. This applies anytime a person uses a fresh food, even home processed (frozen, canned, or dried) over some similar product processed in _______ (Who knows? Fill in the blank.)

These days I find it most unfortunate the difficulty of knowing truly where food came from. A label may only read a location in the United States where a package was distributed from. I feel a disappointed at the lack of disclosure on several different factors of many food options today.
~ M. Graber

5 Reasons for Shopping Local Farmers Market

Here are my top reasons for choosing to shop at local farmers market. We can all utilize our local markets as often as possible.

What reasons would you add to what I listed above? Leave a comment sharing why you find local farmers markets important.

Shop Online at Local Farmers Market

Relevant to our current call to social distance, a new way to shop at local farmers markets has emerged. Online shopping with local pick up. One market in Culver, Indiana uses a web company called Local Line. CG Heartbeats Farm now offers online ordering as a part of Culver Farmers Market. Check it out if you are in or near Marshall County Indiana as this site is for local sales ONLY! https://www.localline.ca/cg-heartbeats-farm

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April 17, 2020April 17, 2020

Hatching Baby Chicks

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Do you know what you need to hatch your own baby chicks? If not, read on. If items you will need may be obvious, may I encourage you to give thought to a few details when preparing to incubate chicken eggs.

4 Items to Hatch Baby Chicks

Hatching Eggs
Egg Candler
Incubator
Brooder (for chicks after they hatch)

Table of Contents

Hatching Eggs

Yes, to hatch chicks you need hatching eggs. I am sure you all are aware. Let’s consider, for a minute, where you will get chicken eggs.

4 Places to Obtain Fertile Hatching Eggs

Hatcheries
Private Breeders
Local Private Breeders
From your own Chickens

Hatcheries

Commercial operations often offer many different breeds to choose from, both hatching eggs and chicks. If you are looking for a variety to hatch, here is where you often get the most choices. Sometimes the quality of the breed may not be top notch as hatcheries often go for quantity over quality. If you are not planning to show your birds, or breed your birds to a breed standard and want a pretty back yard flock, consider this option.

Private Breeders

Private breeders offer a smaller selection of breeds., but there may be several to choose from. Another option is ordering from different smaller breeders. This can be coordinated so that the hatching eggs arrive at the same time.

Local Private Breeders

If you find a local private breeder producing the breed of chicken you are looking for, you will not have to have your eggs shipped. This should potentially should increase the number of chicks hatched. Shipping hatching eggs can reduce the viability. The local breeder hopefully will package the eggs similar to if they were shipping them. Even a car ride can cause the eggs to be shaken up a bit.

From your own chickens

If you have a rooster, most likely you will have fertile eggs, needed to hatch chicken eggs. It is possible for a rooster to be infertile, but if so, you have the option to find a different rooster. The way to find if your rooster is fertilizing eggs is incubate them.

If you would like to learn more about hatching chicken eggs amd other homesteading practices consider joining the Facebook group, Hatching Eggs, Ideas, and Homesteading Practices.

NOTE: This page or post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase I earn a portion of the money you spend at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Incubator

Incubators imitate a broody hen to the best of technologies ability. There are many to choose from in today’s market. Some are produced in the USA and others are imported. Incubators come with different prices tags and corresponding functions. Often the more automated the process the higher the price. Particular brands carry a higher price, but with that comes an expectation of superior performance.

If you are interested in hatching a large number of eggs at one time as in hundreds, investing in a cabinet incubator may be the route you choose to go.

Features of Incubators: Air quality, humidity, and turning the eggs are all critical for proper incubation.

Fans

Forced air meaning an incubator has a fan moving the air around in the incubator. This feature promotes incubator air to be a consistent temperature throughout. It also pulls in air from any available air vents.

Humidity

The humidity levels are controlled by adding water. Tools are available to automate that process. Or another feature may be a exterior port to add water so the incubator does not need to be opened when adding water. A hen will generally get off her next one time per day so I am not convinced that opening a lid to add water is a terrible detriment to hatching success. In fact, there is a newer incubator on the market that can be programmed to intentionally cool the eggs one time a day.

Turners

A tray attached to a motor will turn eggs for you. If an incubator does not have an automatic turner you are responsible for turning the eggs approximately 6 times a day. Many incubators can be fitted with a turner. However, a draw back is the number of eggs that can be fit into the incubator at one time. As an example, one of the incubators I use is set to turn around 9 eggs, but I can fit around 25 eggs with out the turner

Egg Candler

From setting the eggs to trouble shooting a hatch once it has ended, an egg candler with be most useful. When I started I used a bright small flashlight and went to a light marketed for the sole purpose of candling eggs. I am all about using what you have and when I started a small bright flashlight was what I had. A candler plugs into an outlet instead of using batteries as a small flashlight would. I now use a small bright flashlight once again. I have at times used the light on my phone. If you are interested in saving money, use what you have on hand.

Brooder with Food and Water

Once a chick hatches and dries, they will need to move into a brooder. Brooders come in different forms, material and shapes. On a homestead they often are a product of using what one has available and develop out of creativity. There are commercial brooders that can be purchased at stores. They all serve the same purpose, to provide dry shelter, heat, food, water, and protection from predators.

Newly hatched chicks need to be provided with a heat source of 95 degrees in a shelter safe from predators. Dry clean bedding, clean fresh water, and chick starter should be in place near the heat source. The temperature in the room needs to be a match for the heat source. A pen that meets the above criteria will qualify as a brooder. What creative ideas have you seen, thought of and possibly used for a brooder? Leave a comment below.

Purchase now and receive the E-book, Plan Your Hatch as a bonus.

The course content is already available with additional videos, resources, and printables to be added soon. Begin today!

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April 13, 2020April 13, 2020

10 Reasons to Hatch Baby Chicks

baby chicks are one option when choosing your first chickens

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Is hatching baby chicks right for you? Do you want to find a project for your kids to do at home during the coronavirus quarantine? Check out these 10 reasons to incubate chicken eggs and hatch your own baby chicks as an indoor activity for kids.

1. Teach Kids Biology or Science

The process of hatching chicken eggs introduces children to the reproduction process.

2. Teach Responsibility

The steps taken to care for eggs as they incubate teaches children responsibility. If the child will be carring for the chicks after they hatch the lessons in responsibility continue after the hatch ends.

3. Teach How to Deal with Disappointment

A hatch does not always end with every egg producing a chick. This provides an opportunity to speak to a child about how to deal with disappointment.

4. Learn about Candling Eggs

I compare candling eggs to a human ultrasound. Candling offers a look at the different stages of a chicks development as it grow inside the egg.

5. Entertainment

Baby chick antics bring old fashioned entertainment into a home simply by watching them. Holding a baby chick puts a smile on child’s face.

6. Provide Emotional Support

Baby chicks as a pet give a child an animal to cuddle and feel connected with in our current world crisis.

7. Connect with a Child and Instill Confidence

Sharing the process of hatching chicken eggs with a child brings about an occasion to talk with a child, explaining the process and anticipate the end result. You will be doing a project with them. I suggest involving them in the work as much as they are able. They will develop a sense of confideance.

8. Save Money on Baby Chick Prices

Did you plan to purchase baby chicks anyway? Hatching eggs offer a cheaper option to adding a rare breed to your flock.

The idea that hatching your own chicks will save you money depends on the price you would pay for chicks, the price of the hatching eggs, and how many chicks you hatch. I share additional details in the course Chick Hatching Practices. If you are new to chick hatching, consider checking out this course that offers guidance for chicken egg hatching.

Purchase now and receive the E-book, Plan Your Hatch as a bonus.

The course content is already available with additional videos, resources, and printables to be added soon. Begin today!

9. Give Expectation and Excitement during new Stay at Home Routine.

Children face a disruption of their routines as have their parents. Waiting for the chicks to hatch, candling the eggs to watch the chicks development brings a new sense of excitement. Looking forward to chicks hatching affords a distraction from all that is not happening right now. This works on adults too, or it certainly does for me.

10. Income

Sell the chicks if you are not able to keep them. If you live in a place where chickens are not allowed, connect with a homesteader or farm who would be interested in adding the chicks to their flock. You may be able to keep them for a few weeks before selling them.

You may be able to earn back part or all of the expense incurred to hatch the chicks. Either way tracking expenses and income brings another teaching option in math. A hands on lesson sticks with a person beyond book learning.

Bonus:

Teach patience.

Once you set the eggs in an incubator it takes 21 days for a chick to develop and hatch. The process happens and we all must wait for it to do so. No instant gratification to incubating chicken eggs.

Fluffy and Cute

The ways to enjoy the cute chicks abound from watching them interact with each other to holding them in your lap or perch one on your arm.

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April 5, 2020April 5, 2020

Seasons ~ Spring 2020

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As I wrote the seasonal farm update, I found a few additional words relevant to the current world crisis. I share a little of this past weeks emotional struggle and growth.

Looking ahead to the coming three months, I see uncertainties. Wondering how long self-isolation will be suggested. What changes will be in places after this is over? Will it be over in the next 3 months? How will income be impacted in the coming months and years? Will I be infected, if so, will I be one that can not fight it off since statistically I am in a at risk group? These questions stem from fear of the unknown, I believe.

Here are a few other questions I am asking myself as I think further. How am I able to help others during this time? What seeds do I need to plant now to best serve my local community? What is the best way to connect with those in need of food and resources that I am able to offer? What are the best resources I am able to offer? How do I connect with others who need the information and may not be local? What shifts do I need to make to accommodate the fact my spouse does not get up and go to work every day? What does the Lord want me to do with my resources during this pandemic to serve His purposes?

All these questions float around in my head daily or some version of them. What follows is a list of my human ideas that I hope become seeds themselves as I look for ways to answer the above questions in the coming months. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts using the form below. I will share the form again at the end of this post.

Seeds from Baker Creek

Baker Creek Seeds generously allowed me to choose 10 seed packs last fall. I am going to plant and document their planting, growing, and harvesting progress. What ten did I pick?

Be sure to subscribe to CG Heartbeats newsletter so you do not miss a blog post when I share my experience planting and growing these seeds. There are a few cool freebies available when you do.

Planting Indoor Seeds

I sorted through my seed packets choosing which need to be started indoors and which will be sown directly outdoors. Most of what I want to start indoors are herbs.

Planting Outdoor Seeds

It is too early based on the average last frost date in northern Indiana, to plant seeds outdoors. My indoor ‘greenhouse’ space is limited. I am about 6 weeks away from the middle of May which is the recommended time to plant in our area.

Garden Spaces

I feel super blessed and excited to know I have additional garden space to begin the growing season this year. Close to 3 times last year space along with 3 times as much garlic planted as I planted last year.

This year you have the option of ordering garlic online.

Grape Plants

I intend to prune a fledgling grape vine, using those cutting to produce additional plants. The time has arrived to install a trellis to support the growing vines. Heartbeats Farm has 5 total grape plants started. I lost 2 last year and added 2.

Garlic and Wood Chips

I may not have enough wood chips from the wood shed area to cover all the garlic gardens. If not, I guess I will be pulling more weeds in the coming months.

You will be able to order garlic and have it shipped to you this year. It will ship in September and October. Here is the link to one of the varieties I have set up now.

Container Garden Area

The designated container garden area needs grooming in the worst way. Additional containers will provide space to plant seeds. I think a few of the seed varieties from Baker Creek will be a good fit for the container garden area.

I would like to create at least on covered container garden, but that project is still in the works.

Pruning Black Raspberries

The time of year has arrived when the Black Raspberries need pruning. Want a FREE printable on how to prune Black Raspberries, click below.

Do you want to learn how to prune your Black Raspberries? Get your FREE printable of How to Prune Black Raspberries today!

An Online Farmers Market

At least one local farmers market I have attended in the past now offers an online buying option with a local pick up time. I like the idea of a shorter window to be available for folks. It will better utilize my time, but it sadly will take away from a customers ability to pick out their products and limit customer conversations. In this current situation, not a bad thing, but that is one of the best parts about the market, personal conversations.

Chicken Pens

Tis the season to once again relocate the outdoor, semi-portable chicken pens. Once again, they will be providing a valuable service of killing off the sod to create garden space while enjoying life outdoors.

Cutting Scrub Trees

I do my best to stay away from using roundup. At the same time, I have not done the best job of keeping new grow removed in various areas. The result has been unwanted trees growing. It is once again time to remove them. We worked on this last fall, but did not get them all. With Brian off work, this is an excellent time to tackle this job.

Emotions

Being completely honest here, I struggle to gather thoughts and words to describe what plans I want to formulate for the coming months, based on the unknowns I mentioned in the first and second paragraph of this post. I believe there is potential with our current world events to step up and make a difference. I daily pray over where He is calling me to do to serve.

Emotions Take 2

I took the last 2 days to first, rant at my husband (that did not last 2 days), followed by (yes 2 whole days) of prayer, praise, and soul searching. I spent time working outdoors soaking up sunshine (see the link below on Instagram). I sat by the campfire last night and relaxed more than I have in weeks. I finally found peace in my heart and words to share a good part of what I was thinking with my spouse this afternoon.

Amazing to me is the fact that I purchased a book last summer titled Joy in the Midst. An 8-week Bible study on Philippians that I started in January. I like to take my time with my studies and soak in the truths I am learning. Right now, I am looking at how to handle conflict the way God intended. I peeked ahead to the coming days. Why was I surprised the lessons looked at worry? I need to study this right now in the middle of the struggle.

I did not orchestrate or plan this, but I am thankful for it. I have carried a belief for the last 3 to 4 weeks a few layers deep from all my surface thoughts. A belief that there is opportunity happening all around me. I need to be looking for it and responding when I see it. Opportunity to help others, to grow personally and grow my tiny little business. Opportunity to shift my way of thinking, opportunities to let go and create space for new. I do not know what they all are, but I do not want to be full of worry and uncertainness missing out on the possibilities.

On a practical note, I took a look around me as I spent time outside. I took mental inventory of the available resources. Here are additional updates I may make in the coming months.

Providing Locally Raised Food

A roadside stand to sell produce, eggs and perhaps a few crafts may meet the needs of a local market. An online store with local pickup may be another option. At least one local farmers market has already made this shift.

Logging out the Woods

Finding ways to bring in unconventional income in the coming months. This would provide an additional one-time income.

Current Conclusion

In closing, I do not need to look far and see the abundance of ways to be thankful. First and foremost, I am thankful for the work of the Word of God in my life. The growth and opportunity might not be obvious if I allow my thoughts to dart back and forth in worry. However, that deep seated belief keeps pushing up like a planted seed, opportunity awaits.

Where do you see opportunity for good around you?

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March 25, 2020March 25, 2020

Seasons ~ Winter 2020

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The first day of Spring came and went with out a thought in my brain that I should write a post about winter accomplishments and progress and a second post sharing the goals here at CG Heartbeats Farm for spring. I enjoy looing back to find encouragement and I get excited thinking of the next 3 months to work, plant, and all of the beauty that comes with spring.

Table of Contents

Hatching Eggs

I set hatching eggs the last week in November and really have not slowed down since. I plan to stop setting eggs in June. I had a few hatches that did not go well in terms of numbers. One hatch only resulted in one chick. I felt disappointed, but I learned.

I started looking closer at the size of the air pocket as that can be affected by humidity levels. As I seen a rapid change in the air pockets, I added a small amount of water to the incubators. My hatch rates improved. I have since went back to completely dry hatches. I will continue to do better at monitoring the air pockets of the eggs and humidity in the hatching room.

For those who follow this blog and have inquired about Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners and Silver Gray Dorkings, no good news, yet. The Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners hens have not started laying yet. The Silver Gray Dorking eggs remain infertile. I may need to switch out roosters for a younger one. I hate to do that as Rooster Cogburn has developed into a beautiful boy.

In March, the first crested Swedish Flower Hen chicks hatched from Apache’s Pen. I am looking forward to watching them grow. I picked out 4 crested from the 7 chicks and 4 weeks later I was right on. As to whether they are male or female, well I am not as proficient at that.

If you want to learn about the crested pen at CG Heartbeats Farm use the link below:

Swedish Flower Hen ~ Pen # 8

Hatching Course

I worked hard over the last few months to finish writing and setting up a course Chick Hatching Practices, to teach others to hatch chicken eggs. I struggled with a title at first. Hatching chicks does not happen perfectly every time, similar to all ventures in life there is always more to learn. This course teaches the basics with worksheets to help each person meet their personal chicken goals.

Purchase now and receive the E-book, Plan Your Hatch as a bonus.

The course content is already available with additional videos, resources, and printables to be added soon. Begin today!

The material is available now, but I will be adding additional worksheets, printables and videos to what is already there. A huge benefit to purchasing Chick Hatching Practices now includes a low price of $19.99 and immediate access to a Facebook group that allows for space to ask questions of myself and others taking the course. If you are planning to hatch eggs in the coming weeks for the first time or know someone who is, check out Chick Hatching Practices for yourself or share with a friend.

Singing

In January I enjoyed the fun of singing with my Mom and Shelia Mullet at a local Jam. It was a lot of fun to spend time with my Mom while praising and worshiping the Lord.

Fiddlin’ Around

I came across an old fiddle and zither online that was for sale. It was a bit of a spur of the moment purchase, but I was intrigued with the zither and the fiddle seemed to call my name. Turned out the fiddle was ¾ size not a full. My fiddle is a full, but I hope the ¾ size may be easier on my neck and shoulder. Time will tell.

The fiddle has gone for needed repairs, but I am told it is finished and plays nice. I look forward to trying it out myself. In the meantime, I have begun playing my full-sized fiddle again. Practicing describes the activity in a better light. I am in need of a rebuild myself when it comes to playing a fiddle.

Chicken Pens

Our rather mild winter, here in northern Indiana, allowed me to leave chickens in the outdoor pens much of the time. The result? More garden space. I am excited to plan just where I will be planting seeds in regard to shadows, sunlight, soil type, and drainage.

My Dad offered me a pen he no longer used and wanted to get rid of. He even delivered it and helped with the toughest part of setting it up. I am thankful for another pen to kill sod and a place to house chickens outdoors.

Garlic

As I write this post the garlic is up 3 inches in most places. Over the last few months, I have kept the hay chaff hauled out of the barn onto the garlic gardens. I did not get many woodchips out there yet. But there are more to haul.

Horses

Rosie, who turns 25 next month, came through winter. I debated last fall if she could. Last Saturday, I turned her and Dusty in the yard to eat a bit of spring grass that has started growing. She took off galloping. That did my heart good and put a big smile on my face.

South Gate Crossing

My friend Julie from Blooms on 800 and I attended a training (Growing herbs and Patio Plants) put on by Bushel Craft Farm at South Gate Crossing. Ginger was on the list for discussion. I have been wanting to plant ginger since last summer. I had no idea I would end up taking some home to plant.

I learned a bit about growing ginger and we each left with a start of Ginger and Jerusalem Artichoke.

To date only the Jerusalem Artichoke sports green shoots, but I gently pulled back the dirt around the ginger finding that it too has begun growing beneath the surface.

A Changing World

Who know a month ago how rapidly our world would seem different? We are in the midst of it now. I hope. My days remain relatively the same. I have chickens to feed, a website to blog on and run, horses, cats and a dog to care for. I refrain from my occasional neighborly visits for now. I probably check in with family a little more often.

The green grass is starting to grow and that looks like money in the bank to me. The faster the grass comes in the sooner I need to feed and purchase less hay.

This morning I took a walk in the woods and along the creek. All is as it should be with spring coming on. There are tiny green plants starting to emerge on the floor of the woods. Water continues to sing as it flows along. The birds sang and the raspberries snagged at my cloths as they always do. I felt peace.

In January I started a workbook study of Philippians titled Joy in the Midst. I am learning and growing although for now it is likely beneath the surface. These past 3 months were good ones and I am thankful for the opportunity to live them.

NOTE: This page or post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase I earn a portion of the money you spend at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

Read in this blog post about my go to incubator in 2019. I include tips I use with this incubator.

The Janoel 12 incubator with chicks I hatched from Pen # 7.

Click on either picture. Purchase your own.

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March 18, 2020March 23, 2020

Beats that Matter ~ A Chick’s Deformity

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Table of Contents

Less Than Perfect

Who longs to read a true story with a good ending instead of Coronavirus posts? If you like animal stories, this one is for you.

In the last couple blog posts, I shared the reasons for and against helping a chick hatch. This week I share a story about a Swedish Flower Hen chick that I did not help hatch, but still it presented a deformity.

It pipped in a bad spot and was positioned in the incubator where I did not even see it had pipped.

Over night it hatched on its own despite not pipping in the best spot.

I felt concern for what I found.

What you are looking at: An area of the abdomen that did not close properly allowing a part of the internal organs to protrude. In my mind, opening the chick up for infection.

Day 1

I know that it had a rough chance ahead of it, but I could not bring myself to cull the little thing.

That spot was squishy when I lightly touched it.

When I lightly pushed on that spot not only did it move, the chick passed a small amount of feces.

I figured I can always cull it later if it becomes as sick as I think it might. I went ahead and moved it to the brooder with the other chicks after it had dried in the incubator.

Day 2

Today the chick seemed to be holding its own. I needed to clean a small amount of poo from its vent that was hardened over it. This is called pasty butt, if you are new to caring for little chicks.

Day 3

Another day of cleaning pasty butt, but the little thing was lively enough, enthusiastic about eating and drinking.

Day 4

My heart ached when I seen all the poop stuck, not only over it’s vent but on its side. Looking at the picture below: All the area that is missing feathers was covered in poop.

Day 5

I felt horrified at the mess I found on day 5. How could this little chick go from a slight pasty 2 days ago to the nasty, gooey, stinky mess I found today? The feces caked all over its rear and the back part of its side.

It smelled bad, like when there is an infection. I debated ending its life right then. Knowing how little chicks peck at everything, I figured the other chicks may injest some of the nasty feces. The potential to make the whole group sick felt like a real possibility.

Yet, that soft heart of mine wanted to give it a chance.

Despite allowing moisture to soak into it, I am sure it hurt a little as I worked to remove the nasty, goopy, crud. The picture below shows how sunk in the chick was. I was thinking it might benefit from antibiotics.

That dark spot directly between the chick’s legs show what that deformity became.

Imagine my joy finding almost no pasty but on Day 6. The little chick wanted to eat and drink as always. It continued to hold its own over the next few days.

Week 1: The chick had not grown a bit during the first week. All the other chicks were 2 times it’s size.

Day 10

Around day 8 or 9 when I seen the protrusion dried up and fell off, I thought, ‘Amazing. Thank you Lord, this little thing may have a chance yet.’
M. Graber

Day 18

Week 2: Over the last week it is obvious the chick is growing, but is about 1/2 the size of the other chicks it hatched with.

The chick pictured at the top is about half the size of the others but it has doubled its mass in the last week. Progress it can live with.

These deformities happen occasionally no matter if a chick is helped during hatching process or not. They do seem to present themselves more often when a chick has been helped out, but certainly not every time.

Hatching chicks presents beauty and painful moments as anytime we care for and raise babies. I think we long for all to be perfect, but that is not the way this world operates.

I am excited I spent the extra time investing into the life of this little chick. Those times I spent a few extra minutes, cleaning the stuck on poop and making sure it had access to heat, food and water. While not a huge time or energy draw for me, it made a difference of life an death to that little chick.

Had I decided to let that chick go and not take the time to deal with its pasty butt, it would have died. That day the sticky poop was smeared all over the rear of the chick, not only would the chick died, the others might have picked up something. I took a risk on the little thing.

How can we take a few minutes out of our day to make a difference in the lives others today, this week, this month as our community feels fear and uncertainty that surrounds all we have heard about Covid-19 or the Coronavirus? Maybe we are being ask to take a risk? Maybe not.

I love the way this chick has pulled through and seems to be growing. It is a feisty thing that manages to wiggle in and get to the feed and water.

Christ and our Human Spiritual Deformities

I see a parallel between the life of this chick and my own. I need help to face my days more often than I don’t. My daily time with Christ provides me with the support I need to get through my struggles.

If you need peace that passes understanding, Christ sits on the throne and none of this caught him by surprise. This is where my daily peace comes from. Let me tell you it has taken me a few hours to get there some days.

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Read in this blog post about my go to incubator in 2019. I include tips I use with this incubator.

The Janoel 12 incubator with chicks I hatched from Pen # 7.

Click on either picture. Purchase your own.

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March 10, 2020March 10, 2020

5 Reasons to NOT Assist a Hatching Chick

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Last week I shared in a post the 5 Reasons to Help a Chick Hatch (click to read). There are reasons to not give in to that sentimental, nurturing side of us, reasons that make as much sense as do the reasons not to intervene in a chick hatching.

The reasons I share below go into consideration along with the reason to help a chick hatch when I am deciding each case on an individual basis. My hope is that as you read both the pros and cons your decision will be simplified as you choose what works best for you. In this post, I am always referring to eggs that have already pipped.

These eggs were pipped and the broody hen stopped setting on them.
(Naughty broody hen!)

5 Reasons NOT to Help a Chick Hatch

Breed integrity
Survival of the fittest/Natural Selection
Deformities
Unsure how to proceed
Best Use of Time

Breed Integrity

Assisting a chick out of its shell may create a weaker breed over generations. A chick needs strength and stamina to work its way out of the shell. Helping out a weaker chick and using it produce a new generation may impact the strength of a breed over time. I personally have not researched the process, but it makes sense to be that it is a realistic possibility.

There are many factors that go into a chick’s development and hatching some are influenced by the fact we as humans are intervening in the process by using an incubator imitate a broody hen.

Survival of the Fittest? Natural Selection

In the wild the strongest survive through the process of natural selection. When we intervene in the hatching process the natural selection process becomes disrupted. A valid argument points out we are already intervening by using an incubator.

Deformities

There are times a chick is not hatching because there is something wrong with it. Some chicks actually hatch and still have something wrong with them. He development process does not always happen perfectly.

This chick hatched on its own, but the abdomen did not close up properly.

Add to the mix we are hatching chicks away from the natural process of broody hens. We are attempting to recreate the process set in place for reproduction, a broody hen. Temperature, humidity, air flow, and the turning of eggs all needing to be close to perfect if we want perfect results.

This is a process in itself, the knowing of how to properly hatch chicks from eggs. (See the video below)

The fact that the chick who needs assistance may have a deformity and need to be culled keeps some away from helping at all. I understand, one of the first chicks I helped out, I needed to cull a few hours later. I cried. That is a valid reason to choose to leave a chick to nature takes it course. Even if it is natural selection in an incubator.

Unsure How to Proceed

The fear of the unknown stops forward movement in its tracks. Feeling uncertain of how to perform a certain task brings out the procrastination in me more than I want to admit. This lack of knowledge or experience of knowing how to help a chick hatch might be the reason you decided not to try. If this is your only reason, I say give it a try. Look at the process as a way to gain information that you will be putting to use in the future.

Note: This video is not all inclusive of how to assist a hatching chick.

The fact that we are always learning throughout the hatching process is the reason I titled the course on how to hatch chicks, Chick Hatching Practices. It is a practiced skill that continues to teach me and has me asking better questions as I learn.

Best Use of Time

The chick you help out may have problems as I mentioned above. If the chick is savable and has problems, it is going to take even more time to work with it. You will want to make sure it gets a good start in its first few days of life in the brooder.

It may even need to be separated for a period of time to keep other chicks from harming it and to ensure it has access to enough food and water. If it has a handicap of sorts, the chick may have a difficult time fending for its self in a group of chicks.

Have you ever seen the way little chicks boss and push each other around? They are ruthless. So, if you help a chick hatch that is struggling you have created more work. To give the chick a fighting chance you might need to provide feed and water in a separate, second pen. Do you see how the extra time adds up quickly? This may be a reason to not help a chick hatch based on the season of life you are in, your schedule, or lifestyle.

Purchase now and receive the E-book, Plan Your Hatch as a bonus.

The course content is already available with additional videos, resources, and printables to be added soon. Begin today!

Did you see last week’s post of 5 reasons to help a chick hatch? Check it out here: https://www.dontclipmywings.com/5-reasons-to-help-a-chick-hatch/

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March 2, 2020March 10, 2020

5 Reasons to Help a Chick Hatch

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Consider the following scenario, you have researched hatching eggs and incubators, made your purchases, incubated eggs for 21 days. now there is a chick that has pipped the shell, but has made very little progress in the last 24 to 26 hours. Should you help it out?

To be clear I am speaking only of eggs that have pipped through the shell.

5 Reasons to Help a Chick Hatch

The chick has pipped in a bad spot
Last of a bloodline
Limited eggs available
Limited fertility in a rare breed
You know human error played a part

You are Feeing Sentimental About this Chick

Perhaps the little chick has tugged at your heartstrings as you watch its effort to break out of the shell. I know I have felt that pull of desire to come along side in their struggle to make sure the chick lives or has a chance to. Maybe it has been 36 hours since you noticed the egg was pipped. While the chick has tried valiantly to work its way out, it has made only a slight progress. Lets look at 5 reasons why you would help a chick out of its shell.

First, I offer a word of caution that I plan to address further in a future post. If you help a chick out, be prepared for potential deformities. There are several reasons not to help out and only allow the strong chicks to survive. In certain cases, an argument can be made for an exception such as if a hatch temperature or humidity create difficult circumstances for a chick to hatch.

The Chick has Pipped in a Bad Spot

Chicks may not be positioned correctly in the shell. They then pip down toward the pointy end of the shell. Not an optimal way for chicks to hatch. They are supposed to pip nearer the top or rounded part of the egg.

This picture shows a shell that a chick pipped in the bottom part of the shell and still made it out on its own.

When they pip toward the bottom or the pointy tip of the shell a chick has a harder time working its way out.

This picture shows the same egg next to an egg shell that a chick pipped and zipped out of correctly.

One time only there was a chick that pipped at the bottom that I helped out. One of its little legs was up over its head, completely in the wrong spot. I aided the chick by supporting it with props until it could adjust to proper leg use.

Last of a Bloodline

Perhaps one or both of the parents are deceased due to a predator attack or age related death. In this case, I consider the value of continuing a specific blood line.

Limited Eggs Available

There may be limited eggs available from this group or from a certain breed. Perhaps you paid a large sum for the eggs and only 2 eggs are pipped.

Limited Fertility in a Rare Breed

A specific breed may be struggling with fertility or even faced with extinction. If fertile eggs are truly rare, that may be a time to assist a pipped chick with hatching.

You Know Human Error Played a Part

When we incubate eggs we are in part, taking over for the natural course of a broody hen hatching her eggs. Inconsistent, or incorrect air flow, humidity, egg turning, and heat all impact the development of a chick, it’s strength and subsequent hatching. There are times that I have helped a chick hatch knowing that human error created the difficulty to begin with.

These are a few reasons I would help a chick hatch. Do you have additional reasons you would assist a baby chicken out of the shell? If so, please leave a comment below.

Purchase now and receive the E-book, Plan Your Hatch as a bonus.

The course content is already available with additional videos, resources, and printables to be added soon. Begin today!

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February 11, 2020February 11, 2020

Chickens, Children and 4-H

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As a 10 year 4-H member, I experienced winning and losing, success and failure. I had help at times. I was on my own at other times. To exclude a breed of animal from showing or to exclude a breed because they might not win at a state or local level seems to defeat the entire purpose of 4-H. Fair warning! as I am jumping on a soap box for this post. You may or may not agree with my thoughts and opinions on this subject. I still like you, even if we do not agree. Diversity can put a bit of spice in our lives.

Table of Contents

Should Breeds be excluded for a 4-H Project in any Species?

Should a child be told to not bring a particular breed to a 4-H fair because it might not win? Does not winning take away from the opportunity to learn responsibility, how to of poultry care, peer interaction, information about different breeds of poultry and all that comes with the experience of showing. Should a 4-H leader tell a child a certain breed is not allowed at the fair simply because that breed does not have a Standard of Perfection (SOP) written for it by the American Poultry Association (APA)? Read further to learn what the afore mentioned are.

What is the Purpose of 4-H?

The 4-H motto: “To Make the Best Better”

The 4-H Club Pledge: “I pledge…My Head to greater thinking, My Heart to greater loyalty, My Hands to larger service and My Health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

The purpose of 4-H might be answered differently by you than by me. For me, it was a place to connect, learn, grow and compete. It was the closest thing I had to a vacation most years of my childhood and it evokes all kinds of good feelings when I think about amazing memories and experiences. There were hard times and disappointments too, but I do not wish those memories away. I learned even when I did not hold a first place ribbon or trophy as a result of a class.

I applaud the differences between local county 4-H shows to serve the needs and wants of a community.
~ Maria Graber

Local vs. State

Different show bills at a local level fits because what is available for children in that county, may vary. This, in my opinion, has a place to allow for diversity and keep one body from complete control.

I see a benefit to local 4-H country fairs differing in their own ways. Take Horse and Pony clubs back when I showed in 4-H. Our county, at that time, did not have a leader that promoted contest horses. Pleasure horse and pony classes were what most of the kids completed in and what the clinics were about. Why? Perhaps that is what the leaders knew. I contemplated switching to different county that had a better contesting program. Our county did start adding a contesting clinic after I brought my higher strung, but trained barrel racing horse to the fair. I did not switch fairs, I stayed. I loved it when our county added driving classes and endurance riding to the show bill. In the meantime, I felt like I did not fit in on my contesting horses and my contesting interest. However, I still showed up and competed even in classes I knew I would not win in. Did I learn? Did I grow? YES!

I could only advance in the classes I showed in. If, I placed in a pleasure class and actually attended the state show with my contest trained horse or my grade pony, would I have placed at state? NO!

Switching from horses to poultry now. What if a child takes a breed of chicken to a local 4-H show? Said child doesn’t win because the breed did not have a standard of perfection written for it and the judge, without a written list of rules for which to decide if it is a good bird or not, simply does not place it all. Is that different than showing a horse in a pleasure class knowing it will not win against a horse that has been trained in pleasure only? Should not a child along with their parents make that decision?

Perhaps a child wins at a local fair, but stands no chance with that same set of birds at a state fair? Isn’t that a part of the competitive process? Can we allow a child to lose and still walk away educated?

The APA and SOP

The APA or the American Poultry Association, founded in 1873, defines around 57 different Large Fowl chicken breeds with their SoP or Standard of Perfection for each breed. The Standard of Perfection helps not only judges fairly as decide on the bird with the best representation of a breed at poultry shows, but also, defines for breeders what they are striving for. Raising Silver Gray Dorkings, I read and re-read the APA SoP for this breed. I appreciate what I learn from reading a SoP.

Chicken Breeds

There are around 500 breeds of poultry in the world with an unknown number of those chicken breeds in the United States. The APA has written a SoP for around 57 of these large fowl breeds.

So why no standard of perfection for these other breeds?

In the case of the Swedish Flower Hens, they are a bit to diverse in color to create a standard of perfection. Black and blue base or the double dilute blue combined with the mahogany, blond or sno leopard, with the varying shades. There are black and white or blue and white with no mahogany or sno-leopard color anywhere to be seen. Then there are the ones with flesh colored legs, yellow, mottled yellow and mottled flesh colored legs. The sizes of the combs vary as do the size of the birds themselves. These beautiful birds have one thing in common, White tips on the ends of their feathers that seem to grow in bounty with each molt.

Do you see how difficult it would be for SOP to be written? But does a breed standard exist? Yes, there are guidelines from Sweden for this pretty breed.

Questions to Consider

How does one go about deciding which bird is best when judging classes against breeds that have a SOP written for them? Is there a basic standard for a nice chicken? Maybe not?

Perhaps it is time for state and local level 4-H shows to offer classes for just such breeds. That is exactly what happens at a National Open Poultry show. Side Note: ‘Open’ is not limited by age of the exhibitor like 4-H (for ages 9 to 19).

What options exist at National and State open Poultry Shows?

Shows put on by the American Poultry Association offer classes for poultry breeds without a written SOP. These classes are limited to the breed itself. For example, if Swedish Flower Hens are entered in a show, they will compete against each other Swedish Flower Hens only.

Do the state 4-H rules prohibit certain breeds from showing?

I did not know the answer to this question. I did not look at all 50 states for this post. I will leave that to you to find your home state 4-H poultry rules. Some local county 4-H rules do indeed state only poultry breeds with a written SOP are allowed to show at the County 4-H Fair, but only some of the county rules I checked out, not all of them and it varied by state as well.

Is every child going to win first place?

No and that is a good thing, in my opinion, as it provides an excellent time to teach a child to deal positively with disappointment. We all need to be able to do that as an adult.

Is there in fact room for a class or two for breeds without SOP’s?

I have looked at several different county’s 4-H poultry rules in different states. None of them are written the same. Some go as far as to say that only chicken breeds with a written standard of perfection by the APA or the ABA are allowed at that country’s 4-H show. What? That would be like saying only registered horses are allowed to be shown at a 4-H show. Does this exist for other species at some fairs? Leave a comment below if you know of a such a rule other than in chickens. Is it reasonable for 4-H show bills to include classes for breeds that are with out a SOP as they do at National shows?

Why would a 4-Her desire to show chicken breeds without a SOP and take such a breed to the fair for a project?

A child or parent may truly appreciate a poultry breed that has no SOP written for it. A child will reap the many benefits (learning responsibility, peer interaction, education of specific species, community interaction) of the 4-H experience with or with out a winning ribbon.

A breed with out an SOP may be newer to the United States, but still a breed worth owning. There may still be a guideline for choosing the best of a breed.

Is it wrong for a non-Standardized Breed to win an exhibition class at a county 4-H fair?

Should a chicken win at a local 4-H fair and go onto State 4-H competition? It may not win or truly be able to contest against those breeds with a Standard of Perfection written. May I suggest that classes be added to the show roster to provide classes for the breeds with out a SOP like the National shows do?

Another quick fact: No existing SOP by the APA does not mean there is not a breeding guideline in existence for those who desire to raise and improve the quality of a given poultry breed. Case and point: Both Swedish Flower Hens and Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners have guidelines for the breed that came from their countries of origin (Sweden and Germany respectively). These have not been adapted by the APA, but are no reason to not work to improve a given breed.

To parents whose children are in 4-H of any Species:

Please do your research and know what goals you and your child have for 4-H.

Call your local extension office.
Speak with the 4-H leader.
Ask questions about what classes are offered at your local and state level.
If you really want to dig deeper, attend a local 4-H show before your child actually participates.
Go watch a state show.

May I share 4-H at its core is a learning experience, in my opinion. That includes learning how to deal with disappointment. I wonder, if too often, in today’s society we desire a perfect life, a perfect show and perfect results in all we undertake. Let’s face it. That is NOT reality. Some of the most successful folks around have ‘failed’ time and time again before finally ‘winning’ with success.

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